Flatow, show 'Science Friday' settle claims of misusing federal grant money

Photo: The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, file photo, Ira Flatow, host of National Public Radio's Science Friday, speaks to a group of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory scientists and Delta High School students at Battelle Auditorium in Richland, Wash. Federal prosecutors say the National Public Radio show “Science Friday” and host Flatow have settled civil claims that they misused money from a nearly $1 million federal grant aimed at boosting the show’s reach to younger listeners. (AP Photo/The Tri-City Herald, Paul T. Erickson, File) LOCAL TV OUT; LOCAL RADIO OUT KONA

HARTFORD, Conn. - Federal prosecutors say radio host Ira Flatow and his "Science Friday" show that airs on many National Public Radio stations have settled civil claims that they misused money from a nearly $1 million federal grant aimed at boosting the show's reach to younger listeners.

The settlement was announced Tuesday by Connecticut U.S. Attorney Deirdre Daly and an inspector general of the National Science Foundation. "Science Friday" and Flatow didn't admit any wrongdoing.

Flatow and the show will pay nearly $146,000 to resolve alleged violations of federal law. They also agreed to not participate in federal grant programs for one year.

Flatow says he did nothing wrong and settled because the legal costs were too high.

Authorities say grant money was used inappropriately for "unallowable and unsupported" costs, but didn't elaborate.