{"id":482,"date":"2026-05-14T13:01:52","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=482"},"modified":"2026-05-14T13:01:52","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T13:01:52","slug":"wlrn-school-board-settle-legal-battle-what-it-means-for-the-stations-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=482","title":{"rendered":"WLRN, school board settle legal battle. What it means for the station\u2019s future"},"content":{"rendered":"<article><!-- --><!-- --><!-- WPS-5038 -- removed the script from WPS and added the placeholder for trinity player --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- CONTENT --><!--[--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>A dispute that raised questions about the future of South Florida\u2019s NPR station, WLRN, has been resolved.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=480\">Spirit Airlines workers from Florida sue company over abrupt shutdown<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>South Florida Public Media Group, which manages WLRN, and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, which holds the station\u2019s broadcasting license, announced the settlement on Wednesday after the school board approved the deal without discussion.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth parties are dedicated to ensuring that the integrity, quality, and goodwill of WLRN remain strong for our community,\u201d the two entities said in a joint statement. \u201cOur joint priority is to protect the employees and resources that support the high-quality journalism and programming that make WLRN a community treasure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The settlement will allow South Florida Public Media Group to move forward with a $6.5 million deal to acquire a radio station in West Palm Beach, WFLM \u201cThe Flame,\u201d expanding its reach into Palm Beach and Martin counties. The school board had sued WLRN\u2019s management company in September, saying the purchase violated a contract with the district and diverted funds to a station that would compete with WLRN for listeners.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Under the deal finalized Wednesday, South Florida Public Media Group will transfer the West Palm Beach station to the school board. A management agreement between South Florida Public Media Group and the school board that was set to expire in June 2027 will be extended for seven years.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>The agreement also brings a leadership shakeup to WLRN. Tom Hudson, the station\u2019s senior economics correspondent, was appointed as South Florida Public Media Group\u2019s interim CEO, replacing John LaBonia.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Richard Rampell, the former board chair for WLRN\u2019s management company, resigned last month.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=479\">Moldy fruit and why a Miami Beach grocer may be banned from getting new food<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Rampell had sparred with school district officials and accused the district of trying to exert undue influence over WLRN\u2019s operations. Some of his inflammatory remarks prompted WLRN staff to send a letter to management expressing fear that the dispute could jeopardize the station\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>In his resignation letter, Rampell accused the school board of seeking a settlement that would \u201cemasculate our journalistic independence and steal our money.\u201d He cited a proposal by the school board to give the district a second seat on South Florida Public Media Group\u2019s board, as well as more say in the appointment of the station\u2019s CEO and greater oversight of WLRN\u2019s spending.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>Representatives for the school district did not immediately provide the Miami Herald with a copy of the finalized settlement agreement.<\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>In their joint statement Wednesday, the district and the station struck a conciliatory tone.<\/p>\n<p><!--]--><!--[--><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs we move forward together, we remain focused on maintaining the excellence the public expects from WLRN,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/floridamovingchronicle.com\/?p=478\">Those Bed Bath &amp; Beyond 20% off coupons are coming back. Here\u2019s where to use them<\/a><\/p>\n<p><!-- --><!--]--><!--]--><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><!-- --><\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Miami\u2011Dade School Board and WLRN reached a settlement that includes the purchase of a West Palm Beach station, an extension and a leadership change at WLRN.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":481,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miami-dade-county"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>WLRN, school board settle legal battle. 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