This past spring, several auto manufacturers, including Volkswagen, BMW, Mazda, Tesla and the Ford Motor Company announced that they would no longer install AM radio equipment in their electric vehicles. Ford, in fact, went one step farther, saying it would drop AM radios from all of its cars, completely, before rescinding that decision.
In response, members of Congress, including Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), have signed onto a bill that would require automakers to maintain AM radio in all of their cars.
Specifically, the AM for Every Vehicle Act would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue a rule that requires automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio without a separate or additional payment, fee, or surcharge. It would require automakers that sell vehicles without access to AM radio before the effective date of the regulation to clearly disclose that the vehicle lacks access to AM radio, and it would direct the Government Accountability Office to study whether alternative communication systems could fully replicate the reach and effectiveness of AM radio for alerting the public to emergencies.
The concern is for people in rural areas who do not always have access to good wifi or cellular service that rely on AM radio for information. AM radio is also the foundation of the Emergency Broadcast System and is used extensively to warn of impending severe weather and other dangers.
Senator Klobuchar said the numbers do not bear out the assumption that AM radio has become obsolete.
“We have 80 million people across the United States of America who listen to AM radio every month. 4,470 licensed AM stations across the country, 1500 of them providing AG programming by the way. And that’s why we introduced the Every Vehicle Act.”
Klobuchar said the legislation has strong bipartisan support, pointing out that both Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) are sponsors of the bill. And, she said, seven former FEMA administrators, veterans of the Clinton, Bush, Obama and Trump administrations, are all on record in support of the bill as well.
Senator Klobuchar said AM radio is vital to small communities, and not just because of the emergency messages it relays.
“This is making sure people are able to hear about high school football scores. The good news – well I guess depending on your team – as well as the weather reports, things that bring people together. It’s not just disasters. It’s also the good news. The local news about what’s happening with the County Fair or other things. If we lose that, we lose so much of our democracy, because it brings people together and that’s a lot of what AM radio is about.”
Senator Klobuchar said there is a sense of urgency attached to this bill, because she does not want to see any cars going to market that do not have AM radio capabilities. She hopes to get the bill passed and to President Biden’s desk this summer.
Rich Larson’s full conversation with Senator Amy Klobuchar can be heard here
Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke and how to treat them
Summer has officially begun, and with it has come some temperatures on the high side of normal. Northfield Emergency Medical Services Chief Brian Edwards and Northfield Area Fire Chief Tom Nelson are reminding the community about the health risks of high heat and how to help someone who is experiencing some ill effects.
Edwards said there are three types of heat emergencies: heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Heat stroke, he said, is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body has lost its ability to cool itself. Symptoms of heat stroke include hot dry skin. The person will not be sweating because they have lost the ability to do so. Rapid pulse rate and heavy breathing are likely symptoms. The person will probably be nauseous. They could have an altered mental state, he said, or they might lose consciousness.
In these situations, call 911, as that victim requires immediate medical attention.
Heat exhaustion is a far more common condition. Those suffering will be sweating profusely. They will be tired and weak, and their skin will most likely be cool and clammy. They might be dizzy, they might be nauseous, and they could have cramps as well.
Edwards said the first thing to do to help those victims is to get them to a cooler environment, but not a drastically different one.
“The most important thing is to stop or get them out of the hot environment. Get them into a cool environment. Now you don’t want to go into someplace really cold. You don’t want to use cold water to cool someone off because they’ll start shivering, and when you shiver, that’s your body’s way of producing heat, and we don’t want to drive that core temperature up any more than it already is.”
These conditions are as common in first responders as they are with anyone else. In fact, Chief Nelson said the fire department has a full protocol put together with Northfield EMS, which is always on site during a working fire event and ready to treat any firefighter overcome by heat.
“They get out of that stuff, and they get an assessment, and they rehab before they pick up everything and go back to work. So, it’s a good setup that we have, but again we all have to keep an eye on each other because typically people don’t say, ‘You know I think I’m going to go take a break and go over and rehab.’ They say, ‘Let’s go back in, let’s get this out.’ No, you need to go sit down for a while.”
Nelson also said it is important to remember that children and the elderly are the most susceptible to the heat, and that everyone needs to stay hydrated at all times. Edwards said if someone starts showing signs of a heat emergency and there is confusion about what to do, always call 911.
The Big Wu will support The Key on Sunday night
The Northfield Union of Youth will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Sunday with a celebration at the Grand Event Center, featuring another 30-year institution from Northfield, The Big Wu.
Leslie Reynolds, a member of the original Northfield Union of Youth youth board who is now a member of the adult board, said things have changed quite a bit in the thirty years since the organization began, but the fundamental ideas have remained. The Union of Youth is focused on mentoring, providing mental health support, and offering food & housing support when necessary for Northfield youth.
She said the idea of turning the 30 Year Celebration into a fundraiser seemed like a natural one. And getting Northfield’s most famous jam band to participate only meant calling on a couple of friends.
“Some of the guys are from Northfield. The bass player is Andy Miller. Mark Joseph, the lead singer and guitarist, is from Northfield as well. And it is also their 30-year anniversary. So, it’s a great synergy.”
The Northfield Union of Youth 30th Anniversary Celebration is set for Sunday at the Grand. The music will begin at 4pm with Space Monkey Mafia. The Big Wu will take the stage at 6:30. Tickets are available online until 10 pm tomorrow night, or they are available at the door for $25.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
