The Lead Live Podcast: Friday, Sept. 5, 2025 episode

The Museum of Western Art has been named “America’s Finest Western Art Museum” by True West magazine, Executive Director Darrell Beauchamp announced Friday on Louis Amestoy’s The Lead Live program.

The recognition highlights the museum’s growing permanent collection and quality of exhibitions. Beauchamp previewed the upcoming Walt Gonske “Church Series” exhibit, featuring 69 works by the impressionist painter. The exhibit, valued at approximately $1 million, opens with a reception Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the museum’s pavilion, with Gonske in attendance.

Also on the program, Andrew Gay of Texas Hill Country Advisors discussed a cooling labor market, with the August unemployment rate rising to 4.3% and only 22,000 to 25,000 new jobs added. He noted a “risk-off” trend in the bond market, pushing the 10-year US Treasury yield toward 4.0%. Expectations for a Federal Reserve interest rate cut are set for the Sept. 17 meeting.

Julie Davis from the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau provided updates on local events, including the final weekend for the play “Into the Woods” and multiple exhibits at the Kerr Arts and Cultural Center. Robert Earl Keen’s recent concert raised $3 million for the Community Foundation of Texas Country.

Amestoy also addressed local news, including Gov. Abbott’s visit to Center Point to distribute laptops and a critique of the Houston Chronicle‘s reporting on the Upper Guadalupe River Authority and the July 4th flood.