The difficult chapter facing local radio continues to grow.
Civic Media has suspended operations at four Wisconsin radio stations as the company works through financial and revenue-related challenges in several markets. The move takes multiple signals off the air and is accompanied by a number of programming changes and staff departures, underscoring the economic pressures many broadcasters continue to face.
According to the company, the stations have been placed into temporary silent status while leadership evaluates financial conditions and determines the next steps. The affected properties include WBZH in Hayward, WLCX in La Crosse, WISS serving the Appleton area, and St. Croix Country, which reaches listeners in western Wisconsin through its Amery and Baldwin signals.
The changes also include the departure of several well-known personalities.
Among them is Jay Roberts, who exits his afternoon role on 105.7 WCFW in Eau Claire while also ending his daily appearances on 99.7 Max-FM and WSCM. Roberts has spent years entertaining audiences across the Upper Midwest, with previous stops in Minneapolis, Mankato, and northern Minnesota.
Also leaving the company is Laura McKenna, who most recently hosted middays on WCFW and WSCM. Before joining Civic Media, McKenna was a familiar morning voice in Green Bay, where she spent more than a decade building strong relationships with listeners during her run at Star 98.
While Civic Media describes the station shutdowns as temporary, the announcement serves as another reminder that financial realities continue to reshape broadcasting in communities of every size. Every silent transmitter represents more than a frequency—it represents local voices, hometown storytelling, and the people who dedicate their careers to serving their listeners each day.
We extend our best wishes to everyone affected as they begin the next chapter of their broadcasting careers.
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On The Dial covers breaking radio industry news, including layoffs, programming changes, talent moves, and broadcast trends across the United States.