Lars Larson

For another radio host with a similar name, see Lars Larsen (radio).

Lars Larson (born March 6, 1959 in Taipei, Taiwan) is an Oregon conservative talk radio show host who also hosts a national talk radio show on the Westwood One Radio Network. His talk show's flagship, 750 KXL in Portland, Oregon, has hosted the program since 1997.

Lars Larson is one of the more prolific hosts on the radio, hosting seven hours of live programming a day (although some interviews are rebroadcast between the national and regional show).

In the 1990s, Larson hosted a three-hour regionally-syndicated radio show while also serving as the anchor for KPTV's 10 O'Clock News and host of a newsmagazine show, Northwest Reports, airing at 9 p.m. He left the newsmagazine position in 1997 when the station joined UPN, and left the anchor position in 1998 amid controversy from some in the community who claimed that the role of opinionated talk show host conflicted with the neutral duties of a journalist.

Larson is a proponent for stopping all illegal Mexican immigration in the United States and greatly increasing requirements for immigrants to become citizens, such as respecting the culture of the United States as well as learning to read, write, and speak English, though he never complains about other cultures who do not speak English. Many of his shows are devoted to or repeatedly mention the topic.

Larson is married to Tina Michele Larson, his third wife, and lives in Vancouver, Washington.

Controversial remarks

Larson is licensed in Oregon to carry a concealed weapon. He has responded to persons who threaten to harm him or his family physically by publicly threatening to return any such attempts with lethal force. For example, when Michael Moore called Larson's home number from the stage, for a political stunt, during a Fahrenheit 9/11 promotion tour, Larson's voice mail greeting gave his personal cellphone number and the entire audience heard it. According to police records, multiple people thereafter harassed his family and made threatening sexual comments to his wife. Lars then announced on the air that if anyone acted on these threats and tried to harm someone in his family, he would use lethal force in self-defense. Larson's act would most likely be prosecuted if the state found no evidence that Larson or his family were in danger of serious physical injury or death from an attacker.

On September 16, 2005 Bret A. Harter, 38, of Portland pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor phone harassment for the telephone threats he made against Larson and his family. Harter was sentenced to 30 days in jail and probation. Harter also stalked Larson at his home, according to police reports. The investigation was conducted by the Vancouver, Washington Police Dept. and resulted in a permanent restraining order issued by a judge against the defendant.

In December 2005, Larson declared on-air that he was protesting the renaming of the traditional Christmas Tree placed in Pioneer Courthouse Square a "Holiday Tree" by placing his own Christmas Cross in the Square. The idea was reversed because of legal concerns for his flagship station.

Shows and times

• Lars Larson Northwest Show 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Pacific (This show only broadcasts to the state of Oregon and Southwest Washington. In addition, the 11 a.m. hour is a "Portland-only" hour broadcasting only to KXL listeners.)
• Lars Larson National Show airs real-time 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Pacific, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Eastern on the Westwood One Radio Network. It also airs on flagship KXL from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
• The "best of" version of the Lars Larson show airs on radio stations around America on Saturday and Sunday.
• Both the Northwest and National show are streamed live from Larson's website.

External link

• Official Homepage
• KXL