KRTS, the National Public Radio affiliate that had a brief on-air debut in early 2006 has received final clearance from the Federal Communications Commission and began broadcasting September 14.
Station General Manager Tom Michel said the station is “back – and here to stay.”
In addition to local programming, beginning October 1, KRTS will broadcast some favorite programs of NPR devotees: National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition” news program from 5 to 9 am; “All Things Considered” from 4 to 6:30 pm, weekdays; and “Weekend Edition” from 7-9 am, Saturday and Sunday.
The station is also offering a variety of locally produced shows including Mark Pollock’s Far West Texas Blues Hour, Jim Glendinning’s Voices of the Big Bend.
The station welcomes and encourages public involvement and input: become a volunteer, or help support the station by becoming a member (Basic annual memberships are $60 per year.).
The station’s tower and antenna, located in the Davis Mountains, use a 100,000-watt signal, transmitting to a large portion of Far West Texas. KRTS’ promises service to Alpine, Balmorhea, Fort Davis, Fort Stockton, Marathon, Marfa, Valentine, and Van Horn. “Outside of those towns,” said Michael, “we’ll have decreased coverage, but there is a possibility the station can be heard – and often radio is better heard in the car.”
Contact KRTS staff via phone at 432-729-4578, or MPR PO Box 238, Marfa, TX 79843, or www.marfapublicradio.org.

MORNINGS
Mo-Fri: 5am-9am: Morning Edition from NPR (News)
Mo-Fri: 10am: Talk At Ten (Local Public Affairs / interview program)
Mondays @ 9am: REGIONAL Rambling Boy (regional history w/ Lonn  
Taylor), Voices of the Big Bend (interviews with longtime residents  
w/ Jim Glendinning)
Tuesdays @ 9am: STATEWIDE “Texas Monthly” Talks (hosted by Evan  
Smith), Texas Matters (from Texas Public Radio)
Wednesdays @ 9am: LITERATURE Mere Words (poet interviews), Bookworm  
(author interviews), Book Notes (book reviews), followed by a poem  
read by a local poet (we are encouraging local poets to record a  
poem of their for broadcast)
Thursdays @ 9am: SCIENCE Island Earth (environment) Science and the  
Sea, Medical Discovery News, Science Studio, Preservation Nation

AFTERNOONS
Mo-Fri: 4pm-6:30pm: All Things Considered from NPR (News)
6:30pm - a rebroadcast of the morning program, usually Talk At Ten
Fridays, 11am-1pm: Rock Till One (‘50s & 60s rock & pop)
Fridays, 1-3pm: Science Friday, from NPR
Fridays @ 3 pm: Latino USA, from NPR

EVENINGS
Monday @ 7pm - Far West Texas Blues Hour w/ Mark Pollock (Texas
 blues)
Wednesday @ 8pm - Old-Timey w/ Rachel Lindley (old-time American  
music ‘20-’40s)
Wednesday @ 9pm - Jazz with Little Danny (jazz music, esp Latin Jazz)
Thursdays @ 8pm - Boogie Chillen’ (Gulf Coast music)
Thursdays @ 9pm - Rock-a-Billy  (rock-a-billy music)
Thursdays @ 11pm - Rock of Ages (music & talk)

WEEKENDS
Morning News (Weekend Edition), 7-9am
Afternoon News (Weekend All Things Considered), 4-5pm
Saturday @ 11AM - World Music w/ Carol Fairlie
Sunday mornings, Folk Music w/ Ross Burns