CARBONDALE — In the wake of federal funding cuts to public broadcasters like PBS and NPR, rural, local stations such as WSIU-FM and WSIU-TV are adapting to a new reality.

For the first time in more than 50 years, PBS and NPR are operating without federal support. The new fiscal year began Oct. 1 with no funding set aside for public broadcasting, following cuts approved by Congressional Republicans in July. Jeff Williams, the station manager for WSIU-FM , the NPR affiliate at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, said the cuts have caused many layoffs, especially in rural areas, and local stations are left to find new ways to stay on the air.

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