Family Arts Festival, Jan. 13th

Join KXCI at the Family Arts Festival on Sunday, January 13th, from 11am to 5pm.

The Family Arts Festival is a free celebration of the arts and cultural heritage of our region. The day includes multiple stages of live music, dancing, children’s activities and a global village.

Learn more at http://www.familyartsfestival.org/.

Be sure to stop by the KXCI booth for a free gift!

Read more!

Monday's One Cup Of Java Challenge

Our New Year's Eve One Cup: A little business history for today’s Challenge. On this date in 1955, we had the first U.S. company to report yearly earnings of more than a billion dollars. That company was 47 years old at the time; still around today, their most recent earnings report for the 3rd quarter of 2007 showed them losing $39 billion. Your One Cup question this morning – name this first U.S. company to make a profit of one billion dollars in one year.

Answer: General Motors

Read more!

Thursday's One Cup Of Java Challenge

Thursday's One Cup of Java Challenge: Today marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of a facility, still around today, that at its opening was the largest movie theater in the world with 5,933 seats. The building’s elevator system was so advanced in 1932 that the in the 40s, the Navy copied the design for aircraft carriers. The building has hosted basketball games and boxing matches, college graduations, the Grammys, Tonys, the NFL draft, and later today, a performance by Cirque de Soleil. Your One Cup of Java Challenge question this morning – name this building at 1260 Avenue of the Americas, which still bears partially bears the name of its first tenants.

Answer: Radio City Music Hall

Read more!

The Connection's Stone Soul Christmas

From Jason, host of The Connection (Saturday nights, 9-11pm)

"I'll be hosting my 5th annual holiday music event on KXCI this Saturday night from 9-11pm. The Connection's Stone Soul Christmas Special is sure to bring audio delectables & aural pleasures you're unlikely to hear anywhere else. Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Otis Redding, Andre Williams, Rufus Thomas, Kurtis Blow, Dr. John, RUN DMC and The Staples Singers are just a few of the artists I'll be featuring - tune in, you'll be glad you did. Wishing You A Happy & Funk-filled Holidays."

Read more!

Friday's One Cup Of Java Challenge

Friday's One Cup of Java Challenge: Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was released on this date in 1937, 70 years ago today. Our question this morning asks you to tell us why, specifically, was Sneezy sneezy?

Answer: He was allergic to flowers.

Read more!

He Ain't Heavy He's My One Cup of Java Challenge

Thursday's One Cup of Java Challenge: On this date in 1969, the Hollies “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” was released, a tune that would eventually hit #7 on the charts in the U.S. and become one of six Top Ten singles for the Hollies in this country. Your One Cup of Java Challenge question this morning, with 5 possible winners: name of the other five American Top Ten singles for the Hollies.

Answer: Bus Stop (#5, 1966); Stop Stop Stop (#7, 1966); Carrie-Anne (#9, 1967); Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) (#2, 1972) and The Air That I Breathe (#6, 1974).

Bonus Blog Trivia: A then-unknown 21-year-old Elton John played piano on "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother."

Read more!

KXCI: Powering Down For Safety

Friday Update: We are powering down at approximately 9am, should be back to full power around dusk. -KXCI

KXCI's transmitter on Mount Bigelow is a co-located site with many other broadcast stations. One of those stations, KUAT-TV, is currently doing repair work on their digital transmitter that was damaged by a lightning strike.

For safety reasons, all other stations are required to lower power on their transmitter, or in some cases turn off their equipment.

Beginning around 12:30pm Wednesday, KXCI will be operating at about 20% power during this repair work.

Power should return to normal when work ends around dusk.

Subsequent reduced power days will be determined as work on the KUAT equipment continues.

Free webstreaming at KXCI.org is not impacted.

Thank you for your understanding.

Read more!

Newest Public Service Messages

The newest public service announcements from your listener-supported Community Radio, KXCI.

GIRL SCOUTS: The Sahuaro Girl Scout Council is looking for adult women to work with young girls in our community. A variety of volunteer opportunities exist, including their Done-In-A-Day one day program. Learn more about volunteering with the Girl Scouts by calling Kristen at 319-3170. “It’s A Girl’s Life – Lead It.”

FOX TUCSON THEATRE: The Fox Tucson Theatre wraps up their screenings of holiday classics on Saturday, December 29th with a 7:30pm showing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo and Randy Quaid star in this tale of family togetherness gone wrong. Tickets are $8, $6 for students and seniors, and proceeds benefit the restoration of the Fox. Learn more at http://www.foxtucsontheatre.org/mainhome.php.

TREE RECYCLING: You’ve had a white Christmas, maybe a blue Christmas – now it’s time for a green Christmas. To learn about Christmas tree recycling in Tucson, visit http://tucsonrecycles.org/. They’ve got plenty of other tips there, too, to help you make 2008 your greenest year yet.

MENTORING: The Old Pueblo Community Foundation seeks adult volunteers for their Mentoring Empowerment Program, which helps previously incarcerated individuals to re-connect with our community by making positive choices. Mentors can meet one-to-one or in a group setting. Training is provided. To learn more, contact the Old Pueblo Community Foundation at 546-0122.

PROJECT ACHIEVE: January is National Mentoring Month. You can make a difference by volunteering with Project Achieve, a before-and after-school program of Amphitheater Schools. Volunteers serve one to two hours a week mentoring youth, assisting with homework, or helping with one of the academic clubs. Free training is provided. To learn more, contact Janet at 881-3300, extension 142.

Read more!

Simon And Simon / One Cup of Java Challenge

Wednesday's One Cup of Java Challenge: A little television, music and political history for today’s question. On this date in 1987, 20 years ago today, the host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live had the same name, but were two different people. Your question this morning – to give me the one name that applies to these two people, one a musician who had been on Saturday Night Live many times, the other a politician who would be making his only appearance.

Answer: Paul Simon and Paul Simon.

Read more!

Happy Birthday Keith Richards

Tuesday's One Cup of Java Challenge: Today is Keith Richard's birthday, and as we sometimes do when a member of the Rolling Stones is having a birthday, today's One Cup question asks you to give us, within 5 years either way, the combined total ages of the current members of the band (Mick, Keith, Ron and Charlie).

Answer: 254. Mick is 64, Keith is now 64, Ron is a spry 60 and Charlie is the old man at 66. There's a good chance Keith might be around for a long while yet; his mother just died earlier this year at age 91.

Read more!

A Marley Who Didn't Play Reggae

Monday's One Cup of Java Challenge: Our One Cup question deals with the original Charles Dickens story of A Christmas Carol, asking you to give us the first and last name of Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner, dead 7 years to the date of the story starting, and the first ghost to appear to Scrooge.

Answer: Jacob Marley

Stay tuned to KXCI throughout the day for your chance to win tickets to the UA Presents presentation of "Scrooge" coming up this Thursday. Learn more at http://uapresents.org/.

Read more!

KXCI's 6th Annual Sonic Solstice - Monday, December 17th

This coming Monday, December 17th, you can join hosts Laurie Starr and Don Jennings, as we bring you KXCI's 6th Annual Sonic Solstice from 6-10pm. This festive event features over a dozen of your favorite local musicians performing holiday-themed tunes live in KXCI's Studio 2A.

You can expect great performances from folks like the Dusty Buskers, D. Mulligan, Grupo Sonido, Bread & Circus, Tracy Shedd, Jose 'Pepo' Saavedra, Michael P. Nordberg, Nowhere Man & A Whiskey Girl, Golden Boots, Silver Thread Trio, Low Ones, Jason Steed (of Creosote), and John DeRoo! Between performances, we'll chat with the musicians as well as bring back some of the musical highlights from previous years of the Sonic Solstice. It's a holiday party you don't want to miss!

KXCI's 6th Annual Sonic Solstice - Monday, December 17th, from 6-10pm.

Read more!

A Little Music History For Today's One Cup

Friday's One Cup question: The album voted the eighth best album of all time by Rolling Stone magazine – and the best rock and roll album ever by Entertainment Weekly - was released on this date in 1979 in the band’s native Britain. Featuring songs about, among other things, actor Montgomery Clift and the Spanish Civil War, the album’s cover contained an out-of-focus photograph that was also once voted the best rock and roll photograph of all time. Your One Cup of Java Challenge on this Friday morning – name this album, which also included a track sometimes used for stage entrances by presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.

Answer: London Calling from The Clash

Read more!

Newest Public Service Spots

Public service messages from your Community Radio KXCI.

BLOOD DRIVE: Blood supplies drop to low levels during the holidays. Give the gift of life on Friday, December 21st from 10 to 4 at the Red Cross blood drive at the Tucson Convention Center. Go to the meeting rooms near the box office. Donors receive a long-sleeve t-shirt and holiday snacks, plus entry into prize drawings. That’s Friday, December 21st from 10 to 4. If that doesn’t fit your calendar, you can schedule a blood donation at 1-800-GIVE LIFE.

WHITE CHRISTMAS: You can dream of a White Christmas – or you can just go see the film. The Fox Tucson Theatre screens the holiday classic on Saturday, December 22nd at 7:30pm. Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney will get you in the holiday mood with a treasury of Irving Berlin songs. Tickets are $8, $6 for students and seniors, and proceeds benefit the restoration of the Fox. Learn more at http://www.foxtucsontheatre.org/mainhome.php .

FESTIVAL OF FRIENDSHIP: Celebrate a Festival of Friendship Slavic Christmas on Saturday, December 22nd at the Tucson Children’s Museum, 200 South Sixth Avenue in downtown Tucson. Enjoy musical performances by the Arizona Balalaika Ensemble and the Rusyny Folk Ensemble. Make an upside down tree ornament and more. The event is included with your Children’s Museum admission. Learn more at http://tucsonchildrensmuseum.org/.

STROKE: Do you know the symptoms of a stroke? If you feel the onset of a sudden severe headache, sudden arm or leg weakness, or sudden trouble walking, talking or seeing, these could be the symptoms of a stroke. Learn to recognize a stroke. Visit http://strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200037. Time lost is brain lost!

WINTERHAVEN: The Winterhaven Festival of Lights runs December 15th through the 28th. Enjoy brightly lit trees and decorated homes each night in the neighborhood, whose borders are Prince, Country Club, Fort Lowell and Tucson Boulevard. Admission is free, but donations of food or money to the Community Food Bank are strongly encouraged. Learn more at http://www.winterhavenfestival.org/.

TEENAGERS: Teenagers think they know everything. But alcohol affects their judgment, and their future. Talk with your kids about underage drinking before they know it all, before they’re teens. Learn more about what you can do at http://www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/.

Read more!

I Just Swallowed The Toy Of The Century

Thursday's One Cup of Java Challenge: With the holiday season in full swing, there’s been lots of reports about this toy or that toy being the “toy of the year.” Toy of the year is fine if that’s all you’re shooting for. Our question this morning is about the toy that was named Toy of the 20th Century by the British Toy Retailers Association. Your One Cup of Java Challenge this morning: what 1932-invented toy did they name toy of the century? One clue: when you Google the name of the toy and the word “swallowed” you get more than 74,000 hits.

Answer: Lego (it beat Barbie and the teddy bear). Game of the century was Monopoly, “craze” of the century was the yo-yo.

Read more!

17th Street Band, December 18th

Read more!

Wednesday's One Cup Of Java Challenge

Wednesday's One Cup of Java Challenge asks you to name the first person, a famous American from Missouri, who not only received the very first Medicare card ever issued, but has his personally signed and presented by then-president Lyndon Johnson.

Answer: The buck stopped with him, and Medicare started with him: Harry Truman.

Read more!

Tuesday's One Cup of Java Challenge

Tuesday's One Cup of Java Challenge: Two possible winners for today’s One Cup question, asking you quite simply to name either of the final two guests to appear with Johnny Carson on the next-to-last Carson-hosted episode of The Tonight Show. One was a comedian, one was a singer, be the first to name either and you’re a winner.

Answer: Robin Williams, Bette Midler

Read more!

KXCI Fans Support Community Food Bank

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our Fourth Avenue Street Fair booth this weekend and spun the invisible prize wheel in support of the Community Food Bank. With your generosity we were able to raise $355 to fund Food Bank programs in our community.

This money helps, but the need is great (and increasing!). To help in the fight against hunger in our community, please contact the Community Food Bank at http://www.communityfoodbank.com/ or Casa Maria Soup Kitchen at http://www.casamariatucson.org/. Thank you!

Read more!

Calexico And Friends: Sold Out

Thank you to everyone who purchased a ticket for our December 28th benefit with Calexico and Friends. That show is now completely sold out. For those who did buy tickets in support of KXCI - we'll see you on the 28th !

Read more!

Thursday's One Cup Of Java Challenge

Today's One Cup question tackles Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas. The Grinch lived on a 10,000 foot tall peak north of Whoville. Your question this morning, simply enough: what was the name of that mountain?

Answer: Mount Crumpit.

Read more!

Holiday Public Service Announcements

Holiday themed PSAs currently airing on your Community Radio KXCI.

MOCA: Tucson’s Museum of Contemporary Art holds their annual holiday party and solstice sale on December 15th. The sale is a great opportunity to build your art collection or find gifts while supporting Tucson artists and MOCA. The event is Saturday, December 15th from 7 to 9pm at the museum, 174 East Toole. Original works across the spectrum of contemporary art will be available. Learn more at http://www.moca-tucson.org/.

BOYS CHORUS: The Tucson Arizona Boys Chorus Christmas tree lot is now open daily in front of El Con Mall. Proceeds from the sale of trees support the programs of the Boys Chorus. Hours are Monday through Thursday, noon to 9:30pm; Friday and Saturday from 10am to 9:30pm; and Sunday, 10am to 7:30pm. You can also pre-order online at their website, http://www.boyschorus.org/special_tree.php. While there check out details about upcoming concerts!

TOYS FOR TOTS: KXCI is one of hundreds of drop-off sites in the Toys for Tots campaign, underway now in Tucson. You can donate new, unwrapped toys for distribution to needy children in our community. KXCI is especially looking for gifts of music and musical instruments. For a complete list of drop-off locations, visit http://toysfortotstucson.org/.

FOOD DRIVE: Due to increasing demand, the Community Food Bank needs your help to neet the needs of the hungry in our community. You can host a food drive this holiday season. Food Bank staff are available to help you coordinate a drive for your workplace or community group. To learn more, visit http://www.communityfoodbank.com/.

HABITAT: Habitat for Humanity Tucson builds affordable housing for qualified families. You can support Habitat on Friday, December 14th at the Tucson Association of Realtors Holiday Auction Party, held at their office at 2445 North Tucson Blvd. from 3 to 6pm. Enjoy a live and silent auction, raffle, refreshments and a performance by the Japanese Taiko drummers. All bidders are welcome! For more information or to donate an auction item, call AnnaLisa at 382-8789.

Read more!

Bang, zoom, straight to the moon!

Wednesday's One Cup of Java Challenge: When it comes to moons, Earth has one but our solar system has many. Your One Cup question this morning – within 50 either way, how many moons are known to orbit the eight planets of our solar system?

Answer: 166 (additionally, there are as many as 74 other "moons" that are not in fixed orbits around planets in our solar system).

Read more!

You'll Get A Kick Out of Today's One Cup Question

Tuesday's One Cup of Java Challenge: More associated now with an informal recreational sport, what item was first used in 1972 by its inventor (John Stalberger) to help rehab his injured knee?

Answer: The Hacky Sack

Read more!

Today's One Cup Answer (On My Mind)

Monday's One Cup of Java Challenge: Today's question asks you to name the largest state, in terms of square miles of land, EAST of the Mississippi River. No guesses for Alaska or Texas - we're looking for the state with the most land east of Old Man River.

Answer: Georgia.

Clarifying point: On many lists, Georgia is the 4th largest state east of the Mississippi in terms of total area, ranking behind Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin because those three states claim their territorial waters as area in addition to their land. Georgia makes no such claim on the Atlantic Ocean.

Read more!