KXLE Radio

12/12/2025

We have an update to report! Half of our four bay antenna is officially up. The tower climbers are working today and tomorrow, weather permitting, to get the remaining bays installed and run the transmission line down the tower to the transmitter building.

That is the major work that needs to happen. Once it is finished, we just have a couple more components to wrap up on the new transmitter and then we will be on the air at 18kW of power from Lookout Mountain. This will restore the signal to pre-Taylor Bridge Fire quality.

If you’ve already noticed an improvement to our signal in Upper County, thats because we made some minor adjustments to our Manastash Ridge site last week.

Below is a quick video of Henry on site explaining where things stand and what is happening next. If all goes according to plan, we might just be looking at a little Festivus miracle.

12/11/2025

For the most accurate and up to date emergency information in our community, please follow the Kittitas County Sheriff page.

OUR MISSION:
Protect All People, Keep the Peace, and Uphold the Constitution of the United States.

12/10/2025

Sensory Santa, Saturday, Dec. 13 at Cle Elum Loan Depot, 113 E. First St., Cle Elum. A special event reserved for individuals and families who have disabilities or sensory processing needs who would like extra time with Santa. No fluorescent lights or loud music. Wheelchair access, snacks, and sensory activities. Free, but an appointment is required. Register at: https://bit.ly/sensorysantacleelum

12/05/2025

We were hoping to make the switch to Lookout this week, but we have hit a few unavoidable technical delays. Radio broadcasting may feel simple when you turn on your radio and the signal is there, but behind the scenes there are many steps in that journey. Audio travels from the studio, through multiple links, to the transmitter site, into the transmitter and up the tower, into the antenna, and finally out into the universe. Right now, a couple of those links in the chain are still giving us hiccups.

The good news is that our tower climbers are scheduled to return on Monday, weather permitting, to finish the installation of our four-bay antenna. At the same time, our engineering team is zeroing in on the remaining technical issues in "the chain" so we can flip the switch as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we did make some adjustments at our Manastash site in an effort to help improve signal quality into the Upper County, and some listeners should notice a bit less static. That said, the real improvement will come once Lookout is fully completed, restoring signal to all of Kittitas County and beyond that we haven't had since before the Taylor Bridge Fire of 2012.

We truly appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through the final details and when we get it finished, it will be amazing! Remember, if you're having signal issues, you can stream KXLE-FM live anytime at KXLERadio.com

11/29/2025

We had a great time this afternoon at the Ellensburg Downtown Association’s “Moments to Remember” event! Huge props to Pooya and The Roadhouse Grill for making sure the cocoa was hot, fresh and lasted (almost) all night!

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from KXLE! 🦃

Sharing the classic WKRP turkey drop because some traditions never get old… and because “as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.”

See you TOMORROW at Unity Park from 3–5 p.m. for the Ellensburg Downtown Association’s “Moments to Remember” event! Check out their page for more information and the full schedule.

11/25/2025

STATUS UPDATE from Lookout Mountain… progress made but encountering delays

We went into this week crossing our fingers for a Thanksgiving miracle on Lookout Mountain, but Mother Nature had other plans. Snow, cold, and tower-climber safety protocols all teamed up to remind us who is really in charge up there.

The good news is that Phase 1 of the project is nearly complete. Our single bay antenna is installed and looking sharp. The catch is that a few remaining technical components still need to be configured before we can switch it on. If everything stays on track, we expect to bring it online in the middle of next week. 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Once that happens, and assuming the weather decides to cooperate, our climbers will make the return trip to finish installing the four bay antenna, which is the major upgrade that will deliver the full signal improvement we have been working toward.

Progress is happening, even if the mountain insists on setting the pace. We will keep you updated as each piece falls into place.

11/21/2025

We’re making major upgrades on Lookout Mountain this upcoming week (fingers crossed, sudden weather changes could scuttle our plans) to strengthen and clean up our FM signal. When this work is finished, listeners across Upper County and beyond should notice a clearer, more consistent signal than anything heard since before the 2012 Taylor Bridge Fire.

You’ll see an updated FCC “contour map” in this post. In plain terms, that map shows the predicted area where our signal is protected from interference. It’s not a hard boundary. Plenty of listeners will still hear us outside the line, but inside that contour is where reception should be at its best.

These improvements include upgraded equipment, better antenna performance, and a more modern setup designed to carry the signal farther and with fewer dropouts. Terrain still affects coverage, as mountains block radio waves and valleys help them travel, but our updated system is built to deliver full-county coverage with far more reliability.

Bottom line: we’re investing in a stronger, clearer KXLE. Thank you for hanging in there while we finish the work.

11/18/2025

There’s a lot happening at KXLE, and we want you to hear it from us.

Longtime broadcaster Bill Wolfenbarger has welcomed Henry Johnston as a partner in Ellensburg Radio Broadcasting to help strengthen and rebuild KXLE as a truly local station for Kittitas County.

Work is already underway on a major signal upgrade at Lookout Mountain, with studio updates to follow. These improvements will help us return to the level of local programming KXLE used to be known for and take it even further.

In the coming months, you’ll see us out at community events while we continue the behind-the-scenes work. As things come together, expect a new local morning show, hourly news and weather, more local sports, and a refreshed music mix that feels like the KXLE you remember.

We’re committed to keeping local radio local and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

11/17/2025

We’re starting major upgrades at our Lookout Mountain tower site, and upper county listeners will likely notice reduced or no signal for KXLE FM over the next couple of weeks while the work is completed. Ellensburg and the lower valley should experience little to no disruption to either our AM or FM signals.

These improvements are a big step toward restoring full, reliable county-wide coverage, and our goal is to have everything up and running just before Thanksgiving.

And this isn’t the only upgrade happening at KXLE. Lots of exciting things are happening so be sure to follow us for more updates and announcements in the days ahead!

07/21/2025

Miracle Treat Day is Thursday, July 31st at Dairy Queen!
When you buy a Blizzard Treat at participating DQ locations, $1 or more from every Blizzard sold will be donated to local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

This is your chance to enjoy a cool treat while helping kids in our community get the care they need. Whether it’s supporting life-saving equipment, critical treatments, or family services—your Blizzard makes a difference.

Stop by your local DQ on July 31st and support Miracle Treat Day!

05/13/2025

Congratulations to Sam Baker and Brenna Federwisch on winning Two Free Tickets to this weekend's Advantage Dirt Bares and Broncs Rodeo Event and the Kittitas Valley Event Center.

Tune in to win more tickets, getaways, and more in the future!