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15 Years of NPR in Heart of Texas

Today (July 1) marks the 15th anniversary for National Public Radio on KWBU-FM here in the Heart of Texas. Carlos Morales has this look back through the years.

Fifteen years ago when KWBU began broadcasting National Public Radio for the first time, it actually sounded a little bit like something you would hear today. It was Saturday. Weekend Edition with Scott Simon was on and featured were stories about Vermont’s groundbreaking state law, which allowed for ‘civil unions.’ Also in the news that morning was a story about the Confederate flag in South Carolina – in 2000 it was moved from the State House to the Confederate monument. Now, forward to today, and the Supreme Court has just legalized same-sex marriage, there are calls to completely remove the confederate flag, and KWBU-FM is still on the air. KliffKuhel – who was the general manager of KWBU at the time - said those early formative years were challenging but rewarding as well.

“It felt like we were sailing around the world and building the boat while we were sailing. That’s what it kind of felt like," Kuhel said. "Because we got the license and sort of all at once we had to staff up, and have a schedule and start doing cut-ins, so it was pretty wild but it was gratifying.”

At the time Waco was the largest underserved market for NPR. There had been attempts years before to bring public radio to the area, but it wasn’t until 1999 when the motions to establish an NPR station in the area were set. 

Larry Brumley was a key figure in getting public radio to Waco. He said in the late 90s the Brazos Valley Public Broadcasting Foundation – the then license holder for Waco’s PBS affiliate – was having challenges with a mandated switch to digital broadcasting. Baylor eventually took over the license from the BVPBF – and began to look at the possibility for adding NPR services. Brumley said the joint licensee for TV and radio was beneficial because it allowed for cross-platform promotion. But in 2010, amid financial troubles, KWBU television went off the air. 

"Ultimately it wasn’t sustainable, Television wasn’t sustainable," Brumley said. "But radio, I think, even out of the gate when we launched NPR service 15 years ago it was an immediate hit in the community." 

In 2001, the station began broadcasting, KWBU opened its news department. Michael Hagerty was the station’s first news director and reporter. He said the station was fortunate during those first years as there was plenty to cover, like when then-President George W. Bush set up a so-called “Western White House” in Crawford, Texas – roughly 20 miles from Waco.  

"It was just an amazing time to be, trying to do news and launching a station in Waco because of all the stuff happening with President Bush in town and all the stuff that brought with it," Hagerty said.

Today, KWBU is part of a 30-station public radio network in Texas. And across the nation it’s one of more than 900 NPR member stations. It's part of what KWBU president and CEO Joe Riley said he believes the station is important for the health and growth of the area.

“We bring local news and local culture to the people of greater Waco as well as those national and international stories that are so necessary for a health society," Riley said.

Throughout the years, KWBU programing has grown to include local shows like I Hear America Singing, the Buisness Review, Likely Stories and the Central Texas Leadership Series. Carl Hoover is the entertainment editor for the Waco Tribune-Herald. He’s written about the station throughout the years and said KWBU has created a community in the Heart of Texas.

"When you listen to KWBU, there’s a thought that other people in town like this too, and so it’s not just me, but there’s people like me. And that sort of builds up an identity of sorts," Hoover said. 

Today, the station celebrates 15 years of NPR programming in the Heart of Texas with an open house from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.