The Cuyahoga Arts & Culture board approved more than $12.3 million in grants Wednesday, the first fruits of last year's increase of the county cigarette tax.

A large portion of the meeting, however, was given to public comment by 11 people who expressed displeasure with Ideastream Public Media, one of the grantees, and Cleveland State University changing the format of WCSB to jazz. Most asked the board to delay or rescind Ideastream’s grant until WCSB’s previous schedule is reinstated.

Former WCSB General Manager Alison Bomgardner questioned whether Ideastream’s educational mission is being fulfilled by the switch to jazz. She’s led the effort to continue the station as a student organization known as XCSB.

Amanda Light, a 2021 CSU graduate, asked that the board provide emergency funds

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