In The NOCO

Diversity isn’t exactly classical music’s strong suit. The work of white, European composers has been center stage for for centuries. Today, people of color comprise a small percentage of musicians in American orchestras, though that number appears to be growing. Black violinist and author Brendan Slocumb says representation plays a big role in this.“When I was a kid, had I seen someone who looked like me playing the violin, I would probably never put it down — ever, ever,” Slocumb said.Slocumb is a longtime music educator and when he goes into schools, students don’t believe he’s a violinist. He says he doesn’t fit the part for a few reasons. “If it's warm out, I usually have on a short-sleeved shirt and I've got tattoos. And, you know, I'm going to go ahead and say, I'm a, you know, muscular guy.” Then he picks up his violin and plays. “And they're just like, are you serious? You really do this?”Slocumb’s response is typically: “Yeah, it's for everybody. You don't have to live in a certain place or have a certain zip code or have a certain bank account.”His experiences as a young aspiring Black musician navigating the classical music world are central to his book “The Violin Conspiracy,” which is the selection for this year’s Fort Collins Reads. The citywide event brings residents together to read, discuss and celebrate one noteworthy book. He sat down to talk with host Erin O'Toole ahead of his talk in Fort Collins on Sunday, November 5.

Dia de los Muertos is an ancient cultural tradition that has strong roots in Mexico and is celebrated in many of our Northern Colorado communities. The holiday is celebrated from October 31 to November 2. Not to be confused with All Hallows' Eve — it is a way to honor friends and family who have died. People write and recite satirical poems about the dead, calaveras literarias, which translates to skull literature, and create intricate altars known as ofrendas, or offerings. The holiday is also an opportunity to contemplate heritage, identity, and the Indigenous people in Mesoamerica who first practiced this tradition to honor the cycle of life.We spoke with Justin Veach of the Longmont Museum, which, along with the City of Longmont, has a long-running tradition of Dia de los Muertos festivities. That includes this Thursday night's Noche de Museo at the Stewart Auditorium, an evening of live performances spanning the ages, from ancient Aztec dance to the contemporary Chicano funk of Denver-based Los Mocochetes.Patricia Moreno has created a number of ofrendas over the years that have been on display at the Longmont Museum. She discussed their significance with us.Other events we mention in this episode include an inaugural Día de los Muertos procession that begins at 5:15 p.m., November 2, at The New Local Annex in Boulder. And in Fort Collins, you can head to Old Town Square at 5 p.m., November 2, and watch the creation of a community altar.

Election Day is less than a week away and Coloradans are already casting their ballots with early in-person voting at dozens of voting centers. Others are using the hundreds of dropboxes throughout the state, or they’ve already mailed in their votes. All of this happens under the purview of Colorado’s top election official, Secretary of State Jena Griswold. She says she has embraced the mission of making Colorado elections secure and more accessible. And although she says she rarely encounters confusion about how voting works here, there is one misconception that occasionally crops up…"Maybe that there's just too many drop boxes at this point,” Griswold laughed.We invited Griswold on the show to discuss Colorado's ranking as one of the easiest states to cast a vote, and why there really can't be too many dropboxes.If you need to check your voter registration, find your polling location or locate one of those many dropboxes, GoVoteColorado.gov has you covered!

Ghost stories have been on Heather Kelley’s mind for a long time. Kelley is an actor and educator at University of Colorado Boulder where her research focuses on dark tourism, ghosts as manifestations of trauma, and haunted attractions, to name a few. Since the early days of her acting career, Kelley has heard no shortage of haunting tales about the theaters and venues where she’s performed, beginning with her time as an undergraduate student at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut. “Before I even got there, I had been warned that the place was haunted, that there was a ghost there by the name of Lucy, and that all the people that had worked there for years not only believed in Lucy, but made decisions based off of like, what Lucy would or wouldn't like,” Kelley told In The NoCo. We sat down with Kelley on this All Hallow’s Eve to unwrap that strange feeling some of us get when we spend time in old theaters and other storied places.You can help Kelley deepen her research by filling out this theater ghost survey. And you can do your own research at one of the many Colorado theaters that Kelley says are believed to be haunted: the Boulder Theater, the Tabor Opera House in Leadville, the Dickens Opera House in Longmont, and the Rialto Theater in Loveland.

Colorado spends a lot of money on K-12 students, but the state allocates much less for adult education, in fact it's near the bottom of the list nationally. That means some of Colorado’s more economically vulnerable adults aren’t getting the support they need. Chalkbeat higher education reporter Jason Gonzales says some new laws are helping to shift the focus to adult education. He told us about those measures and how state lawmakers are scrambling to repair a problem that could jeopardize some access to adult education.

Nearly 200,000 undocumented people live in Colorado. It’s a life that comes with a lot of uncertainty, especially in accessing things like healthcare. A 2021 law expanded healthcare access for Coloradans regardless of immigration or documentation status. It paved the way for the creation of OmniSalud, which helped connect 10,000 undocumented low-income residents with affordable health insurance last year. With Colorado's open enrollment period right around the corner (Nov. 1), host Erin O'Toole spoke with Dale Whyte, program manager of Boulder County's health coverage enrollment center.

Water — we know it’s a precious resource; yet in many American households, it’s easy to take it for granted. We turn on our tap and expect a clean gush of H2O to always spill out. But our water supply is shrinking — and the infrastructure helping to quench our thirst is aging. All this could mean the price of our water bills is likely to increase. In some of his recent reporting, KUNC’s Alex Hager dives into some of the factors at play, like the state of the Colorado River and middle-aged utilities. He joins In The NoCo to explain.

Much of what we understand about Elijah McClain — both his life and his death in 2019 at the hands of Aurora police and paramedics — is thanks in large part to people like Candice Bailey. The Aurora activist led many of the protests that introduced Coloradans to McClain, a 23-year-old Black man described by friends and family as gentle, creative and a free spirit. Her work helped people honor McClain’s life and examine the practices of Aurora police and paramedics that led to his death. As trials continue for the officers and paramedics charged for McClain’s death, Bailey joined In The NoCo to reflect on her fight for racial justice.

Yes, winter is just around the corner. But today, let us take just a moment to appreciate flowers — one of the best souvenirs of summer — as we look forward to next year's garden. Many of the annual flower varieties you'll find in garden stores in the spring have just endured a rigorous, real-world testing process at the Annual Flower Trial Garden at Colorado State University. KUNC’s Emma VandenEinde covered the final rounds of plant judging at the end of the summer. She joins In the NoCo to sustain our summer dreams.

Moviegoers in Northern Colorado helped fuel the Barbie phenomenon, not only for big cinema chains, but also infusing mom-and-pop theaters with massive revenue from ticket sales. The Lyric - a local indie theater in Fort Collins - said Barbie was its number one grossing film of all time. Colorado State University professor Karrin Vasby Anderson has been watching this craze unfold. The feminist scholar was astounded when a film full of frills and pink turned out to be about feminism, and wrote about some of the backlash that provoked. She joins In The NoCo to unpack some of the messaging in the billion-dollar blockbuster.

Dozens of Native people have gone missing in Colorado since the state activated a new alert system in late December of last year. But advocates say some of those alerts aren’t going out fast enough. Raven Payment, who is Ojibwe and Kanienkehaka, is on the task force that helped set those alerts in motion through a recent law. She works closely on the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, who face disproportionately high rates of violence. She sat down with In the NoCo to talk about recent strides and setbacks in addressing the problem.

Author and journalist Rachel Louise Snyder has spent her career shining a light on social justice issues, violence against women and domestic abuse, and human rights across the globe. In addition to several novels, she’s published work for NPR, in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The New Yorker.Years ago, her experience in the Semester at Sea program helped set in motion a worldview that powerfully informs her work today. Northern Coloradans have the chance to hear from Snyder at Colorado State University, where Semester at Sea is headquartered and celebrating 60 years. Ahead of that talk, host Erin O'Toole sat down with her to discuss the power of travel and language, and her new book — an evocative memoir about survival: "Women We Buried, Women We Burned."

Journalism wasn’t always in the cards for NPR’s Lori Lizarraga, until one day she found herself in the wrong classroom at Southern Methodist University. Lizarraga says she “stepped into Narnia” when she walked into the studio where journalism students were broadcasting the school’s daily newscast. The Latina journalist has been telling stories ever since – and a lot of that work is informed by her cultural identity. To wrap up our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, host Erin O'Toole spoke with the Code Switch host about how race, cultural identity, and lived experience are inextricably woven into the fabric of her work.

The housing crunch is getting a lot of attention these days, but how it's affecting college students is less talked about. Recent data shows it’s a big problem. In a 2020 survey [pdf], more than half of college students said they were struggling to meet basic needs, like finding stable housing. It was a period of uncertainty given the ongoing pandemic, but the numbers point to a persistent problem. Recent federal data shows 8% of undergraduate students experienced homelessness in the previous 30 days. Students of color are overrepresented in the data. In Colorado's rural mountain communities, helping students stay housed is a huge challenge. In today's episode, host Erin O'Toole talks with Matt Gianneschi of Colorado Mountain College to learn how they're approaching that problem.

The newest season of KUNC's The Colorado Dream podcast is exploring how our state's housing crunch is affecting mountain communities. In Summit County, the situation is especially dire. Housing was already in short supply there due in part to the region's high construction costs and relative shortage of buildable land. Meanwhile, the recent explosion in short-term rentals, like Airbnb and Vrbo, has drastically cut the number of homes that would be available as long-term rentals for locals. A recent survey of residents suggests the county will need more than 2,500 rental and for-sale units — at all price points — to meet the high demand for housing.In today's episode, we talk with Stephanie Daniel, host and creator of The Colorado Dream: Housing Wanted, about how Summit County officials are addressing the housing crunch there.

Many of Colorado’s healthcare workers are burned out, as we heard from Kaiser Permanente staff who walked off the job last week. Staffing shortages are largely to blame — and this is an issue that’s also affecting first responders. KUNC statehouse reporter Lucas Brady Woods recently reported on the dire state of Colorado’s ambulance services. He sat down with In The NoCo's Robyn Vincent to discuss how the situation is affecting some EMTs and paramedics.

For the last several decades, a small but growing number of states have begun observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday to honor Native Americans and celebrate their histories and cultures. In some communities, like Boulder, it's celebrated in lieu of Columbus Day. In other places, both are observed on the second Monday of October. It is not currently a federally recognized holiday, though in 2021, President Biden signed the first presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. To learn more about its significance, we reached out to Susan Faircloth. The former professor led Colorado State University’s School of Education and now runs a consulting company in Fort Collins focused on American Indian education. She's an enrolled member of the Coharie Tribe of North Carolina. Our conversation began with a land acknowledgment that included a deeply personal connection to her family.

Thousands of Kaiser Permanente healthcare workers in Colorado and other states have walked off the job for three days. They say they are stretched thin amid a serious employee shortage and want better pay. Meanwhile, the Fort Collins Symphony celebrates a century of music that began with a group of volunteer musicians back in 1923. Host Erin O'Toole talks with the organization's longtime music director, Wes Kenney, in today's episode.

KUNC’s The Colorado Dream podcast captures the struggles and successes of residents determined to make a life in Colorado. They are striving for the so-called American Dream – and overcoming huge hurdles in the process. Their stories also reflect host and creator Stephanie Daniel’s longtime focus in the KUNC newsroom. Her work often unravels the barriers to thriving in America."I grew up in Denver and Colorado is my home," Daniel says. "I’ve been working at KUNC for nearly six years and during that time I’ve gravitated toward covering issues that really impact people’s quality of life — alcohol addiction and treatment, higher education and jobs, access to health care, social justice, immigration, the list goes on."The Colorado Dream podcast releases its third season this week, which unpacks how Colorado’s housing crisis is affecting our mountain communities. Ahead of the launch, Daniel sat down with host Erin O'Toole to preview some of these stories and how they reflect the grit and resilience of Coloradans.

A lot of Coloradans love the idea of recycling. But our recycling habits are in the dumps. In 2020, the rate of recycling statewide was just 15 percent — less than half the rate nationwide. That’s according to a report from the Colorado Public Interest Research Group and Eco-Cycle. Perhaps that's because the actual practice of it can be confusing. It seems like the rules are often changing – and let’s not forget that recycling is expensive, both for residents and municipalities. To help sort through the confusion, host Erin O'Toole sat down with Mark Snedecor, who's the director of recycling services for Waste Management (WM) of Colorado. He shares some of the big recycling blunders we're making, and why you don't have to worry too much about those little numbers in the 'chasing arrows' recycling symbol.

We're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with conversations featuring Hispanic and Latino changemakers, innovators and creators. Today's episode is about music - specifically, mariachi. The style is rooted in Mexico's history, dating back to colonial times, and started to grow in the United States around the 1930s, when people began hearing it on radio stations and in films. These days, it's showing up more often in Colorado schools' music programs, alongside the usual jazz, orchestra, or symphonic band options for students. That provides the opportunity for more culturally relevant programming to serve increasingly diverse student populations, says Ben San Martin Kellogg. Kellogg isn't from Mexico himself – he's of European and Peruvian ancestry – and he didn't grow up listening to or playing mariachi. But he fell in love with the style when he was brought in to play trumpet in a mariachi ensemble while a student at Metropolitan State University of Denver. He's now a music educator at Edgewater Elementary, where he guides students in learning several styles of music, including mariachi. In today's episode, he shares why it's so important to train more educators to teach different genres of music, and what we should pay attention to when we listen to mariachi.You can hear Ben perform with his ensemble for a Hispanic Heritage event on October 14 at Luki Brewery in Arvada. And he was featured in this 2017 KUNC story about the MSU mariachi program he went through. Colorado has an all-state youth mariachi ensemble, Mariachi Estelares de Colorado. And the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley has a new Bachelor of Arts in Latinx Music degree program that launched this year.

A new exhibit opening this weekend at the Museum of Boulder promises to illuminate the stories of Black Coloradans, highlighting their influence on the region's history and their impact on the future. "Proclaiming Colorado's Black History" centers on places like the once-bustling farming community of Dearfield; and notable people like businessman Barney Ford and philanthropist Julia Greeley. It's about sharing the lives and stories of people who aren't necessarily in Colorado's history books, said Adrian Miller, co-Project Director and lead curator for the exhibit. The project was several years in the making, and was shaped with a lot of community input and collaboration, Miller said. It includes a variety of installations, collections of oral histories, and an art display that delves into Afrofuturism. Miller joined host Erin O'Toole to discuss the origins of the project, how it came together, and why now is the right time to launch.Proclaiming Colorado's Black History opens Friday evening with a special kickoff event and tours. Saturday will feature a discussion with hip-hop scholar Adam Bradley, and music on the museum rooftop. Find details and tickets for the opening weekend events at the Museum of Boulder website.

On June 25, 1953, a group of librarians and publishers issued a statement affirming the right of Americans to read freely. But that right has been challenged continually over the decades, including right now. Within the last several years, there’s been a surge in efforts across the country to challenge and remove books from library shelves. According to an analysis by PEN America, a free speech advocacy group, book bans have been reported in more than 30 states. Many of the challenges commonly target books about race, racism, or with LGBTQ characters or themes – but in some places, those challenges have expanded to include titles that discuss grief and loss, violence, and adolescent health and well-being. Banned Books Week was developed as a way to celebrate the freedom to read, and to draw attention to efforts at censorship. For librarians and book fans alike, it feels especially weighty this year, the 70th anniversary of the issuing of the Freedom to Read statement.For Diane Lapierre, executive director of Poudre Libraries, the week is an important acknowledgement of our First Amendment rights, and the critical role of libraries in defending intellectual freedom and the right to read. She spoke with host Erin O'Toole ahead of Banned Books Week, October 1 – 7.Poudre Libraries will host programming and events throughout the week, including the Let Freedom Read Challenge (ages 12 and older). The Lyric in Fort Collins will host "Let Freedom Read: Uncensored" – which features live readings of passages from books that are frequently challenged. And Colorado Press Women will host a discussion on book banning and information suppression at the Columbine Library in Littleton on Oct. 7. You can find more information and resources here.

All eyes are on an Aurora courtroom as trials get underway in the Elijah McClain case. Mclain, a 23-year-old Black man, died four years ago during a violent encounter with Aurora police and paramedics. His death has had major reverberations in Colorado and far beyond. The first of three trials involves two police officers charged in his death — Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt. They have pleaded not guilty. Today we focus on what we know about police’s involvement in McClain’s death with KUNC reporter Rae Solomon. She covered his death and many of the developments that followed.In the episode, we mention a conversation host Erin O'Toole had with Elijah's mother, Sheneen McClain. You can listen to that here.

In 2021, Nicki Gonzales became Colorado’s first Latina state historian. History is a lifelong vocation for the Regis University professor, one that has helped Gonzales to pay tribute to her family’s legacy and inform her own identity.Gonzales’s work has helped to provide us with a fuller picture of Colorado’s cultural landscape, uncovering state history and acknowledging its problematic details. In 2020, she was appointed by Gov. Jared Polis to serve on the state's Geographic Naming Advisory Board, which helps replace the names of geographic features and areas bearing derogatory titles - something Gonzales says helps the state reckon with problematic elements of its racial racist past. She and board members recently took on the high-profile renaming of Mount Evans, the namesake of a disgraced Colorado territorial governor. The iconic 14er is now Mount Blue Sky. On today's episode, Gonzales reflects on her search for identity and deeper meaning, starting with her own family history.We're celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of conversations featuring Hispanic and Latino changemakers, innovators and creators.

Colorado's housing crisis is impacting residents in different ways. Recent survey responses point to housing affordability and homelessness as top concerns. And the data reflects those concerns. In Denver County alone, there were around 1,200 eviction filings in August – nearly double the number a year earlier. And for people who are displaced, either by eviction or because they simply can't afford their rent and move out, there are very few affordable housing options to turn to. In today's episode, executive producer Robyn Vincent talks with eviction attorney Zach Neumann, who helped found the Community Economic Defense Project.

Fall officially begins on Saturday, September 23. After a long, hot summer, many of us are eagerly anticipating what the change of season brings: enjoying cool evening air, getting your favorite sweaters out of storage, and visiting the nearest pumpkin patch or corn maze. And for thousands of tourists, this time of year means an annual trip into the high country to marvel at the beautiful changing autumn leaves.But when it comes to how spectacular and vibrant that display of fall colors is – it's safe to say that some years are better than others. For more on what we can expect this autumn, host Erin O'Toole talks with renowned leaf-peeping expert, Dan West. He serves as the state's forest entomologist, working out of the Colorado State Forest Service at CSU.

The impacts of wildfires are something Northern Colorado homeowners are increasingly confronting. A recent report from the company CoreLogic shows thousands of homes in Northern Colorado are susceptible to damage from wildfires. In Boulder, nearly 10,000 homes are at risk. In Fort Collins, that number rises to more than 14,000. These statistics position Colorado in the number two slot nationwide — right behind California — when it comes to the level of property damage homeowners could face here. We discussed these risks and more with Jude Bayham. He researches wildfire management at Colorado State University.We mentioned the pay raise for federal wildland firefighters that's stalled in Congress. And you can learn more about protecting your home from wildfire here.

We’re kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of conversations highlighting Hispanic changemakers, innovators and creators in Colorado. Democratic Representative Yadira Caraveo knows a lot about duality, about the different cultural identities many people try to balance and preserve as they navigate life. “It’s really been a lifetime of being ‘the first’ or ‘the only’ in a lot of rooms,” she says. Caraveo is Colorado’s first Latina member of Congress, representing the newly drawn 8th Congressional District. In today’s episode, the pediatrician and daughter of Mexican immigrants discusses how her upbringing and life experiences have informed her work as a physician — and now as a member of Congress.

Summer may be winding down, but many northern Colorado farmers' markets are still humming, with people lining up to buy crates of Palisade peaches, Olathe sweet corn, Pueblo chiles, and other locally grown produce. But growing in Colorado can be challenging – the growing season is short, the sun is scorching, and the rainy season can be very unpredictable. Coloradans seem to appreciate how difficult it is for farmers – which may help explain some of the demand for fruits and vegetables grown here. But there are plenty of other reasons for that homegrown produce pride, according to Colorado State University professor and agricultural economist Dawn Thilmany. In today's episode she talks with host Erin O'Toole about why we place so much importance on buying local.In the episode, we brought up this story from KUNC's Rae Solomon about folks suffering from "peach anxiety" this Spring. We also mentioned the idea of visiting local farms and ranches in the episode - including Miller Farms in Platteville, which celebrates the Fall harvest by allowing you to come harvest your own veggies through mid-November. And there are plenty of corn mazes, pumpkin patches, and CSAs near you if you're ready to get out and celebrate the coming of autumn.

In September 2013, a large storm parked itself over the mountains and foothills of Northern Colorado – where it lingered for days, dropping a lot of rain that eventually made its way down into a number of Front Range communities, washing out roads, bridges, and dams - and forcing thousands to evacuate. The KUNC newsroom is marking the anniversary of those devastating floods in a special series, Ten Years Later: The Flood that Changed the Front Range. In today's episode, we talk with Luke Runyon, who was here covering the floods in 2013, and is following up on recovery efforts that, in some communities, are still ongoing.And if you're looking for more of KUNC's past coverage of the flooding, Erin spoke with Pinewood Springs resident Kerry Grimes in 2013, just after he, his wife, and his dog had to be evacuated from their home via helicopter. We also checked in with him five years later to see how the recovery process was going for the tight-knit community near Estes Park.

Coloradans recently approved the legalization of certain plant-based psychedelic substances, including psilocybin and psylocin found in so-called magic mushrooms – paving the way for licensed healing centers where people can legally obtain these plant medicines in the coming years. Indigenous people have long been the historical facilitators of this kind of medicine, leading ceremonies in lesser-known locations. As this movement sprouts above ground, some Indigenous healers and activists say they should be at the forefront. In today's episode, we talk with Kuthoomi Castro, a Boulder-based clinical mental health counselor, and one of those calling for greater representation.

Northern Colorado is a fascinating and fast-growing part of the Front Range. It's a region brimming with its own history, culture, food and music; and opportunities abound in education, civic life, and outdoor recreation. Of course, life here isn't without its share of challenges - from health and safety to housing and the environment. KUNC's new podcast In The NoCo is a daily slice of stories, people, and issues important to the region. We help listeners lead better, more informed lives by providing context and clarity around the conversations shaping our communities, and highlighting the stories and voices of the real people who live here.The show unravels the big issues of the day and the untold stories of the moment. And we also make the time to celebrate all the things that make Northern Colorado such an incredible place to live, work, and play.

Welcome to a special preview of KUNC’s new podcast In the NoCo – a daily slice of Northern Colorado news and happenings. The Front Range is home to some of the most bike-friendly cities in the country, but bicyclists and pedestrians are facing increasing danger on many Colorado roads. In today's episode, we talk with KUNC investigative reporter Scott Franz about what's being done to try and change that. And we talk with our film critic Howie Movshovitz about the Telluride Film Festival, which is celebrating its 50th year this weekend.

On this episode of Colorado Edition, affordable housing is even more elusive for Coloradans with disabilities and KUNC’s investigative reporter Robyn Vincent looks at the challenges many are facing. Plus a conversation with officials from Aurora’s Police Department about how they plan to increase female recruitment.

On this episode of Colorado Edition, we hear from a Northern Colorado couple who have not been able to return to their home in Haiti due to ongoing violence there. Plus, a review of the film “No Bears,” directed by an Iranian filmmaker who is currently imprisoned and banned from making films.

On this episode of Colorado Edition, we learn about the battle over a secret ballot system that many Colorado lawmakers continue to defend. We also journey to Rocky Mountain High School with reporter Leigh Paterson to examine the state of childhood mental health.

Featured SegmentsUpdates on the office to prevent gun violence: Colorado lawmakers are growing increasingly frustrated with an office they created a year and a half ago to prevent gun violence. They’re demanding answers and vowing to create a new oversight panel because they say the office has made little progress. KUNC Investigative reporter Scott Franz has been covering the ongoing story and has more on how lawmakers are trying to turn things around.Is snow news is good news? The Western U.S. has been slammed by wet weather so far this winter. That’s good news for the Colorado River, where snow could turn into a boost for major reservoirs that have shrunk to historic lows. But climate scientists say there’s a lot of winter left, and the 40 million people who use the river’s water should take the good news with a grain of salt. KUNC’s Alex Hager reports.This story is part of ongoing coverage of the water in the West, produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation.Film remake falls flat: The new movie Living, is a remake of a 70-year old masterpiece from Japan about the death of a minor bureaucrat. KUNC film critic Howie Movshovitz teaches film at CU-Denver and says that taking on the great film Ikiru is more than this new version can handle.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Jenn de la Fuente.The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.

Featured SegmentsAn EV charger in a place where there aren’t a lot of electric vehicles? Policymakers in Colorado envision a future with close to a million electric cars on the road by 2030. But before all those electric cars can hit the roadways, we’ll need a way to charge them. That includes in rural areas, not typically electric vehicle hotbeds.KUNC’s Rae Solomon spent the day at an EV fast charging station in rural Colorado to learn more.Expanded access to abortion pills: Major drug stores will soon be able to distribute abortion pills. The Federal Drug Administration made changes to a rule last week that gives women access to the pill at retail pharmacies.Kate Coleman is an expert on abortion access and teaches at the College of Nursing at the University of Colorado Anschutz and talks about what these changes mean.Film review: Women Talking: As an actor, Sarah Polley’s films include The Sweet Hereafter, The Weight of Water and The Secret Life of Words. Then, as a writer and director, Polley made the challenging Stories We Tell. And now she has a new movie called Women Talking. KUNC film critic Howie Movshovitz says that what the women talk about is disturbing and important.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Jenn de la Fuente.The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!

Intro: You’re listening to Colorado Edition from KUNC. I’m Yoselin Meza Miranda. It’s Friday January 6th. In our first episode of 2023 we are looking at the legacy of the Marshall Fire. The fire destroyed more than one thousand homes and damaged at least 150 more. The cost of the fire is estimated to top 2 billion dollars. In December, just before the Marshall Fire anniversary, KUNC Reporter Leigh Paterson produced a three-part series that featured personal stories about the fire. In this first installment, Leigh checks in with a firefighter who was on scene. FIRST FEATURE INTRO: As part of her Marshall Fire series, Leigh also spoke to residents who lived through the disaster but are still dealing with the aftermath. SECOND FEATUREINTRO: The Marshall Fire’s flames destroyed entire neighborhoods in Boulder County. But communities just outside the fire’s boundary were impacted too. Hundreds of mobile homes were damaged by high winds. In the third part of Leigh’s series, she reports from a mobile home park called Table Mesa [MAY_sah] Village. OUTRO: That’s all for today on Colorado Edition. Thanks for listening. The Colorado Edition podcast is posted every Friday, just hit subscribe on your favorite podcast app.If there's a story you'd like to hear, send us an email at [email protected] theme music is composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burr-ohs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions. I’m Yoselin Meza Miranda.

Featured SegmentsRecovery residence: Early in the year, KUNC’s Stephanie Daniel visited a Greeley home where a small group of women are supporting each other to stay substance-free. They call it a “recovery residence.”And as Stephanie reported, they’re growing in numbers as more people choose to live in substance-free environments.This story was produced in February.Grand Canyon norovirus: KUNC’s Luke Runyon leads our Water Desk coverage. In September, he brought us this story about a nasty stomach bug usually associated with cruise ships and buffets — the norovirus.The virus can sicken people for days with nausea and vomiting. Runyon reported that the virus is so contagious that outbreaks can pop up in unexpected places, such as the Grand Canyon.This story originally aired in September. It’s part of ongoing coverage of the Colorado River, produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation.John Denver: There was one story we couldn’t pass up in this Colorado Edition episode of memorable stories.This past October marked 50 years since John Denver released “Rocky Mountain High.” KUNC’s Emma VandenEinde explains the legacy of his life and his music.Emma first reported this story in October.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.

Featured SegmentsSlowdown at the Office of Gun Violence and Prevention: Some Colorado lawmakers are upset with the state’s new Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Legislators created the office almost two years ago in an effort to save lives by focusing on firearm safety and using the state’s new red flag law to take guns away from those flagged as dangerous.KUNC reporter Scott Franz has found the office has done little of that work, leaving lawmakers with questions.The Ogallala Aquifer drying up: The Ogallala Aquifer is a vast, underground water supply that lies beneath eight states, including parts of Eastern Colorado. Many farmers on the eastern plains depend on it as a reliable source of water to irrigate their crops — but the aquifer is drying up.KUNC reporter Rae Solomon asked what that means for the future of agricultural communities in the area.This story is part of the “America Amplified” initiative. America Amplified is a national public media collaboration focused on community engagement reporting.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.

Glen Canyon Dam: New forecasts for the Colorado River paint a grim picture. Climate change and steady demand are shrinking the water supply for 40 million people.At the nation's largest dams, that means the ability to generate hydropower could soon be under threat. KUNC's Alex Hager introduces us to the Glen Canyon Dam. What was once a mighty piece of Western infrastructure is now possibly unable to function.This story is part of ongoing coverage of the Colorado River, produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation.Holiday grief: The holiday season is here. It's a festive time for many, with families getting together to celebrate — but the holidays can be especially hard for some.Many are mourning the loss of a loved one and dealing with profound grief. University of Colorado College of Nursing Nurse Practitioners Heather Coats and Kerry Peterson gave some insight into how to manage grief and depression over the holidays.If you or anyone you know is struggling during the holidays, you can connect with these sources:Crisis and Emergency information, CU DenverGrief and Loss, CDCGrief & The Holidays, Caring InfoGrief, APACreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.

Featured SegmentsPsilocybin's next steps: Proposition 122 was one of the ballot measures approved by voters last month. It decriminalizes the psychedelic substance psilocybin for personal use and mental health treatment. But as KUNC's Lucas Brady Woods reports, Coloradans won't see clinics offering psychedelics quite yet.No return for some Marshall Fire survivors: It's been nearly one year since the Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,000 homes in Boulder County.However, there's another group of affected homeowners — their houses are still standing, yet they don't feel safe returning home due to issues such as smoke damage.The story is a collaboration between students at the CU Boulder Center for Environmental Journalism, the Boulder Reporting Lab, and KUNC. We spoke with CU Boulder student Zain Iqbal about their team effort.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!

Featured segmentsWind repair: While the Marshall Fire was burning down over 1,000 houses last December, the 100-mile-an-hour winds that day were also damaging nearby mobile homes.Roofs, siding, windows and doors were blown off and smashed. In the freezing days that followed, pipes burst. KUNC's Leigh Paterson reports on the rush to finish repairs almost a year after the fire and before winter arrives.Eliminating acres of irrigated land: Colorado Parks and Wildlife has pledged to eliminate thousands of acres of irrigated agriculture in a focused region on the eastern plains as a part of an agreement with the states of Kansas and Nebraska to conserve water used from a shared underground aquifer.The burden falls mostly on private landowners, but as KUNC's Rae Solomon found, the state also has irrigation wells there. Local farmers say they shouldn't be the only ones to sacrifice their water rights.This story is part of the "America Amplified" initiative. America Amplified is a national public media collaboration focused on community engagement reporting.Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!

On this episode of Colorado Edition, we focus on water. We have two stories from our ongoing coverage of the Colorado River: Checking in with the people who have a front row seat to the crisis, and seeing if the Colorado River Compact is still working.Front row seats to the Colorado River crisis: The Colorado River is drying up, and the communities that rely on it are already feeling the pinch.While many large cities throughout the Southwest are well-positioned to weather the coming crisis, the threat of losing their water supply is no longer hypothetical in some small towns such as Page, Arizona.The Colorado River Compact: The Colorado River’s foundational legal document turns 100 years old this month. The agreement among seven western states was groundbreaking for its time, but as KUNC’s Luke Runyon reports, it continues to contribute to the Southwest’s water crisis.These stories are part of ongoing coverage of water in the West. It’s produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.

Midterm Election Debrief: The midterm elections were held just last week. KUNC’s Statehouse Reporter Lucas Brady Woods talks about the results and how things shook out post-election.Pobre Pancho’s: One of Fort Collins’ oldest Mexican restaurants — Pobre Pancho’s — closed last spring. The owner wants to sell the property to a fast food change planning to knock the building down.But reporter Mickey Capper says the family who ran the restaurant for decades is now fighting to preserve the building and its history.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata.The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.

Green Rooves: A researcher in our region is looking at a new way to grow vegetables and flowers at home, but as KUNC’s Emma VandenEinde reports, it might be more difficult than anticipated.Tap Water Taste Test: There’s nothing quite as refreshing as a cold glass of water straight from the tap — but it takes a lot of work to make your water clean and tasty.City water providers from all over the Mountain West put their supplies to the test at a recent event in Colorado. KUNC’s Alex Hager was invited to judge.This story is a part of ongoing coverage of water in the West, produced by KUNC and supported by the Walton Family Foundation.A study into the health activity of dairy cattle: A research team at Colorado State University is using pedometers to monitor the activity of dairy cattle. The goal is to improve milk quality while maintaining a cost-effective solution for local farmers.Heading the study is CSU’s Department of Animal Science, Associate Professor Dr. Pablo Pineda. KUNC’s Yoselin Meza-Miranda spoke with him to learn more about the research.CreditsColorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling.Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!

Voting is underway in Colorado, and ballots are due on Election Day by 7 pm. As a reminder, Election Day is Nov. 8, which is less than two weeks away.Proposition FF: If approved, Proposition FF would raise the money needed to provide free school lunches at all public schools in Colorado.Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General Incumbent: Colorado voters are deciding this election whether to keep incumbent candidate Phil Weisner in the State Attorney General seat or bring in challenger John Kellner. KUNC's Beau Baker spoke with Weiser about what he's been doing on the job. Their conversation begins with how the state is distributing opioid settlement funds to help stem a major drug crisis.John Kellner, Colorado Attorney General Challenger: KUNC reached out to Republican candidate John Jellner several times but did not hear back.Kellner currently serves as a district attorney for the 8th judicial district, which includes Arapahoe, Douglas Elbert and Lincoln Counties. His platform centers largely around public safety and cracking down on crime. If he's elected, he wants to use the Attorney General; 's office to deal with high rates of fentanyl misuse, violent crime and cart theft.Kellner supports the SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. He is in favor of abortion being dictated by states, as opposed to the federal government. In Colorado, he said he will uphold abortion access because it's codified in state law ad does not support a federal abortion ban.Kellner has also rejected claims that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent and has said that former President Donald Trump holds some responsibility for the violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.Colorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by digital editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!

What to expect on your ballots: Ballots for the November election are hitting mailboxes this week, and there’s a lot at stake. Not only will Coloradans decide who will represent them in Congress and at the state House, but there are also 11 statewide questions that could affect everything from how much people pay in taxes to where they can buy wine.Colorado’s gubernatorial race — Heidi Ganahl: Colorado’s governor ticket is expected to be one of the most heated races on the ballot. Republican Heidi Ganahl is hoping to replace incumbent Jared Polis in the governor’s mansion. She said Polis is not doing enough to move the state forward. Here’s what she said she would do differently.Colorado’s gubernatorial race — Jared Polis: Gov. Polis has been busy crisscrossing the statem toting his record over the last for years — namely his administration’s delivery of free full-day kindergarten and his leadership through the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what he said about his vision for a second term.Colorado Edition is hosted by Yoselin Meza Miranda and produced by the KUNC newsroom, led by news director Sean Corcoran. Web was edited by Digital Editor Megan Manata. The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions.