KNUU

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KNUU, better known to Las Vegans as K-News, is the local news-talk station for the Las Vegas Valley, broadcasting on a frequency of 970 kilohertz. KNUU broadcasts news stories during the mornings and late-afternoons, with talk shows filling out the remainder of its broadcasting schedule.

[edit] History

Originally an affiliate with the CBS Radio Network, KNUU is now affiliated with ABC Radio News. The station originally went on the air in the mid-1970s, and broadcasted all-news between 6 AM and Sunset every day. By the mid 1980s, the station received a permit to broadcast 24 hours a day.

[edit] Role in Las Vegas Politics and Crime

During the late 1980's and early 1990's, various reporters working at KNUU impacted Las Vegas politics by airing a number of stories on alleged improprieties taking place at Las Vegas City Hall. Among these reporters was Luke Moretti, who used the name Luke Michaels on the air. Luke's various stories on a resurgence of mafia influence in Las Vegas raised eyebrows, although some of his reports were said to exaggerate the so-called neo-mafia influence in Las Vegas. In particular, columnists at the Las Vegas Review Journal, a local newspaper, observed that corporate influences were of greater import upon local gaming and political operations than the mob.

Another influence came with the friendship between then-City Councilman Steve Miller and KNUU's afternoon news anchor Daniel Thomas Pryor. Councilman Miller regularly provided Pryor with inside information about potential conflicts-of-interest at city hall, including zoning votes which were allegedly benefiting the financial coffers of councilmen and the mayor. Pryor regularly aired such reports, but the zoning scandal did not actually erupt city wide until Miller took credible evidence to the Review Journal newspaper. The ensuing scandal eventually brought an end to the tenure of Mayor Ron Lurie, the city manager, Ashley Hall, and City Councilman Arnie Adamsen. Pryor eventually left KNUU in 1991 to join a news station in Miami, FL.

[edit] Influence by PETA

Additionally, in 1990 the station owner and general manager, Douglas Trenner, an established horse trainer, became closely involved with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, PETA, to attempt to expose local entertainer, Bobby Berosini, as an animal rights abuser. Berosini featured a number of trained orangutans in his act as part of the long-running show, Lido de Paris, at the Stardust Hotel.

PETA presented a video recording to local television stations that purported to show Berosini beating his orangutans prior to taking the stage. Trenner permitted PETA access to his station to express their point of view. While a protracted media event ensued, Berosini's act remained a part of Lido de Paris for several years.