Carlos Morales
News DirectorCarlos has worn numerous hats at the station over the years — at one point he was simultaneously the station’s Morning Edition host, news director and a reporter.
He was the local host of Morning Edition from April 2017 to July 2020.
As news director, he has led coverage that won scores of Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards and three National Edward R. Murrows — the most the station has ever received.
Carlos has covered a range of topics, including the impacts of the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, West Texas wildfires, the El Paso shooting, and much more.
Before joining MPR, he was a reporter at KWBU in Waco and worked with the Voces Oral History Project, a group the records the histories of Latina/o World War II veterans.
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Carlos strongly believes in the power of radio to bridge divides.
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For some in the rural border town, there’s hope transmigrantes could usher in a new wave of business to an otherwise money-strapped city. But, for others there are concerns that this influx of traffic may cause more headaches than its worth.
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For residents in the Big Bend area who received their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in Marfa on March 12, there is a new date for them to receive their second shot.
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Officials at Big Bend National Park say Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s rollback on the state’s mask mandate has “no impact” on park rules, and visitors are still required to wear a mask in all park buildings, as well as in outdoor spaces where social distancing isn’t possible.
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This week, the state is sending Texas National Guard teams to rural and isolated corners of the state to vaccinate seniors. The effort, dubbed "Save Our Seniors," is part of the state's attempt to get more elderly Texans vaccinated, especially those who live in hard-to-reach areas.
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The university’s provost Dr. Robert Kinuncan is stepping down from the role he’s held nearly two years and is returning to the classroom, he told faculty and staff in an email this week.
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Officials with McDonald Observatory are working to make Far West Texas and parts of Northern Mexico an International Dark Sky Reserve. They hope the special designation will help preserve the region’s dark skies and support ongoing research at the observatory.
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Earlier this week, Hundreds of West Texans received coronavirus vaccine doses during one-day clinics in Fort Davis and Marfa. The clinics were some of the largest single-day vaccination efforts so far in the Big Bend. And while it was a big step forward in the regional vaccine rollout, the event in Marfa ran into some issues — dozens of residents who had made appointments weren't vaccinated.
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Vaccine distribution in the Big Bend region is set to pick up speed next week when Midland Memorial Hospital offers two, one-day clinics, one in Fort Davis and one in Marfa.
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Following a federal lawsuit, Village Farms, a major agriculture company, has agreed to implement additional coronavirus protections for its workers at its facilities in Monahans, Texas.
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Beginning next year, a new trail at Big Bend National Park will take visitors on a brushy, three-mile trek around the base of Lone Mountain.