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Radio personality Barb Abney returns to the Current

MPR's alt-music station announces a number of high-profile additions.

By Neal Justin

April 8, 2022 at 9:08PM

Barb Abney will be the new host of the Current’s “Radio Free Current,” starting Saturday. (Leslie Plesser, Go 96.3/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

The Current, MPR's alt-rock destination, has announced the addition of four new hosts, including local favorite Barb Abney.

It's a return trip for Abney, who worked at the nonprofit station from 2006 to 2015. She was dismissed for reasons that were never made clear. Friday was Abney's last day at KFAI, where she was co-hosting "AM Drive" with Mason Butler.

According to the Current's website, Abney will start hosting "Radio Free Current" Saturday night.

Other additions include new evening host Ayisha Jaffer, former KYMN personality Jessica Paxton and freelance writer Chaz Kangas.

about the writer

Neal Justin

Critic / Reporter

Neal Justin is the pop-culture critic, covering how Minnesotans spend their entertainment time. He also reviews stand-up comedy. Justin previously served as TV and music critic for the paper. He is the co-founder of JCamp, a non-profit program for high-school journalists, and works on many fronts to further diversity in newsrooms.