KACU

08/29/2025

☕ Coffee with KACU is back!

Join us Friday, September 5, at 8:30 a.m. right here at the station for FREE coffee from Monks Coffee Shop, great conversation, and plenty of good vibes.

Come say hi, grab a cup, and start your morning with your public radio community. We can’t wait to see you!

08/27/2025

We have had a power outage at our transmitter site and are currently working to resume broadcasts. Thank you for your patience!

08/27/2025

As college campuses kick into high gear. We’re taking a look at the challenges of getting here from abroad, and we’ll share the story of one international student at McMurry.
We’ll also hear about how staff at ACU work to support foreign students –the trends they’re seeing, and how they overcome the challenges that are unique to international students.
Abilene is poised to be a hub for technology – Senator John Cornyn was in town yesterday, visiting what will soon be the largest AI data center in the U-S — and talking with local officials about the local impact.
A new think-tank on water is percolating in West Texas… we’ll tell you about it.
And we’ll hear how in a city rooted in Christian tradition, the Interfaith Council is working to build bridges.

08/20/2025

AI Data Centers need a lot of resources–we’ll hear about their needs for water in an often-drought-stricken region.
There are a lot of ripple effects from the A-I data centers coming to the region – we’ll hear about the impact on local housing.
Abilene ISD is piloting a School Choice program at three elementary campuses this year. We’ll hear about that... and the district’s request that voters approve a new tax-rate in the November midterm election. District officials say either way, property owners will see a decrease in the school-funding portion of their tax bills.
Quail populations may be turning around in Texas–we’ll hear about how researchers have developed feed aimed at putting a stop to the decline.
Quail populations may be turning around in Texas – we’ll hear about how researchers have developed feed aimed at halting the decline.

08/20/2025

📻✨ Happy National Radio Day from all of us at KACU 89.5! ✨📻

Radio has the power to connect us, inform us, and bring our community closer together. Today, we’re celebrating the voices, stories, and music that make public radio such a vital part of daily life in Abilene and the Big Country.

We’d love to hear from YOU — why do you value radio? 💬 Share your favorite KACU memory, program, or reason you tune in!

And if radio has made a difference in your life, consider making a gift today to support KACU. Your generosity keeps independent, local public radio strong. 💙

👉 Give today: https://donate.nprstations.org/kacu/basic-no-premiums

Become a member like me at: https://donate.nprstations.org/kacu/

08/14/2025

Congratulations Jessica Welch! You're the winner for the Caveman Music Festival passes! Please email [email protected] for your tickets and more information.

08/13/2025

The Texas redistricting fight continues – we’ll bring you the latest.
One race that won’t be affected by the proposed new congressional map is Texas-19. Today, we hear from Kyle Rabel —the Democrat challenging five-term incumbent Jodey Arrington.
Tariffs are back – we’ll check in on how the latest round could impact West Texas industries and families.
It’s a return to the olden days for Texas Schoolkids. They can no longer bring their cellular telephones - or other communication devices – into their classrooms. Opinions are mixed on the ban.
And we’ll hear about the return of Broadway to the Big Country–with the Book of Mormon, HadesTown, and more coming to the Abilene Convention Center this year.
And we’ll hear about the return of Broadway to the Big Country–with the Book of Mormon, HadesTown and more coming to the Abilene Convention Center this year.

08/11/2025

GIVEAWAY CLOSED.
WINNER ANNOUNCED: Jessica Welch

We've got one last Caveman Music Festival GIVEAWAY! 🎶

KACU is giving YOU a chance to experience Colorado at the Caveman Music Festival in Weston, CO – August 28–31!
Win a Caveman Package for 2 with a 4-night campsite – a $400 value! 🏕️🎸

Enjoy 4 days of live music, nature, and chill vibes featuring The Toadies, Jamestown Revival, Uncle Lucius & more!

TO ENTER:
✅ Like this post
✅ Follow KACU and Caveman Music Festival
✅ Share this post
✅Comment done!
Winners announced Thursday afternoon—don’t miss your chance to kick back in Colorado!

🎟️ More about the fest: cavemanmusicfestival.com

08/06/2025

The legislative special session is on hold–after Democrats fled the state to prevent a mid-decade redrawing of Texas’s political lines– We’ll take a closer look at the battle–and whether there will be any impact on West Texas.
THC is supposed to be on the agenda for the special session–local CBD shop owners give their perspective on the attempts to regulate or ban products with T-H-C.
Food Banks are feeling the heat after USDA funding was cut. But the West Texas Food Bank is celebrating news that the agency will buy food from American farmers to help fill food banks…
Many West Texans spend a lot of time inside this time of year–but what about the people who don’t have an air-conditioned space during the dog days of summer–we’ll hear about how officials are trying to help.
Many West Texans spend a lot of time inside this time of year, but what about the people who don’t have an air-conditioned space during the dog days of summer–we’ll hear about how officials are trying to help.

08/01/2025

Thank you KTXS Television and Caitlin Leggett for helping tell KACU’s story — and for shining a light on what’s at stake.

With the loss of more than $150,000 in federal funding, KACU is at a crossroads. For almost 40 years, we’ve brought you the voices and stories that matter to Abilene — stories that inform, connect, and reflect the heart of our community.

These are stories worth saving.
And right now, we can’t do it without you.

If you believe in the power of local, independent media, please support KACU today.

💙 Donate: https://donate.nprstations.org/kacu/basic-no-premiums

President Trump's recent executive order targeting public media funding has sparked concern in Abilene, where KACU, the city's only NPR affiliate, stands to lo

07/31/2025

We’re so grateful to KTAB News and reporter Mariah Williams for shining a light on the impact of federal funding cuts to KACU. Their coverage reminds us how essential local media—both public and commercial—are to a healthy, informed community.

KACU has lost more than 30% of our operating budget due to the rescission of CPB funds, putting our trusted news, music, and storytelling at risk.

If you value having a local public radio station dedicated to local issues and voices, now is the time to stand with us. Your support matters more than ever.

👉 Read the story: https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/abilenes-kacu-radio-seeks-community-support-after-funding-cuts/
💛 Donate or learn more: kacu.org

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Inside the KACU studio, after the mic check and record button is pressed, stories unfold. Since 1986, the Abilene radio station has been more than the Billboard H…

07/30/2025

Texas is still recovering from the devastating floods that hit not only the Hill Country…parts of West of Central Texas are also recovering. We’ll get details about the flooding and the clean up in San Saba.
And, get this: Just last month the average rate for a hotel room in Abilene Texas went up 36%. We’ll tell you why there is a sudden uptick in demand…and what it means for the economy.

We’ll check in on All Kind Animal Shelter–the no-kill facility is constantly full.
Also, did you know Monks Coffee shop is under new management? We talk to our friend Allison Carroll-and the new owner Wyatt Crum about the past, present and future of one of the cornerstones of Downtown Abilene.

And, each Tour de Gap brings together cyclists for a cause–this year proceeds will help fill the gap for people needing medical care.