Twin Cities: Mary Lucia Ready For Return To The Current

Mary Lucia

One of the most popular radio DJs in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Mary Lucia of KCRW 89.3 FM / The Current, will finally return to the air next week after a seven-month hiatus brought on by continued run-ins with a stalker.

“I’ve felt lost and powerless,” Lucia said in a letter posted on the Current’s website announcing her return.

The rock-radio host, an influential voice going back to her days at early-’90s alt-rock station Rev 105 FM, will ease back into her role on Minnesota Public Radio’s hip music station with a shortened schedule starting Monday.

The Star-Tribune reports her usual 2-6 p.m. time schedule will last Monday through Thursday, but not Friday. She is also relinquishing host duties of her Friday night show “Rock and Roll Radio” for the time being.

Patrick Kelly

Lucia had hoped to return to the airwaves only after the case against her stalker had been resolved, but it has been dragged out months longer than expected and is still ongoing. She made the decision to return despite that after “much careful thought,” her note said.

“After multiple trial postponements and legal curve balls of which I have no control, I’m a little heartbroken to say this has gotten far more complicated than I could’ve imagined,” her letter read. “Because of that, I can’t really talk about the case. Man, silence is not always golden nor empowering.”

Patrick H. Kelly, 56, of Eden Prairie, pleaded guilty in Hennepin County District Court in late August to felony stalking and terroristic threats against Lucia shortly before jury selection was to begin.

Kelly has remained jailed since June in lieu of $100,000 bail ahead of a mental competency hearing in December.

According to twincities.com, tt's been a dramatic year for the Current, which opened 2015 with a 10-day party celebrating its 10th anniversary. Days later, station officials fired midday host Barb Abney, who was hired by the new Go 96.3. In addition to Lucia's leave of absence, "Morning Show" co-host Steve Seel took a three-month break because "it had become apparent to me that I hadn't been taking care of my health and overall well-being, and it was affecting me both personally and professionally." Last month, "Local Show" host David Campbell announced he was resigning from the station due to a possible traumatic brain injury that left him unable to do his job.