MPB Restores WMAO 90.9FM Think Radio Service in the Delta

JACKSON, Miss. (September 4, 2026) — Mississippi Public Broadcasting has temporarily restored service to WMAO 90.9 FM MPB Think Radio, returning the station to the air for listeners across the Delta.

Following the arrival of specialized replacement equipment from the vendor, MPB moved quickly, deploying a crew to the WMAO transmission site. MPB engineers and technical staff worked to install the equipment, complete the necessary repairs to return temporary service to the station while it continues to wait on additional funding and parts to restore services to full operations. 

“Due to funding provided by the county board of supervisors of Leflore, Sunflower, Washington and Humphries counties, as well as independent donors who stepped up in our time of need, we were able to restore the tower to minimal capacity," said Royal Aills, MPB executive director. "The damage to that tower due to ice storm Fern was catastrophic, and returning even some of the service took a lot of work by MPB engineers and agency partners. However, getting MPB back on air was imperative to us, even if it wasn’t to full capacity.” 

“We know how important MPB Think Radio is to the communities we serve, particularly during times when reliable local information and programming matter most,” continued Aills. “As soon as the equipment arrived, our team was ready to move. We’re proud of how quickly our crews responded and grateful to our listeners for their patience as we work to restore service.”

WMAO 90.9 FM provides MPB Think Radio programming to listeners throughout the Delta, including news, public affairs, music and locally produced programming.

MPB continues to evaluate and address infrastructure needs across its statewide broadcast network to ensure Mississippi communities have continued access to public media services.

Listeners can also access MPB Think Radio through the MPB website and mobile app.

#

Mississippi Public Broadcasting is a state agency located at 3825 Ridgewood Road, Jackson, Miss. MPB’s mission is to educate, inform and inspire Mississippians with quality programs and services. Through a statewide network, MPB also provides trusted information during emergencies. MPB’s locally produced programming reflects Mississippi’s unique culture and diverse heritage. Since 1970, MPB has won over 350 national, regional and statewide awards, including Emmy®, Edward R. Murrow and Parents’ Choice® Awards. For more information on MPB visit mpbonline.org or call 601-432-6565.  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 4, 2026

Mississippi Public Broadcasting 

Lauren Allbright, Director of Communications

601-432-6565

lauren.allbright@mpbonline.org