The facilities of the station, previously called WTIX, were severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina in late August 2005.

The station had the target date to resume broadcasting on December 1, and in November requested the new letters WIST.

The program director who developed the format was William L. "Bud" Armstrong who later served as a U. S. Senator from Colorado.

Famed disc jockeys on The Mighty 690 during its heyday included The Real Robert Mitchell, Russell Glen "Buzz" Bennett, Ted Green, Don Anthony, Skip Broussard, Bobby Reno, "Oldie King" Bob Walker, Marc Sommers, "Skinny" Tom Cheney, Nick "Bazoo" Ferrara, Michael Green, Chuck Kirr, "Hot" Rod Glenn, Marty "With the Party" Maxwell, Terry Young, "Pal" Al Nassar, Blair "On the Air" Kullman, Kim Stephens and Captain Humble (Hugh Dillard).

The news staff included Jeff Stierman, J. Andrew Michaels, Todd Bauer, Kathy Fischman, Larry Hamilton, Katie Caraway, Ed Clancy (Radio Cartoons) and Joe Culotta, hosting "Let's Talk It Over" on Sunday mornings from 1965-1986.

They evolved into an adult leaning top 40 format at that point, which would be considered Hot AC today.

At one time, in the 1980s, there was a weekly call-in talk show hosted by former professional wrestler Buck "Yellow Belly" Robley.