WRUL News Heartbeat of Carmi and the Tri‑State Region

WRUL News For over 70 years, WRUL‑FM (97.3 MHz) has been a fixture in Carmi, Illinois, and across the Evansville, Indiana market—offering country music, local news, and vital community updates. Owned by Mark and Saundra Lange under The Original Company, WRUL has grown well beyond its music roots to become a trusted hub for news, emergency alerts, local government updates, and more wrul.com+10en.wikipedia.org+10wrul.com+10.

1. Overview & Broadcasting Profile

Launched July 2, 1951, WRUL quickly carved out its place in the rural Midwest—serving Carmi and the surrounding counties with country hits and community information. With a 50,000 W signal and 149 m antenna height, it covers broad swaths of southern Illinois and western Indiana en.wikipedia.org.

WRUL’s format blends:

• Country music, its musical backbone.

• Local news and sports, shared during programming blocks and live segments.

• Fox News Radio and Compass Media Networks content en.wikipedia.org.

2. Local News Reporting: Connecting Communities

WRUL News section, curated by Jc Tinsley, Nicole Behnke and others, covers vital updates from city councils, county commissions, fire and police reports, educational budgets, events, and more police-station.com+15wrul.com+15wrul.com+15.

Recent coverage includes:

• Relay For Life success: Team Hodgson earned top honors in tri-county fundraising for cancer awareness youtube.com+5wrul.com+5wrul.com+5.

•  McLeansboro council tax deliberation: A municipal grocer tax was approved and July 4 fireworks plans finalized wrul.com+3wrul.com+3wrul.com+3.

•  Liquor license approval: 5th Street Market in Carmi received a new Class G permit en.wikipedia.org+3rul.com+3wrul.com+3.

These stories highlight WRUL’s strength in hyperlocal reporting—keeping small towns and villages informed on everyday life and decision-making.

3. Community Safety & Public Notices

Through timely updates, WRUL covers law enforcement activity and municipal governance:

•  Arrest reports: DUI, probation violations, gun-related incidents from Carmi and White County wrul.com+9wrul.com+9wrul.com+9.

• School board highlights: Annual budget hearings and member swearing-ins reviewed for public context .

• Township budgets: Carmi Township’s 2025–26 budget now available for public inspection wrul.com.

4. Sports, Obituaries, Events & More

Sports Reporting

• Tournament updates like the Carmi Open golf event.

• School team scores and athlete recognition.

Though local specialties, these stories drive civic pride and community identity.

Obituaries

A respectful feature, the obituary section honors lives and legacies, listing recent passings in the Carmi area These details—birthdates, family, life achievements—serve as important historical records.

Community Events

The station also maintains a Swap Shop, classifieds, and coverage of local happenings like fairs, Relay For Life lineups, and township meetings youtube.com+13wrul.com+13wrul.com+13.

5. Shows & On‑Air Talent

WRUL’s on-air line-up reflects its blend of entertainment, news, and personality‑driven content wrul.com+10wrul.com+10wrul.com+10:

• Big D & Bubba: A popular morning country show.

• Cathy Taylor, Rush Hour Rodeo featuring Cole Carter, Biscuit, Tory, and Kiki Garcia: personality hosts offering local commentary, music, and humor.

These shows anchor WRUL’s brand—warm, local, and community-focused.

6. Weather & Emergency Alerts

WRUL partners with Weatherology to broadcast real-time weather and alerts, including heat advisories, storms, and school closures wral.com+8wrul.com+8wrul.com+.

Hourly weather reports during shows ensure listeners are informed and prepared—especially vital in areas prone to severe weather.

7. Station History, Reach & Affiliations

Early Days

• Launched in 1951, WRUL established itself as a local media channel for country music and civic events .

Modern Reach

• Today, it covers a multi-county region across southern Illinois and parts of Indiana with robust signal strength.

Affiliations

• Integrates national news from Fox News Radio and syndicated content via Compass Media Networks en.wikipedia.org.

Despite syndicated programs, WRUL remains deeply rooted in localism.

8. Why WRUL News Matters

1. Hyperlocal Focus: WRUL fills the void often left by larger outlets—community meetings, road budgets, arrests.

2. Community Trust: With clear reporting and civic coverage, WRUL is a trusted news source.

3. Civic Engagement: By covering local budget hearings, elections, license votes, and crime updates, WRUL keeps residents informed and involved.

4. Live Information: With weather, traffic, and on-air alerts, it supports daily routines and safety.

5. Cultural Roots: As a country music station with local flavor, it blends entertainment and information organically.

9. Looking Ahead: Opportunities & Enhancements

To stay relevant in the evolving media landscape, WRUL has room to grow:

• Digital expansion: A robust app or podcast offering could reach younger audiences.

• Streaming: Live audio streaming via website or mobile app boosts accessibility.

• Interactive segments: Listener call-ins, Q&As, polls for deeper engagement.

• Multimedia content: Short video clips or social updates from council meetings or community events.

Yet, WRUL’s continued priority—serving the local, rural community with clarity and care—remains clear.

10. Conclusion: Beyond Country Music

By blending music, local news, weather, governance updates, and human-interest storytelling, WRUL does what few media platforms can: builds community, informs citizens, and fosters trust.

In an era of global media saturation, WRUL reminds us that local voices matter most in shaping informed, connected communities.