Keep AM radio in cars, for safety’s sake

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency has equipped nearly 80 AM radio stations with backup equipment and power generators, so they can keep broadcasting to more than 90% of Americans in an emergency. (stock.adobe.com)

AM radio, to many Americans, is the more serious, drier option a parent or spouse switches on to catch the news, latest sports score or traffic update in the car.

Younger motorists, who subscribe to satellite radio or crank up podcasts and Spotify playlists during a road trip, might consider AM — and even FM radio — obsolete.