KASU to celebrate 67 years on the air

The oldest non-commercial public radio station in Arkansas is set to celebrate its nearly seven decades on the air. KASU 91.9 FM, the public media service of Arkansas State University, will celebrate its 67th birthday with two fundraising events this month.

KASU signed on the air May 17, 1957, from its first studio in Wilson Hall, and is the oldest National Public Radio (NPR) member station in Arkansas. Now the station streams its signal from KASU.org, and its website provides continuous news content from NPR, Associated Press, other Arkansas public media stations, and the KASU news department.

“We are excited about celebrating the 67th birthday of KASU and these events. The KASU listeners continue to show their support for the station, keeping us strong and helping us reach our goals,” said Mark Smith, KASU station manager. “We depend upon listener and underwriter support to help us bring listeners the music, news, arts and views they depend on. We appreciate all contributions as they all help us reach our goals.”

KASU listeners become members by making financial contributions to the non-commercial educational station.

“Membership funds support the programming aired by KASU,” added Smith. “The funds raised through this event and through our on-air fundraisers also help to show the community support that allows the station to qualify for our community service grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” Smith added. “Grants help pay for programming and supplement the operating expenses of the station.”

KASU has been an NPR member station since 1971. In addition to locally produced news and music programs, KASU pays to receive programming from NPR, American Public Media, and other sources.

Listeners can join the KASU team May 16, at Lost Pizza. The pizzeria will donate 10% of sales to KASU. Nothing Bundt Cakes is supplying Bundtinis for dessert.

A drawing for prizes will occur each hour. Donations can be made online anytime at KASU.org/give or by downloading the KASU mobile app.

Talk Business & Politics is a content partner with KASU, providing news updates three times a week.