In The NOCO

Today on Colorado Edition: We learn about a tool that can predict how lawmakers will vote on certain bills - and find out how a friendly wager between two reporters turned out. Then, we hear about a surge of Colorado entrepreneurs who started businesses during the pandemic. And, we learn about the global history of the avocado.

Today on Colorado Edition: We head to the Greeley Stampede to get an inside look at the Miss Rodeo Colorado pageant. We also hear the story of recent eagle drama at Standley Lake that brought global attention to the park last year. Plus, we explore a course at Colorado State University that’s weaving Indigenous perspectives into natural resource management, and we speak with the food editor of 5280 Magazine.

Today on Colorado Edition: We learn why vaccination rates in rural communities are lagging behind more populated areas. Plus, we hear the latest on an effort by Colorado State University and the NASA SnowEx campaign to figure out how much water comes from mountain snowpack. We also get an inside scoop on how the sale of the Boulder chocolate company Lily’s fits into a larger trend in the candy industry. And, we talk with residents of Hickory Village, a Fort Collins mobile home community, who are trying to gain ownership of their park.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear about a recently passed bill that will do away with most court fees and costs in the state’s juvenile court system. We also explore the work of the state board tasked with reviewing requests to change geographic place names. Plus, we get the latest on two ongoing investigations into the decision to move U.S. Space Command headquarters to Alabama from Colorado, and we hear a review of the Macedonian film God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we learn how a changing climate and other natural hazards can make buildings susceptible to damage. Then, we discover how small towns on the Front Range are trying to conserve water supply to support their booming communities. We hear why a state law is unintentionally making it harder for Coloradans to find remote work. And, we learn how arguments over critical race theory made their way to a Colorado school board meeting.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we hear more about the recent wave of wildfires burning though the northwestern part of the state, including the Sylvan Fire near Eagle. Then, we dive into wildfire restoration and recovery efforts at some of last year's worst0hit areas. And, we celebrate the legacy of Barney Ford, a prominent Black businessman in Denver whose life was largely shaped by the Underground Railroad.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore why health experts have been sounding the alarm over the state of children’s mental health, even as the recovery from the pandemic continues. We hear from Grand Junction residents about whether the Bureau of Land Management headquarters should remain in Colorado or shift back to D.C. We’ll get an update on summer construction along I-25 in Northern Colorado. And, we discuss a new body image disorder borne out of the pandemic surge in video conference calls.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we learn how the federal moratorium on evictions that’s soon to expire might impact tenants and landlords across the state. Then, we examine how the racial and ethnic diversity of faculty at Colorado’s universities impacts students. Next, we learn how Colorado towns are working to preserve their starry night skies. And, we hear about a new documentary series on Rocky Mountain PBS that shines a light on “environmentally harmonious” buildings.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore the ongoing housing crisis in Colorado’s mountain communities, and how emergency declarations are opening up short-term solutions in the high country. We also hear about an unusual ceremony that took place in Denver recently in which a 102-year-old World War II veteran received medals he had earned, but never received. Plus, the world’s largest meat processing company recently settled a federal lawsuit over claims of discrimination against Muslim workers at its Greeley plant. We’ll speak to a lawyer and a former worker involved in the case.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we hear about a new transportation bill that will raise billions in funding for the state’s infrastructure. Then, we learn why theaters and concert venues are still waiting to get their hands on relief money from Congress. Plus, we hear how the city of Boulder is taking a local approach to fighting climate change. And, we get an opinion on the 2019 foreign film, Take Me Somewhere Nice, from KUNC's film critic.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear about the upcoming Juneteenth celebration happening in Erie, a small Colorado town with a population that’s 92% white. We’ll also check in on the health of the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin through its two largest reservoirs. Plus, we hear a forecast for heat and drought conditions in our state for the coming weeks, and we explore the connection between how we heat our homes and the changing climate.

Today on Colorado Edition: We take a look at a variety of bills passed out of the state legislature this session related to stimulus money, to mental health, and to police use of ketamine to sedate people. Plus, we hear how the state is cracking down on smaller bodies of water to prevent waste in the midst of drought conditions. We’ll also hear about a new scholarship program for students from underrepresented communities pursuing careers in health care. And we explore declining enrollment rates in schools across the state.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we discover how the rise of virtual health care during the pandemic changed both patient-provider relationships, and the future of health care. Then, we learn how communities damaged by last year’s wildfires are trying to recover their natural areas. Next, we hear about the first gray wolf pups to be spotted in the state since the 1940s. And, we check in with the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, where the Colorado’s last printing press approaches its final days.

Today on Colorado Edition: we learn how a new law might change the future of marijuana hospitality along the northern Front Range. Then, we speak to a new member of the Colorado Rockies franchise, and discover how she is making history. Next, we take a look a new true crime podcast out of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Plus, in honor of Pride Month, we revisit a story that takes us from Colorado’s history as a “hate state” to a leader in LGBTQ+ rights.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get an update on a bill that would place limits on when paramedics can sedate people with ketamine. We also hear an economist’s perspective on an incentive program from the state aiming to get unemployed Coloradans back into the workforce. And we’ll hear why a different incentive program to vaccinate Colorado’s correctional officers isn’t working like officials had hoped.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we learn about new potential requirements for prospective Colorado educators seeking teaching licenses. Then, we hear about the racist legacy of one “sundown town” in Nevada. Next, we dive into the latest economic boost in the energy industry in Weld County. And, we learn how a failed Jewish farming colony in the 1880s helped lay the foundation for Colorado’s Jewish communities.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we look at the changing mask mandates in residential care facilities. Then, we learn how closing many Native American Reservations to visitors during the pandemic impacted tribal communities. Next, we hear how drought conditions are not only harmful to crops and livestock, but also to the mental health of agricultural workers. And, we dig into a new bill that would offer Coloradans a deferment on paying some property taxes.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we’ll talk about the $5.4 billion transportation package state lawmakers passed this week. Then, we’ll hear from new entrepreneurs who started their businesses in the midst of the pandemic. We’ll also listen back to a conversation about the Granby "Killdozer" rampage on the 17th anniversary of the incident. And, we’ll get a review of the 2021 film There Is No Evil.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we’ll hear how the Biden administration is lending a hand to small businesses. Then, we learn how Colorado restaurant and tourism industries are responding to the shortage of workers. Plus, we dig into a new lawsuit challenging Major League Baseball’s decision to move the All-Star game to Denver. And, we talk to an organization that brings Israelis and Palestinians together to work on sustainable projects with a bent towards peace.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we dig into a new bill that helps people with past convictions for marijuana possession seal their records. Then, we learn how some colleges and cities are looking to acknowledge and reconcile their land as belonging to Indigenous nations. We hear about efforts to address when police officers are ill-equipped to interact with people with disabilities. And, we get a peek into potential changes to Colorado’s school funding formula.

On today’s Colorado Edition: Ahead of the All-Star Game being played in Denver later this summer, we get the story of a historic 1932 baseball tournament in Colorado that would later be dubbed “The Little World Series of the West.” We hear what the return to live music looks and sounds like at a beloved outdoor concert venue in Lyons. We talk with two researchers about the hidden health benefits of listening to the sounds of nature. And, we learn why native plants are beneficial for our gardens and the ecosystem.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear the story of how a team of paleontologists from Denver came to find pieces of one of Colorado’s most famous dinosaurs hidden away in some cardboard boxes. And with the long weekend ahead, and folks set to gather in person, we offer a pair of protein perspectives to help you decide what to put on the table, or on the grill. We also visit Tiny Town, a beloved tourist attraction near Morrison, that’s reopening to the public this weekend.

On today’s Colorado Edition: The state has announced it will hold five $1 million drawings for Coloradans who've been vaccinated against COVID-19. The idea is to encourage more people to get the shots in a timely manner – but do vaccine incentives actually work? We’ll hear more about what the research shows. Then, we’ll dig into the latest population estimates in Northern Colorado to see what the trends reveal. And we explore a little-known tool that can predict how lawmakers might vote on a bill, even before it comes up for debate.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we learn about the search for a new president of the University of Colorado's four-campus system. Then, we look at how the state is trying to lower out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs. And, in light of the recent death of the Love Has Won cult leader in Colorado, we hear thoughts from a Littleton-based cult recovery counselor.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore Colorado’s infrastructure past with a historian who is hoping to reframe some of our older bridges as unique historic properties, worthy of preservation. We’ll also hear about indoor air quality and why most people think of air quality as an outdoors issue. Plus we’ll take a look at new camping restrictions and bans in place across the state this year as officials try to mitigate damage caused by an influx of visitors. And we’ll hear KUNC’s film critic review the Icelandic film, The County.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we check in at the Boulder King Soopers that was the site of the deadly shooting in March about their plan to reopen this fall. Then, we hear why vaccine supply is outweighing demand in Colorado — and what to do about it. Next, we get a taste of post-pandemic life with a look at a recent live concert. Plus, we learn about the increased housing prices in Fort Collins as part of our My Colorado essay collection.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get the latest on the redistricting process in Colorado, a process magnified by the addition of an extra U.S. House Representative, and slowed down by the delayed 2020 Census count. We’ll also hear how Coloradans are responding to the ongoing violence in Palestine. Plus, we get a look at the high costs of cleaning up oil and gas wells in Colorado, abandoned by the companies that once operated them. And, we hear about local shake-ups in the oil and gas industry, and how it all fits into the rising price of fuel nationwide.

Today on Colorado Edition: Gov. Jared Polis has signed a $34 billion state budget, part of which fully restores funding cut from education in last year’s budget. We take a look at the new budget and where in education the money will go. We’ll also hear about the unease many are feeling as we slowly return to living life in-person, especially in the return to school. Then, we examine court delays caused by the pandemic, and we learn more about peak bird migration happening now in Colorado.

Today on Colorado Edition: We learn more about the latest guidance for mask-wearing in Colorado. Then, we hear about a new bill that aims to give Coloradans more control over their personal information on the internet. And, we learn about researchers examining the walls of the Grand Canyon to understand more about climate change. Plus, we find out about an art exhibition in Loveland that’s elevating the voices of Asian American artists.

On today’s Colorado Edition: We hear about challenges one rural business faced during the pandemic, and learn about a new online network that seeks to connect these businesses with needed resources. We drop in on a drone soccer tournament to learn more about this growing e-sport. And, we speak with a pair of historians about a new book on the trans history of Trinidad, Colorado, a small former mining town which, for many years, was one of a handful of places with a clinic providing gender confirmation surgery.

On today’s episode of Colorado Edition, we learn about drought conditions across the state that are sounding the alarms for another season of wildfires. Then, we hear about a new trademark infringement lawsuit involving the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg and a similarly-named fund. And, we learn how people with disabilities have navigated the pandemic, and what they want the world to look like after it's over.

Today on Colorado Edition: We examine some of the reasons behind low vaccination rates among Colorado’s Hispanic and Latino populations. We’ll also hear about a new mentorship program for folks looking to stake their claim in the ever-growing marijuana industry. Plus, we get a look at the challenges and opportunities the Biden administration’s free community college proposal presents to our state and its community college system, and we speak with the Colorado woman who recently broke a North American record for uphill skiing.

Today on Colorado Edition: We’ll explore a package of bills heading toward passage in Colorado that aims to prevent deaths among pregnant women and create better outcomes for babies. We’ll hear about a local initiative that creates art by sifting through wildfire ashes, and we’ll get a look at youth homelessness across our region through a shelter in Colorado Springs. We’ll also speak with the new food editor at 5280 Magazine.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore some highlights from the transportation bill that state lawmakers recently unveiled. We discuss some of the climate change priorities state and local leaders are pursuing even as Colorado’s pandemic recovery continues. We hit the (outdoor) dance floor at a high school prom. And, we hear from KUNC’s film critic about two exceptional films featured in this week’s Turner Classic Movies Film Festival.

Today on Colorado Edition: Recently released police body camera footage showed the violent arrest of a woman with dementia in Loveland, sparking community outrage. We hear how the recent pressure to reform police training is spurring change in the ways police interact with people who experience disability. We also discuss the latest COVID-19 outbreaks in the state and how they are impacting schools, from teachers to students. And, we speak with Lisa Napoli, author of a recent book detailing how several influential women helped shape National Public Radio into what it is today.

On today’s Colorado Edition, we hear about a new bill in the state legislature that would allow the composting of human bodies after death. Then, we learn how speculative investments into water rights are exposing problems in the ways we divvy up scarce water supplies. And, we hear about a new media partnership between the Colorado Sun and a national nonprofit.

Today on Colorado Edition, we get an update on vaccine outreach efforts for Hispanic and Latino communities in Fort Collins. We also learn what public health departments in the Mountain West are doing to address vaccine hesitancy. We discuss why a public option health insurance plan has derailed in Colorado. And, we hear how people celebrated the Muslim holy month of Ramadan during a pandemic for the second year.

Today on Colorado Edition, we take a look at three gun bills that Colorado statehouse Democrats unveiled Thursday. Plus, we hear how communities that experienced mass shootings manage the physical spaces where they happened. We also get a temperature check on the pandemic as Colorado cases continue to rise and health officials warn of a fifth wave. As we head into the weekend, we also talk about Bereaved Mothers Day, a holiday this Sunday for mothers who have lost their children. And, we get a review of the award-winning film Minari.

On today’s Colorado Edition, we dig into the complications surrounding President Biden’s plan to remove all American troops from Afghanistan by September. Plus, we hear about new jobs in the tech industry coming to Boulder. Then, we learn about how recent acts of police brutality have impacted people of color across the Mountain West. And, we hear about a nonprofit aiming to make Colorado communities more diverse when it comes to age.

Today on Colorado Edition: We examine Colorado’s legislative response to mounting mental health issues and concerns. Plus, we get a breakdown of the state’s plan for allocating early childhood stimulus funding from December’s federal aid package. We’ll also take a look at the first round of 2020 Census data and its accuracy, and we’ll hear about a group of second graders who are helping to prepare Coloradans for wolf reintroduction.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get the latest on the vaccine rollout in Colorado and explore what benefits we’re beginning to see due to an increasingly vaccinated population. We also take a look at how traumatic events can impact first responders, and even people who weren’t physically at the scene of a traumatic event. And with the vaccine rollout on track, we look at the return of summer camps in Colorado. And KUNC’s film critic gives us a review of "The Father," which received six Oscar nominations and features Best Actor winner Anthony Hopkins.

Today on Colorado Edition: we learn how traumatic experiences can take a toll on the mental health and morale of law enforcement officers. Then, we hear about a nonprofit that offers military veterans an artistic path of healing their trauma. We talk with Governor Jared Polis about attempts to vaccinate members of rural communities. And then, we learn about the first college in Colorado to mandate COVID-19 vaccines for all students.

We look at the factors driving the cumulative mental health strain for many Black Coloradans, and we explore the growing need for mental health care. We’ll also take a look at the record-breaking month of median home sales across much of Northern Colorado, and what it all means for sellers and would-be buyers. Plus, we explore the environmental importance of native plants, and hear how our shifting climate is impacting butterfly populations across the West.

On today’s Colorado Edition: Jurors on Tuesday found former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three charges he faced in the death of George Floyd in 2020. We speak with a professor of ethnic studies about the significance of the long-anticipated verdicts. We also hear from Gov. Jared Polis as he begins to hand off more of the pandemic response powers to local governments. We discuss the use of restraints on kids in Colorado schools, and the legislative roadblocks that prevent education officials from intervening. And, we explore a new exhibit at the Museum of Boulder that pays tribute to the lives lost during the last year.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get a look at the how Colorado is leading the push for police reform as nationwide calls for meaningful change grow. We also hear about recent legislation looking to help people of color stake their claim in the blossoming marijuana industry. We learn more about a recently extended program providing food aid to low-income students during the pandemic -- and how the agencies distributing funds are trying to reach more eligible students. And, we hear how climate change could finish off a World War II-era bomber discovered at the bottom of Lake Mead.

Today on Colorado Edition: we learn about how human trafficking was impacted by the pandemic and what to expect when COVID-19 restrictions loosen up. Then, we explore how some Coloradans have been impacted by student loan debt, and how President Biden’s latest push for debt relief could help. Next, we step back and relax with some notes of nature, and learn how natural sounds can positively impact our health. And, we celebrate the life and legacy of Colorado photographer Soren McCarty.

On today’s Colorado Edition: The last year saw a huge bump in people getting outdoors to escape pandemic confinement. We hear from Colorado Parks and Wildlife about the impact all that recreation has had on the environment. We explore the struggles of one of the region’s original natural grocers, and the overall state of the natural foods market. And, we talk with two authors on either side of the Continental Divide, who began a correspondence during the pandemic, based on their shared love of the Mountain West.

Today on Colorado Edition, we learn about a new bill aiming to make ski resorts more accountable for public safety. Then we hear about new calls for assault weapons bans and other gun control measures in the wake of the Boulder shooting. Plus, we hear from a second amendment rights activists about how gun owners — rather than legislators — should play a part in preventing mass shootings.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore what gun legislation state lawmakers are considering after last month’s mass shooting at a grocery store in Boulder. We also hear about a bipartisan bill that would fund intensive tutoring for students across the state to address learning loss over the course of the pandemic. Plus, we learn how Colorado’s billionaires not only avoided financial losses, but came out of 2020 with billions more to their names, and we hear about a bill in Montana which would strip protections from the grizzly bear, which has seen its population rebound since its listing as an endangered species about 50 years ago.

On this special, podcast-exclusive episode of Colorado Edition, we speak with KUNC reporters Matt Bloom and Leigh Paterson to go in depth on their new reporting series, On The Edge. Their reporting examines the economic factors behind the surge in requests for emergency rental insurance here in Colorado and explores the growing issue of housing insecurity, and what programs exist to help renters out in these uncertain times.