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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.

When Governor Abbott signed a law legalizing the growing and selling of hemp products in 2019, it opened up a wild west for the industry. State lawmakers closed some loopholes this year, and recently, Abilene police began enforcing compliance with the new laws. We’ll hear about the fallout.The Texas Tech system is getting a new chancellor… we’ll take a look at what that means, and the political implications.Pollinators are an important part of all ecosystems… we’ll hear about a native West Texas plant–and research into how bees tend to it.

AI Data Centers need a lot of resources – we’ll hear about their needs for water in an often drought-stricken region.There are a lot of ripple effects from the A-I data centers coming to the region – we’ll hear about the impact on local housing.Abilene ISD is piloting a School Choice program at three elementary campuses this year. We’ll hear about that... and the district’s request that voters approve a new tax-rate in the November midterm election. District officials say either way, property owners will see a decrease in the school-funding portion of their tax bills.Quail populations may be turning around in Texas – we’ll hear about how researchers have developed feed aimed at putting a stop to the decline.And KACU’s Local Sports Report is back! Zion Webb will be here to give us a preview.

As college campuses kick into high gear. We’re taking a look at the challenges of getting here from abroad, and we’ll share the story of one international student at McMurry.We’ll also hear about how staff at ACU work to support foreign students –the trends they’re seeing, and how they overcome the challenges that are unique to international students.Abilene is poised to be a hub for technology – Senator John Cornyn was in town yesterday, visiting what will soon be the largest A-I data center in the U-S — and talking with local officials about the local impact.A new think-tank on water is percolating in West Texas… we’ll tell you about it.And we’ll hear how in a city rooted in Christian tradition, the Interfaith Council is working to build bridges.

America’s strikes on Venezuela have captured a lot of attention this week. Texas congressional delegation has had a mix of reactions to the complicated political and diplomatic situation. We’ll take a closer look at historical context, as well as the reaction from West Texas, and what it might mean for the state’s oil industry.There’s a whole lot of symptoms this time of year. From the flu to seasonal allergies lots of folks are feeling a little under the weather. We’ll check in on how it’s hitting West Texas.The state is working to add to public lands in the Big Bend region. The new area won’t be open for years… but state officials are working to get the public earlier access to it.We have the next installment of the Bloodwork series - with a look at the personal experience of being a plasma-donor.The Abilene Philharmonic is preparing to perform its first concert of 2026. The audience will enjoy a piano concerto and the work of Tchaikovsky. David Itkin shares his thoughts on the concert, which is coming up next week.