Transmitter for Little Rock NPR Station Burns - Arson Suspected

[ChoralScholar]

It might be just vandals, but one has to wonder if it isn't something more.

KARK - NBC (Little Rock)
http://arkansasmatters.com/news-fulltext/?nxd_id=410416

KUAR - NPR (Little Rock)
http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/18329-fire-at-kuar-transmitter-site.html

[WhiteTara]

1. in Little Rock, I'd definitely think more

this is where Bill Gawatney (head of AR democratic party) was murdered. Some real nut cases there.

[ChoralScholar]

2. This is true.

I'd be scared to go up on Shinall mountain - that's where nearly every transmitter for the Little Rock television market is located. There's a lot of radiation up there.

[gratuitous]

3. Just to be safe

NPR should fire Ira Glass.

No, it's not supposed to make sense.

[flvegan]

4. If it is "something more" then it's nothing short of terrorism. Yes, terrorism.

[ChoralScholar]

5. Agreed. I really hope it's not part of some concerted effort

to silence NPR in the area.

[iamtechus]

6. Sabotaging a licensed broadcast radio station is a serious federal crime.

Long time in Leavenworth for someone.

[TheMightyFavog]

7. Part of the report says the vandal might have been trying to steal equipment...

Could this be a methhead looking for something to pawn off to get his/her next fix?

[ChoralScholar]

8. UPDATE: ATF investigating NPR fire as Arson - connected to another station?

KLRT-FOX (Little Rock)
http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Update-ATF-investigating-NPR-fire-as-arson/x70kBO2-H0ay6Ae7yJ35ww.cspx

KTHV-CBS (Little Rock)
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/151940/2/Damage-knocks-NPR-stations-in-Ark-Texas-off-air-

[KamaAina]

9. It happened to Pacifica in Houston many years ago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPFT

The station's transmitter was bombed and destroyed on May 12, 1970, two months after going on the air. The new station was off the air for three weeks until repairs could be made. Five months later, on October 6, 1970, while the station was broadcasting Arlo Guthrie's "Alice's Restaurant," the transmitter was bombed yet again and the damage was significantly more extensive. The second bombing took KPFT off the air for three months. No other U.S. radio station or transmitter has been bombed.

[LiberalArkie]

11. I was a part timer at KPFT during that time.. It was wild

[LiberalArkie]

10. ATF Investigating KUAR Fire

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is now investigating the suspicious fire that damaged KUAR's transmitter on Shinall Mountain.
Above: hear full interviews with the ATF, and with station manager Ben Fry on the status of KUAR's transmission capacity.
Arkansas's resident ATF agent, Grover Crossland, says a specially-trained dog indicated the presence of fire accelerant at the KUAR transmitter building. Samples are being sent to the ATF lab in Washington, D.C. for testing.
The ATF is investigating in coordination with the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department and the Arkansas State Police.
"At this point in time, we're looking at it as an arson," Crossland said.
KUAR is currently using a standby transmitter to broadcast at a lower power. The station's manager estimates damage at about $100,000-$200,000.



http://www.kuar.org/kuarnews/18471-atf-investigating-kuar-fire.html

[ChoralScholar]

12. Some officials are trying to link this fire

with cable damage that shut down the Texarkana, AR/TX NPR Affiliate KTXK