Thousands of radio listeners in Woodward and surrounding counties in northwest Oklahoma can now hear KGOU! KWOU, at 88.1 FM in the northwest corner of the state is now on the air for signal testing, and we anticipate getting the final approval from the FCC soon. KWOU simulcasts the same programming heard on KGOU and our network of repeater and translator stations.

Our remaining signal expansion project, a 2000-watt repeater for Ada, is nearly complete as well. We are working to put KOUA, 91.9 FM, on the air before spring. We thank those of you who have contributed financially to these projects and those who have recruited new listeners in those areas!

In response to efforts in Congress to eliminate federal funding to public radio, many local stations and national programming networks have launched advocacy efforts which include a new website. 170 Million Americans for Public Broadcasting has information about public radio and television funding as well as info about specific actions Congress is considering and suggestions about how to communicate with your Congressman about this issue. KGOU's Manager's Desk report will have more online links to useful information next week.

Each year, KGOU undergoes a financial audit by an outside auditing firm, and we have just completed that process for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2010. FY10 was a good one for KGOU. Fundraising kept pace with expenses, thanks to increased donations from individuals and businesses. You can see all the figures and read management's assessment of KGOU's financial standing at KGOU.org.

When you're listening to your favorite radio talk show, do you ever try to visualize what's going on in the studio? Or maybe you've wondered what it takes for a caller to get on the air. NPR Ombudsman Alicia Shepard takes a peek behind the scenes at Talk of the Nation, which airs Monday through Thursday from 1 - 3 p.m. on KGOU. This audio slideshow describes how the show is put together and what challenges producers and host Neal Conan face each day.

NPR News is the winner of the 2010 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award for the three-part investigative series "Bonding For Profit." The award will be presented January 20. In their reports, correspondent Laura Sullivan and editor Steven Drummond revealed deep and costly flaws in the U.S. justice system's bail bond process. You can hear the series in the archives at NPR.org.

With one of the most distinctive voices in American music, Gregg Allman's vocals have made him a rock star and a staple of classic-rock radio. His latest album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, takes him back to his roots with a stripped-down sound. Hear the album before its release, until Jan. 18 at NPR Music.

It seems biscotti are turning up everywhere these days, those long, crisp, twice-baked Italian cookies. But not all biscotti are created equal; some of the most readily available are sad, soft impersonations. Food writer Susan Russo shares five recipes for the real thing at NPR.org's Kitchen Window.