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And they were given 10 days to shut down...or else. A business in Brooklyn was operating at 93.7-FM. Jaril Garcia is accused of operating an illegal station on 99.3 in Paterson, New Jersey. Michael Costa is nailed for his pirate radio station at 89.9, "The Juice Broadcasting Network," in Providence. And Maglie Plaismond in Cranston, Rhode Island, was told to shut down an operation at 97.9-FM.

Forbes magazine featured an interview with Angela Yee of Urban Contemporary morning show The Breakfast Club, who shared her strategy for making her mark in media, while elevating and educating the next generation of young women.

On Thursday, the House Energy & Commerce Committee passed the PIRATE Act. If approved by the full Congress, The PIRATE Act will increase fines to up to $2 million, hold those who knowingly assist pirate stations accountable and create an easy-to-use list of licensed stations and illegal stations that have received enforcement.

Beginning last fall, a waitlist for the 2019 Tom Joyner Foundation Fantastic Voyage cruise started to load up for the 20th anniversary 7-day cruise. The cruise will sail on the Carnival Magic, April 7-14, 2019, from Miami, with port stops in San Juan, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk.

The Highway Radio Network & Heftel Broadcast Company are launching a new remote satellite broadcast studio at Pawn Plaza in Las Vegas owned by Gold & Silver Pawn Shop owner Rick Harrison (pictured),  star of History’s “Pawn Stars.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has circulated a proposal that would establish the requirements to govern the incubator program that the Commission adopted in 2017. The program supports the entry of new and diverse voices into the broadcast industry. It will be voted on at the FCC August meeting. Here are the details of the program.

POD Digital Media is the first podcast network targeting the multicultural audience. The network includes over 100 shows, including podcasts form The Breakfast Club's Angela Yee, Ed Lover and Julius Erving. It was launched by former agency executive Gary Coichy.

Jeanne Smith has been named iHeartMedia’s Market President for the Quad Cities, (Davenport and Bettendorf in Iowa, and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline in Illinois), which includes seven stations comprised of music, talk, and news formats.

Local Radio Networks is collaborating with Skyview Networks and ABC Radio on several aspects of its business. Skyview will provide LRN its satellite distribution platform and become the exclusive network sales partner for LRN’s 24/7 music formats. ABC Radio will provide resources to LRN with additional programming opportunities for its affiliates. 

Industry veteran Dave Cooper has been named General Sales Manager of Country station WQDR 94.7 FM in Raleigh. Cooper was most recently General Sales Manager for Entercom/CBS radio stations KYKY and KEZK in St. Louis.