Las Cruces Community Radio 101.5 FM

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Welcome to KTAL-LP 101.5 FM!

KTAL brings authentic local voices to the air. Critical local issues. Live music.

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NO MÁS

You can hear our Sep.19
broadcast of NO MÁS by going to our Archive page.

NO MÁS, is an original radio play that presents the story of Carmelita Torres and the almost forgotten bath riots of El Paso 100 years ago.

In 1917, the mayor of El Paso and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service set up what they called The El Paso Disinfection Plant at the Santa Fe Bridge, allegedly to combat the disease typhus. It required all immigrants coming from Juarez to file through the facility and strip naked, where they were doused with kerosene, gasoline, sulfuric acid, and the notorious chemical Zyklon B, the toxic gas later used in the Nazi death camps. The workers, both men and women, were subjected to this treatment every day before they could enter El Paso for their daily jobs.

Carmelita Torres, a young housekeeper, refused to submit to this humiliating procedure, and led more than 200 women in a sit down action in front of the city's trolleys, which shut down the city for 3 days.

NO MÁS that tells this dramatic story of resistance, activism, and sisterhood. Acted by members of the Lustre Theater, the play was introduced by the playwright Meagan O'Toole-Pitts.

Thank you for making the Sizzling Summer Fundraiser a huge success!

From Bruce Ernst, KTAL's General Manager: On behalf of the volunteers at KTAL, I want to thank our listeners for making our Sizzling Summer Fund Raiser such a huge success! We raised over $10,000! We had donors from California (even from Hollywood!), Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Texas, and (of course!) New Mexico. And, as always, I want to thank our volunteers who promoted the fundraiser on the air and helped out behind the scenes.

Although we have had smaller on-air fundraisers, this was a big one for us, because we needed it to make up for the lost revenue from the cancelled Roadrunner Revue. To be honest, before we started, I was hoping we would raise $8000, vastly underestimating the generosity of our listeners! Thanks, again!

You still can click the Donate button above to make a donation!

KTAL Candidate Forums Starting September 2!

Between September 2 and October 28, KTAL will host candidate forums for all contested elections that Doña Ana County voters will see on their November 3rd general election ballots (except the Biden-Trump race). From the County Treasurer on September 2 to the U.S. Senate and 2nd District U.S. Congresswoman on October 28.
Walter Rubel and Peter Goodman will interview the candidates – by phone or in-person, depending on pandemic developments – mostly as part of their “Speak Up, Las Cruces!” show (Wednesday, 8-10 a.m.), but with some forums scheduled for Friday mornings. You can see the schedule here.

Coronavirus Updates Are Back at KTAL

The new Updates are hosted by MaryAnn Digman. As a management consultant for a large malpractice company, MaryAnn remains up to date on current health care challenges such as COVID 19. She will bring a fresh perspective to the Updates. Tune in Mondays at 9 to hear MaryAnn. You can listen to archived shows here.

Join Our Programming Committee

Would you like to help KTAL-LP decide which programs the radio station going to air in the future? We’re looking for volunteers for our committee that helps makes these decisions. Right now the group meets virtually over Zoom the last Tuesday of every month. If you’re interested and want to learn more, let us know on our contact us page.

KTAL Community Moments

To keep your spirits up, we are airing short stories on how the Las Cruces community is stepping up to help one another during the pandemic. These KTAL Community Moments are broadcast throughout the day, and you can find them here.

Grow Your Business and Support Community Radio

Grow your business while supporting true community radio in Southern New Mexico! Your announcement will potentially reach up to 80,000 people in and around Las Cruces and the Mesilla Valley. Here's what our listeners are saying:

“KTAL-LP is fantastic!”
“Twice this week I had to stay in my car to listen to the morning shows before going in to work!”
“It is nice to hear different local programs every morning.”
“We’ve never heard different community voices like this before. You’re doing a great job!”
“I am so happy this is OUR COMMUNITY Radio Station! Thank you to everyone involved that made this happen.”

Click here for more information on underwriting.

Help Doña Ana County Get a Complete Count

This year, 2020, the government will be conducting the national census, mandated by the Constitution every 10 years. The census uses population to calculate a wide range of funding for everything from roads and fire stations, to Medicaid and school lunches, and New Mexico receives 8 billion dollars for these and many other services.

The census needs to count everyone who resides in the country, regardless of their status. Because of our very rural population and the many unincorporated communities like colonias, New Mexico is a notoriously hard state to count.

KTAL has received a contract from Dona Ana County to produce messages in English and Spanish informing people about the census and how important it is for everyone to participate. Thanks to some excellent volunteers, including Raul Esparza Jr., Marisol Diaz, Shirley Baca and Marty Racine, the first batch of spots will begin airing in February.

KTAL is doing its part to help raise the population count in the state through our messages, which we hope will encourage people to fill out their forms online or mail them in by Census Day, April 1.

Looking For Volunteers

KTAL-LP is run entirely by volunteers and can always use more. We need volunteers! No radio experience required. We'll find something for you to help with.

You can propose a show or go to the Contact Us page and let us know how you would like to help.