From Bruce Ernst, General Manager, and Paul Dulin, President of the Board, of Las Cruces Community Radio (KTAL-LP):
As we take steps to reduce the coronavirus risk to our all-volunteer staff, committee and board members, you may notice some changes at the station. We are keeping our volunteers at home by playing more prerecorded and archived shows and holding virtual meetings by Internet. For the hosts that prefer to do a live show, we are looking at technological solutions to keep them at home and out of harm’s way.
The articles in this newsletter focus on the coronavirus and how it is affecting Las Cruces.
Stay safe!
Cruces Coronavirus Updates
Walt Rubel and Peter Goodman are airing updates to keep the community informed on the impact of the virus. You can hear our half-hour Cruces Coronavirus Updates at 9 a.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Wednesday's Update is part of Speak Up, Las Cruces!, where coronavirus has dominated the discussions. The update is re-aired at 9 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and Wednesday's Speak Up, Las Cruces! is re-aired at Thursday morning at midnight.
This Wednesday at 9:20, Lt. Governor Howie Morales will be Walt's and Peter's telephone guest.
You can also stream the program from podcasts that are found online in the KTAL Archives. Click here for more information on the updates.
Michael Allen (in the booth in the photo) and Minerva Rivera produce the show for Walt and Peter.
KTAL Community Moments
And, 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 on our website. Here are a couple of our favorites:
Parents wanting their child to have a special birthday party while still abiding by stay-at-home and social distancing measures can call the Las Cruces Fire Department at 575-528-3473 to have a fire engine drive by their home with the lights on and do a slow neighborhood drive-by. The birthday shout outs are for children between the ages of 4 and 12 and will be conducted between 3 and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
NMSU Professor Zooey Sophia Pook, Vista College Professor Caleb Oeming and Bernie Digman, owner of Milagro Coffee y Espresso, are offering to find and deliver items of necessity. Started by posting a flyer digitally at the coffee shop, other NMSU professors and community members have steadily been fielding three to four emails a day from people who are older, low income, have disabilities or in difficult circumstances. Those needing assistance may email [email protected].
Useful Links for Information on the COVID-19 Pandemic
On a recent Earth Matters Radio Hour, host Kevin Bixby interviewed (safely by phone!) International Fund for Animal Welfare representatives Kate Wall and Mark Hofberg. The trio discussed the origins of the coronavirus and how the trade in wild animals and human encroachment in wildlife habitats likely created this new and deadly zoonotic disease. They explored a wide variety of issues related to human-wild animal interaction and what needs to be done to prevent another pandemic. You can listen to the show here.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the grease for the gears that keep Las Cruces Community Radio running smoothly. There is no paid staff! Please consider volunteering at KTAL. Radio experience is welcome but not necessary.
For more information about how to get involved, please visit: https://www.lccommunityradio.org/contact-us.html.
Become a Member! Please consider becoming a sustaining member. It helps the station budget for and pay rent, utilities, licensing fees and other essentials. You can sign up for monthly payments or donate here. Or, you can send a check made out to:
KTAL Radio
121 Wyatt Dr. #9
Las Cruces, NM 88005 We appreciate your support!
Our Mission
KTAL-LP’s mission is to operate a public radio station that entertains, informs, challenges, inspires and engages our listeners through an eclectic mix of musical, cultural, educational and community affairs programming.
The vision of Las Cruces Community Radio is for a truly local radio station that reflects the diversity of views, news, and talent in our community. Our goal is to have as much local programming as possible, including talk and call-in shows, public and community affairs, local artists, and a wide range of voices and perspectives.
