KMUW makes programming changes

KMUW 89.1, Wichita Public Radio, is changing its programming schedule to support its public service mission and to focus production on local news and music.

The station has reformatted its jazz programming and will launch a new jazz show, “Night Train,” hosted by full-time KMUW Music Producer Chris Heim.

On Mondays-Thursdays, Heim’s world music show, “Global Village,” will air from 7-8 p.m. Host Jedd Beaudoin’s “Strange Currency” will air from 8-10 p.m. And “Night Train” will air from 10 p.m.-midnight.

On Fridays, KMUW will offer two hours of Heim’s blues show, “Crossroads,” which will repeat at 7 p.m. Sundays.

In August, KMUW will stop carrying “Living On Earth” on weekend mornings and “Afropop” on Saturday nights in order to offer two additional hours of the “BBC World Service” each week. These changes will save the station funding that can then be used to provide more in-depth coverage of local news and other locally produced extras.

Among its local additions, the station added Wichita writer Andrew Bales’ pop culture musings, “Into It,” to its reserve of “Morning Edition” biweekly commentaries in March.

KMUW will soon add a music spot from Mark Foley, assistant professor at Wichita State University and principal bassist of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, to the same slate.