Public Radio listeners in central Arkansas will notice a change in midday programming on KUAR FM 89.1 starting Monday, July 1, when Here and Now expands from one to two hours and moves from noon to 1-3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays.

KUAR will also add a new one-hour news magazine show hosted by John Hockenberry, The Takeaway, which will air at noon.

“We are excited to add The Takeaway to our list of programs, which impressed us with its efforts to reach out to different locations throughout the U.S. for perspectives on national stories and events,” said interim program director Nathan Vandiver.

The decision comes as a response to NPR’s announcement that Talk of the Nation will leave the air Thursday, June 27.

Vandiver said The Takeaway daily news focus makes it a good fit for the noon hour when many listeners are mobile.

According to general manager Ben Fry, because there was an overwhelming response from listeners to keep Talk of the Nation Science Friday, the program will continue at its current time from 1 to 3 p.m. Fridays.

“So we’re keeping the weekly science show right where it’s been for 17 years. We’re all very sad to see Neal Conan and Talk of the Nation go, but I think this new lineup will serve our listeners well.”

NPR is putting its resources behind a partnership with WBUR in Boston to aid the expansion of Here and Now to a two-hour midday news magazine. Jeremy Hobson, formerly of the Marketplace Morning Report, joins Robin Young as co-host, and NPR will make its reporters available to the show to expand both domestic and international news coverage.

“This partnership gives us confidence that Here and Now will serve our midday news audience with the quality news coverage that NPR listeners expect, and fill the large void left by the departure of Talk of the Nation,” Vandiver said.