The station is currently owned by New Northwest Broadcasters, LLC and features programing from CBS Radio, Jones Radio Network and Fox Sports Radio. KALE began broadcasting in 1950 on AM 900 kHz and was initially owned by Yakima Broadcasting Corp. KALE had a Top-40 radio format until the early 80s when it switched to a more Adult Contemporary format. The station's first Program Director was Dave Do
rris. He was also their first Chief Engineer. Disc Jockeys who worked at KALE include Chris Michaels, Chuck Bryson, Chris Bartells, Ric Hubbard, Bruce Butterfield, Gary Danielson, Tom Lacko, Dan Brown, Jim O'Brien, Tom Mann, Steve Lander, Ziggy Friedman, Dean LeMaster, Barry Michaels, Bob Taylor, Dave Conrad, Jonathan Walker, Sam Cassell, Dave Victor, Tim Edwards, Damon Lord, Mark West and Steve Thomas. News reporters include Mike Conklin, Kirk Williamson and Peter Nugent. Dave Dorris, Bill Glenn and Chuck Bryson were among the engineers employed at the station over the years. In the 70s the station was owned by Sterling Recreation Organization (SRO) and later was owned by Revitalization Partners, LLC, before New Northwest Broadcasters purchased the station. In the first week of December, 2010, Townsquare Media announced it was acquiring 12 stations owned by New Northwest Broadcasters. Since they already owners of 11 stations in the Yakima and Tri-city areas they planned to spin off 11 stations once the sale closed. Townsquare was planning to move some formats to new frequencies and some call signs were expected to change as well but in July, 2011, the FCC stopped Townsquare Media's plan to buy 12 Tri-City and Yakima radio outlets from New Northwest Broadcasters. According to the July 30, 2011, Tri-City Herald, "An eight-page letter from the FCC to Townsquare released on the agency's website Friday said that proposed use of a divestiture trust was a substantial departure from the kinds of uses previously approved by the commission and dismissed five sets of applications that would have reassigned the radio station licenses." Refer to the complete atricle at www.tri-cityherald.com for additional information.
