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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Strong winds, possibly more rain expected through Monday Since You Asked: Sheriff's department in the market for new patrol dog Auditor: Jackson County finances strong The Sovereign Among Us Public meetings: Feb. 9-13 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services The Sovereign Among Us Emergency services, Feb. 7 Myrtle Creek man was murdered, police say Deputies, volunteers rescue Talent family trapped by flooding Defendant: Near-death experience a wake-up call Politics and Elections Kent Bush: Fraud kept alive by the left and right Walden sets town halls on Friday Amid rising scrutiny, governor says fiancee won't have role in administration Ashland aims for diversity, but numbers show shortfall Kent Bush: The keys to decoding the State of the Union address Education Sharing black culture SOU board names officers, committees SOU students targeted in Drive Less campaign Parent files discrimination complaint against Ashland schools Some gains, some losses Environment Solar pavilion going up at Coyote Trails GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban Jackson County won't set up wolf kill compensation program Commercial users can get rid of pesticide waste for free Jackson County looks at compensation for wolf kills State News Letter says Kitzhaber official fired after Hayes criticism Attorney general says Kitzhaber's ethics allegations 'troubling' Willamette football player pleads not guilty to manslaughter 'In God We Trust' leads to Klamath County debate Bill calls for relocation of Washington state wolves Nation - World Obituaries Helmut "Harry" Podlech Alson "Al" Velma "Ruth" Thornton Trudy Butler Jean Yvonne Baumer Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Sports Latest Stories Knights turn back Cascade Christian Tornado swimmers dominate Invitational Beavers defeat Cal Poly, 26-10 Weber’s fourth triple-double powers SOU men Mavericks rally, down Blazers in OT Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers defeat Cal Poly, 26-10 Weber’s fourth triple-double powers SOU men Sun Devils upset No. 6 Arizona Stepping up her game Final four minutes are Beavers' time Pro Sports Mavericks rally, down Blazers in OT With Davis hurt, Bulls rout Pels Two lose in arbitration; teams are now 3-1 Giants’ rotation has lots of questions English, Holmes share Farmers lead Community Sports Local Events Business Latest Stories Erickson layoffs land hard in Jackson County People in Business Blog: Stay Calm Erickson announces 150 layoffs, mostly in Oregon 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: Home loan rates continue to fall, applications soar People In Business People in Business Transportation The heart of Brammo will remain Want to be an investor? Four companies will be pitching their plan to you Agriculture 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest George Will: Education is the business of the states Dana Milbank: Ashton Carter likely to break hawks' hearts Our View: Call for resignation is premature Letters to the Editor, Feb. 8 Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Editorials Our View: Call for resignation is premature Other Views: Overhaul the national firefighting budget Our View: Waiting is best approach to wolf damage Our View: Our growing disagreement with science Our View: A gesture, but one worth making Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Feb. 8 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 6 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 5 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 4 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 3 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Guest Opinion: Health professionals don't always act that way Help wanted: The Medford School District needs you Guest Opinion: Market forces work against LNG project's success Lifestyle Latest stories A long-harbored dream may be realized Plenty of life in Death Valley Setting the stage for garden dramatics Just an ordinary roadside miracle Later-life decisions not as easy as pie Food Restaurant Inspections Joanna McQuillan Weeks: Warm up your winter with Hearty Vegetable Barley Soup Community blog: Cupcakes can be good for sweetheart's heart Cupcake love affair Fish stew is a winter delight Home and Garden Landscape lighting for beauty, safety and value Dear Monty: First time home buyer seeks differences in housing lifestyles Home Help: 3 upgrades sure to turn kitchen time into quality time Dear Monty: Is a home ‘trade-in’ a good idea? Buying a home? Consider its walkability Health Health Watch: Simple swaps for a healthy lifestyle Community blog: Five "Must Haves" Health Watch: Don’t let your fitness resolutions fizzle out Community blog: Toxic Love: How to Identify an Abusive Relationship Community blog: A Higher Walk To Better Health Hiking Biking Faith RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Live Music in Local Clubs Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Steep Ravine, T Sisters play the Unitarian Fellowship Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Theater Camelot presents Playwright Richard Manley's 'A Question of Words' Classics, premiers highlight '15 season for OSF Randall Theatre presents playwright Charles Ludlam's comedy "The Mystery of Irma Vep" Roy Orbison tribute hits high note Thanks for the Memories Theatre presents 'Cardenio' Music Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present 'The Passing of Time' Live Music in Local Clubs Charles Guy & Linda Powers play Belle Fiore Steep Ravine, T Sisters play the Unitarian Fellowship Here it is! Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Len Dickson's 'Fall Harvest' to grace Belle Fiore wine label Dining Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Cheeseburgers on the cheap Valley View — It's all in the family Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Call for resignation is premature ... Auditor: Jackson County finances strong ... Get Up & Go: Sunday, Feb. 8 ... Our View: Call for resignation is premature ... Auditor: Jackson County finances strong ... Get Up & Go: Sunday, Feb. 8 ... Radio host Lars Larson brings show to Medford By GREG STILES,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By GREG STILES,Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 10, 2002 @ 2:00 am Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 1:01 PM By GREG STILES,Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 10, 2002 @ 2:00 am Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 1:01 PM » Social News Conservative voice will broadcast, host GOP debate Tuesday It's one thing to speak your mind, another to speak it while 200,000 people listen in and still another to induce the audience to come back for more. Portland talk-show host Lars Larson has become a daily fixture for Northwest radio listeners from Jackson County to Spokane - nearly doubling his reach within the past year, growing from seven to 12 stations. His four-hour program is the top-rated talk show in Portland, No. — in any format in the Eugene-Springfield market and commands a statewide audience unlike any other in Oregon. Larson, heard locally on KCMX (880-AM), will be in Medford Tuesday. He will broadcast from Rogue Federal Credit Union, 1370 Center Dr., then moderate a 6 p.m. Republican gubernatorial debate at the Red Lion Inn. "What we saw in Lars was a lot of coverage of regional issues," says Mike Donovan, market manager for Cumulus Broadcasting in Eugene, including KUGN. "I think the town hall analogy is very apt. It's the feeling you get hearing from people in places that perhaps you wouldn't hear from in other ventures." Larson's show originates on KXL (750-AM), a station owned by Portland Trail Blazers boss and Charter Communications Chairman Paul Allen. The noon-4 p.m. program is generally done at the Rose Garden complex, but Larson also hits the road, appearing in Eugene and Klamath Falls when local debates turned into regional or national issues. Politics is Larson's bread and better and when political performance comes under public scrutiny it makes for captivating dialogue. Larson says the world of talk radio changed 17 years ago with the advent of the cell phone. No longer were call-in shows dominated by retirees or those kept home by medical ailments, whose primary interests might have been Social Security or veterans' affairs. "Sales reps and people driving things around to their customers are now able to participate in talk radio," Larson says. "As a result, it's become a community meeting place." Half of Larson's listeners are in the Portland-Salem-Vancouver market, where his listenership climbed 14 percent in the fall ratings period. But his following has grown dramatically since syndication began two years ago. Since KUGN put Larson on the air last March, the station's afternoon ratings have gone up 120 percent and listenership in Lane County is 21,300. Fall-ratings figures weren't available, but KCMX's overall rating rose by one point during the fall and Larson likely had something to do with it. KXL's local sales manager Mike Maloney, who oversees advertising on Larson's network feed says politically tense times up the ratings and sales. "The inordinate number of ballot measures in this state make local politics more important," Maloney said. "So many of measures impact so many pockets and the process puts issues in front of people. Lars' show has become a platform for political debate, first in Portland, and more and more the rest of the state." That platform has come under fire from some quarters, including Gov. John Kitzhaber, who has refused to appear on his show, saying "you never accept invitations to a lynching." In this year's State of the State speech, Kitzhaber criticized the "mindless ideology of the talk show host," and his spokesman said pressure from talk shows was making it more difficult to find middle ground in the current budget crisis. Larson is on the conservative side of the fence, but says he invites "people of all stripes" to air their views. That invitation may reach an even wider audience if Larson's influence grows as he hopes. "I'd be lying if I told you that I haven't lobbied all over the state to add stations to the show," Larson says. Larson was born in Taiwan and moved about the Northwest after his father left the Navy to pursue a career in forestry. A couple of stops in Montana were followed by stays in Happy Camp, Somes Bar and Dorris in California and Klamath Falls before attending junior high and high school in Tillamook. He began his radio career in Tillamook when he was 16 and worked for several radio stations in Eugene during an abbreviated stint at the University of Oregon. From there he took a job in Spokane and continued his schooling at Gonzaga University. In the '80s and '90s, Larson appeared on both radio and television, including an anchor job with the independent TV station KPTV in Portland and work with KXL radio and KOIN-TV. Larson has a direct connection with the Rogue Valley as a weekend host for Central Point-based Talk Radio Network. He teams up with "Rogue Warrior" author Dick Marcinko of Virginia, a former U.S. Navy Seal, terrorism and military expert in a show called America on Watch. KCMX airs the three-hour show at 9 p.m. Saturday nights. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4463 or e-mail . By GREG STILES,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By GREG STILES,Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 10, 2002 @ 2:00 am Updated Dec 17, 2010 at 1:01 PM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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