Miami-based public radio station WLRN's plan to expand into Martin County and northern Palm Beach County remains stalled, due to an ongoing lawsuit and local opposition.
The Miami-Dade County School Board, which holds WLRN's licenses, sued the station's management entity, South Florida Public Media Group (SFPMG), in September 2025 to halt its $6.45 million purchase of commercial station WFLM 104.7 FM ("The Flame") in Palm Beach Shores.
The suit alleges contract violations, misuse of donor funds and endowment resources, and unauthorized use of WLRN donor lists.
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| WQCS FM Coverage (100kw) |
Announced in June 2025, the deal aims to convert WFLM to non-commercial status for extended NPR programming, but FCC approval for the license transfer is pending amid the dispute.
Local pushback grew Friday, wirgh an opinion piece in The Palm Beach Post, where WQCS 88.9 FM General Manager Michael Clayman declared there's "no need for WLRN in the Treasure Coast." He touted WQCS's 40-year local service, top Fall 2024 Nielsen ratings (No. 1 in Martin County with an 8.6 share), and emphasis on regional news and culture.
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| WFLM Coverage (50 Kw) |
SFPMG maintains the expansion serves the public by addressing a coverage gap in the growing region, with future local programming funded separately. An earlier Palm Beach Post editorial endorsed it for boosting journalism.
The school board first petitioned the FCC to block the transfer in July 2025. No updates on court resolutions, settlements, or FCC decisions have emerged recently.