WA Radio: KYNR Off Air After Being Burglarized

Another radio station is off the air following a break-in at its studio.

Yakama Nation DJ Roy Dick isn’t sure when the radio station will be back on the air after vital equipment was stolen early Tuesday.

Burglars kicked in a wall-mounted air conditioner to gain entry into the KYNR 1490 AM the "Voice of the Yakama Nation" in Toppenish (SE of Yakima), Dick said.

They took the station’s control board, three microphones, three printers, a CD player and the station’s emergency alert system. Dick estimates the loss at about $20,000.

Although the Tribal Council approved funding to replace the stolen equipment, the station is struggling to find an EAS to purchase, Dick said.

KYNR 1490 AM (1 Kw) Daytime 2 mV/m contour

“I don’t know where we’re going to get that,” he said.

A broadcast board and related equipment will be installed sometime next week, but the station will not go back on the air until it replaces the emergency alert system, Dick said.

Under Federal Communications Commission rules, the station is required to have an EAS in place in order to broadcast.

Dick thought it was strange that only broadcasting equipment was taken.

Yesterday, we learned  Classic Hits simulcast WFXY 1490 AM / W252EE 98.3 FM in Middlesboro, KY were off-air after a driver struck guy wires supporting the stations' tower. It fell and the driver is facing charges.