PEORIA, Ill. – The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is withholding grant money from Peoria public tv station WTVP, pending review of its legal and financial woes.
CPB Spokesperson Brendan Daly says they’ve referred WTVP to the Office of Inspector General.
“CPB calculated but will not release WTVP’s FY 2024 Community Service Grants until we can learn more about the issues and determine whether proper controls are in place to ensure sound stewardship of CSG funds,” Daly says in a statement to WMBD Radio News.
Last year, community service grants from the CPB accounted for about a fourth of WTVP’s revenue. In November, the station asked for an interim release of that funding, while waiting on an audit.
Results of a CPB investigation of WTVP’s finances would be released to the public once completed. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office and Peoria Police are also investigating.
Earlier this week, WTVP for the first time acknowledged former president and CEO Lesley Matuszak and former finance director Lin McLaughlin approved “questionable, improper, or unauthorized” spending.
Earlier this fall, the station’s board was forced to cut its budget by 30-percent and lay off nine people. Publication of Peoria magazine was also put on hold.
On Monday, WTVP Board Chair Andrew Rand told WMBD Radio News that any rumors of the station being dissolved were “categorically false.”
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