WBUR decides not to sell R.I. station

PROVIDENCE -- The public radio station WRNI-AM is no longer up for sale, the station's owners, WBUR-FM and Boston University, announced yesterday. The move reversed a decision announced nine months ago.

Nancy Sterling, a spokeswoman for the WBUR Group, would not give details but said the group had decided to retain ownership and management indefinitely.

''There were numerous factors that went into the decision, and we'll elaborate on that tomorrow," Sterling said yesterday evening. She said a formal announcement would be made this afternoon.

WBUR announced in September that it planned to sell WRNI. That angered donors who had raised money to buy the station's license. WRNI is the only station in Rhode Island affiliated with National Public Radio.

Attorney General Patrick Lynch also raised questions about the sale and began an investigation in October. Mike Healey, a spokesman for Lynch, said the station recently turned over documents requested by the state. He said he was unaware of the decision not to sell the station.

Following the launch of that investigation, WBUR general manager Jane Christo resigned amid questions about management.