The West Texas Dispatch is KACU’s weekly talk show dedicated to serving the listeners of Abilene and beyond with news and information that reflects the unique spirit, needs, and issues of our region as well as celebrating the best parts of the Big Country and West Texas.
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Today we bring you the next installment of “The Data Center Next Door”. We’ll look at growing the laws and regulations that have led to Texas being at the forefront of the industry’s growth in America.The return to the classroom has reignited debate over what’s in Lubbock’s school libraries. We’ll hear about the battle over books this hour.We’ll hear from an archaeologist who says efforts to construct additional border barriers in Big Bend are threatening historic sites.And it was the biggest crowd yet for a music festival in Potosi, that a local family created to honor one of their loved ones
Abilene was sold on promises that data centers would transform their local economy. But some residents are wondering when the benefits will come.Abilene is putting the finishing touches on the budget for the next fiscal year, and the city council will meet next week to go over all the details. Abilene’s city manager is here to tell us more.The new school year is underway in Abilene. Students returned to their classrooms, and AISD’s new superintendent will give us his take on the year ahead.One of the hottest spots for live music in the Big Country is Brownwood. We’ll check in on that city’s mu
2026 is not the year the U-S gets a new Farm Bill passed. A Senate committee failed to advance the most recent proposal. Advocates for the agriculture industry are not happy as they anticipate yet another extension.Meanwhile, Texas cotton growers are working to deal with a decline for their crops. We’ll hear how they plan to fight for their sustainability.And a plant-based protein operation is expanding in Schleicher County – we’ll hear about the company’s plans for a major investment in the aqua-farming facility.Are you ready to slow down in school zones? Crashes in school zones were up more
Abilene voters will be asked to enter the fray between city officials and fire fighters. The firefighters want to move the contract negotiations to collective bargaining-and binding arbitration. The president of the firefighters’ association is here to tell us why.The backlash against the rapid expansion of A-I infrastructure in Texas continues–Governor Abbott issued a moratorium on new projects until wide-ranging audits can be conducted. We’ll hear from one of his biggest critics on the issue Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.Remember party-lines–the telephone kind? Well your grandma probab
The state’s elected officials - and their challengers - are laying out their ideas about the future of A-I infrastructure in the Lone Star State.During their recent West Texas campaign swing Democrats came together to voice their concerns about the state’s A-I data center boom.City officials are seeking input on naming some of Abilene’s community spaces. We’ll hear more about the proposed new names and how to be part of the process.The annual bike race through the Buffalo Gap countryside had racers peddling on some of this summer’s hottest days. We’ll tell you about this year’s Tour de Gap.Doz
Dozens of Texans have been hit by a parasite that has spread through raw produce. We’ll have the latest information on the outbreak from a West Texas expert.Democrats have been on a West Texas road trip– as they try to build excitement for their candidates heading to the November election. We’ll tell you about their stop in Abilene.Zebra mussles are invasive and continue to spread –they have reached new parts of West Texas, and experts want the public to help fight them.We’ll check in on water levels after last week’s storm system pushed all kinds of bodies of water -and reservoirs- over their
Officials and communities all over Texas are pulling in the reins on the expansion of A-I Data Centers. This weekend, Texans will join with other people across the U-S to amplify a message of resistance to the wild-west approach to building America’s A-I infrastructure.The City of Abilene is working on plans to deal with forever chemicals in the water supply. Monitoring recently revealed that P-FAS levels exceed federal maximums. We’ll get an update from a city water official.Over the years, one home in Wylie has sparked a lot of curiosity and a lot of conversation. We’ll bring you the story.A
As we observe the nation’s 250th birthday…we’re looking back at the history of Texas and Abilene. Last week we talked through the state’s timeline up until the 1880s…today we pick up the story with the founding of Abilene.More than 72-million Americans traveled over the July 4th holiday…and more than five-and-a-half million of them flew. We’re checking in on summer travel through Abilene Regional Airport…it’s the first summer local travelers have direct flights available to Arizona and Colorado…what’s the impact at A-B-I?State Senator Charles Perry is pushing to speed up the process of removin
This week America celebrates its 250th Birthday. We want to look back at what was happening during that time in what would eventually become Texas.A lot of people like to celebrate July 4th with fireworks, by watching organized shows, and by experiencing the thrill of sending them up. Even though there’s no burn ban right now, there are restrictions. We’ll take a closer look.It’s an interesting time to be a cattle rancher. Beef prices are up. But so are costs. An invasive species is threatening all warm blooded mammals. And drought is always a looming challenge. We’ll tell you about the declin
Abilene officials are up to their elbows in budgeting for the 20-27 fiscal year. Today we’ll take a look at how they’re approaching the work…with millions of extra revenue flowing into the coffers.We’ll also talk about the local economy–which is fueling that flush-budget situation. So much new development underway…and more coming. But how are the small businesses doing?Some Abilene community members have worked for years with the Equal Justice Initiative to create a memorial for lynching victim, Grover C. Everett…. Last weekend their work was unveiled in downtown Abilene.We’ll bring you a fiel
The New World Screwworm made it into Texas just a couple of weeks ago–and now officials have confirmed that it’s reached West Texas. We’ll have an update.Texas Tech and A&M are collaborating to address challenges in rural healthcare. The unique approach employs not only telehealth–but shipping container clinics to expand access to medical and behavioral care in the state’s rural areas.A co-founder of the outdoor brand YETI is reportedly providing some help with work to add border barriers in Big Bend. We’ll bring you a look at that project-and the ranch where supplies and workers are setting u
The New World Screwworm has made it into Texas. Lab testing confirmed the first case in Zapata County last week. West Texas ranchers are taking note…but not panicking.Jodey Arrington is making his way toward retirement…the ballot is settled for November…and the soon-to-be former Congressman says he already feels lighter.At a time when more Texans are relying on food assistance…the Food Bank of West Central Texas is expanding its service to the Big Country…The organization’s big drive through project is now open for business…we’ll tell you about it.This week on West Texas Roots we have the orig
Ben Bailey and Tammy Fogle are here today. We’ll ask them how they’re going to get voters excited about showing up at the polls for this runoff — after a very low turnout for the May election.Prices are up for everything. The thing that’s fueling this hit to pocketbooks is the prices of oil. We’ll take a look at how high gas prices are hitting west Texas.Extreme weather and ‘dust events’ are leading to a spike in Valley Fever in West Texas. We’ll hear about the results of research into the sharp increase in the illness.Little kids like to be helpful. But sometimes their best intentions do more
Texas’s Primary Elections are finally over-after yesterday’s runoff decided the contests that didn’t produce an outright winner in March. Those candidates are now shifting the focus of their campaigns to defeating their opponents on the other side of the aisle.We’ll have the final installment of our month-long series Minds on Trial – wrapping up by looking at how society views and approaches mental health.Some West Texans are fighting the federal government’s expansion of border barriers. Officials and landowners have collaborated on a letter expressing their opposition.We’ll also bring you th
Early voting is underway in the runoffs for candidates trying to secure their spot on November’s ballot. We’ll check in on the race for the Republican nomination for Texas’s 19th Congressional District.We’ll also hear about the runoff in the U-S Senate race–and for the G-O-P contest for Railroad Commissioner.Today we’ve got our next installment of Minds on Trial. Today-we hear from an individual–and his loved ones–about what a difference Assisted Outpatient Treatment makes.We’ll tell you about the impact of gas prices on rural West Texas.It’s been more than a decade in the making. The doors ar
We continue to dig into the way Texas has worked to improve the way the criminal justice system deals with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis..today we go all the way back to the model that the Texas system followed.After years of planning, fundraising and building–Heritage Square will open its doors this week. We’ll hear from some of the key architects of this incredible project.The rising price of oil has given rise to theft in West Texas…and it’s a much more sophisticated crime than it once was.We’ll tell you about how Texas Tech students are protesting what they say is the dea
Today we bring you the second installment of our series “Minds on Trial” with a look at how Texas has worked to solve the problem of not having enough resources for people experiencing mental health crises—and keeping those crisis from escalating into a dangerous situation.A four-way race is a hard one to win out right. We’ll wrap up the joint city and school general elections for you–and look ahead…to the runoffs.This week's West Texas Roots tells us how an airman and his wife fell in love with Abilene after being stationed at Dyess Air Force Base…and how names for certain farming equipment c
Today on the show we kick off a series looking at how Texas is trying to change the way people in crisis interact with the justice system. We start by looking at the problem that the state has been trying to solve…and is leading the way on for other states.Housing remains a hot topic in the Abilene area–even for the universities! Only some of their students live on campus–and some students without that housing may not be sticking around.Abilene was on the front end of the big A-I Data Center surge–but communities across West Texas are considering whether or not to develop these projects…we’ll
He’s the mayor of Abilene. He wants to be mayor again, in this time of great change for the City. We sit down with Mayor Weldon Hurt, unopposed candidate for reelection.Inspectors recorded dozens of safety violations at a West Texas ICE detention facility. We’ll hear more about the report.Almost a third of Texas women aren’t up to date on their mammograms. A local partnership aims to provide this important screening for women in the Big Country.The work is done, and today the ribbons will be cut at two recreation centers in Abilene…we’ll hear about the facilities–and the what’s news.West Texas
We have a special show in store today.Early voting in Texas’s Joint City and School Elections starts Monday. Today we’ll hear from the candidates for Place Four. There are four of them.Navy veteran Benjamin Baylie is a small business owner who advocates for streamlining the processes around local development as an approach to addressing Abilene’s Housing Crisis.Rich Lyles touts his experience navigating federal funding and infrastructure as a key part of his qualifications for seeking a seat on the City Council.Allison Carroll is a small business owner who has served on a variety of boards and
