Senate Resolution 7

A RESOLUTION URGING TELEVISION STATION WTVA CHANNEL 9 IN TUPELO, MISSISSIPPI, TO RETAIN ITS LIFE-SAVING METEOROLOGY OPERATION.

WHEREAS, in 1956, the late Frank Spain obtained a license to operate a television station in Tupelo, Mississippi. In 1957, that station, known as WTWV, began operating on Channel 9 in Tupelo; and

WHEREAS, since that time Channel 9, now known as WTVA, has been an integral part of the community, providing excellent local news, weather and sports for decades; and

WHEREAS, the current license holder, Allen Media Broadcasting, located in Los Angeles, California, has indicated it will dismiss the local meteorology team in Tupelo and replace it with reports from a remote location; and

WHEREAS, residents of Northeast Mississippi turn to WTVA for critical weather reports during times of threatening weather; and

WHEREAS, in particular, in 2014 when a tornado actually hit the broadcast studio of WTVA, and again in 2023 when a devastating tornado left a path of destruction in Amory and Monroe County, Mississippi, the timely reports from WTVA saved the lives of those who took shelter because of the reports on WTVA; and

WHEREAS, Meteorologist Matt Laubhan won an Emmy Award for his reporting in 2014; and

WHEREAS, the reputation and the credibility of WTVA has developed over the decades, and cannot be replaced with reports from remote locations by individuals who do not live in the area:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby implore Allen Media to reconsider its decision and to retain the life-saving meteorology operation at WTVA.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be forwarded to the General Manager of WTVA Channel 9 and Matt Laubhan, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.