On this episode of West Texas Talk, a conversation with Presidio ISD Superintendent Dennis McEntire. Facing nearly $1 million in funding cuts, McEntire discusses budget priorities for his district, the expiration of Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR) and the unique challenges of educating a remote, poverty-stricken district. Hosted by Elizabeth Trovall for KRTS

On this edition of West Texas Talk, a conversation with Rafa Esparza, Beatriz Cortez, and Timo Fahler, some of the artists behind Tierra. Sangre. Oro. - the latest exhibit from Ballroom Marfa.

For this project, adobe is central to the work. The exhibit addresses and excavates the history of colonialism, labor and economic value scales, queer culture and masculinity, as well as personal and familial legacy. While making these interventions, the artists will explore, “the visibility of Brown people in Marfa.”

Esparza learned how to make adobe brick from his father, and will work with artists from the Los Angeles community and local Marfa craftsmen to produce bricks and install... Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

On this West Texas Talk, a conversation with American singer, songwriter, and musician Christopher Owens.

Owens is best known as the frontman and songwriter for the now-disbanded indie rock band Girls - He has since released three solo albums.

He stopped by the studios in Marfa during the inaugural Marfa Poetry Festival, where he was performing, to talk about his music, upbringing in a traveling religious community, and relationship with Amarillo-artist Stanley Marsh.

Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

Professor Jason Lagapa discusses UT PB’s "Boom or Bust" writing workshop. The project aims “to help promote understanding of the Permian Basin’s energy and economic resources from a humanistic perspective.” This project is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and includes a speaker series, writing workshops, and book clubs.

This station is partnering with UTPB to feature essays from the writing workshop on Marfa Public Radio. In this program, you hear personal essays from Berry Simpson, Alex Rathbun, Chris Bartlett, and Sheena Stieff.

The first writing workshop for the semester takes place on on August 30, 2017.

Previous stories from the "Boom or Bust" writ... Hosted by Diana Nguyen for KRTS

On this edition of West Texas Talk, a conversation with Grammy Award-winning Western swing fiddle player and acclaimed Texas musician Bobby Flores.

As well as being a world class touring and session musician, Bobby runs a recording studio and school for students aiming to become professional touring musicians in San Antonio.

Bobby and his six-piece Yellow Rose band, will be performing at Marfa’s USO Building (302 S Highland Ave, Marfa, TX 79843) August 26th with all proceeds benefiting this radio station. Doors for the event open at 8pm, with the show and dance running from 9pm till midnight. 

Visit bobbyflores.com for more information on the band and music. Hosted by Laurel Coniglio for KRTS

On this episode of West Texas Talk, an interview and in-studio performance with members of the El Paso cumbia band Frontera Bugalú. In conversation with the band's co-founders Kiko Rodriguez and Joel Osvaldo, we discuss the musical project's biting social commentary, playing shows on both sides of the border and the band's unique take on cumbia, the musical backbone of Latin America.

Percussionist Michael Nelson also contributed to the interview.

Hosted by Elizabeth Trovall for KRTS

Today’s guest on West Texas Talk is Damond Benningfield of the McDonald Observatory discussing the first total eclipse seen from coast to coast across the U.S. since 1918.

Benningfield writes the Observatory’s “Star Date” radio features and edits the Star Date magazine and website, stardate.org.

Public events on Aug. 21 at the McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis are listed here. Hosted by Pete S. for KRTS

Rosa Alcalá is poet, translator, and teacher in the Department of Creative Writing and Bilingual MFA Program at the University of Texas at El Paso. In this conversation, Alcalá discusses the interplay of and importance of both English and Spanish in her life and her latest book of poetry,  MyOTHER TONGUE.

PARAMOUR by Rosa Alcalá

English is dirty. Polyamorous. English

wants me. English rides with girls

and with boys. English keeps an open

tab and never sleeps

alone. English is a smooth talker

who makes me say please. It's a bit of role-playing

and I like a good tease. We have a safety word

I keep forgetting. English likes

pet names. English

has a little secret, a past,

an... Hosted by Elise Pepple for KRTS

Before Peter Svarzbein became a city council member, he created a fictional campaign for a streetcar between El Paso and Juarez, just like the one that ran between the two cities until 1973. What started as an art project grew into a grassroots effort that eventually received funding from the Texas government. In this episode, Peter discusses where the project stands now and the longstanding relationship between El Paso and Ciudad Juarez, a place that he calls a "third space."

You can learn more about the Transnational Trolley Project here. Hosted by Caroline Halter for KRTS

On this edition of West Texas Talk, a conversation with author, poet, and Lannan resident, Cathy Park Hong.

Hong’s most recent poetry collection is Engine Empire (W. W. Norton, 2013). Her debut, Translating Mo’um (Hanging Loose Press, 2002) received a Pushcart Prize. Her second collection, Dance Dance Revolution (W. W. Norton, 2007) was selected for the Barnard Women Poets Prize.

Hong’s awards and honors include a Fulbright Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, and a Village Voice Fellowship for Minority Reporters. She teaches at the Queens MFA program in Charlotte, North Carolina. She also serves as edito... Hosted by Laura Copelin for KRTS