In The NOCO

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear how omicron is impacting students and teachers in classrooms across the state. We also travel to the fields of central Arizona, where farmers are grappling with federal water cutbacks. And, we talk with the Bureau of Reclamation's new deputy regional director for the lower basin.

Today on Colorado Edition: In 2020, the Almeda Fire became Oregon’s most destructive wildfire, destroying nearly 2,600 homes and claiming three lives. We hear how the affected town of Phoenix has progressed through its recovery, and how it could inform recovery in Louisville and Superior. And with extensive legal battles threatening abortion access nationally, state lawmakers may consider a bill this session that would help secure reproductive rights. We’ll learn more about what’s in the prospective bill and the state of abortion access in Colorado.

There is a long history of people creating guides to help others find inclusive spaces. In the 20th century, Black travelers used The Green Book to navigate safely. Now, two Colorado women have created a website that aims to do something similar

With water flow declining in the Republican River, fresh ideas are cropping up to save it from depletion. We explore the pivot some farmers are making to alternative growing methods and crops less dependent on water. And, the art of drag performance has grown in visibility and popularity over the last few years, opening the door for a series of local classes on drag for teens and tweens. We hear more about the class and how attitudes about drag have changed over time.

Risk factors for domestic violence are complex and varied, but some research suggests that incidents increase in the wake of natural disasters, including pandemics and wildfires. We explore the connection between the two here in Colorado. And as we head into the third year of the pandemic, college and university students are heading back to classes. We hear how COVID is impacting the day-to-day at the University of Northern Colorado.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear about a final push underway in the U.S. to destroy stockpiles of chemical weapons at two Army bases, including at the Army’s Chemical Depot in Pueblo. We also hear from a mother and daughter who created the Shining Beautiful series about living with disabilities. And, we revisit an exhibit at the Greeley History Museum on the power of voting.

Today on Colorado Edition, we speak to Jenny Shank about her book, Mixed Company, that celebrates diverse voices and perspectives in the city of Denver.

Today on Colorado Edition: Experts have suggested that eyewitness accounts to identify potential suspects are often inaccurate, given the trauma of seeing a crime take place. We hear how the misidentification and wrongful arrest of a Black teen led to a grassroots effort in Colorado to change the practice of using showups.

Today on Colorado Edition: We speak with the head of public health in Boulder County about surging COVID-19 cases and recovery from the Marshall Fire. We also hear how the closure of a Louisville hospital is impacting community health care. Plus, we explore how current strikes in the West could impact workers rights in the future. And, we head back in time to the early days of the Republican River’s water management to understand how managers today are grappling with dropping river flows.

There is a long history of people creating guides to help others find inclusive spaces. In the 20th century, Black travelers used The Green Book to navigate safely. Now, two Colorado women have created a website that aims to do something similar.

Today on Colorado Edition, we preview what state lawmakers are planning to pursue in the new legislative session that kicks on tomorrow. We also learn about the possibility of new technology to help farms use less water. And, we hear why higher populated communities are becoming more vulnerable to wildfire.

Today on Colorado Edition: We examine the connection between devastating wildfires in our region and the climate crisis happening on a global scale. We also hear from a Marshall Fire survivor about how her family is navigating recovery with a home that’s still standing, but uninhabitable due to smoke and soot damage.

The latest official estimates of the Marshall Fire’s toll put the number of structures destroyed at 1084. Today on Colorado Edition, we talk with four people who evacuated and lost homes in the fire.

Today on Colorado Edition: We check in with the mayor of Superior to hear how the community is processing the aftermath of the Marshall Fire. And, we hear how water shortages in the Republican River are affecting agricultural producers in eastern Colorado and downstream.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear how residents in northwestern Colorado are reacting to their new congressional district. We also hear why some Arizonans are relying on water stored underground amid federally mandated water usage cutbacks. Plus, we get an update on surging COVID cases in the high country. And, we learn about a new Facebook group to facilitate housing for Marshall Fire survivors.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear how a disaster assistance center opened in Boulder County this week is helping people displaced by the Marshall Fire. And, we check in with Boulder Valley School District’s superintendent on plans to return to school this week.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear how extreme climate conditions and drought set the stage for last week’s devastating winter wildfires. And, we listen back to a story on a campaign to stop stigma against opioid addiction treatment.

Throughout the last year, we had more than 350 conversations with Coloradans across the Front Range and beyond. Producers Henry Zimmerman and Tess Novotny joined host Erin O’Toole to talk about some of our favorite segments of the year.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear what issues Latino voters in the state’s new 8th Congressional District are thinking about. We also listen back to a conversation with teachers helping young students adjust to in-person school. And, we learn how long-term residents of mountain towns across the West are being priced out of their communities as home prices soar.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear how higher education institutions that displaced communities for the development of Denver’s Auraria campus are expanding their promise of scholarships for affected families. We also explore how financial aid can impact degree attainment for Hispanic women in Weld County. And, we hear how upcoming mandatory water cutbacks could impact farmers across the West.

Today on Colorado Edition: We speak with a Fort Collins-based writer and poet about her work in an anthology of writings at the intersection of the climate movement and feminist thought, and we explore the work of a trans photographer in Paonia who documented the early days of his transition in a recent photo essay.

Today on Colorado Edition: Every month, the RiNo Mural Program in Denver’s River North Art District pays local artists to create community installations. In celebration of Native American Heritage month, three Indigenous artists in Colorado have painted works exploring cultural representation and identity. We speak with the artists about their murals, and the connection between artistic expression and social change.

Today on Colorado Edition, we explore the impact of college attainment disparities for Hispanic men. We also dig into the definition of drought. And, we listen back to the story of a World War II-era bomber crashing into one of the Colorado River’s biggest reservoirs in 1948.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear how a slow start to the winter season is intensifying climate concerns about the future in our region. We also get an update on ongoing discussions over the allocation of water from the Colorado River. Plus, we talk with a respiratory therapist about how her life changed during the pandemic, and after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Today on Colorado Edition: Colorado is getting a new congressional seat for the first time in years. We hear how it could dramatically change public policy here and around the country. We also speak with one of Northern Colorado’s leading public health officials about the impact of the COVID-19 vaccine and the path of the pandemic over the last year. And we get a look at a new state effort to prepare more Coloradans for employment in STEM fields.

Today on Colorado Edition: The COVID-19 vaccine first became available in Colorado nearly one year ago. Since then, millions of Coloradans have gotten vaccinated. But despite that progress, the virus and its variants are still spreading. We explore the state of the pandemic a year after the vaccine became available, and how efforts to make vaccine access more equitable have fared.

Today on Colorado Edition, we dig into the results of the most recent Colorado Political Climate Survey, produced by the American Politics Research Lab at the University of Colorado Boulder. And we revisit a discussion with two researchers studying the beneficial health impacts of listening to natural sounds.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear what’s next for Douglas County schools following a recent vote by the school board to drop a mask requirement. We’ll also preview a water conference next week where officials will make decisions that affect millions of people. And, we revisit our conversation with famed ski map illustrator James Niehues, and the Montana-based artist he’s passing the torch to, Rad Smith.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear why many tribal communities in the Colorado River basin do not have access to clean drinking water. We also get tips from an arborist on keeping trees healthy during this dry fall and winter. Plus, we get the latest on pandemic-related disruptions making it harder for Latinos to access health care in Western states. And, we listen back to a conversation about migratory patterns of birds in Colorado.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn what’s behind the warm and dry weather so far this winter on the Front Range, and what impact the lack of snow could have next spring. We also hear about an emerging technology that could prevent oil and gas producers from abandoning unprofitable wells. Plus, we explore the end-of-life cycle for these wells and who typically pays to clean them up when producers walk away.

Despite overall increases in Latino college enrollment over the years, large gaps in attainment still persist. One group in Weld County is organizing funds to help women pay for classes and earn their degrees.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear why a panel of medical experts concluded that a common justification used by paramedics to sedate people has racist implications. We also learn how climate change is impacting fruit-growing across the Western Slope. And, we get the latest on a lawsuit challenging a federal workplace vaccination mandate.

Today on Colorado Edition, we listen back to our favorite stories about two Fort Collins homes with important historical legacies. One is the home of Virgil Thomas, the first known African American to graduate from a Fort Collins high school. The other is an adobe-style home that belongs to the Cordova family, who have lived in Fort Collins for 100 years.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn about the expiration of federal pandemic-related paid time off, leaving employees feeling pressured to show up at work. We also hear how the federal infrastructure bill aims to stem the tide of firefighters leaving the field due to low pay and benefits. And we talk about a group that aims to make hiking inclusive for people with all body types.

Today on Colorado Edition, we talk to early childhood educators about how they’ve been impacted by the ongoing pandemic. And we learn how the end of wildfire season can impact the mental health of firefighters.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn about the four main numbers scientists are using to measure drought. We also hear how Coloradans rallied to save one of the oldest synagogues in the Mountain West, and we learn about the growing industry of green technology.

Today on Colorado Edition, we explore the history of Sundown Towns across the Mountain West, and learn how racism and discrimination in the past still impacts residents of color who live there today.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn about efforts to combat the stigma of opioid addiction. And we hear about a lawsuit challenging Colorado’s ban on Native American school mascots.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear about upcoming changes to the police and fire departments in Aurora. We also learn about the first nuclear plant that will use Natrium technology, and hear what happens to oil and gas wells when their producers go bankrupt.

Every month, the RiNo Mural Program in Denver’s River North Arts District pays local artists to create community installations. In celebration of Native American Heritage month, three Indigenous artists in Colorado have painted works exploring cultural representation and identity. Colorado Edition spoke with the artists about their murals, and the connection between artistic expression and social change.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn why one species of fish native to the Colorado River is no longer on the endangered list. We also learn about a new set of policy recommendations aimed at protecting Colorado’ big game populations, and hear why many Western cities are recording some of the worst air quality levels on the planet.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn why an increasing number of Colorado universities are becoming Hispanic-serving institutions. And, we hear about efforts to rename natural landmarks that bear offensive titles.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear why some Coloradans are returning to the small farming communities they planned to leave behind. And, we learn about a new initiative to increase the hiring rates for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Today on Colorado Edition, we speak to Jenny Shank about her new book, Mixed Company, that celebrates diverse voices and perspectives in the city of Denver.

Today on Colorado Edition, we hear what Northern Colorado veterans from the War on Terror are thinking about the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. Then we hear about two WWII veterans who were recently given the recognition they deserve.

Today on Colorado Edition, we get an update on COVID-19 safety measures in Northern Colorado. We also learn why Denver is vying to be a host city for the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn how Colorado hospitals are grappling with the latest surge of COVID-19. We also hear how schools are dealing with staffing shortages, and the drastic measures some are now forced to take.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn how public schools in the Greeley-Evans district are grappling with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And we learn about a new collective that seeks to make entertainment events safer and more uplifting.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn how Gov. Jared Polis plans to spend the state’s recently unveiled budget proposal. And we learn how some oil and gas companies in Colorado are able to skirt methane emission rules.

Today on Colorado Edition, we get an update on the spread COVID-19 cases in Northern Colorado. Then, we learn how schools are acknowledging the role trauma can play in students' lives. And we speak to a rural transgender high school student about documenting his experiences in a photo essay.