KRPS shifts to news/talk format ahead of busy news year 

With a busy year of news on the horizon, KRPS 89.9 FM has switched formats to ensure listeners are up to date and fully informed. The station is located on the campus of Pittsburg State University and has been serving the Four States since 1988. 

“This is likely to be a new year like no other with every member of the Kansas House up for reelection, Missouri residents will elect a new governor and a new U.S. Senator, the total solar eclipse will happen in early April, the summer Olympics are planned for Paris, and of course the U.S. presidential election,” said Fred Fletcher-Fierro, interim general manager. 

The station has added the following: 

  • 11 a.m. NPR’s Here & Now (weekdays) 
  • 1 p.m. Fresh Air with Terry Gross  
  • 2 p.m. The World 
  • 3 to 6 p.m. An additional hour of NPR’s All Things Considered (weekdays)   
  • 8 p.m. Additional news coverage (Monday through Thursday) 
  • 7 to 10 a.m. An additional hour of Weekend Edition (Saturday and Sunday) 

Since the station's launch, KRPS has aired a combination of news, jazz, and classical programming. 

“The switch was made based on listener trends,” Fletcher-Fierro said. “Our most listened-to hours every day are our morning news shows, NPR’s Morning Edition, and Weekend Edition Saturday and Sunday, followed up by our afternoon and evening news, All Things Considered, and Marketplace.” 

“So much news happens between the morning and the afternoon and we wanted to keep those listeners tuned in and think of KRPS as their NPR news source,” he said. 

A unique aspect of KRPS in comparison to commercial news radio is that KRPS broadcasts multiple news sources including the BBC World Service, the Kansas News Service, locally produced content, and news from partner stations across Missouri.  

KRPS is a member of the NPR Network, streaming at KRPS.org, on Amazon Alexa, Google Nest, and the NPR App. A dedicated KRPS app will launch later this year.  

The new schedule can be viewed in full detail at krps.org/schedule#weekly-schedule