KATHY TRENFIELD RAINES | SPECIAL TO THE MONITOR

I read with great distress about the Catholic Diocese of Brownsville’s decision to sell its two National Public Radio stations, 88.9 FM in Harlingen and 88.1 FM in McAllen to Immaculate Heart Media, for religious programming. Certainly, this is the diocese’s prerogative, yet it is urgent that we, with the help of the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, create another NPR station as soon as possible.

When our Valley NPR station ceases programming in late April, flourishing university cities like Brownsville and Edinburg will be left with no educational radio, our nearest NPR being in Corpus Christi, which is 160 miles away and whose signals we can’t pick up until we’re in the middle of the King Ranch.

Already, some mistakenly consider Brownsville, along with other border cities, to be a backward community, not the thriving, forward-looking one we know, containing, among other assets, a fine university and community college as well as a top-notch zoo, community theater and children’s museum.

A city that lacks NPR appears to be one without appreciation for education, a worthy radio station being akin to fine schools, libraries and parks.

Some claim that we can always listen to NPR on our phones or laptops, but that is not the same.

I love the serendipity of realizing that a noontime Saturday errand will be enhanced by the hilarious news spoof/game show “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me!” or that I can listen to Terry Gross’s fascinating interviews when I happen to be driving around at 4 p.m. I love catching portions of “Morning Edition” or “All Things Considered,” news programs that sincerely attempt to follow the now defunct Fairness Doctrine, with multiple views considered, programs devoid of yelling and interruptions.

When I’m in the car, I so appreciate the five-minute news clips at the top of some hours or an especially