Morning Magazine Archives - KGNU Community Radio: Recent Episodes
Morning Magazine Archives - KGNU Community Radio
An independent, noncommercial community radio station licensed in Boulder and Denver and dedicated to serving its listeners.
Wildlife advocates are protesting a proposed plan to drill 155 new oil and gas wells on the Lowry Ranch, a 50 square-mile parcel of land in Southeast Denver. The land, which stretches near the banks of the Aurora Reservoir, is owned by the Colorado State Land Board and has been used for various purposes over the years, including recreation and ranching.Advocates say the undeveloped land has become one of the most diverse wildlife habitats left in the region It’s home to several species that the Colorado Parks and Wildlife has designated a “species of highest concern.”KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon spoke with Dana Bove, the president and founder of Front Range Nesting Bald Eagle Studies about the proposed development. Bove says the state’s willingness to permit the drilling is indicative of a larger problem within Colorado law that allows a disparity between the creatures the experts say we need to protect and the habitats that we allow oil and gas to continue destroying.Listen:https://kgnu-org.sfo3.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/10132203/LowryRangeWildlife.wavRead the full press release below:
Dear Nature Net Group,
I am reaching out to see if anyone would be interested in helping bring media attention to a critical issue involving the proposed 166-well CAP at the Lowry Range. This project impacts key wildlife, including Tier 1 and Tier 2 SWAP species, and raises significant concerns about compliance with Colorado SB19-181.
As Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) was considered by the then Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) (both under the Division of Natural Resources or DNR) as the state’s primary expert during the oil and gas rulemaking, the crafting of the 1200 Series Wildlife Rules showed full deference from the Commissioners and the COGCC to CPW. However, over a third of the SWAP species advised by CPW managers were excluded from any protection under the 1200 Series Rules.
The language and intent of SB19-181 mandates that the ECMC Commissioners protect our state’s wildlife. However, many Commissioners seem to interpret their role as protecting only those species listed in the rules or those with defined high priority habitat (HPH) buffers or restrictions.
The Lowry Range, encompassing 60 square miles of rich habitat closed to public access for decades, is one of the most diverse wildlife habitats in the NE Colorado Front Range. Species at Lowry include Burrowing Owls (Tier 1), Northern Leopard Frog (Tier 1), Northern Pocket Gopher (threatened), Swift Fox, nesting bald eagles (Tier 2), an important pronghorn wintering area, and a rich songbird habitat.
Despite CPW considering species like Burrowing Owls and Northern Leopard Frogs as their highest concern (Tier 1), these species were not included in the Oil and Gas Rule language at CPW’s recommendation. This omission likely means they will not be granted protection from the extensive oil and gas development planned for Lowry.
The decision by CPW to exclude their highest Tier species from Rule language and listing is deeply concerning and difficult to comprehend. For the ECMC to omit these species from protection at Lowry appears to contradict standing law and would legally be considered arbitrary and capricious.
I have discussed this matter in detail with a well-respected environmental attorney, who agrees that these species deserve protection under the law and should be argued for during the permitting hearing. However, even the attorney representing Save the Aurora Reservoir (STAR) has no interest in arguing for any species not listed in the oil and gas rules.
We need a well-recognized conservation voice or group for wildlife to bring this to the attention of Colorado’s more discerning media outlets. If you are interested, please contact danajbove@gmail.com from Front Range Eagle Studies.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Best regards,
Dana Bove
The post New oil and gas drilling in Southeast Denver would threaten wildlife that is already at risk appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, We get an update on some major oil and gas developments in Colorado. First, we hear about a wildlife habitat in Aurora where developers are trying to drill 166 New oil wells. Then, the EPA mandated cleaner burning gasoline across the Front Range, Did gas prices go up like many predicted?
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-07-10Greta Kerkhoff The post Oil and gas developments in Colorado appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrowphilipPhilip Armour Morning Mag Headlines – July 10, 2024 – WednesdayBird flu UPDATE: 1.8 million birds to be killed
Nearly 1.8 million chickens will be culled, or selectively slaughtered, as a result of an avian flu outbreak in Colorado.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a state of emergency over the weekend, after an egg-laying farm in Weld County confirmed an outbreak of the bird flu at their facilities. The state of emergency, according to the Colorado Sun, will help the currently-unnamed farm – and others impacted – respond to the outbreak.
This is not the first time a Colorado bird flu outbreak resulted in mass culling, as a similar case of bird flu at another Weld County facility resulted in nearly 2 million birds slaughtered back in 2022. Standard procedure in most cases of wide-spread commercial avian influenza detection is killing off the flock and destroying their eggs to stop the spread of disease
According to the Sun, this same strain of bird flu has also been making its rounds to some of Colorado’s most prominent dairy farms. But, unlike its fatal impacts on birds, avian flu infections in cattle have rarely been fatal.
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New species found in Boulder
A local family discovered a new cave-dwelling species in Boulder.
The tiny pseudoscorpion is the size of a sesame seed and prefers dry, dusty environments. The family discovered the tiny animal back in 2008, and now it is officially designated as a new species that’s only been found in Boulder so far.
David Steinmann, a research associate at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, made the discovery with his wife and son. The family was specifically looking for invertebrates. Named the “Larca boulderica” in honor of Boulder, the newly identified pseudoscorpion looks like tiny scorpions and has crab-like pincers but no stinger.
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Kroger/Albertsons merger
The updated list from Kroger and Albertsons names 579 grocery stores across the nation.
The affected stores in Colorado include most of the state’s Safeway and Albertsons locations, as well as two distribution centers and one dairy farm. That’s according to Colorado Public Radio.
Both Kroger and Albertsons have said the sale of these stores will help them avoid closing locations or making any major layoffs.
The proposed merger is still facing a number of hurdles, and will see legal challenges next month. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued in February to try and block the merger, saying the lack of competition would be bad for both shoppers and workers.
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Boulder Office of Disaster Management to launch new multilingual text message program
The Boulder Office of Disaster Management (ODM) will start sending text messages to community members during disasters.
The current messaging system used by the County relies on the Office of Disaster Management’s website and social media platforms. The new system will be used when the city’s Emergency Operations Center is activated in response to a large-scale disaster. Text messages will include incident updates, community resources, road closures, sheltering information, and information about other community impacts.
The text messages will not replace current alert and warning systems, which direct community members to take emergency measures like evacuating.
To start receiving ODM’s new push notification texts, which are free of charge, text BOCOinfo to the number 888777. The messages will also be available in more than 100 different languages.
Read moreNew law addresses motorcycle traffic behavior
On August 7, Colorado motorcyclists will be allowed to drive between cars in stopped traffic. Known as lane filtering, the practice is different from lane splitting, which is when motorcycles drive between moving cars, and remains illegal.
Several studies have determined that lane filtering is safer for motorcyclists than stopping with other vehicles. The new Colorado law allows riders to navigate toward the front of the line of stopped traffic to avoid being sandwiched between two vehicles. It’s only legal for two-wheeled motorcycles and excludes larger vehicles, like three-wheeled trike motorcycles or motorcycles with sidecars.
Lane filtering is already legal in Arizona, Montana, California, Hawaii and Utah.
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The post Mass slaughter of chickens to combat avian flu, Kroger/Albertsons merger, New species found in Boulder appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, Friday, July 5, we’ll discuss how the Supreme Court’s recent camping ban decision could affect Boulder. Then, a conversation with Jason Swann about engaging with the outdoors as a person of color. After that, it’s Nature Almanac with a special look at nature’s version of natural “sparklers.”
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-07-05Philip Armour The post How will the Supreme Court’s camping ban decision affect Boulder? Jason Swann talks about engaging with the outdoors as a person of color appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine,
the gay rodeo is on town! Then, it’s This Week in Water.
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-07-09Philip Armour The post Gay rodeo and its historic roots in Colorado + This Week in Water appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrowPhilip narrationGreta Kerkhoff State declares disaster emergency to fight avian flu in Colorado Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency to fight avian flu in Colorado.
The declaration will free up state resources and, in turn, help agriculture officials and farmers respond to the outbreak.
Infected animals have been discovered at a large commercial egg operation in Weld County, according to CPR News. The virus has shown its capacity to spread to humans – just last week, an employee at a dairy farm in northeast Colorado contracted the flu.
Colorado is currently reporting more cases among dairy cows than any other state.
The local outbreak comes as national concerns around avian flu are on the rise. Federal officials began detecting the presence of avian flu within domestic cattle herds across the nation this spring. Avian flu’s jump from birds to cattle has health officials concerned that the virus could continue to mutate and spread more easily to humans.
Still, federal and state officials maintain that the risk to humans remains low, and that pasteurized milk products and beef are safe to consume.
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New tax for affordable housing in Denver Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unveiled a new sales tax proposal yesterday, with affordable housing in mind.
The new proposed tax would add 0.5% to the existing sales tax rate, which currency falls just under 9%.
According to The Denver Post, the tax would help raise roughly $100 million a year for affordable housing projects.
The tax wouldn’t be the only proposed hike on Denver’s ballot this November – nor would it be the first time the city has created new taxes or fees to fund housing-related efforts. Back in 2020, voters passed a sales tax dedicated to homelessness initiatives that brings in roughly $50 million a year.
If the tax ends up on the ballot, the measure would be the second sales tax hike up for voter approval this fall. The other relates to financing Denver Health, the city’s social safety net hospital.
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Colorado group submits petition to ban hunting of bobcats, mountain lions, lynx In other November election news – a volunteer group has submitted a petition to Colorado’s Secretary of State to ban the hunting of bobcats, mountain lions, and lynx.
The group “Cats Aren’t Trophies” collected enough signatures last week to get their trophy hunting measure on November’s ballot.
The initiative would declare “the intentional killing, wounding, pursuing or entrapping” of any mountain lion, bobcat, or lynx as unlawful.
Supporters of the ban described the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats as “commercial killing,” and inhumane.
Opponents argue that decisions about managing wildlife resources should be left to wildlife experts.
The Secretary of State has 30 days to review the petition to determine whether it contains sufficient valid signatures.
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Colorado Senator Faith Winter violated ethics policy by appearing intoxicated at public meeting, committee findsA five-member committee has decided that Colorado Senator Faith Winter failed to uphold Senate ethics standards when she appeared intoxicated at a Northglenn City Council meeting in early April.
Before entering the April meeting, Winter parked her car in a fire zone as shown on footage obtained by 9News. Body camera footage obtained from a Northglenn police officer shows Winter being advised by the officer not to drive home, to which she agreed.
While Committee members agreed that Winter’s behavior was questionable – in a 4-1 vote – they disagreed on which disciplinary measures to pursue.
The committee did not recommend a reprimand, censure, or expulsion but requested Democratic Senate President Steve Fenberg “prepare and deliver” a letter to Winter admonishing her behavior and encouraging her to continue her treatment for substance abuse.
The investigation into Winter’s behavior has lawmakers criticizing the state Capitol’s culture of substance abuse, which allegedly normalizes alcoholism. That’s according to Colorado Politics.
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More people move in to the east, according to census data People in and around Boulder County are moving east at higher rates than they were a few years ago. That’s according to new population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Erie, and the nearby Carbon Valley region, have grown rapidly in the last four years, while the rest of the region in Boulder County and western Weld County has stayed the same or shrunk.
Government workers in Erie expect the town to grow to 60,000 residents in the next decade.
Meanwhile, Boulder’s population shrank slightly from last year. The Daily Camera reports that aging demographics and high home prices could play a part in that decline.
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Three Boulder athletes will represent Team USA in Paris Athletes from across Colorado have qualified to compete in the 2024 Summer Olympics and Paralympics.
Three athletes from Boulder will represent Team USA in the sport of climbing—Brooke Raboutou, Colin Duffy, and Natalia Grossman.
The other 20 or so qualifying Colorado athletes will compete in mountain biking, triathlon, volleyball, track and field, climbing, rowing, swimming, shooting, wheelchair fencing, and more. The Olympics begin in Paris in two weeks, on July 26, and will continue through August 11. The Paralympics will be held August 28 through September 8.
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The post State declares disaster emergency to fight avian flu, New tax for affordable housing in Denver appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, The Boulder fruit and vegetable program works to provide fresh produce to low income residents. You’ll hear from Amelia Hulbert, Boulder County public health’s healthy eating active living team lead about the program since its creation in 2019. Then, the latest on the ten gray wolves released into the Colorado mountains late last year.
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-07-08Greta Kerkhoff The post Boulder fruit and vegetable program, Latest on grey wolves released into Colorado appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow07_08_2024amheadlinesGreta Kerkhoff Boulder Valley School District funding Boulder Valley Public school officials are concerned about district funding, as enrollment in the district declines.
The yearly decline of around 1.5% combined with Colorado’s new school funding law is expected to decrease the district’s budget significantly.
The new law, known as the New Public School Finance Formula, passed in May and places caps on property taxes, a major revenue for the district.
Although the Formula may provide additional state aid, the District is ultimately expecting to see an overall financial loss due to the district’s high fixed costs.
According to the Daily Camera, BVSD spends over $4,000 more per pupil than the state average, with some schools allocating over $22,000 per student.
Educators are worried the new formula could impact children from historically marginalized communities the most, as those schools rely almost fully on district funding.
BVSD officials have said that the funding issues could lead to “tough decisions,” including school closures.
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Boulder staffers present scenarios for future of Area III Planning Reserve Nearly 500 acres of mostly undeveloped land north of Boulder are being considered for housing.
The Area III Planning Reserve is northeast of U.S. 36 between Broadway and Jay Road. Boulder city staffers recently presented several potential scenarios for the pocket of land’s future – including the addition of thousands of housing units that could house up to nearly 15,000 people.
While there are parts of the Reserve that will likely be maintained as rural, the Daily Camera reports that the area’s geography makes it a good candidate for development, transportation, and recreation purposes.
In order to achieve these goals, the city would have to find ways to route city services and utilities there. It’s currently unclear if the city’s water and sewer systems would be capable of serving the Planning Reserve area, and how much developing the area would cost.
If the city does move forward with any of the presented scenarios, development could start around 2030, with a fully-built neighborhood completed by about 2050.
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State assesses new power sources to help make Colorado 100% renewable New state reports from the Colorado Energy & Carbon Management Commission make the case for geothermal and hydrogen power.
The reports say that both geothermal and hydrogen offer significant chances to build on energy provided by wind, solar, and batteries.
State officials aim to get Colorado running on 100% renewable energy by 2040.
Governor Jared Polis is especially interested in geothermal, according to The Denver Post.
The areas in Colorado with the highest reported potential for producing electricity through geothermal include the Upper Arkansas Valley, San Juan Basin, and a spot in the Denver Basin in the eastern part of the state.
When it comes to hydrogen, the governor acknowledged that it is viewed as a controversial fuel by some, since it often comes from fossil fuels. However, The Post reports that the state is looking into “green” hydrogen options produced in Golden.
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CU Boulder chancellor outlines vision for the futureCU Boulder’s new chancellor started on the job early last week.
Justin Schwartz told The Daily Camera his top priorities include sustainability and student success. He added that he has long-term goals to advocate for degrees outside of STEM, and improve student graduation rates.
The previous Chancellor, Philip DiStefano, left late last year after 15 years in the role. He was the university’s longest-serving Chancellor.
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Medical marijuana sale decline Colorado’s medical marijuana sales have hit their lowest levels in at least a decade, down over 60% from April 2021.
Colorado Public Radio says this could be connected to the growth of the recreational cannabis industry, which has made cannabis more accessible and available to adults without the need for a permission slip from the state of Colorado.
More dispensaries in Colorado are operating only the recreational side, as it’s become the most viable option for owners to turn a profit.
According to CPR, current medical patients will likely stay in the medical market because the taxes are much lower than those levied on recreational marijuana.
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Investors buy Boulder’s Walnut Business Center Two out-of-state investors have teamed up to purchase the Walnut Business Center in Boulder for $28 million dollars.
Real estate investors ScanlanKemperBard Companies and Landrock LP plan to reinvigorate the commercial park.
According to the Daily Camera, the pair says they intend to transform the property into a modern space while working with tenants and employees.
Planned improvements include upgrades to roofing, parking lots, and mechanical systems.
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The post Boulder Valley School District funding, State assesses new power sources, Staffers present scenarios for Area III Planning Reserve appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
The newly published 2024 World Drug Report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) acknowledges marijuana legalization in the U.S. and Canada may have helped to shrink the size of illicit markets, while at the same time driving significant drops in the number of people arrested for cannabis offenses.
The Cannabis Report – July 4th, 2024Listen: play_arrow*New United Nations Report Signals Cannabis Legalization Leading To Positive ResultsHannah Leigh (Download Audio)
The post New United Nations Report Signals Cannabis Legalization Leading To Positive Results appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-07-03Philip Armour Proposed changes to Iris Avenue
Boulder city leaders are considering four unique designs to change traffic patterns on Iris Avenue in North Boulder. The busy corridor saw 345 crashes from 2016 to 2023. According to Denver7 News, 22 of the accidents involved pedestrians and bicycles.
One of the designs would reduce the street’s four lanes to only two, one in each direction, with a center turn lane used by traffic in both directions. Some residents told Denver7 they’re worried that too much disruption of the current layout will increase traffic on side streets.
Boulder leaders want to achieve what they call “Vision Zero,” a plan to eliminate traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities along Iris Avenue from Broadway to 28th St. A final design decision is expected by this fall.
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Boulder Chamber opposes plan to close Boulder Municipal Airport The Chamber’s senior director of policy programs said that decommissioning the airport could end up being a costly mistake. Jonathan Singer told BizWest that it could end up costing the city tens of millions of dollars over many years.
The Boulder City Clerk’s office has verified that a pair of separate but complementary petitions to close Boulder Municipal Airport have received enough signatures to appear on the November ballot.
Singer said that the Chamber is specifically opposed to the measure known as Repurpose Our Runways. Should that measure pass, the Chamber would support the second ballot measure, Runways to Neighborhoods, which would require the city to build affordable housing on the site.
The 180-acre Boulder Municipal Airport supports 299 jobs and generates nearly $100 million in total economic impact for the city, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation’s 2020 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study.
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RTD Ballot measure
A fall ballot measure will ask voters to help further fund RTD. The measure would allow the agency to keep the tax revenue it collects indefinitely, instead of providing refunds required under Colorado’s Taxpayer Bill of Rights.
RTD’s current exemption from TABOR is set to expire in November. According to the Daily Camera, more than $600 million dollars in tax revenues that RTD has collected would be subject to TABOR requirements in 2025. However, if the ballot measure is passed, taxpayers wouldn’t see any of those millions.
RTD officials have said the funds will help maintain and operate the transit system for voters. If the ballot measure fails, RTD could be forced to cut about 20% of bus and train service within two years.
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Outbreak of Bird flu among dairy cattle
More recorded cases of bird flu in dairy cattle have been found in northern Colorado, making the outbreak the worst in the country.
Colorado has identified 26 herds with cases of avian influenza, 22 of those being discovered within the past month.
The rapid spread has officials concerned. While chances of the disease spreading to humans is generally low, experts worry that the longer the virus spreads unchecked through cattle, the greater the chances that it will mutate and become more dangerous to people.
According to the Colorado Sun, state agriculture and health officials are working with dairies to identify cases of the virus and prevent the spread.
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Breckenridge bans single use plastic
This week, Breckenridge started to implement their town ban of single-use plastic items. They’re following the lead of Frisco, another mountain town which similarly banned those items last year.
Breckenridge businesses are expected to stop selling plastic water bottles, plastic cutlery, and plastic containers for things like ice cream. This is the second phase of the ban, so additional plasticware will be cut out later down the road.
The town of Breckenridge will be issuing citations for businesses that don’t comply.
Some service businesses around Breckenridge and other mountain towns have found alternatives to plastic cups, including giving discounts to consumers that bring in reusable containers.
Colorado as a whole banned single-use plastic bags at the beginning of this year – but have yet to enforce such a widespread ban as these mountain towns.
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Federal grant for Colorado’s quantum technology sector
Colorado was awarded roughly $41 million dollars in federal money on Tuesday in order to advance and commercialize quantum technology.
Colorado was one of just 31 applicants selected from 400 in 2023 in the first phase of the federal tech hubs program.
The Post says the funding could make Colorado the “Silicon Valley” of quantum.
This isn’t the first time Colorado has received funding for quantum development. Back May, the U.S. National Science Foundation announced a $20 million dollar grant for CU-Boulder to build a facility called the National Quantum Nanofab.
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Democratic congressional candidate Adam Frisch calls on Biden to drop out of the presidential race
A Colorado Democratic candidate for Congress has called for Biden to drop out of the presidential race.
Democratic Candidate Adam Frisch called President Biden over the phone Tuesday, urging him to drop out of the presidential race. Frisch’s concern over the president’s well-being led him to make the call.
Biden plans to meet with Democratic governors today to solidify support after his debate performance last week.
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The post Changes to Iris Avenue, RTD Ballot measure, Bird flu outbreak appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, independent and beloved bookseller, The Tattered Cover, has been purchased by Barnes Noble.
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-07-03Philip Armour The post Barnes Noble purchases Denver’s Tattered Cover bookstore appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll take a close look at Colorado’s fentanyl problem.
Then, it’s This Week in Water.
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-07-02Greta Kerkhoff The post Colorado’s fentanyl problem appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow07_02_24_am_headlinesGreta Kerkhoff Fire restrictions
The Boulder County Sheriff has enacted Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for unincorporated areas of western Boulder County.
The restrictions are effective immediately, and are due to increasing fire danger, brought on by a lack of moisture, and ongoing high temperatures. The fire restrictions will remain in effect until further notice, according to a sheriff’s office press release.
A Stage 1 Fire Restriction is also in effect in Gilpin County, according to Denver 7, and a more rigorous Stage 2 Fire Restriction is in effect in Elbert County.
The City of Boulder already has stricter regulations than the county does. But for western Boulder County, the immediate effect of the Stage 1 Fire Restrictions is a ban on the use of fireworks within the restriction area. First-time violators can be fined up to five hundred dollars, in addition to possible civil penalties. Additional violations can result in higher fines.
The Stage 1 Fire Restrictions issued by the Boulder County Sheriff prohibit selling, using, and possessing all fireworks. There’s also a prohibition on open fires, including campfires, barbecues, and grills.
The restriction in unincorporated Boulder County includes the area west of Highway 93, from the southern boundary of Boulder County to its intersection with Highway 119.
Also included is the area west of Broadway Avenue in the City of Boulder, from its intersection with Highway 119 to its intersection with Highway 36.
The restriction also encompasses the area west of 36, from its intersection with Broadway Avenue to its intersection with the northern boundary of Boulder County;
Also within the restricted area is the western boundary of the Rabbit Mountain Open Space to Highway 36 is; as well as all of Rabbit Mountain Open Space.
For a complete list of fire restrictions, visit the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office website.
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Undeveloped land evaluated for housingCity officials in Boulder are looking at a nearly five hundred-acre parcel of land as a possible site for a new housing development.
Boulder Reporting Lab says that the city’s evaluation of the Area III Planning Reserve is in its early stages. It involves weighing the cost and feasibility of making the area north of Boulder livable by connecting it to water and sewer lines, among other city services.
The Area III Planning Reserve consists of mostly undeveloped city and private land. According to preliminary estimates presented to the City Council last week, the land could accommodate as many as 6,700 housing units.
Boulder Reporting Lab further says that even if the city goes ahead with developing the land, construction would probably not begin before 2030.
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Colorado COVID cases risingThe number of COVID-19 cases in Colorado is on the rise, according to the state Department of Public Health and Environment.
There were 1,115 cases of COVID-19 in Colorado as of June 22nd. That’s up eighteen percent from the week before that, and up 127 percent from April 20th.
At the same time, there have been fewer COVID deaths reported statewide. Nineteen people died from COVID and its variants in May, down from fifty-six deaths in May of 2023.
The Centers for Disease Control is recommending that everyone over the age of six months get an updated, 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, whether they’ve previously been vaccinated or not. They say that’s the best way to protect yourself against getting COVID.
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COVID funding ends, impacting education
COVID-era federal funding that brought nearly two billion dollars into Colorado public schools is coming to an end, leading to budget shortfalls in some districts.
The 1.8 billion dollars in federal pandemic funding was used to expand educational services like the transition to remote learning.
This relief aid also funded more tutoring, after-school and summer programs, increased mental health assistance, and improving and tracking air quality.
The money came through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund, or ESSER for short. The last ESSER payment was three years ago, and was the largest, totaling nearly 1.2 billion dollars, according to the Denver Post and state education officials.
School districts have until September 30th to spend what’s left of this money.
The Post says after that deadline, programs paid for using ESSER funds will come to an end, unless new funding can be found.
At the same time these funds will no longer be available, enrollment in Colorado public schools is down across the state. That decline, and its economic impact, has led some districts, including Denver and Jefferson County, to close schools. The districts will be reevaluating which programs and services they can offer.
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Second-hottest June
This past June was the second-hottest ever in the Denver area, and we’re on track for an even hotter July.
The National Weather Service is reporting that the average temperature for June was 73.8 degrees. That’s more than five-and-a-half degrees higher than the average.
While 73.8 degrees may not sound that hot, the average factors in overnight lows, which averaged 57.5 degrees in June, according to Fox-31.
The highest average June on record in Denver was 75 degrees, back in 2012.
July is usually the hottest month of the year, with an average of 75.1 degrees.
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The post Fire restrictions, Undeveloped land evaluated for housing, Colorado COVID cases rising appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Coming up on today’s program:
- The Boulder Public Library insists on being a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, offering community events and books centering queer stories. This morning, you’ll hear about the library’s relationship with queer youth.
- Then, some quick guidance on water safety as temperatures continue to trend upwards.
Listen:
- play_arrowWorlds largest swim lesson finalPhilip Armour The post Boulder Public Library is a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrowPamPhilip Armour Club Q shooter hate crimes guilty pleas The man who committed a mass shooting at Club Q—a Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub—pleaded guilty to 74 federal hate crime and weapons charges on Tuesday.
24-year-old Anderson Aldrich killed five people and wounded 22 others at Club Q back in 2022. In addition to pleading guilty, he received an additional 55 life sentences plus 190 years in prison.
Aldrich was already serving five life sentences plus 2,208 years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of first-degree murder and related charges in state court last year.
U.S. District Judge Charlotte Sweeney accepted Aldrich’s plea deal with federal prosecutors, avoiding a lengthy court process, and allowed the mass killer to avoid the death penalty.
The judge made Aldrich admit for the first time that the shooting was bias-motivated, targeting victims due to their sexual identity or gender identity.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Aldrich declined the judge’s invitation to address the Club Q victims and families present in the Denver courtroom.
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Colorado Supreme Court hears arguments in anti-discrimination caseThe Colorado Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a lawsuit against a Christian baker who refused to make a pink cake with blue icing to celebrate a gender transition. KGNU’s Pam Johnson has the story.
The Court considered a variety of hypothetical cake-design scenarios while discussing two cases involving Lakewood baker Jack Phillips. The first case was back in 2012, when Phillips refused to bake a cake for a gay couple’s wedding. He partially prevailed before the U.S. Supreme Court in that case in 2018.
The more recent case originated when Phillips initially agreed to make a cake for attorney Autumn Scardina, but then refused when he found out it was going to be used to celebrate her gender transition.
The Colorado Court of Appeals sided with Scardina, ruling that the cake—which was not to have any writing on it—does not qualify as speech protected by the First Amendment.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court asked attorneys for both sides to describe what kind of cake without any writing on it a baker could refuse to make.
The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits refusing to provide services based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, or sexual orientation.
There are currently three cases in Colorado pitting LGBTQ+ [plus] civil rights against First Amendment rights.
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Colorado in-person primaries voting begins Colorado voting centers are now open across the state for those who want to vote early in-person for next week’s primary election.
Election day is June 25th and voters have up until 7 p.m. on Election Day to register to vote at a polling center.
Voters can find the location closest to them by going to the Secretary of State’s website.
According to Colorado Newsline, Registered Democrats may vote in the Democratic primary, and registered Republicans may vote in the Republican primary. Unaffiliated voters may vote in either, but not both.
Voters will also find congressional district races, the state Board of Education, the statehouse, and other local races on their ballots.
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Denver Basic Income Project report A first-year pilot program provided 807 homeless adults with no-strings-attached cash, and saved taxpayers hundreds of thousands in the process. KGNU’s Philip Armour has more.
That’s according to a new report by Denver University’s Center for Housing and Homelessness Research, which found that the program participants stayed in homeless shelters less frequently. They also required fewer ambulance rides, emergency room visits and hospital stays, and spent fewer nights in jail or drug and alcohol treatment centers. As a result, taxpayers saved nearly $600,000 according to The Denver Post.
The program is also connected to an increase in employment. Roughly 23% of participants had jobs at the start of the program, and that number grew to 27% after one year.
The Post reports that the project paid out $9.4 million over the past 14 months
The Denver Basic Income Project split enrollees into three groups. One received $1,000 a month for a year, the second received a $6,500 lump sum at start and then $500 a month over 11 months, and the third received $50 a month for a year.
Researchers found a significant increase in housing security for all three groups after 10 months of payments.
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Wapiti Trail rerouted for eagle protection The new Wapiti Trail route at Heil Valley Ranch opened on Tuesday.
During the extended park closure due to the Cal-Wood fire, Golden eagles built a nest in the area. The new route was built to protect them.
Now, all of Heil Valley Ranch is restricted to on-trail use only because of the new critical wildlife habitat, and burn areas.
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Eldorado Springs sues Boulder County
A bottled water company has filed suit against Boulder County for allegedly standing in the way of its newly-renovated resort facilities.
Eldorado Artesian Springs spent the last several years upgrading their popular spring-fed swimming pool, originally opened in 1906, and remodeling the site’s historic ballroom.The lawsuit accuses county officials of withholding occupancy permits for the facilities, and imposing requirements that weren’t agreed upon, among other allegations.
The company is also seeking a temporary restraining order to block the county from continuing to prevent the opening of facilities.
That’s according to the Daily Camera.
Eldorado Artesian Springs owns the road through town that accesses Eldorado Canyon State Park. The company and county commissioners agreed on roadway and parking improvements that would be funded jointly by Boulder County, the state of Colorado, and Eldorado Artesian Springs Inc. That work has not been completed.
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The post Eldorado Springs sues Boulder County, Denver Basic Income Project report, Club Q shooter hate crimes guilty pleas appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, We hear from janitors who are fighting for fair working Conditions in Denver. Then, it’s Cannabis Report with Hannah Leigh Meyers and Leland Rucker. After that, it’s Radio Nibbles – our weekly segment with John Lehndorff.
Listen:
- play_arrowDenver janitors fight for fair working conditionsGreta Kerkhoff The post Denver janitors fight for fair working conditions appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, a new investigative series dives into the federal governments’ betrayal of formerly enslaved Black people in America. You’ll hear from one of the series’ lead reporters on what went into the project, including AI technology, and what it could mean for Black Americans seeking reparations. Will Climate Change Factor in the November Elections? Maybe If We Laugh About It….. that, and more on This Week in Water.
Listen:
- play_arrowmorningmagazine06_18_2024Greta Kerkhoff The post 40 Acres and a Lie revisits broken promises, Climate change in upcoming November Elections appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow06_18_24_am_headlinesGreta Kerkhoff Rocky Mountain Airport truck crashA truck that crashed through a fence at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport in Broomfield caused a lot of damage, but the incident did not appear to be malicious, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver of the Ford F-150 was the only person in the pickup truck yesterday when it crashed through the fence and hit two unoccupied airplanes. While the exact cause of the incident is under investigation, 9News said the driver was apparently experiencing medical issues at the time. The driver was taken to a hospital.
A spokesperson with the Sheriff’s office said the truck did extensive damage to several planes, and debris is scattered throughout the site of the crash.
The crash is being investigated by Colorado State Patrol. Because it is considered a car crash, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are not involved.
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Valmont Power Station ash meetings Two public meetings are scheduled for today, about coal ash remediation at Boulder’s Valmont Power Station.
The first of the two meetings is at eight o’clock this morning for business owners, while the second is from six to eight this evening, for people living near the power station at Valmont and 63rd Streets.
Both of the meetings will be in person, at the Boulder County Recycling Center at 1901 63rd Street
These meetings are meant to provide information about plans to clean up the landfills on the property that are full of coal ash. Coal was burned at the facility for more than ninety years, before coal operations ended in 2017. Elements in coal ash, like lithium and selenium, can filter into the environment.
The plant is currently operated by Xcel Energy, which is expected to clean up the landfills. The Camera says Xcel’s own testing has found higher-than-acceptable contaminant levels.
Neither of today’s meetings include a virtual option. But the Camera says Boulder County Public Health will upload video to its website, in the near future.
More information about the coal ash remediation project is available on the bouldercounty.gov website.
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Club Q shooter sentencingThe person already serving life in prison for the 2022 Club Q murders in Colorado Springs is expected to enter a guilty plea in Federal court in Denver today.
Anderson Aldrich pleaded guilty to fifty-one state level charges a year ago, for killing five people and wounding many more at the LGBTQ+ nightclub. Seventy-four federal charges were filed against Aldrich earlier this year, including multiple hate crimes and firearms charges.
The Denver Gazette is reporting that Aldrich accepted a plea deal on the federal charges that keep Aldrich from getting the death penalty. The Gazette says Aldrich most recently has been incarcerated at the Wyoming State Penitentiary.
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Boulder County health care merger Two health care organizations in Boulder County have announced a merger, which could impact low-income people in the area.
Mental Health Partners and Clinica Family Health announced the merger last week. Boulder Reporting Lab says the merger is meant to create an “integrated healthcare model” that will better serve the people who have relied on the two organizations.
Mental Health Partners is the largest mental health care provider in Boulder County. They have more than ten thousand clients, and are one of the county’s few emergency mental health options outside of hospital emergency rooms.
Clinica Family Health offers affordable medical and dental care.
According to a press release, the newly formed agency will be called Clinica Family Health and Wellness and is expected to be up-and-running starting in September. It will provide physical, mental, and oral health care at locations in Boulder, Broomfield, Gilpin and Adams counties.
Boulder Reporting Lab says the merger comes on the heels of the pandemic-era continuous coverage for Medicaid, which ended mid-last year. Thousands of people in Boulder County lost their Medicaid coverage as a result.
Both Mental Health Partners and Clinica mainly serve people on Medicaid, and those without insurance.
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Denver sales tax proposalsThe Denver City Council has given initial approval to a bill that would let voters decide whether to raise the sales tax in the city.
City Council approved the increase in a 9-1 vote yesterday, and will take a final vote on it next week. If it passes then, the proposed tax hike would go before voters in November.
The proposed .34% increase would bring Denver’s total sales tax to 9.14%, one of the highest in Colorado.
Revenues would provide up to $70 million for Denver Health, a network of healthcare providers throughout the city.
According to Fox31, Denver Health estimated there were $140 million in unpaid medical bills in 2023 and said it can’t maintain its current cost of care without additional funding.
The City Council also approved a $5 million contract for homeless shelters, on an 8-2 vote. The Denver Gazette says the contract for Housing Connector will provide financial assistance and rental subsidies to unhoused people.
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Louisville bear sightingThe sighting of a bear in Louisville has police there reminding the public that they should use extreme caution, if they encounter one of the animals.
The bear was seen near the Coal Creek golf course on Sunday, according to the Daily Camera, and was reported by about a dozen people. No one was hurt or threatened, and the bear eventually wandered away.
Police say such sightings are not uncommon. Anyone who sees a bear should stay calm, back slowly away, and avoid eye contact. They also recommend that people keep garbage cans clean and secure, and keep their garage doors closed.
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The post Rocky Mountain Airport truck crash, Valmont Power Station ash meetings, Boulder County health care merger appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Coming up on today’s program:
- Colorado GOP Party Chair Dave Williams sent out incredibly homophobic messages online last week. Today, we’ll hear a response to that messaging, from a gay Republican running to represent Denver in Congress
- To-go liquor is becoming a permanent offering at Colorado restaurants. We’ll hear how that might impact the restaurant industry.
Listen:
- play_arrowEfforts to recall GOP Party Chair Dave Williams, To-go liquor in ColoradoPhilip Armour The post Efforts to recall GOP Party Chair Dave Williams, To-go liquor in Colorado appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow06_17_2024amheadlinesGreta Kerkhoff Jefferson County GOP leader censured
The Jefferson County Republican Party has formally censured their party chair, following her efforts to oust Colorado GOP Chair Dave Williams.
JeffCo party chair Nancy Pallozzi started circulating a petition last week without endorsement from the local Republicans she leads. Her own executive committee moved to nullify the petition, as it was not circulated on behalf of the party but was publicized on the party’s Facebook account and under its letterhead.
The efforts were prompted by Williams’ anti-LGBTQ+ email and social media post last week, calling gay people “godless groomers” and encouraging people to burn all Pride flags. The petition lists several concerns with Williams’ leadership.
The Jefferson County executive committee released a public statement, saying, “this action concerns only the matter of the Chair acting without authority and is not to be construed as an endorsement of or opposition to statements or actions of any other party.”
The censure bars Pallozzi from speaking on the matter any further.
Pallozzi’s efforts garnered public support from several prominent Republicans in the state. Similarly, the Denver Republican Party’s executive committee unanimously voted to call for Williams’ resignation or removal as state chair on Wednesday last week.
In addition to the recent criticism related to his anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments online, Williams has received backlash for calling LGBTQ+ Pride supporters “Nazis” in a recent debate, and for using party resources to attack his primary opponent in the 5th Congressional District race.
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Proposal to drastically change Colorado’s elections
There’s a newly-approved ballot initiative that aims to eliminate single-party primary elections.
According to Colorado Public Radio, Initiative 310 advocates for an “all-candidate primary,” as well as ranked-choice voting for general elections.
The measure is backed by one of Colorado’s wealthiest residents: Kent Thiry, the wealthy founder of the dialysis company DaVita.
Though backers still need to collect 125,000 signatures from voters by the first week of August in order to get on the ballot, CPR reports that Thiry’s funding will almost certainly carry the initiative through to the November elections.
The initiative’s supporters argue that the changes would improve Democracy by lessening the political strength of the two-party system. They also say that candidates will be less inclined to appeal to extreme views in order to win primaries, and that third party candidates will have more opportunity.
Critics say the new system may be hard for voters to understand, and that there would be limited time to educate voters before the upcoming election.
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Boulder airport neighborhood on ballot for fall
Two proposed measures to close the Boulder Municipal Airport and turn the area into a neighborhood have officially garnered enough signatures to appear on the Nov. 2024 ballot.
The news came from the City Clerk’s Office last week. According to the Boulder Daily Camera, “Repurpose Our Runways” and “Runways to Neighborhoods” ballot initiatives each gained just over the 3,401 signatures required to qualify for the ballot.
Supporters say the proposed measures would fill a gap in Boulder’s need for affordable housing.
Aviation enthusiasts oppose the measure, saying it’s unlikely the Federal Aviation Administration would allow the airport to be closed. Boulder currently has about 18 years left on a 20-year contract requiring the airport to operate due to FAA grant funding.
The City Council will make final determinations about the ballot measures in the upcoming months. They may suggest amendments to the measures – but if the campaign committee doesn’t agree to those changes, the city and committee could end up putting competing measures on the ballot. It’s also possible that Council could bypass the whole process and adopt the measures as city ordinances, in which case the measures wouldn’t go on the ballot.
The City plans to have a conversation about the airport on July 25.
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Record-setting revenue from skiing in Colorado
Sunday was closing day at the Arapahoe Basin ski resort, marking the end of the lift-served ski season for Colorado. Arapahoe was open for 222 days this season, from October 29 to June 16.
Colorado ski resorts logged 14 million visitations for the 2023/24 season – higher than most other states, but slightly down from 2022/23.
According to the Colorado Sun, total ski season spending in Colorado’s ski resort municipalities reached $4.5 billion, up from $4.4 billion in the record-setting 2022-23 season and up 50% from the pre-pandemic 2018-19 season.
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The post Jefferson County GOP leader censured, Proposal to change Colorado elections, New communications plan for Flagstaff road appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Coming up on today’s program:
- RTD lightrail delays are becoming more and more of a nuisance for riders, especially in Denver. I spoke with an RTD representative to try and get some clarification on why the delays are piling up, and what end might be in sight.
- Then, a gun buyback event is happening in Lakewood tomorrow. You’ll hear the details, including what happens to those weapons once they’re collected.
- After that, you’ll hear from a Colorado doctor working with Palestinians. She was in Gaza the day before the October 7 attacks.
- We’ll wrap up with the future of a local I-25 landmark that might be in danger.
Listen:
- play_arrowaudio3918395768Podington Bear The post RTD lightrail delays, Gun buyback event in Lakewood, Colorado doctor works with Palestinians appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow06_13_24 am headline newsGreta Kerkhoff Boulder Creek closed to tubers
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office closed Boulder Creek to tubing yesterday. The closure will remain in place until water flow reduces to a level that is deemed to be safer, according to the Daily Camera.
Until further notice from the Sheriff’s Office, the closure remains in effect for, “tubing and single chamber flotation devices” from below Boulder Falls at Colo. 119 to 55th Street in Boulder. Kayaks and white-water canoes are still permitted for use in the Creek.
Boulder Creek’s water flow is expected to increase as temperatures rise. The cold, high water can cause dangerous rapids and snags.
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Boulder office building to be turned into affordable housing
In order to create more affordable housing in Boulder, some developers are converting commercial spaces into housing.
Boulder Housing Partners plans to turn a portion of an office building, located at 3300 Penrose Place, into permanently affordable housing. According to the Daily Camera, they also plan to add several more residential buildings on-site.
The site was previously home to the Geological Society of America, a collaboration of scientists from all industries.
The Camera said the building has been relatively unused since employees began working from home more at the onset of the pandemic. Boulder Housing Partners bought the building back in 2022 for $10.3 million.
The project will add 113 new permanently affordable housing units. Those units are required to be deed-restricted, meaning they stay affordable for people making no more than a certain percentage of the area’s median income.
Boulder’s Planning Board held a public hearing for the project on May 7 and unanimously recommended approving the site.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
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Boulder considers limits on legal THC content
The City of Boulder’s Cannabis Licensing Advisory Board will consider a measure to limit maximum THC content.
On August 5th, the Board will review a policy recommendation to ban cannabis concentrates, though its authority to implement a ban is uncertain.
As reported by the Boulder Reporting Lab, parents, teachers and health care workers are concerned about the effects of high THC products on youth.
The last meeting of the board included an update from the Cannabis Research & Policy Project, including the latest information on high potency marijuana and THC concentrates.
At the state level, there have been attempts to regulate THC potency. Legislation was introduced back in 2021 to cap potencies at 15%. None of the potency regulations became law. However, restrictions did eventually pass regarding how Coloradans under 21 could get access to medical cannabis.
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Wildfire near twin lakes
A wildfire burning in the Interlaken Historic District near Twin Lakes grew to 443 acres and prompted evacuation orders yesterday.
According to the Denver Post, the fire grew from 164 acres Tuesday evening to 443 acres by 8:45 p.m. last night.
The fire was started by an abandoned campfire about 60 yards from the Interlaken trail, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Fire officials believe the campfire was not properly extinguished, and left burning for several days before sparking the wildfire.
Four helicopters, at least one air tanker and 135 fire personnel are currently fighting the fire, agency officials said Wednesday afternoon.
The U.S. forest service is currently trying to calm the flames, but as of last night the fire had not been contained. No historic structures were burned as of 11 a.m.
Camping is prohibited on the east side of Twin Lakes, as well as around the Interlaken trailhead, until further notice.
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First all-female climbing route established in Boulder
Rock climbing legend Lynn Hill and partner Sasha DiGiulian have completed a new route on the Maiden formation in the Flatirons.
Hill and DiGiulian’s successful effort marks the first all-female team to pioneer a new route in the area.
The Maiden is a distinct pillar of sandstone visible just west of South Boulder, and Hill and DiGiulian named the three-pitch route The Queen Line. It’s rated 5.13 – which is considered an advanced climb that requires experience and strength. The duo initially faced some opposition for needing to drill bolts into the rock. Boulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks eventually issued the permit on the second application.
A film crew documented the effort over the last four years, which included DiGiulian overcoming major physical struggles. The documentary, titled Here To Climb, premiered in Denver last Friday and will begin streaming on HBO Max on June 18.
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Boulder Municipal Airport’s fate on fall ballot
Two citizen-initiated ballot measures about the future of the Boulder Municipal Airport will likely make their way onto the ballot this fall.
Both the “Repurpose Our Runways” and “Runways to Neighborhoods” ballot measures have exceeded the number of signatures required to qualify for the November 2024 ballot.
Both measures seek to close down the Boulder airport, and turn the area into a neighborhood.
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The post Boulder Creek closed to tubers, Wildfire near Twin Lakes, Boulder Municipal Airport’s fate on fall ballot appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, another update on the Dolores River, which is facing lots of controversy around a proposal for a national monument to protect it. Then, a Colorado collaboration between land management agencies and municipalities to get kids outside – even if they bring their phones. After that, Chris Mohr shares his weekly commentary, Make Them Hear You. We’ll wrap up with herbalist Brigitte Mars and her regular Wednesday feature, Naturally.
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningMagazine_2024-06-12Jackie Sedley The post Dolores River monument pushback continues; Getting kids outside – even if they bring their phones appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrowcorrect HEADLINESPhilip Armour Colorado GOP in revolt against Dave Williams
Colorado GOP officials and candidates are pressuring state party chair Dave Williams to resign after Williams sent out anti-LGTBQ emails and social media posts from official state GOP accounts.
According to Colorado Public Radio, Colorado’s GOP has suffered under the tumultuous leadership of Williams. Two GOP candidates have publicly rejected the state party’s endorsement, citing Williams’ comment.
A coalition of local party leaders from Teller County, Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, and Victor, are also demanding he step down. They signed a letter expressing their calls for immediate removal of the GOP chair for QUOTE “continuing to incite hatred and further division in Colorado.”
Williams’ focus on moving the party to the right, paired with his policing of fellow-Republicans’ values, has long divided party members. Former Republican state party chair Dick Wadhams, a longstanding opponent of Williams, called the emails “very damaging.”
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Proposed Boulder-Lyons bikeway endorsedA proposed bikeway connecting Boulder to Lyons is one step closer to becoming a reality.
A plan to build an eleven-mile concrete trail along U.S. 36 has received the unanimous endorsement of Boulder’s Transportation Advisory Board. That route is one of the most popular among Boulder County cyclists, but also one of the most dangerous.
Under the current proposal, the path – called the North Foothills Bikeway – would be at least twenty feet wide, and built mainly on the eastern side of 36, according to Boulder Reporting Lab. It would also be set at least twenty feet from the roadway.
County officials estimate it would cost about $91 million. A final report on its engineering feasibility is due later this month.
Safety advocates have pushed for a bike path between Boulder and Lyons for years. Boulder Reporting Lab says that since 2005, seven cyclists have died along that stretch of U.S. 36.
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Polis signs eight new gun laws into law MondayThe new laws impose major changes to the state’s gun sales and monitoring. Among the new regulations, one of the laws imposes stricter requirements for obtaining concealed carry permits, mandating at least eight hours of training, a live-fire test, and a written exam starting July 1, 2025.It also prohibits the open or concealed carry of firearms in schools, voting sites, the state Capitol, and other specified locations.
People under active domestic violence-related restraining orders in Colorado will not be mandated to surrender their firearms and ammunition.
Another measure requires credit card companies to assign specific merchant codes to gun and ammunition dealers by May 2025 to facilitate tracking purchases.
Firearms dealers must obtain a state permit by July 1, 2025, complete employee background checks, and report attempted illegal purchases – among other new requirements.
The laws reflect Colorado’s ongoing efforts to reduce gun violence through tighter regulations, background checks, and funding for related programs and services.
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Xcel’s new energy plan could boost bills 7%
Xcel Energy received approval from state regulators earlier this week for a $440 million plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. But, it could boost natural gas bills.
The so-called “Clean Heat Plan” aims to move more Colorado homes and businesses to electricity from using natural gas. The energy company predicts this will cut greenhouse gas emissions 22% by 2030, and lead to a decline in gas sales over the next few years.
But, the plan will impact customers’ wallets. Natural gas rates will go up 7% over the next four years, and electricity rates will raise 1.1%.
According to The Colorado Sun, some worry the utility could make significant profits through these efforts to seemingly fight the climate crisis
$820 million-dollar plan for statewide internet approvedThe Infrastructure Act that Congress passed in 2021 set aside $42.5 billion for the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program, or BEAD.
According to The Colorado Sun, providing internet to rural areas of Colorado is costly for internet service providers since the houses are often far from towns. This puts those areas at a disadvantage.
The Sun says BEAD should be able to fund internet for 99% of Colorado state households at an affordable rate.
The proposed cost will start at $30 per month, with the opportunity for providers in high-cost areas to increase the figure based on expected cost.
Public comment for the project’s guidelines and maps will open in July. Then, internet providers can start applying for grants to offset the cost of building broadband infrastructure in regions of the state that are lacking internet service.
Read moreThe longest flight from DIA ever
Passengers will board the longest flight that’s ever taken off from Denver International Airport today. The flight will connect Denver to Istanbul.
The plane will travel around 6 thousand miles over 13 hours. The second-longest flight to have taken off from Denver comes a few hundred miles short of today’s, connecting Denver to Tokyo.
According to Turkish Airlines, who are chartering the new service four days a week, the flights will bring in about $54 million annually for Colorado’s economy and create around 350 new jobs.
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The post Colorado GOP in revolt against Dave Williams, Polis signs eight new gun laws, The longest flight from DIA ever appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, It’s LGBT Pride Month, which is supposed to be a period of celebration of queer joy and liberation. And it is – but, there’s also growing hate speech across Colorado and the country. We’ll talk about GOP party leader Dave William’s hateful messages, and what safety can mean for communities. Then, it’s This Week in Water with Franie Halperin and Jamie Sutler. We had no voicemails on the Listener Comment Line as of this morning, so we won’t have that segment for you all today.
Listen:
- play_arrowMorning_Magazine_06_11_2024Greta Kerkhoff The post Local perspective on Dave Williams anti-Pride hate speech appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow06_11_24_am_headlinesGreta Kerkhoff State GOP Moves To Oust Dave WilliamsState Republican Party leaders are expected to deliver an official letter today to State Party Chair Dave Williams, calling for a special meeting aimed at removing Williams from his leadership role.
Once he receives the letter it will be up to Williams, as party chair, to choose the date, time, and place of the special meeting. That’s according to KOAA, a Colorado Springs TV station.
State Republicans want Dave Williams removed in the aftermath of an anti-Pride Month mass email, which Williams signed. That email, sent out last week, attacked gay people as “godless groomers” who want to harm children. The same day, the State GOP tweeted out a call to burn all Pride flags.
Jefferson County GOP chair Nancy Pallozzi, who is leading the effort to oust Williams, said Williams crossed a line with attacks on Pride Month, and that he does not speak on behalf of the Republican Party.
Williams insists he will not resign, and has not backed away from his position.
The letter to be delivered to Williams today reportedly contains the signatures of more than 25% of the Colorado State Central Committee. Sixty percent of the committee’s four hundred members must vote in favor of Williams’s removal in order for it to succeed.
KOAA says the Republican leaders hope to schedule the meeting to oust Williams before the Republican National Committee and National Convention begins in July.
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No Venue Change in King Soopers TrialThere will be no change of venue in the trial of the man charged with killing ten people at a Boulder Kings Soopers more than three years ago.
Judge Ingrid Bakke denied the motion yesterday to move the trial out of Boulder.
She said the defense failed to establish that pretrial publicity in the case had made it impossible to seat an impartial jury, according to the Daily Camera.
The judge also denied defense motions to close the courtroom to the public, and to sequester the jury.
The lawyer defending Amad Alssia argued last week that there are reminders of the March 2021 mass murder all over town. He said between the work of support groups, Boulder Strong, numerous memorials, social media, and traditional media, it would be impossible for the accused to receive a fair and impartial jury.
Last October, the defendant was deemed legally competent to stand trial. He had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to ten counts of first-degree murder, 47 counts of attempted first degree murder, and numerous other felonies.
The trial is scheduled to begin on September 3rd, and is set to last for three weeks.
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Denver Youth Jobs Program FundedThe Denver City Council has approved a $1.7 million dollar state grant to fund the city’s YouthWorks Initiative Program.
The grant, approved last night, fully funds the program. The Denver Gazette says the program will provide up to one thousand summer jobs to students between the ages of fourteen and twenty-one.
The $1.7 million grant comes from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief, a COVID-era federal program.
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Denver Schools Enrollment DeclineEnrollment in Denver Public Schools is expected to decline by more than six thousand students over the next five years.
The school district, which is Colorado’s largest, had 76,157 K-through-12 students enrolled in the just-completed school year. The District projects that will drop to just under 70,000 69,819 students in the 2028-29 school year, an 8.3% decline.
One reason for the falling enrollment is a corresponding drop in the number of Americans having babies, according to the Denver Post. Another is gentrification, since rent hikes and types of housing have shifted the city’s demographics.shifting demographics.
Enrollment in public schools in Colorado was at its lowest point in ten years at the start of the 2023-24 school year. The Post says that declining enrollment has Denver and other districts considering closing some of their schools.
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New Eating Disorder Clinics LawEating disorder clinics in Colorado will be operating under new guidelines, due to a new law signed by Governor Jared Polis last Thursday.
The newly-signed law will require the state Behavioral Health Administration to issue new rules for eating disorder treatment clinics.
According to The Denver Post, new rules include private and clothed medical exams; specific accommodations for transgender and nonbinary patients; guidance for the use of restraints on patients; and an emphasis on obtaining consent before using feeding tubes.
The new rules are a direct response to complaints from patients at the Eating Recovery Center, a national eating disorder treatment provider with its headquarters in Denver.
Some say they experienced a threatening and invasive environment at the Center, traumatizing them further and making them resistant to seeking out future care.
The Behavioral Health Administration has until Jan. 1 2026 to implement these changes.
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Royal Arch Trail ClosuresBoulder’s Royal Arch Trail will be closed Mondays through Thursdays until early September.
The closure began yesterday, to allow maintenance on the trail.
The city said in a press release that during the maintenance period, Royal Arch Trail will be open Fridays through Sundays.
The work includes rebuilding the area along Sentinel Pass near the top of the Royal Trail, which leads to the Royal Arch formation.
The Hall Ranch trailhead will also be closed, but for a much shorter duration.
All nearby trails, and the Antelope Trailhead, will remain open.
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The post GOP moves to oust Dave Williams, DPS enrollment decline, No venue change in King Soopers trial appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, The Crested Butte Film Festival is hosting screenings this week, in Boulder. You’ll hear about those screenings, and the the festival itself. Then, Colorado’s rural southwest sees proposals for a national monument protecting the Dolores River. We’ve covered this once before on the Magazine, and you’ll hear the latest today.
Listen:
- play_arrowMorningmagazine06_10_2024Greta Kerkhoff The post Crested Butte Film Festival hosts screenings; Proposals for national monument protecting the Dolores River appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow06_10_2024amheadlinesGreta Kerkhoff New Boulder energy codeBoulder City Council has officially adopted a new energy code, marking a step toward setting efficiency standards for buildings.
The new City of Boulder Energy Conservation Code will require many newly built and remodeled buildings to use all-electric appliances.
According to the Daily Camera, the code does not ban gas in all new buildings – there are exemptions for certain commercial and industrial spaces like restaurants and hospitals.
In large renovations, gas can still be used for backup heat sources, stoves, and fireplaces, though main space and water heating systems will need to be electric.
While the move to electric can be more expensive for developers, the code change is expected to cut energy costs overall and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Boulder.
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Colorado state Republican leaders call on chairman to resign after GOP’s anti-LGBTQ+ messagesThere are growing calls for Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams to resign.
The calls started after the GOP sent out a mass email last Monday signed by Williams, accusing the LGBTQ+ community of being “godless groomers” who want to harm children. That same day, the Colorado GOP also posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, calling for the burning of all pride flags.
According to Denver7, state Republican leaders denounced the behavior late last week, saying it is not in alignment with the party.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser also chimed in, stating it can be a crime to burn a Pride flag, depending on the circumstances.
Williams defended the email, saying he will not apologize for putting his name behind the message.
A group of Arvada residents are wondering if William’s email connects at all to a number of missing Pride flags in their neighborhood. They told Fox31 they fly the flags every June, in honor of Pride month.
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Study reveals Colorado schools still have lead in drinking water
Nearly two-thirds of the water sources that supply drinking water to Colorado school districts still have excessive levels of lead, more than a year after those high levels were first identified.
The lead is found in water fixtures, according to the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, in a new study cited by Colorado Public Radio. The district with the largest exposure is Aurora Public Schools, with 88% of its fixtures needing help. Denver Public Schools are just behind that, with 83% of its fixtures requiring service.
The report identified nearly 1,500 water sources across the state’s 10-largest school districts with excessive lead levels.
Lead is highly toxic and can cause learning disabilities and other problems for those who are exposed to it.
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Colorado middle and high schools must provide menstruation products by 2028
Middle and high schools in Colorado will soon be required to provide free menstrual products to all students.
According to the Colorado Sun, House Bill 1164 was signed by Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday. The bill says all restrooms in the state’s middle and high schools must be stocked with free pads and tampons by 2028.
The bill comes after a survey conducted by Justice Necessary, a Colorado nonprofit working to increase access to hygiene products, which found that 90% of teen girls have started their menstrual cycle unexpectedly at school and didn’t have access to period products.
Eighty percent of those girls missed class because they didn’t have a pad or tampon.
The bill aims to better students’ instructional time and increase access for those who struggle to afford menstrual products.
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Marshall Fire Rebates ExtendedThe Colorado Public Utilities Commission has approved a one-year extension for the Xcel Marshall Fire Rebuild Rebates. The rebates are meant for Xcel customers who lost their homes in the 2021 Boulder Marshall fire and are rebuilding.
According to the Boulder County Website the new deadline for receipt of an approved permit is June 30, 2025, for the mixed fuel rebate tiers.
The rebates are available for homes permitted on or before that June date.
More information can be found at www.bouldercounty.gov.
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St. Vrain Creeks and Rivers closedThe Saint Vrain creeks and rivers in Lyons are closed for tubing, due to safety concerns.
The closure started Friday, when officials announced the river was flowing too fast for single-chamber rafts and inner tubes. That’s according to 9News.
Kayaks and white water canoes are still permitted; however, anyone using those watercrafts is encouraged to exercise caution and wear a life jacket and helmet.
Those who violate the closure can receive A fine of $100.
9News says the closure includes the North Saint Vrain and Saint Vrain creeks from Apple Valley Road to North Foothills Highway.
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office has not clarified when the closure is expected to end.
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The post New Boulder energy code, Study reveals lead in school drinking water, St. Vrain Creeks and Rivers closed appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, Mexico elected their first female president this week. We spoke with a CU Professor about what that could mean for Mexico and for the U.S. After that, on this first Friday of June, we bring you the Nature Almanac, with a special look at what may be Colorado’s most beautiful summer bird. We’ll wrap up with a conversation about knitting, in honor of Worldwide Knit in Public Day tomorrow.
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- play_arrowUntitledJackie Sedley The post A local perspective on Mexico’s first female president; Worldwide Knit in Public Day is tomorrow appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, there’s a new dashboard out focused on efforts to aid the unhoused in Boulder. We’ll hear the details. Then, it’s Radio Nibbles – our weekly segment with John Lehndorff.
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- play_arrowNew dashboard shines a light on houselessness in BoulderJackie Sedley The post New dashboard shines a light on houselessness in Boulder appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
More than 40,000 new immigrants have arrived in Colorado in the past two years. The influx marks the largest wave of new immigrants in Colorado history But, being a home for those who have fled their country is not new for Colorado. The second largest wave of immigrants into Colorado came after US troops pulled out of the Việt Nam War.
Between 1975 and 1990, about 25,000 Vietnamese refugees landed in Denver. Nga Vương-Sandoval, a Denver-based refugee and social justice advocate, was one of those refugees. Vương-Sandoval left Vietnam with her parents when she was three years old after the fall of Sài Gòn. Today she is a high-profile refugee advocate. Among her accomplishments, Vương-Sandoval has worked with First Lady Jill Biden in 2021 to more than double the amount of refugees allowed into the US. She’s a UN Refugee Delegate, the vice chair of the board for Lutheran Family Services where in 2018 she also became the first refugee ever elected to the board. At the end of April, the Colorado Judicial Department appointed Vương-Sandoval as the head of the Judicial Officer Outreach Program. She also is responsible for leading the effort to get the Lunar New Year recognized as an official Colorado holiday which state legislators declared in February.
KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon spoke with Vương-Sandoval who says she remembers bits and pieces of her experience fleeing Sài Gòn, and like the 2 million other Vietnamese refugees, her parents were forced to make an impossible choice.
- play_arrow04_28_23_NngVuongSandovalAlexis Kenyon Interview Transcript:
Nga Vương-Sandoval: Had they selected for us to stay, we could either suffer starvation, suffer torture, and a real possibility of death if we stayed because we don’t subscribe to that regime. But my parents decided that we were going to try to get on one of the remaining ships. And so there was a massive exodus into the ports where the big ships were at.
These ships were not passenger ships. They were cargo ships. As many people as possible were stuffed onto these ships with no water and no food. Children, the elderly, and those who are health-compromised did not make it. They ended up dying on these ships, and their bodies had to be pushed over into the water because there was nowhere else to dispose of the bodies.
I mean, these were the kinds of realities that we were facing and none of us were prepared for anything that we could possibly have even imagined since the fall of Sài Gòn. Not even knowing where we would end up. It was, you know, it’s something that is not too far off because we’re still seeing recurrences of it again in multiple diasporas and groups of forcibly displaced persons in the United States, around the world, and of course here in Colorado.
Arrival in the United StatesAlexis Kenyon: What was it like once you made it to the US? How were you treated back then by, you know, the community, but also by the government?
Nga Vương-Sandoval: So back when we arrived, there was no such thing as a refugee resettlement agency. It didn’t exist. And what that looked like back then was pretty piecemeal and pretty makeshift because there was not this number and this large volume of influx of refugees until we had arrived, until Vietnamese refugees had arrived.
But it’s interesting that you asked this question because in the United States, that particular war is called the Vietnam War, and in Việt Nam, it’s called the American War, which is really interesting to me in how things are framed and what sort of sentiments are associated with it.
The Vietnam War was not a popular war. There was a lot of opposition and protests. And there were millions of lives lost, whether Vietnamese or American, there were a lot of lives lost. And that precipitates a lot of negative feelings for folks who are here in thinking that we look like the people who the U.S. was fighting, not realizing we were also fighting with this regime.
Alexis Kenyon: Can you tell me more about why it was called the American War? How was that different from the way the U.S. framed the war? And how did that align with the way people in Việt Nam saw it?
Nga Vương-Sandoval: The way that I see it, it wasn’t just one single war that had occurred during the time. There were multiple wars. There was the North fighting the South. There was the communist regime fighting the non-communists. There were the Catholics fighting the Buddhists. There were the communists fighting the United States.
And so, that particular regime, which still exists in my homeland today, felt as though there was intervention where there shouldn’t have been from a foreign invader, yet another one, because of our long history of colonization from different countries. And so that’s why that perspective exists, is because it was seen as another invader, another intrusion, that was trying to dictate what it was that was happening in Vietnam at the time and still. And so it’s really interesting how wars are seen in different parts of the world, in particular countries that are directly impacted by it.
When I grew up and I finally read what happened about the Vietnam War in history books. I remember looking through the book, our book for class. I was flabbergasted to see that it was only a three-sentence paragraph that talked about something that happened for over 20 years, two decades. It was covered in three sentences, and it said that Vietnam had won the war. And again, that to me was inaccurate as well, because I don’t feel like we’ve won.After all the losses that came along with it, all of the fallout and all of the humanity that should have been integrated in this narrative.
It was covered in three sentences, and it said that Vietnam had won the war. And again, that to me was inaccurate as well, because I don’t feel like we’ve won.
And I always hear about that saying that goes, “It’s the victors who write history.” And I thought, how can that be true when the U.S. didn’t win this war, but yet still writing this history?
Cultural Colonization and IdentityAlexis Kenyon: Yeah, it’s so interesting the way that the quote “American”–although, you know, America is not just the United States–but how this Western, “American” lens has shaped so much of what we know about history and what’s been written about history.
It reminds me of something you brought up in your TED talk about the colonization of people’s culture and identity. You say it’s not just something that happens when one country invades another. It can be this idea of one story kind of drowning out another story or an identity drowning out another identity or not making space for another culture or identity. And I’m curious, I mean, you’ve lived in the U.S. since you were three, so that’s most of your life. How do you feel about being an American?
Nga Vương-Sandoval: It’s interesting because I have never forgotten my identity or my country of origin because it’s significant to me. And cultural colonization is a real issue of those of us who have completely lost everything and all they have left is their culture and their language, as we did. To me, I feel Vietnamese. I feel like I’m Vietnamese who is living in North America, in the United States.
And, Asian communites have brought such a diverse, eclectic, and rich history along with that too. Many of us come from countries that are thousands of years old, so it’s something we are very connected with and very proud of to share with our larger and broader community.
Historical Omissions and MisunderstandingsNga Vương-Sandoval: And I feel like, again, history books have really omitted these portions or have really diluted what has happened, when in fact there were a lot of atrocities that happened with our Asian communities and some of them are still not spoken about or even addressed in the ways that are meaningful for these impacted communities.
It’s either brushed over, it’s not talked about at all, or it’s watered down to the fact that it wasn’t so bad. Here’s another really surprising detail that I wanted to share is that I find that a lot of people who were not born in the United States seem to know U.S. history much better than those who they speak to, which is a little ironic. But when I had talked to, I think it was a couple, with regard to the internment camps, they thought that those camps were just farms. And I said, “No, no, no, no, no, they were not farms.” And I explained in detail what had happened about being forced out of their homes, having to sell their businesses, curfews, and these prison camps basically, and they were very shocked.
And I thought, “How is it that they were not aware of this?”
Nga Vương-Sandoval: See, which is why I’m glad there’s a Ralph Carr building downtown that celebrates what former governor Ralph L. Carr did for Japanese Americans in saying, well, if the other states don’t want them, we want them here in Colorado. And that,
Alexis Kenyon: Wait, tell me that story? I don’t know that story.
Nga Vương-Sandoval: So, Ralph L. Carr was the governor of Colorado at the time, during World War II, and he was the only, if, the very few, if not the only governor that stood against what was happening with the internment. And he made a public statement in saying, well, we want you here, we want you here in Colorado.
And so that cost him a second term as governor for Colorado.
Alexis Kenyon: Wow, that feels like a very timely story to consider when we’re thinking about how to handle this wave of new immigrants into Colorado and specifically Denver. I mean, it’s amazing how history repeats itself.
Nga Vương-Sandoval: Yes. And, you know, doing the right thing isn’t always easy. A lot of times it’s not, it’s very difficult. But that’s why it needs to be done because it’s not about that singular act. It’s for what it represents for that broader community that is affected by laws and rules and things that are not humane to certain individuals.
And we’ve seen that historically that has happened just because it’s been a law in the past with segregation or with lynchings or with internment does not mean that it was the right thing to do at the time.
The post “I find that a lot of people who were not born in the United States seem to know U.S. history much better”: A Vietnamese refugee advocate talks about Colorado’s last big influx of new immigrants fleeing political violence appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, veterans across the country are starting to receive health care coverage based on exposure to toxins while serving in the armed forces. Hear about some of the challenges around getting that compensation. Then, you’ll learn about the concept of a “clean” economy, and how feasible that is. We’ll wrap up with a look at the financial impacts of the closure of parts of the U.S. 50 west of Gunnison on ag workers.
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- play_arrowBobKeefeJackie Sedley The post CO Veterans receive health care coverage; Ideas for a “clean” economy appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, mobile home parks in western communities are facing problems with drinking water. A new Colorado law aims to fix that. After that, we’ll speak with Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Maeve Conran on how stories like the ones you hear on the Mag come to fruition. Then, it’s Radio Nibbles – our weekly segment with John Lehndorff.
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- play_arrowMobile home parks face problems with drinking water; What is RMCR? Learn about it this morningJackie Sedley The post Mobile home parks face problems with drinking water; What is RMCR? Learn about it this morning appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow05_23_24_am_headlinesJohn Kelin DU Encampment
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and University of Denver officials met for about three hours yesterday, to discuss the weeks-long encampment on the university campus.
Neither side made any formal statement afterward. But a spokesperson for the protesters told Fox31 that the meeting “went well.”
The meeting came in the wake of protestors refusing to adhere to a 9 p.m. deadline Tuesday, set by DU officials, to clear their encampment on Carnegie Green.
At last word, the encampment with approximately three dozen protest tents remains in place. It’s been on the Green for two weeks now.
The demonstrators are protesting the war in Gaza, and demanding the university cut all financial ties to Israel.
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Auraria CampusConversations also continue in the multi-week Auraria campus protests held to demand the schools cut ties from Israel.
Several faculty members and students from the colleges on the Auraria campus held a press conference yesterday in defense of those who participated in a three-week-long pro-Palestinian encampment demonstration.
The encampment was abandoned over the weekend, with campus officials closing the quad and all other green spaces “until further notice.”
Students at the meeting said they’re facing retaliation from their respective schools, and should not be subject to disciplinary actions.
In some cases, students who have been accused of violating the student code of conduct are not allowed to access campus facilities. Others have been suspended.
80 people were arrested in connection to the Auraria campus protests, according to Denver7. Only 16 are enrolled students at the campus.
In addition to cutting ties with Israel, the protesters want the University of Colorado and Metropolitan State University to fully disclose their financial investments amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
Denver7 reached out to Metro State University, Community College of Denver, and CU Denver. They all cited their respective student codes of conduct and the ways in which demonstrators may have violated those rules.
Specific portions of the code of conduct were noted in responses to Denver7 from both Metropolitan State University and the Community College of Denver. Those speaking at the press conference raised concerns that student disciplinary hearings lack due process.
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Mental Health Partners UnionizesMental Health Partners has become the first crisis and addiction center in Boulder to unionize.
Employees at the clinic have voted to affiliate with Service Employees International Union Local 105, according to the Daily Camera.
The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of joining the union. Of the thirty-four votes cast, twenty-nine were in favor of unionizing. Only one vote was against, while four others were challenged and not counted.
Employees have cited staffing issues, a possible pay cut, and an unsafe working environment for reasons to unionize.
Mental Health Partners is a 24/7 clinic with free walk-in services for unhoused people, survivors of domestic violence, and those with addiction issues.
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Wolves enter Summit CountyState wildlife officials tracking the movements of Colorado wolves say that at least one of them has traversed into the area surrounding Vail.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say that between April 23 and May 21, at least one of the state’s wolves entered the watershed surrounding Vail, then traveled further south of Interstate 70 into the heart of Summit County. That puts them in the vicinity of Frisco, Silverthorne, and Dillon.
Ten wolves were reintroduced into Colorado in December. Wildlife officials placed tracking collars onto each one of them before release. The agency updates a map every month showing where each of the wolves has traveled, according to the Denver Post.
Since the December reintroduction, there have been 28 confirmed cases of wolf attacks on livestock, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, resulting in injury or death of 22 cattle, three sheep, and three dogs in Grand and Jackson counties.
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Free Chautauqua ShuttleBoulder is once again offering free shuttle service to and from Chautauqua Park, starting this Saturday and running every weekend and summer holiday through September 2nd.
The Park-to-Park service runs to Chautauqua from several stops around town, and includes free shuttle parking.
It will run along a new route this year, traveling on Broadway instead of 9th Street, and makes stops closer to the Chautauqua trailhead and dining hall, according to a city press release.
Shuttles run every fifteen minutes between 8am and 8pm, and take pick up passengers at fifteen bus stops, with signs marked Park-to-Park shuttle.
Real time service updates can be seen on the transit app,
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Denver Bike Theft RegistryDenver’s year-old bicycle registry program appears to have put a dent in the number of bike thefts in the city.
Denver Police launched its 529 Garage Program in April 2023. They say that since then, bike thefts in the city have dropped by thirty percent.
More than 22,000 bikes are registered with the anti-theft program, according to 9News. Anyone interested in the 529 Garage Program can sign up for free using the program’s app, or through its website.
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The post DU encampment, Auraria campus, Mental Health Partners unionize, wolves in Summit County, Chautauqua shuttle appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, a conversation about University of Denver’s custodial workers – including the job uncertainty and unjust treatment they’ve been reporting. After that, Chris Mohr shares his weekly commentary, Make Them Hear You. We’ll wrap up with herbalist Brigitte Mars and her regular Wednesday feature, Naturally.
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- play_arrowDU’s custodial workers are pushing back on unjust working conditions and job uncertaintyJackie Sedley The post DU’s custodial workers are pushing back on unjust working conditions and job uncertainty appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow05_22_24_am_headlinesJackie Sedley Auraria Campus reopeningBuildings on the Auraria campus in Denver are reopening today for the first time since last week.
The buildings have been restricted to critical personnel and operations since Friday because of demonstrations by pro-Palestinian protestors. Those demonstrations have ended, and the encampment set up by protestors has been taken down.
Campus officials said in a statement that its buildings are opening today with Campus ID access, and that faculty, staff and students should coordinate with their respective institutions for additional information.
The Auraria campus is shared by Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University, and CU-Denver.
Cleanup of the encampment site on the Tivoli Quad is underway. But the quad is closed until further notice.
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DU encampment
Meanwhile, at the University of Denver, pro-Palestinian demonstrators have defied an order to close an encampment there. The DU administration issued that order yesterday, according to Denver7, giving the protestors until nine o’clock last night to leave the portion of campus they’ve occupied in protest of the war in Gaza.
DU officials allege that there has been what it called a “sharp increase in reports of discriminatory and harassing behavior both inside and outside the encampment.” Members of the group DU for Palestine set up their encampment on May 9th.
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CO GOP schools directive
The Colorado Republican Party is calling on its members to take their children out of public schools, saying that Democrats are using schools to, “turn more kids trans.”
That message went out in an email blast from the state GOP yesterday, according to 9News.
Darcy Schoening, the former leader of the El Paso County Chapter of the conservative group Moms for Liberty, said in the email that if a male child decides he wants to identify as a girl because he’s angry with his parents, or because all his friends are doing it, the Colorado government will encourage him.
That message went to Republicans all over Colorado yesterday.
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Gender initiatives At the same time, LGBTQ advocates in Colorado are organizing against two proposed ballot initiatives they say are aimed at an already vulnerable group of kids.
One of the two ballot initiatives would ban biological males in K-12 schools from taking part in girls’ sports. The other would require schools to notify parents whose children express what the initiative calls “gender incongruence.”
A group called “Protect Kids in Colorado” is collecting signatures to get the measures on the November ballot. The group is led by former Republican State Senator Kevin Lundberg, and Erin Lee, a Fort Collins parent.
The group said in a news release that the education system is attempting to “blur the lines between girls and boys, despite their obvious natural differences.”
Colorado Politics is reporting that it isn’t clear who is financing Protect Kids in Colorado. The group has no registered issue committee, although state campaign finance law requires one.
A spokesperson for Out Boulder County said that the two initiatives have nothing to do with protecting kids, and urged Coloradans not to sign anything that would help place the initiatives on the ballot.
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Los Seis de BoulderThe City of Boulder will dedicate a new sculpture next week, to mark the fiftieth anniversary of “Los Seis de Boulder.”
That refers to the six CU students, alumni, and students from other campuses that were killed in two separate car bombings in 1974. They were all active in the Chicano Student Movement.
The first of the two fatal bombings happened in Chautauqua Park on May 27, 1974, and the second one on May 29th, in a parking lot at 28th and Canyon. No one was ever charged in connection with the killings.
At the time of the bombings, members of United Mexican American Students were occupying Temporary Building 1 on the CU campus, demanding continued financial aid and Educational Opportunity Programs, according to a press release. The six who died were active in the organization.
An earlier memorial was dedicated on the CU campus in 2019. The new memorial, by the same artist, was installed at 17th and Pearl Streets earlier this month. Next Tuesday’s dedication begins at 6pm.
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Rabid bat in Arapahoe County An infected bat was found on the sidewalk at Quincy Avenue and Santa Fe Drive in Englewood earlier this month. Two people are being treated for rabies after contact with the animal.
According to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, there were 55 cases of animal-borne rabies in Colorado last year—47 of those were in bats. So far this year there have been four identified cases of rabies in Colorado – two of these were rabid bats found in Arapahoe and El Paso counties on the Front Range.
Bats and skunks are the most common animal sources of rabies in Colorado. Other wildlife that may carry rabies include raccoons and foxes. Exposure to rabies generally results from a bite or scratch by an infected animal.
If you suspect exposure, wash the wound with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. And if you see an animal acting strangely or appearing to be sick, keep your distance and contact your local animal control or Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
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Denver migrant shelterThe City of Denver has signed off on the purchase of a building it’s already using for newly-arrived migrant families. At its meeting Monday night, Denver City Council agreed to buy the building and a neighboring property for $4 million.
The city has been leasing the 10,000-square-foot former gymnasium from its current owner since last year, according to the Denver Post. The building, located at 375 South Zuni Street, can house up to 120 people for day or nighttime shelter.
The purchase is expected to be finalized by the end of next month.
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The post Auraria campus reopens, DU students defy order, GOP anti-trans email, Los Seis memorial, rabid bats, migrant shelter purchase appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, the “Renaissance Man of American Music” will be in Denver this Thursday. You’ll hear from the 93-year-old composer David Amram about his relationship to music, as well as his new book. Then, one major U.S. bank stands to lose billions of dollars if countries take immediate steps to curb greenhouse gas emissions.…. that, and more on This Week in Water. We’ll wrap up with our Listener Comment Line.
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- play_arrowThe “Renaissance man of American music” comes to DenverJackie Sedley The post The “Renaissance man of American music” comes to Denver appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- play_arrow05_21_24_am_headsJackie Sedley Protests at Auraria Campus Leaders on the Auraria Campus in Denver say now that a three-weeks-long encampment by pro-Palestinian demonstrators is over, they’ll be reviewing the outcomes at other universities where similar protests have played out recently.Demonstrators ended their encampment on Auraria’s Tivoli Quad on Saturday, and the area is now fenced off. Photographs of the area show numerous rectangles of dead grass where tents once stood, and campus officials say they’ll probably have to replace the entire lawn.
The campus is shared by Community College of Denver, Metropolitan State University, and CU-Denver. Pro-Palestinian protestors told 9News they did not get most of their demands but vowed to continue the fight in the months ahead.
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Air National Guard Space Force transfers Colorado officials are pushing back against a plan to move hundreds of Air National Guard members into the Space Force. The proposal by the U.S. military is meant to strengthen the Space Force, the country’s newest military branch.
It could result in members of the Guard in Colorado being moved into the Space Force. The Denver Post reports that those National Guard members are under the authority of Governor Jared Polis, who is pushing back against the proposal. He says that unilaterally transferring members would undermine local authority and emergency readiness. He said it could also affect the morale of guard members who did not mean to enlist for the Space Force.
The U.S. Air Force is asking Congress to waive a requirement that makes them gain the approval of a governor before transferring members. The possible transfer of Guard members to the Space Force is part of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, which is expected to be considered by the House Armed Services Committee this week.
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BoCo tests election equipment Boulder County is about to begin testing the election equipment that will be used in statewide primary elections next month. The county’s Elections Division will conduct logic and accuracy tests on equipment and ballots starting next week, to make sure all systems work properly. They’ll make the results, and its documentation, available online.
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Clean Slate Act removes convictionsColorado’s new Clean Slate Act, passed in 2022, sets up an automatic record-sealing process for certain lower-level crimes. It removes the convictions from most background checks, so that years-old crimes don’t block people from housing, jobs, or other opportunities.
By early May, district attorneys across the state had objected to about 4.5% of some 109,000 criminal cases eligible for automatic sealing. The rate of prosecutor objections varies widely by jurisdiction according to the Denver Post, and much of the data also shows the objections are racially skewed.
The Clean Slate Act was spearheaded, in part, by the nonprofit Expunge Colorado. Its co-founder said the lack of uniformity by prosecutors makes them want to dig deeper into the rate of prosecutor objections, to ensure they’re all following the rules.
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Ski slope deathsAt least fourteen people lost their lives on Colorado ski slopes this past ski season. A survey of ski resorts by the Colorado Sun found that those who died ranged in ages from fourteen to seventy-eight, ten of whom were male.
Six of the deaths were from collisions with trees, while another six had to do with medical events like heart attacks. Of those resulting from collisions or falls, all happened on beginner or intermediate slopes.
The Colorado Sun says that resorts do not release details about deaths on their slopes, and that the figures are from their own annual survey.
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Gas-powered lawn equipment in BoulderGas-powered lawn equipment can still be used in Boulder, at least for the time being.
Boulder City Council has voted down a regulation that would have put restrictions on gas-powered equipment such as leaf blowers. One of the reasons they voted against the idea was that some businesses would be able to afford to replace existing gas-powered equipment, while others wouldn’t, according to Boulder Reporting Lab.
Supporters of restrictions say gas-powered equipment contributes to air and noise pollution.
Instead of restrictions, the city will continue with a pilot program that offers a point-of-sale voucher for people buying electric lawn equipment. That program runs through the end of this year.
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BVSD 2024 graduatesMore than 2,400 students are graduating from the Boulder Valley School District this week. Some of the seniors from the district’s twelve high schools have already received their diplomas, while others will get them at commencement ceremonies throughout the week.
The largest class is from Fairview High School, where 491 seniors capped their year at a graduation ceremony at the CU Events Center Sunday. The smallest class, 27 Boulder Prep students, has commencement this Friday, according to the BVSD website.
The district is posting photos from all of its graduations on its Facebook page.
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The post Auraria campus update, BoCo tests election equipment, ski slope deaths, and the new Clean Slate Act appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On May 22nd, The Debt Collective, a union of debtors, will be hosting a national event in DC asking the US government to fund education and not genocide. KGNU’s Myrna Morales had an opportunity to sit in on a conversation with members, Lindsay Loberg, Susan Laws and Jane Murphy, of the Colorado Chapter of the Debt Collective, who will be hosting their local action here in Denver.
- play_arrowMay 22 2024 Collective ActionCO Debt Collective, Myrna Morales, Jackie Sedley For more information on the May 22nd event, you can sign up here or you can scan the QR code below.
QR code for CO Debt CollectiveThe post Join CO Debt Collective on Wednesday May 22 at 7pm Commons Park & Highland Bridge appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, KGNU’s first-ever Radio Week kickstarted yesterday…we spoke with Boulder Mayor Aaron Brocket about the week itself, as well as things like arts taxes and housing. You’ll hear that conversation this morning.
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- play_arrowKickstarting Radio Week with Boulder Mayor Aaron BrockettJackie Sedley The post Kickstarting Radio Week with Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
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- play_arrow05_06_24_am_headlinesAlexis Kenyon Metropolitan State University and SDS-Denver to discuss Auraria campus protestMetropolitan State University officials and Students for a Democratic Society-Denver have scheduled a meeting for this afternoon to resolve the impasse over an encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on the Auraria campus.
Metropolitan State is one of three institutions sharing the campus, along with CU Denver and Community College of Denver. Organizers for the Students for a Democratic Society-Denver, or SDS, last week rejected an offer from the campus of a $15,000 donation to the Red Cross in exchange for taking down their encampment, according to the Denver Post. SDS Denver says they won’t leave until administrators meet their demands.
Their demands include the University of Colorado publishing a statement condemning the actions of Israel; divesting from any corporations doing business in Israel and refusing grants from corporations that contract with the U.S. armed forces.
Denver Police arrested 45 students on April 26 during a sweep of the encampment. They have not arrested protesters since then. On Friday, police chief Ron Thomas said there are no plans for a second sweep because at present there are no legal grounds for doing so.
Also on Friday, Metropolitan State president Janine Davidson said that the university has agreed to provide demonstrators with financial information related to the university’s investments and industry relationships, according to Denverite. The Denver demonstrations are part of a wider movement on college campuses nationwide.
Check out our reporting on the protests
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Colorado fines Cemex $1.3 million for air pollution violationsThe State of Colorado is fining the Cemex Cement plant near Lyons another $1.3 million for violating air pollution standards.
The new fines are for violations during 2022 and 2023, according to the Colorado Sun, and are on top of a $375,000 fine from 2021. State air pollution control officials have ordered Cemex to “take quick actions to reduce air pollution and improve compliance.
“The company said in a statement that while they have agreed to the terms of the fines, Cemex, “steadfastly maintains that it operates as a responsible environmental steward of the communities in which [they] operate.”
A member of a community advocacy group noted that fines “have clearly not been enough to deter Cemex’s actions.”
Last month Boulder County regulators issued an order terminating the right of Cemex to operate its Lyons plant, due in part to a safety hazard posed by increased traffic around the facility. The company is expected to respond to that order later this month.
Read more from the Colorado Sun
Read more about community pushback to Cemex
Colorado to vote on removing same-sex marriage ban from state constitutionColorado voters will have the opportunity to remove obsolete language from the state constitution this fall.
A proposed amendment to remove language banning same-sex marriage will be on the ballot this November, according to the Denver Post, after the state House of Representatives passed the measure on Saturday.
Colorado voters approved a same-sex marriage ban in 2006, but that became obsolete after the United States Supreme Court legalized same-sex unions in 2015. The proposal to remove the ban passed the state House and Senate with two-thirds majorities.
Since it involves changing the State Constitution, it now needs voter approval to take effect. Supporters of removing the ban from the State Constitution say it’s necessary because the U.S. Supreme Court has indicated a willingness to revisit high-profile decisions.
Read more from the Denver Post
Federal judge upholds Colorado’s ban on ghost gunsA federal judge has denied a request by two gun rights groups to block Colorado’s new ban on so-called ghost guns.
The ghost gun ban became law last year. Ghost guns are generally defined as firearms assembled from kits or 3-D printers, and are untraceable because they don’t have serial numbers.
According to Colorado Politics, the new law makes ghost gun possession a misdemeanor, unless the owner obtains a serial number from a licensed dealer, and the dealer performs a background check.
The National Association for Gun Rights and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners sued to strike down that law under the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Judge Gordon Gallagher ruled last week that the law, in his words, “imposes a condition on the commercial sale of a firearm,” but does not prevent anyone from buying one.
Read more from Colorado Politics
Boulder considers future of municipal airportThe City of Boulder says they have not decided anything about the future of the Boulder Municipal Airport. In March, the city’s housing board recommended exploring the possibility of closing the airport and converting it to a mixed-income neighborhood.
Boulder Reporting Lab called that part of a broader plan to increase affordable housing. In a release posted to its website last week, the city said they are at a crossroads in determining the airport’s future.
Read more about Boulder’s airport site
Read more from Boulder Reporting Lab
RTD ramps up security across Denver transit systemsThe Regional Transit District has stepped up its security on its light rail platforms, lines, and buses.
As of yesterday, RTD Transit Police began 24/7 patrols, and a spokesperson says they are armed, and patrolling the system primarily on foot, although they have police vehicles, too. Before this round-the-clock patrolling, there were several gaps in the system, according to Denver7. RTD has 274 security guards.
In addition to that, there are sixty-one transit officers, with sixteen more graduating from the academy this month. There are also six mental health clinicians and five homeless outreach coordinators.
Read more from Denver7
The post Denver student protests continue; State issues fine on Cemex for air pollution; RTD Police now patrolling 24/7 appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
- Ekko Astral – Pink Balloons
- Record Label: Topshelf Records
- Release Date: April 17, 2024
- YouTube Link: Echo Astral – “UwU type beat”
- Bruno Berle – No Reino Dos Afetos 2
- Record Label: Far Out Recordings
- Release Date: April 5, 2024
- YouTube Link: Bruno Berle – “Tirolirole”
- Alice Russell – I Am
- Record Label: Tru Thoughts
- Release Date: April 5, 2024
- YouTube Link: Alice Russell – “I Am”
- The Iliad and the Odyssey and the Ghoulies – Anxiety at the Penalty Kick
- Record Label: Count Your Lucky Stars
- Release Date: April 25, 2024
- YouTube Link: The Iliad and the Odyssey and the Ghoulies – “April 25”
- Project Gemini – Colors and Light
- Record Label: Mr. Bongo
- Release Date: April 5, 2024
- YouTube Link: Project Gemini – “Colors and Light”
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*Sonhos Tomam Conta – Corpos de Água*
- Record Label: Longinus Recordings
- Release Date: March 29, 2024
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YouTube Link: sonhos tomam conta – corpos de água (full album)Compilation: Congo Funk
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Record Label: Analog Africa
- Release Date: April 5, 2024
- YouTube Link: Congo Funk! The Making of the Poster (Promo Video)
The post April Monthly Music Roundup: Ekko Astral, Bruno Berle, Project Gemini and Congo Funk! appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, tomorrow is Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Hear more about how you can prepare for natural disaster. Then, it’s the first Friday of the month, and that means it’s time for Nature Almanac – with a morning ramble at a Boulder Cattail Marsh. After that, our Monthly Music Roundup featuring KGNU’s music director and two beloved KGNU DJs, about the best music that came out in April.
Listen: play_arrow*How to prepare for wildfires in Colorado; a morning ramble at a cattail marshJackie Sedley The post How to prepare for wildfires in Colorado; a morning ramble at a cattail marsh appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has created a how-to guide for cities welcoming new immigrants. We’ll hear feedback on that plan from a local advocate for the unhoused. After that, it’s Cannabis Report with Hannah Leigh-Meyers and Leland Rucker. Then, it’s Radio Nibbles – our weekly segment with John Lehndorff.
Listen: play_arrow*MorningMagazine_2024-05-02Jackie Sedley The post A critical look at Mayor Johnston’s “Newcomer’s Playbook”; Legal changes coming for marijuana appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we check in local journalist Henry Larson about the pro-Palestine Auraria campus protests that led to over 40 arrests this weekend. After that, Chris Mohr shares his weekly commentary, Make Them Hear You. We’ll wrap up with herbalist Brigitte Mars and her regular Wednesday feature, Naturally.
Listen: play_arrow*MorningMagazine_2024-05-01Jackie Sedley The post The latest on Auraria pro-Palestine encampments appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Listen play_arrow*Denver student protests continue, Polis signs bill protecting transgender students, Boulder mental health workers move to unionizeKennedy Pickering CU Auraria campus protests continueStudent leaders of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the Auraria campus in Denver have told campus officials they have no intention of taking down the encampment they set up last week until their demands are met.
According to a statement from the Auraria Higher Education Center, Students for a Democratic Society—or SDS—leaders said they were engaged in civil disobedience in a meeting with campus officials yesterday.
The campus officials reiterated that while they support the student’s right to free speech and assembly, their encampment violates Auraria policy.
The student leaders replied that they fully understood they were violating Auraria’s no-camping policy, but according to the Auraria statement, they were engaged in civil disobedience.
Education Center CEO Colleen Walker and CU Denver Chancellor Michelle Marks were among the executive leaders who met with the SDS.
Chancellor Marks told the students that their demands that CU sever all financial ties to Israel were outside of her authority and were instead the responsibility of the CU Board of Regents and President.
According to the Denver Gazette, demonstrators later confirmed that the meeting produced no agreement with campus officials.
Meanwhile, some protestors have reportedly set up a homework tent at the encampment site so students can study for upcoming final exams.
CU Denver, Metropolitan State University, and Community College of Denver share the Auraria campus. The community college has canceled all in-person classes for the rest of this semester.
The demonstration against Israel’s war in Gaza began at Auraria last week and is one of many such demonstrations on college campuses nationwide.
In just a few minutes, we will speak with a local student journalist about the Auraria campus demonstration on the Morning Magazine.
Read here
Read more here
Read more info here
Read more updates here
New Transgender bill signedA new law signed by Governor Jared Polis requires school employees in Colorado to call students by their preferred names.
The law, signed yesterday, makes it discriminatory for school employees to not call students by their preferred, gender-affirming name, according to the Denver Post.
It also allows students to file a report with their school if and when there is a violation.
The bill is similar to one recently signed into law, which allows people who have been convicted of felonies to use gender identity as a reason for legally changing their names.
These Democrat-backed bills resulted in lengthy debate in the state Senate and House of Representatives.
Read here
Gray wolf confirmationColorado ranchers and state officials have reached an agreement to address rancher concerns about gray wolves, which attacked and killed eight livestock last month in Grand and Jackson counties.
In the agreement announced yesterday, the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association will receive up to $20,000 from the Colorado Department of Agriculture. The money will fund non-lethal deterrents against wolf depredation, a technical term for when a predator, like a wolf, repeatedly kills livestock.
The non-lethal deterrents include protecting livestock herds with overnight patrols and keeping livestock penned up overnight.
Ranchers and state wildlife officials have been at odds over the wolf depredation. At first, ranchers called on the state to take lethal action against the wolves, which the state declined.
Ten gray wolves were reintroduced to Colorado late last year. The governor said that statewide, voters approved a measure to reintroduce them despite knowing they would eat cattle.
But most voters in Grand County voted against wolf reintroduction, according to 9News.
In making the new agreement public, a spokesperson from the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association said the organization is thankful for the partnership with the state, which will help protect its animals.
Read Here
Colorado River Tribal talksSix Native American tribes, including two in Colorado, are now formally included in ongoing talks about water issues involving the Upper Colorado River Basin.
The tribes will meet with the Upper Colorado River Commission every two months under an agreement finalized last month.
The commission was formed in 1948, and its member states are Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
According to the Colorado Sun, critical issues include allocating federal dollars and addressing an ongoing drought that could affect water security for the forty million people in the west who depend on the river.
Under current law, thirty federally recognized tribes have rights to about 26% of the Colorado River’s average flow.
The six tribes that now have permanent access to Upper Colorado River Commission negotiations have been meeting with the commission since August of 2022.
Read press release
Mental health workers in the process of unionizingEmployees at Mental Health Partners in Boulder have scheduled a vote on unionizing.
The voting on a decision join the Service Employees International Union Local 105.
Begins on Friday, with mail-in ballots counted on May 21st, according to a press release.
Workers at Mental Health Partners’ Valmont facility cite safety issues, unsustainable wages, and scheduling and staffing instability as reasons for unionizing. Some workers say those issues have hurt client care and resulted in staff burnout.
The release says if the vote to unionize is successful, it will become the first unionized mental health facility in Boulder.
From a press release
Iris Avenue wanting new protected bike lanesThe City of Boulder proposes to add protected bike lanes along one of the city’s busiest streets.
The protected bike lanes would be along Iris Avenue, which has a conventional bike lane running alongside traffic.
The new protected lanes are still gathering community feedback on other possibilities for Iris Avenue.
Read here
Foothills North trials closedBoulder’s Open Space and Mountain Parks Department is closing the Foothills North Trailhead and the northern part of Foothills North Trail to install a bridge.
The closures could begin as soon as today, according to a city press release, and last for a week.
The city also plans to use a helicopter to bring in materials for the construction of a bridge over the Foothills North Trail. Weather permitting, that’s set for tomorrow.
The release also says that Open Space and Mountain Parks is nearing completion of a new three-and-a-half-mile trail called the North Sky Trail. The new trail will connect several existing trails in North Boulder and be open to hikers, cyclists, and equestrians.
Read here
Eisenhower tunnel closerMotorists driving along I-70 west of Denver may encounter delays at the Eisenhower Tunnel over the next few weeks.
Colorado Department of Transportation crews will work overnight on improvements inside the tunnel, which will require lane closures in both directions.
Denver7 says the work began last night and will go through May 16th. C-DOT says there won’t be any closures on weekends or holidays.
Read here
The post Denver student protests continue, Polis signs bill protecting transgender students, Boulder mental health workers move to unionize appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Listen: play_arrowAs student protests over Gaza continue, Auroria school officials cancel in-person classes for rest of semester; Andrew Buen faces retrialAlexis Kenyon In-person classes canceled for the rest of the semester as Aurora protests continue* Community College of Denver has canceled in-person classes after five days of student antiwar demonstrations on its Auraria campus.
College officials cited safety concerns and said students will need to attend classes remotely for the rest of its spring semester, which ends May 6, according to 9News. The announcement made no direct reference to anti-war demonstrations on the campus that have gone on there since last week. Community College of Denver shares the Auraria campus with CU-Denver and Metropolitan State University.
More than 40 protestors were arrested on the campus last Friday. Campus officials said that was because an encampment they set up there violated a camping ban. The Denver Post says the encampment has doubled in size since Thursday, when campers set up tents.
Yesterday, pro-Palestinian activists on the campus began urging students to walk out of their classes and join them in protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict. The demonstrators have demanded that the universities cut all financial ties with Israel, because of the war in Gaza. They also want a meeting with CU Denver Chancellor Michelle Marks.
In a statement yesterday, Chancellor Marks said while she supports the students’ right to free speech and assembly, the encampments were, in her words, “a different matter.” Her statement did not address demonstrator demands. The other two colleges sharing the Auraria campus have not said whether they will switch to remote learning.
Read more on 9News
Read more on Denver Post
After deadlocked jury, Clear Creek County Sherrif’s Deputy in Christian Glass case faces retrialA former Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Deputy, whose jury deadlocked on the second-degree murder charge against him, is facing a second trial on that charge.
Andrew Buen was convicted of misdemeanor reckless endangerment in the shooting death of Christian Glass, of Boulder, nearly two years earlier. Prosecutors requested the second trial yesterday, and the judge scheduled it for this coming August. Buen is the only one of eight officers involved in the death of Christian Glass to face trial. One other was fined and given two years of probation, while the remaining six are still going through the legal system.
On Sunday, the foreperson of Andrew Buen’s jury told 9News and the Denver Gazette that she believed the sole juror to hold out against conviction was predisposed against finding Buen guilty. She said the juror called the fatal shooting of Glass by Buen a “mistake,” for which he should not go to jail.
The foreperson also said that the jury saw the body cam video of the shooting five times during the trial, which convinced eleven of the twelve of Buen’s guilt.
Read more on Denver Gazette
Governor Polis signs budget; House approves two gun billsGovernor Jared Polis has signed a $40 billion-plus budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. According to Joint Budget Vice-Chair Rachel Zenzinger and Colorado Politics, it includes $737 more per student statewide.
Also, yesterday, as the legislature nears the end of its current session, the state House passed two gun measures and sent them back to the Senate, where they were first introduced. The House amended the original version of Senate Bill 131 to limit the number of so-called “sensitive places” in which firearms would be prohibited. According to Colorado Politics, those include polling places, schools, public college and university campuses, and local government offices and courthouses.
Senate Bill 131 allows the state Bureau of Investigation to investigate firearms crimes. Those would include gun purchases, where someone buys a gun for someone else who has been prohibited from buying one. Investigations would also include untraceable weapons known as ghost guns and illegal firearm components or accessories.
The bill includes a provision allowing citizens to challenge it once the governor has signed. If that happens, the bill could go before voters in November. Both bills were opposed by House Republicans and by some House Democrats.
Read more on Colorado Politics
State lawmakers make moves to protect same-sex marriage The State Senate has approved a measure that would help ensure that same-sex couples in Colorado have the right to be married, even if the US Supreme Court overturns its landmark same-sex marriage ruling.
According to the Denver Post, the state Senate passed the measure yesterday, but it still needs approval in the state House. If it passes there, the question of removing it from the state constitution will go before voters.
Colorado’s current legislative session ends on May 8 at the close of the day.
Read more on Denver Post
Gray wolf confirmationState wildlife officials have confirmed that the lethal attack on livestock in Grand County this past weekend was caused by a gray wolf.
Sunday’s attack was the fourth by a gray wolf in Grand County this month, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This incident involved the death of one calf. The Middle Park Stock Growers Board asked Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials last week to kill two wolves suspected in these attacks.The agency denied that request, saying one wolf is likely in the process of breeding. But officials say that as the state’s wolf population grows, their position on this issue could change.
Asked yesterday about the wolf attacks, Governor Jared Polis said that any loss to a business is terrible, acknowledging that re-introducing gray wolves to Colorado had the approval of voters.
Ten gray wolves were re-introduced to Colorado late last year as part of a voter-approved initiative. One of those wolves was found dead in Larimer County earlier this month, reportedly from natural causes.
Read more on Daily Camera
Boulder bike theft ringBoulder Police have arrested two men in connection with a bicycle theft ring.
The arrests are part of an ongoing investigation into a larger bike theft ring, according to the Daily Camera. So far, police have served ten warrants and recovered nearly $30,000 worth of property, including bikes and bike parts. They also seized two firearms, among hundreds of other items. Police said in a social media post that they also found a lab making MDMA, commonly known as Ecstasy. That discovery required a hazardous materials team response. One of the two suspects arrested also has ongoing kidnapping and assault cases in Boulder County.
Read more on Daily Camera
The next round of Denver e-bike rebates opens this morning In Denver, the next round of the city’s E-bike rebate program starts this morning at 11:30. The program gives participants a rebate for buying an e-bike at a participating bike shop. It’s part of the city’s voter-approved Climate Protection Fund. The Denver e-bike rebates cannot be combined with Colorado’s e-bike voucher, which went into effect on April 1st.
To apply for a Denver rebate, visit DenverClimateRebates.com. The portal opens this morning at 11 a.m.
The post As student protests over Gaza continue, Auroria school officials cancel in-person classes for rest of semester; Andrew Buen faces retrial appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, a conversation with someone arrested back in December for protesting the Jewish National Fund’s Conference in Denver. Then, an award-winning high school mariachi band from Uvalde, Texas, wrapped up a 6-day trip to Boulder County with a concert at Skyline High in Longmont on Sunday. You’ll hear their story. After that, some positive climate and environment-related stories from This Week in Water. We’ll wrap up with our Listener Comment Line.
Listen: play_arrow*Jewish Voice for Peace activist speaks about his December arrest; Texas high school mariachi band makes their way to BoulderJackie Sedley The post Jewish Voice for Peace activist speaks about his December arrest; Texas high school mariachi band makes their way to Boulder appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Listen: play_arrow04_29_24_am_headlinesKennedy Pickering Protest on CU Auraria campusPro-Palestinian demonstrators continued an encampment on the Auraria campus in Denver yesterday, but the campus remains open, according to Fox 31*.
Officials for the campus, shared by CU Denver, Metropolitan State University, and the Community College of Denver, said in a statement that they support the right to peacefully demonstrate in accordance with the law. The statement also said the encampment was still in front of the student union as of yesterday.
Forty-four people were arrested on the Auraria Campus Friday for violating a campus ban on camping.
On Saturday, veteran political activist Angela Davis told demonstrators that their actions made a breakthrough in Gaza possible. According to the Colorado Sun, Davis was at the Auraria campus after speaking at Colorado College the day before.
The demonstrators in Denver want the CU system to divest from corporations who are doing business in Israel, according to the CU Independent. They also want a meeting with Chancellor Michelle Marks.
The Denver demonstrations are among protests on university campuses nationwide, including some in California, Arizona, Missouri, Indiana, and New York.
Read here
Read the CU Independent here
Read the Colorado Sun here
Read more here
Second paramedic in Elijah McClain case sentenced to 14 months of work releaseThe second of two paramedics convicted in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain has been sentenced to fourteen months of work release.
According to 9News, Former Aurora Fire Rescue paramedic Jeremy Cooper will begin serving his work release this June. At a hearing on Friday, he was also given four years of probation.
Cooper and former Aurora paramedic Peter Cichuniec were convicted together, with Cichuniec sentenced to five years in prison last month. The two of them injected a fatal dose of ketamine into Elijah McClain. McClain was walking home from a convenience store, but three police officers stopped him after someone called 911.
The officers forced him to the ground, and one put him in a carotid hold. He was handcuffed and restrained. After the paramedics arrived, he was injected with ketamine. His heart stopped, and he later died.
One of the three police officers was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault and received 14 months in jail. The two other officers were acquitted.
Read here
Trial verdict clears Sheriff Deputy of murder charges in Christian Glass caseJurors found former Clear Creek County sheriff’s deputy Andrew Buen guilty of reckless endangerment last week during a trial over the killing of 22-year-old Christian Glass.
According to the Denver Post, reckless endangerment is a misdemeanor that usually results in a sentence of no more than 120 days in jail.
The jury deadlocked on second-degree murder charges. The jury foreperson says that only one juror opposed conviction on that charge and may have been biased in the former deputy’s favor.
The jury foreperson told 9Newsthat soon after deliberations began last week, most of the jurors wanted to convict Buen on the second-degree murder charge. It was the most serious charge against him, and the foreperson said bodycam video showed conclusively that he shot 22-year-old Christian Glass in June of 2022.
The holdout juror would not budge, and the foreperson said the juror may have had a bias they would not admit to.
Buen’s supervisor, Kyle Gould, was not at the scene on the night of the killing. But he live-streamed it and later pleaded guilty to failing to intervene in the use of excessive force. Gould was fined and sentenced to two years of probation and lost his police certification.
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Texas Uvalde mariachi band in BoulderAn award-winning high school mariachi band from Uvalde, Texas, wrapped up a six-day trip to Boulder County with a Skyline High School in Longmont concert yesterday.
The visit was the brainchild of Dr. Vicki Burrichter, the artistic director of Boulder Chorale, who was inspired to invite the group to Colorado after reading about them in Rolling Stone magazine.
The Boulder Concert Chorale performed with Los Coyotes, the Uvalde High Mariachi Band, at several concerts during the week. Tune in to the Morning Magazine tomorrow, to hear more about this tour which brought healing to two communities still reeling from mass shootings that took place just months apart.
Another possible wolf attackState wildlife officials are investigating another possible livestock killing by a wolf in Grand County.
The rancher whose calf was killed saw a wolf, according to 9News.
If it’s confirmed as a wolf attack, this latest incident will bring the number of young cattle killed by wolves in Grand and Jackson Counties in April to seven.
The string of killings has sparked controversy between ranchers who want the state to do something about the predators and those who want to protect the wolves.
Colorado lawmakers introduced 10 gray wolves last year. Colorado Parks and Wildlife have tracked more than one of the wolves in the areas where livestock have died.
The head of Parks and Wildlife, Jeff Davis, said last week that the state will not kill any wolves, as ranchers have requested.
Davis told the Middle Park Stockgrowers Association that the state is working to minimize conflicts. He indicated at the time that he thought the efforts had been working.
Read 9news here
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Read Colorado politics here
Boulder County wildfire mitigationBoulder County has released $2.4 million in grant money for wildfire mitigation projects.
According to a county press release, the funds, part of a new round of Strategic Fuels Mitigation Grants, are available for projects by local governments, fire protection agencies, and community organizations.
The current cycle runs through June 6th, with a new cycle beginning in the fall.
County officials call it an opportunity for communities and partners to improve wildfire protection.
Read and apply here
The post 44 arrested in Auraria Gaza protests, paramedic in Elijah McClain case gets 14 months work release appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, dozens of students were arrested at the Auraria campus in Denver over the weekend, while showing their solidarity with Palestine and protesting for an end to funding Israel’s efforts in Gaza. We have some student voices from both sides, as well as audio of a speech from the Angela Davis. Then, we’ll talk about whether our centralized power grid makes sense in a world of increasingly severe weather.
Listen: play_arrow*MorningMagazine_2024-04-29Jackie Sedley The post Dozens of students arrested at Auraria campus in Denver; recent outages draw attention to outdated Boulder power grid appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
In the weeks following an early April power outage, during which Xcel Energy cut power to over 55,000 customers across the Denver and Boulder metro areas, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has initiated an investigation into the utility company.
As part of this investigation, the PUC hosted a community feedback meeting, during which members reported significant losses, including tens of millions of dollars in business revenue. One Boulder pharmaceutical business said it several lost millions of dollars worth of product. People with disabilities reported that they had to rush to the hospital to power oxygen and temperature-regulating machines. Meanwhile, traffic lights caused a frenzy of accidents. Boulder’s community hospital reported they were overrun and had only a few hours’ notice.Leslie Glustrom, a longtime climate activist in Boulder and throughout Colorado who has also served as a PUC intervenor for many years, spoke at the meeting.KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon spoke with Glustrom, who says the recent outages underscore a critical question about the true costs associated with our current electric utility system. play_arrow*04_29_24_XCELAlexis Kenyon
The post With more outages on the horizon, does Boulder’s 20th Century power grid make sense for the next 100 years? appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Listen play_arrow*CPW will protect Gray wolves and US 287 one of the deadliest roads in ColoradoKennedy Pickering 287 traffic study calls for improvementsA new study on traffic safety along U.S. 287 in Boulder County calls on officials to develop improvements that could reduce fatalities.
The study found that nearly a third of all fatal crashes in Boulder County in 2021 and 2022 were on HWY 287.
The Daily Camera says the study recommends the installation of a barrier between north and south bound lanes, from just north of Longmont, to the Boulder-Larimer County line. It recommends a second barrier from south of Longmont down to Arapahoe Road. Many of the fatal crashes, it says, involved drivers crossing the highway’s centerline.
The Longmont City Council voted unanimously to accept the findings of the study.
Read here
CPW will protect Gray wolvesState wildlife officials are rejecting pleas from a group of Colorado ranchers who are asking the state to kill two gray wolves suspected of killing livestock.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has been inundated with requests from ranchers all over the western slope. The requests to kill the wolves come after seven cattle were killed over three days in Grand and Jackson Counties earlier this month.
The ranchers believe two out of the ten collared wolves re-introduced into Colorado last year are responsible for the cow and calf deaths.
Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis said that the wolves suspected in the killings are about to reproduce and that killing the male would be irresponsible management.
In a statement, WildEarth Guardians commented, “Colorado has eleven known wolves right now and some 2.8 million cows. We are sympathetic to the livestock owners’, but that’s why there is a robust compensation program. We ought to be celebrating the fact that these wolves are denning and hopefully going to have pups. This is what Colorado voters wanted and what restoration looks like.”
A rancher’ group called the Middle Park Stockgrowers said they are disappointed and discouraged by the decision not to kill the wolves. They have vowed to continue their efforts.
Read here
Green energy building rules lawsuitA group representing Colorado commercial real estate owners and developers is suing the state and the City of Denver over new “green energy” rules.
According to the Denver Post, the lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Denver.
It asks that new city and state environmental regulations be thrown out because they illegally go beyond federal guidelines by requiring expensive renovations to reduce carbon emissions.
A spokesperson for Conservation Colorado called the lawsuit a baseless attack on innovative programs that address pollution from big buildings.
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Buen trial closing argumentsThe fate of a former Clear Creek County Sheriff’s deputy charged in the shooting death of Christian Glass is now in the hands of a jury.
Both the prosecution and defense made their closing arguments yesterday in the second-degree murder trial of Andrew Buen.
Buen is also charged with official misconduct and reckless endangerment in the shooting death of 22-year-old Christian Glass. Buen has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Glass was returning from a trip to Moab in June 2022 when his car got stuck on a rock in Silver Plume. He called 911 for help. Prosecutors say he was having a mental health crisis as then-Deputy Buen and other officers arrived. Buen’s defense attorneys said that, in reality, Glass was drunk or on drugs.
Buen spent about an hour trying to persuade Glass to leave his car. When that failed, a bodycam video showed Buen broke the car’s window and ended up shooting Glass five times. Before Buen broke the window, he was in conversation with supervisor Kyle Gould, who was not at the scene but was watching a live-streamed video. Gould pled guilty in November and can no longer be in law enforcement or security in Colorado, among other penalties.
9News says that the deciding factor for the jury will be whether Buen was justified in using force to get Glass out of his car.
Read here
Colorado gets solar grantsThe Biden administration has granted $156 million each to the Colorado Energy Office and Oweesta, a tribal-based nonprofit in Longmont. The funding aims to assist low- and moderate-income families in installing rooftop solar panels.
This allocation is part of the Environmental Protection Agency’s “solar for all” competition, which designated $7 billion for sixty applicants to enhance solar access.
According to Colorado Newsline, Colorado will utilize its funding to facilitate the installation of solar power in single- and multi-family homes as well as community solar projects. Energy Office Executive Director Will Toor stated that expanding access to rooftop solar will aid the state in achieving its clean energy objectives, reducing energy costs, and promoting the broader use of solar energy.
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Community wildfire protection plan webinarBoulder County will host a webinar next month to review its Community Wildfire Protection Plan updates.
The plan, which hasn’t been updated since 2011, identifies ways to reduce the risk of wildfire. According to Colorado Hometown Weekly, the new version is expected to be completed this year.
The Community Wildfire Protection Plan webinar is scheduled for May 23rd.
Read here
Webinar info
The post CPW will protect Gray wolves and US 287 one of the deadliest roads in Colorado appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll talk about “cowboy up culture” and how it’s led to high suicide rates in rural Colorado. After that, Chris Moore shares his weekly commentary, Make Them Hear You. We’ll wrap up with herbalist Brigitte Mars and her regular Wednesday feature, Naturally.
Listen: play_arrow*04_24_2024 MorningMagKennedy Pickering The post Why do ag workers see such high rates of suicide? appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a documentary making its way to Boulder tomorrow about the U.S.-led nuclear bombings in Hiroshima. Then, a lab accident has revealed an amazing superpower of queen bees … that, and more on This Week in Water. We’ll wrap up with our Listener Comment Line.
Listen: play_arrow*MorningMagazine_2024-04-23Jackie Sedley The post Hear Hiroshima survivors’ stories tomorrow at Naropa appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Listen: play_arrow04_23_24_am_headlinesJackie Sedley Colorado Gun Bills Advance*State lawmakers have passed a series of gun bills, with one of them having received final approval from the state Senate.
House Bill 1174 passed the State Senate on a 20-14 vote yesterday, and needs only the signature of Governor Jared Polis to become law.
The new law would require in-person training and live-fire exercises for anyone applying for a concealed-carry permit in Colorado. It would also require eight hours of coursework followed by a test, according to the Denver Post.
The State Senate also passed House bill 1338 which says anyone leaving a gun in a vehicle must keep it in a “locked, hard-sided container.”
The bill is expected to go next to a negotiating committee where they will discuss increased criminal penalties.
Three additional gun bills also cleared the State House late Saturday night, and are headed to the State Senate. The three Democratic-backed bills passed in spite of the objections of state Republicans.
House Bill 1270 makes liability insurance mandatory for gun owners, and also requires insurance companies to offer firearm liability. The policies would be to cover any injuries that come from a weapon accidentally discharging.
House Bill 1353 would require Colorado firearms dealers to have a permit, to follow sales regulations, provide annual training to employees, and to report any suspicious activities. Violators could be fined up to $250,000 and face felony charges.
The third proposed bill, HB 1349, would create an 11% excise tax on most firearm and ammunition sales. Revenue from the tax could go to crime victim services and shooting range safety programs, according to Colorado Politics.
Each of the three proposed bills were criticized by House Republicans, who said they would be in violation of the second amendment. But supporters counter that they would improve public safety.
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Safe Injection Sites Postponed Indefinitely
The state senate has also indefinitely postponed a bill that would have created so-called “safe injection sites” in Colorado.
Under the proposed House Bill 1028, people would have been able to bring controlled substances to the safe injection site location, and use them under the supervision of medical providers.
The authorization of such sites would have been left to local governments. The measure is similar to one that failed in the same committee last year.
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Boulder Gas Ban UpdateThe Boulder City Council has rescheduled a hearing to discuss the city’s new energy code.
The city originally planned the hearing for last week. They postponed it to discuss the impact of Xcel Energy’s planned power shutdown two weeks ago. The city plans to implement their ban on gas in new residential buildings and most commercial buildings starting July 1st.
In the aftermath of the Xcel shutdown, some say that reducing the use of gas and increasing the reliance on electricity may not be a good idea, according to Boulder Reporting Lab.
The city’s sustainability senior manager, Carolyn Elam, told them that electricity powers all appliances, whether gas or electric. And gas outages, she said, can be more difficult to resolve. That said, she added that Xcel’s planned outage underscores the need for a new energy code. The new code will lead to more energy-efficient buildings, which would be a benefit during any future planned outages. The city has rescheduled the hearing to discuss the policy next month.
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RTD Expands SecurityThe Regional Transportation District or RTD is expanding its policing and security to around-the-clock coverage.
The added full-time coverage comes as an effort to increase personal safety of RTD employees and customers. 178 RTD passengers reported an assault or injury in 2021 and early 2022 according to 9News. The Chief of RTD police said the introduction of an overnight team has been a priority for RTD police dependent on their hiring success.
The department currently has 61 certified Transit Police officers. They plan to almost double that number by year end. They say they also plan to also hire six mental health clinicians and five homeless outreach coordinators.
According to a press release, RTDs expanded 24/7 police and security patrols will begin May 5th.
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Gray Wolf DeathThe body of a gray wolf was found in Elbert County, southeast of Denver, earlier this month.
State Wildlife officials said that because gray wolves are on the endangered species list, the death is under investigation.
They also said that genetic testing confirmed it was a gray wolf from the Great Lakes wolf population, and is not one of the gray wolves released into Western Colorado late last year. All ten of those wolves were collared.
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On today’s Morning Magazine, we will be talking about this past Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the Columbine School shooting. You’ll hear from a parent who lost his child in that shooting, and how he’s fighting to get gun laws reformed. Then, you’ll hear about the Colorado State Senate’s recent vote against a constitutional amendment related to child sexual abuse. As well as the continuing uptick of abortions happening in Colorado, as neighboring states continue to enact strict laws.
Listen: play_arrow*MorningMagazine_2024-04-22Kennedy Pickering The post Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the Columbine School shooting, we hear from a parent about gun laws since then appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Listen: play_arrow*04_22_24_am_headlinesKennedy Pickering Boulder road construction projectsIn the Boulder area today, two major road construction projects commence.
One, part of the 30th Street Corridor Multimodal Improvement Project, is located within the city between Colorado and Arapahoe Avenues.
Travelers in the area should anticipate delays. Detours will be available, and according to a city press release, access to surrounding neighborhoods and businesses, including Scott Carpenter Park, will remain accessible.
Expected to span about a year, the 30th Street Corridor Multimodal Improvement Project entails the construction of sidewalk-level, protected bike lanes, widened sidewalks, new landscaping, and improved transit stops.
The second construction project, also commencing today, is situated outside Boulder and will entail daytime closures throughout the week.
95th Street will be inaccessible to all travelers between Valmont and Lookout roads from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., today through Friday. As per a Boulder County press release, this marks the commencement of Phase 1 of a complete reconstruction project. Detour routes will be clearly marked.
The scope of work includes widening the road’s shoulders and implementing drainage enhancements.
The progress of all work is contingent upon weather conditions.
Xcel Exec appears Before Boulder City CouncilXcel Energy stands by its decision to disconnect electricity for approximately 55,000 customers in the Boulder area ahead of a severe windstorm two weeks ago.
Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Colorado, informed the Boulder City Council last week about the escalating risk of wildfires due to persistent high winds and dry weather conditions.
While addressing the council, Kenney acknowledged that Xcel could have improved its communication regarding the power shutoff plans to the public. The Daily Camera reported his remarks.
Some customers experienced power outages lasting up to three days, leading to significant criticism of Xcel. The company now faces an investigation by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, which commenced last week.
Kenney mentioned that the accuracy of online outage maps could have been enhanced.
As part of its response, Xcel is donating $50,000 to Community Food Share, a Louisville food bank that suffered losses of around a thousand pounds of food due to the power outage.
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Colorado will find new immigrant studentsThe State of Colorado is set to allocate $24 million to public school districts and charter schools affected by the influx of immigrant students into their systems.
Governor Jared Polis signed the $24 million one-time funding bipartisan House bill last week.
According to the Denver Post, thousands of new students have enrolled in Denver Public Schools in recent months, surpassing the deadline for per-pupil funding to Colorado school districts.
Denver School District officials informed the Post that they anticipate receiving between three and five million dollars from the new bill.
A sponsor of the bill stated that state lawmakers have a responsibility to ensure that all individuals entering public schools in Colorado receive an education.
The funding is slated to be distributed before the conclusion of the current school year.
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Boulder officials agree to pay Deaf woman from whom Boulder police took childrenThe City of Boulder will pay $75,000 to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought by a deaf woman.
The City Council unanimously approved the payment to Joslyn Montoya last week, with one council member absent.
Montoya sued the city under the Americans with Disabilities Act after a dispute with police two years ago resulted in her two children being taken from her for one night, according to the Daily Camera.
The city has also agreed to require the police department to improve its services for interpreting hearing-impaired people.
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Oganizers cancel Ride the RockiesOrganizers have canceled this summer’s annual Ride the Rockies Bicycle Tour through the Rocky Mountain due to lack of interest.
The non-competitive, fully supported tour has been a fixture for thousands of cyclists since 1986.
The Denver Post, citing the Tour website, says that those who have registered for this year’s event will be refunded.
It isn’t known yet whether Ride the Rockies will be back next year.
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On today’s Morning Magazine, it’s been 30 years since the Department of Ethnic Studies came to exist at CU Boulder. This morning, we’ll hear about the student protests and hunger strike that fueled its creation. Then, we’ll hear about a new ProPublica investigation into Colorado’s family court system.
Listen: play_arrow*MorningMagazine_2024-04-19Jackie Sedley The post CU’s Ethnic Studies Department celebrates 30 years appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
Listen play_arrow*04_18_24_am_headlinesAlexis Kenyon Community Input meeting reveals widespread and severe losses from Xcel power outagesLast night, during a Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) meeting, the word “bungle” was used several times.
PUC Commissioners held the virtual public input session as part of their investigation into Xcel Energy’s decision to shut off power to more than 55,000 customers earlier this month during a high wind event.
Over nearly two hours, the commission heard from business owners, disability advocates, hospital workers, and elected officials. They told the Commission that the last-minute power shutoff over several days resulted in millions of dollars in financial losses, several “near misses,” and serious threats to public safety.
Lorri Brovsky, director of Agilent Technologies, a Boulder-based pharmaceutical manufacturer, said their company lost millions of dollars.
“Providing a two-and-a-half-hour notice via a telephone voice message on an automated line on a Saturday that power was being shut down for over 24 hours was extremely disruptive to our manufacturing process and will result in product loss of several million dollars,” said Brovsky.
Boulder mayor Aaron Brockett told the Commission that Xcel failed to take the steps that would have resulted in better and more manageable outcomes for seriously impacted communities.
“Executing the shutoff was not a spur-of-the-moment decision by Xcel. It is something that they have been considering for some time. This leads us to the following questions: why was Xcel not proactively working with communities like ours to develop a shared plan for executing the shutoff? Why weren’t steps taken to work with us to protect our critical infrastructure? And there were major gaps in notifications to our business community. And why did that happen?” Brocket said.
The Commission said that in the weeks ahead, Xcel Energy should submit a plan for handling future outages.
Members of the public who would still like to share their comments on the power outage can leave a comment at Puc.colorado.gov.
A PUC representative said the investigation into the outage will likely take months.
A deaf woman alleges that Boulder Police took her child away from her without providing an ASL interpreterThe Boulder City Council is expected to vote tonight on approving a $75,000 settlement awarded to a deaf woman alleging discrimination.
Joslynn Montoya, who is deaf, had been at a domestic violence shelter in Boulder with her children two years ago and said she understood that she needed to leave by 7 p.m. This was not the time indicated by the shelter; it was the beginning of an apparent misunderstanding that was not resolved by the time Montoya left the shelter that day.
According to the Daily Camera, Montoya’s lawsuit says Boulder Police were called to the shelter several hours before Montoya thought she was required to leave. The responding officers were assisted by another officer who could finger-spell words in English. However, the lawsuit says she requested an American Sign Language interpreter and did not understand the finger-spelled communication.
Ultimately, the officers had the impression that Montoya could not make a deposit for lodging that evening, which had been arranged by an advocacy service. Consequently, the officers separated Montoya’s children from her for the night. The oldest was two years old at the time.
Montoya filed her lawsuit under the Americans with Disabilities Act. City Council will vote tonight on whether to settle the suit in accordance with a current set of settlement terms, which include requiring the city and police department to make changes to comply with the ADA and awarding Montoya $75,000.
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Colorado Republicans vote down sex abuse amendment that would get rid of statute of limitationsState senators fell one vote short Wednesday of approving a proposed amendment to the Colorado Constitution that would have allowed lawmakers to remove the statute of limitations on child sex abuse cases.
The proposed law would have enabled victims from old sex abuse cases to sue their abusers.
Had the proposal passed, it would have placed the state constitutional amendment question before voters. Democrats failed to secure the one Republican vote needed to pass the proposal.
According to The Denver Post, Senate Republicans said in a statement issued after the vote that while they were united against those who commit crimes against children, retroactively ending the statute of limitations on such crimes would have “upended numerous constitutional and legally settled rights” that everyone depends on.
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Buen Trial UpdateThe mother of a 22-year-old Boulder man shot to death by a former Clear Creek County deputy took the stand in the former deputy’s second-degree murder trial yesterday.
Sally Glass testified that her son Christian was driving back from Moab when the fatal shooting happened in June of 2022.
Defense lawyers for Andrew Buen had indicated Christian Glass had been in an accident with a white car the night Buen shot him five times.
But Sally Glass said the white scratch marks on her son’s car were from an accident several years earlier.
She also said her son had gathered some rocks at Moab because of his interest in them. The defense said earlier that Buen considered the rocks potential weapons.
Prosecutors say that Christian Glass was having a mental health crisis when his car was stuck in Silver Plume, and he called 911 for help.
Body camera video shows that after responding to that 9-1-1 call, former deputy Buen broke the window of Glass’s car, shot him with bean bag rounds, used a Taser on him, and finally shot him five times in the chest, according to 9News.
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Police say they found a big-time bike thiefA 29-year-old man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after accepting a plea deal for his involvement in a series of bike thefts and burglaries across the Front Range, which spurred an investigation called Operation Vicious Cycle.
During a virtual court appearance from Denver County Jail on Tuesday, Gerald Garcia pleaded guilty to theft, burglary, and aggravated motor vehicle theft. The sentence was carried out immediately. The plea agreement includes a three-year parole term following his prison term.
This case highlights a larger criminal operation involving 29 bike shop burglaries and 22 auto thefts.
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The post The word “bungle” was used several times last night during PUC’s community input meeting to discuss Xcel’s decision to cut power in early April; Republicans vote down sex abuse amendment appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine, two Boulder Weekly reporters are in the studio to tell us about their reporting. After that, on the Cannabis Report, we hear how a popular annual cannabis destination poll ranks Denver 10 years after the state legalized recreational weed. Then, it’s Radio Nibbles–our weekly segment with John Lehndorff.
Listen play_arrow*Denver comes in first in an annual cannabis destination pollAlexis Kenyon The post Denver comes in first in an annual cannabis destination poll appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon catches up with Boulder Weekly reporters Will Matuska and Lauren Hill. They discuss their recent features in this week’s Boulder Weekly, starting with Matuska’s recent piece on climate optimism. He set up a table on Pearl Street to find climate hope and asked passersby if they had any good reasons to be optimistic about our climate.
After that, Lauren Hill talks about her recent piece, “Is 420 Cringe?” which reexamines the classic stoner holiday. Spoiler: she thinks it can still be chill.
Listen to the full conversation here:
- play_arrowHas 420 become cringe? Plus, with Earth Day fast-approaching, is there any good climate news and sasquatch is still a thingAlexis Kenyon The post Has 420 become cringe? Plus, with Earth Day fast-approaching, is there any good climate news and sasquatch is still a thing appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.
On today’s Morning Magazine: What do soldiering and farming have in common? Military veterans who have gone through a program called Armed to Farm explain how they transferred their skills into the world of agriculture. As climate disasters increase, so […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll have the latest story in our Follow The Waste series – this time looking at what happens after e-bike batteries die. Then, City Cast Denver dives into the hype and anticipation surrounding the upcoming season […]
Photo Credit: Kevin Erwin, Unsplash The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, originally came about via executive order by then-president Barack Obama in 2012. DACA’s future now hinges upon a pending ruling from a federal judge in Texas […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear voices from La Raza Park, then a story about the Telluride Mushroom Festival. After that, it’s Sports Talk with Jimmie and then Dot Org, our Friday spotlight on local nonprofits. Listen: (Download Audio)
(Photo and story by Ivonne Olivas) The 5th annual La Raza Park Day event will take place this Sunday. Seen as a hub for the Mexican and Chicano communities, the park is a valuable place for many. KGNU’s Ivonne Olivas […]
(Officials at ribbon cutting ceremony at NIST Boulder, August 17, 2023. Credit: Shannon Young) Remember how at the height of the pandemic a shortage of semiconductor chips locked up the auto manufacturing supply chain? Well, it certainly got the attention […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear how Colorado in general – and Boulder in particular – is positioned to play a key role in bringing semiconductor chip development back to the U.S. Then, Radio Nibbles host John Lehndorff will be […]
(Photo and story by Zack Thompson) Listen to this story: (Download Audio) Social media is one of those things that is hard to escape, especially for younger generations. According to the Common Sense Census, teens spend on average more than […]
Photo courtesy of Caldera Productions of the filming for “Who She Is,” which will be screened Thursday, August, 24 at 7:15 PM at Chautauqua Auditorium. The event includes a panel discussion with co-directors, Jordan Dressler, Sophie Barksdale, and one of […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a film about missing and murdered indigenous people is set for tomorrow at Chautauqua. We talk with the director. Following that, the fate of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), is uncertain as a Texas […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, government officials, university leaders and grassroots organizers met yesterday at CU Boulder for a community conversation on gun violence prevention. The Maui wildfires are bringing attention to historic water disputes on the island. That story and […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, teens get their news and information from social media more than any other generation. High school student reporter Zack Thompson examines the implications for media literacy. Then, City Cast Denver sits down with an urban planner […]
Boulder City Council member Rachel Friend was one of 6 city council members who voted in favor of Ordinance 8585, to increase city occupancy limits for dwelling units across Boulder For the first time in decades, Boulder City Council has […]
For the first time, John Lehndorff welcomed his Boulder Weekly food-writing cohort, Colin Wrenn, to Radio Nibbles. They talked about how they cover food and dining in Boulder and the best things they’ve eaten lately including Indian BBQ, Vietnamese fine dining, and […]
Photo via Flickr A century ago Folsom Field opened its gates for the first time. Take a trip through its long history of expansion and renovation with Jimmie Searfoss on this week’s episode of Sports Talk. Listen: Download Audio
On today’s show, we talk with Shay Castle about Wednesday’s Boulder City Council meeting. Council members voted to change the city’s zoning laws to approve a new ordinance that will allow five unrelated people to live together in a residence. […]
(Photo courtesy the Nederland Jazz and Wine Festival) The waning days of summer sun and fun are calling us to get out and immerse ourselves in local sips and tunes in the mountains. Radio Nibbles host John Lehndorff welcomed Stephanie […]
(Photo courtesy of Boulder-Nablus Sister City Project) The Boulder Nablus Sister City Project, or BNSCP, hopes to raise enough funds to purchase an ambulance for Askar Camp in Nablus, Palestine at their fundraising event on Aug. 19. The only medical […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about Colorado schools’ plans for the new academic year that started today. You’ll also get an excerpt of comedian Craig Ferguson’s recent conversation with Metro host Miram Schiff. Ferguson is making a tour stop […]
Currently, the cost difference of installing a heat pump instead of a centrally ducted AC system is about $1,800 for an average Colorado home. With a much higher rate of efficiency at a fraction of the carbon footprint, Federal, state, […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll look at heat pumps; a piece of energy saving equipment now eligible for a slew of government-subsidized rebates. From “acidification” to “tipping point”— sign language is adapting to climate change. That story and more on […]
You’ve probably heard awareness campaigns about online scams targeting seniors – but what those aimed at teenagers? As teens and tweens grow up in digital spaces and join social media platforms, scammers are finding a new, younger audience. KGNU’s Emily […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about ways scammers are targeting teens and tweens online. Then, City Cast Denver tackles the issue of access to some of Colorado’s most famous mountain hiking spots and who has the legal authority to […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear the latest on Utah’s blocked abortion ban, that’s been on hold for over a year. Then, we’ll dive into the Colorado River, with a painter as our guide. And we’ll wrap up with “Dot Org,” […]
Immersive is the style du jour, from Denver’s psychedelic Meow Wolf or beguiling Van Gogh exhibit, to the “liquid sky” music shows at Boulder’s Fiske Planetarium. Even the Barbie movie and the reopened Casa Bonita restaurant are being billed with […]
(Photo courtesy of https://marytayloryoung.com) One doesn’t have to be a climatologist to see the ways in which our habitats are changing. Mary Young is the author of more than twenty books on the landscape, heritage and natural communities of the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, how have our natural environments charged over the course of our lifetimes? We’ll hear from one naturalist who has documented those changes. She’ll be presenting her new book this evening. Summer is winding down, and if […]
The Halluci Nation, an indigenous electronic music group from Canada, will be performing tomorrow at the Levitt Pavilion along with award-winning singer/songwriter Samantha Crain and multi-disciplinary artist and rapper, Frank Waln. The concert is part of the All My Relations […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about the All My Relations Celebration bringing some of the biggest names in contemporary North American Indigenous music to Denver’s Levitt Pavilion. Then we’ll get the details on how the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice […]
Photo by Leticia Ramirez. It’s been nearly four decades since the last major overhaul of the immigrant visa system. In that time, immigration enforcement and detention has grown into a major for-profit industry and millions of people living in the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, immigrant-led advocacy groups are holding a day of action today to call on Congress to pass legislation to reform the nation’s visa system. The largest dam removal project in U.S. history is under way. That story […]
Ethiopians make up one of the largest immigrant populations in Colorado. An estimated 30,000 people who were either born in Ethiopia or are of Ethiopian descent live in the Denver Metro area. Last Saturday marked the first time since the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the Taste of Ethiopia Festival is the latest gathering to make a comeback from a pandemic hiatus. We’ll speak with one of their volunteers. Then City Cast Denver, we’ll hear why one reporter is calling Colorado the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about regional food insecurity. Then, we’re walking with KGNU’s Shelly Schlender through Long Canyon in this month’s edition of the “Nature Almanac.” After that, it’s “Sports Talk” with Jimmie. And then, dot org, our […]
Photo courtesy of @cubuffswbb Instagram. The Colorado Women’s Basketball Team is coming off one of their best seasons in school history. Soon they will be moving to an entirely new conference, and they have the opportunity to come in as […]
Photo courtesy of Feed the Children. Next Thursday Feed the Children, Boulder Voices for Children, and several CO natural products brands are partnering to provide 400 local kids and their families with backpacks containing school supplies, food, and hygiene products. […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
Photo courtesy of Gavin McGough from Rocky Mountain Community Radio. OmniSalud, a program which began in full this year, is connecting undocumented Coloradans with health insurance. For many, it’s their first time on insurance. For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KOTO’s […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about OmniSalud, a program connecting undocumented Coloradans with health insurance. This time on the “Cannabis Report,” Leland Rucker brings us an update on the status of cannabis lounges on the Front Range as well […]
Photo by Jackie Sedley. Erin Agee is a Boulder-based enforcement attorney and Environmental Collaboration and Conflict Resolution Specialist at the Environmental Protection Agency—but that’s not all! She’s also a poet. Her book, Let Us Be So Familiar, is a collection […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll speak with an environmental attorney about her new poetry book, and how those two career paths intertwine. Then we’ll go to Grand Teton and Yellowstone to hear about building preservation led by high school students […]
Earlier this month, the College Board sent out Advanced Placement scores to hundreds of thousands of students across the country. These scores reflected on their academic performances back in May, and determine whether or not the sleepless nights of […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll examine how academic pressure and high stakes testing affects students’ wellbeing. Extreme heat in Arizona is causing iconic saguaro cacti to lose arms, tilt to one side, or collapse entirely. That story and more on “This […]
Manuel and Patricia Oliver in front of their gun violence prevention tour bus. Photo by Maeve Conran. Different Organizations Tackle Gun Violence Prevention from Different Angles Gun violence in Colorado recently hit a 40-year high according to data from the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’re taking a close look at Colorado’s gun violence epidemic, from multiple angles. First, we’ll hear from the family of a victim of the Parkland school shooting. They were in Boulder this past Friday to meet with […]
The informational session will be held City Council Chambers at 1777 Broadway. Photo by Ivonne Olivas. The City of Boulder and the University of Colorado Boulder are partnering to co-host an immigration informational session on adjusting immigration status and where […]
Image from Wikimedia Commons. Every goal scored so far in this World Cup has come from a Coloradan. Listen all about the United States’ progress in the tournament, and the contributions from the local players on this week’s Sports Talk […]
Photo by Por Jaijongkit. Between them, Radio Nibbles host John Lehndorff and his guest, food critic Clay Fong of 5280 magazine, have reviewed more than 1,000 restaurants. They shared news about restaurant closings – including Ash’Kara – and restaurants opening […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the City of Boulder will co-host a immigration law clinic tomorrow with a law professor from CU Boulder. We’ll have the details. Jimmie Searfoss will sprint in to give us his weekly update on local sports […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear how local restaurants are teaming up with a local nonprofit to send supplies to Ukraine’s frontlines. Then, “Radio Nibbles” host John Lehndorff will be in the studio with food critic Clay Fong. Listen: (Download […]
Photo by Alexis Kenyon. For this week’s “Naturally,” herbalist Brigitte Mars share the benefits of being stung by nettles and how they just might be the new Botox. Listen: Download audio
Photo credit: Esther Hz, Celestial Beings, 18 x 20 inches, multi-media, agriCULTURE, Summer 2023. Image courtesy of the artist and BMoCA. The Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art has brought together Boulder County farmers with local, internationally recognized artists for its […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll stop by the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art’s newest summer exhibition, agriCULTURE, which showcases the stories of Farmers and Artists. Then we’ll hear how the summer high season affects the sewage systems in tourist towns like […]
Perry’s shoe repair shop in Nederland. Photo by Sam Fuqua. Shoes are a big source of waste. Not when we’re wearing them, but before and after they come and go from our feet. As part of our ongoing Zero Waste […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, what happens to all the shoes people buy in Boulder County and can they be recycled? We’ll answer that question in our latest installment of KGNU’s “Follow The Waste” series. “Underground climate change” is occurring under […]
One of the few wild mustang herds that have been rewilded to graze fire-prone Northern California. Photo by Michelle Gough The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is sterilizing hundreds of wild horses in Colorado’s Piceance Basin. The area has become […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a Bureau of Land Management campaign to sterilize wild horses may have larger ecological impacts on the landscape and fire risk. We’ll hear why. Then, the City Cast crew sat down with Colorado’s former state historian […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
Rachel Steele purchased a home near the airport a few years ago. She fears that changes to the airport will cost her her home. Photo by Jackie Sedley. The future of the Boulder Municipal Airport is up in the air, […]
Walker Martin has become the tenth-highest high school player drafted in the MLB draft out of high school in Colorado history. Listen all about it and more on this week’s episode of Sports Talk with Jimmie. Listen: Download audio
On today’s Morning Magazine, the future of the Boulder Municipal Airport is creating a lot of turbulence. We’ll hear what the buzz is about. This week’s Dot Org looks at the Colorado Dragon Boat Festival, taking place this weekend at […]
The bee huts on Capella Ranch. Photo by Por Jaijongkit. Boulder County is known as a place where one can find all sorts of alternative therapies. An eager audience seeking health and wellness can find everything from salt spas to […]
Photo by Jack Armstrong. The Regional Transportation District–or RTD–is offering free rides on all buses and light rails this month and the next. The so-called “Zero Fare for Better Air” program aims to improve the notoriously bad quality air in […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll go to a ranch in Lafayette to visit one of only three bee therapy facilities in the U.S. This time on the “Cannabis Report,” as Colorado reports the lowest cannabis sales in five years, the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll have an update on the controversy over an oil and gas drilling ban near Chaco Canyon. Then we’ll get a refresher on changes to the law that governs mobile home parks in Colorado. Chris Mohr has his […]
Boulder has swapped out whackers and herbicide for goats as a form of weed control at Harlow Platts Community Park. The herd of goats were available for a Meet and Bleat event this past Saturday, and residents were able to […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from bus riders as RTD waives fares for July and August in an effort to improve air quality. Then we’ll head to Boulder’s Harlow Platts Park to meet some of the goats performing weed […]
In emergency situations, we know to call 911 for help. Those who respond first are often paramedics and firefighters. And they see all kinds of situations that many of us are unprepared to handle, much less respond to. But what […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll look at post traumatic stress as a brain injury with a retired fire captain who wrote a book on her experiences with PTSD. After that, the City Cast crew sat down with Westword editor to […]
Photo by Kira Zizzo. Today was Tube to Work Day, when roughly 200 participants commuted to work by tubing down Boulder Creek. There was a wide showcase of diverse outfits, ranging from business casual to Barbie attire. 25% of every […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we have reporters at Tube to Work day–we’ll hear from them live at Eben Fine Park. After that we hear about a summer skate camp in Telluride And then, it’s “Dot Org”, our weekly look at local […]
Ryan Balciar performs maintenance on an e-bike brought to his shop. Photo by Jackie Sedley. The city has opened an online application window for e-bike vouchers following Denver’s huge success with a similar program. These vouchers will cover some or […]
Photo by Alexis Kenyon. On this week’s Radio Nibbles, John Lehndorff welcomed Jim Smailer, one of the first local chefs to practice farm-to-table restaurant cooking during his years at the Boulder Cork. They talked about cooking with squash blossoms, the […]
Listen: Download audio Boulder’s Environmental/Nature/Outdoors Film Festival Director Richard Paradise gives a sneak peak for what’s in store for this year’s showings. Among the films at the festival is Oliver Stone’s “Nuclear Now,” which re-examines the arguments for nuclear energy […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, you’ll get the inside scoop on Boulder’s new eBike rebate program. We’ll also introduce KGNU’s new Climate and Environment reporter, who just started with us as a Report For America corp member. Then, “Radio Nibbles” host John […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll get a preview of what’s coming up in this year’s Boulder’s Environment/Nature/Outdoors Film Festival. Chris Mohr has his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You.”And then herbalist Brigitte Mars shares her regular Wednesday feature, “Naturally.” Listen: […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a new state level tax credit for the purchase of qualifying electric vehicles. After that, “This Week in Water” digs into how nearly half of U.S. homes have PFAS compounds—the so-called “forever chemicals”—coming […]
Summer festivals are in full swing across Denver. If you were anywhere near History Colorado yesterday – perhaps among the throngs of cyclists riding the car-free “Viva Denver Streets,” or within the crowds at the Denver Art Museum’s free admission […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll go to History Colorado to look at the future of an ancient building material. Then, City Cast Denver scoops up the dirt on the city’s new residential curbside composting program. Listen: (Download Audio)
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear from Great Public’s Jay Clayton about the unique set of challenges posed against charitable giving and radio. Then, it’s the “Nature Almanac.” And finally, “Sports Talk” with Jimmie. Listen: (Download Audio)
Photo by Gary Yost on Unsplash KGNU’s Benita Lee sat down with environmental journalist Steven Hawley to discuss his new book Cracked: the Future of Dams, in a Hot, Chaotic World. Listen: Download audio
On today’s Morning Magazine, we continue our special week featuring picks from our summer reading list. It’s also high season for summer festivals and we’ll hear a report from Telluride about efforts to celebrate that culture in a new museum […]
This week on the Morning Magazine, we’ll share what we’ve been reading this summer. Today, we feature an interview summer intern Por Jaijongkit did with award winning author, Ruta Sepetys. Her famous titles include historical fiction novels Between Shades of […]
Photo courtesy of Emiliano Aguilar Emiliano Aguilar, an assistant professor of history at the University of Notre Dame, in Colorado for the Center for the American West History Workshop, discusses the significance of Immigrant Heritage Month and the complexities of […]
Image courtesy of Longmont Meals on Wheels. For “Radio Nibbles,” host John Lehndorff talks regional food insecurity with Lark Rambo and Katie Wiser. Lark is the Executive Director of Coal Creek Meals on Wheels, and Katie is Development & Communications […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we commemorate the end of Immigrant Heritage Month by hearing from a history professor about the significance of civic and political immigrant organizations, along with the value of listening to the individual stories of immigrants. Then, […]
On this “Bike to Work Day” Stew Sallo wheels by the KGNU studio in Boulder to give us a preview of his new book, The Deadhead Cyclist: Life Lessons on Two Wheels to the Tunes of the Grateful Dead. Listen: […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from the author of the new book Deadhead Cyclist here in the studio ahead of his book launch tomorrow. Then, Chris Mohr has his weekly commentary, Make Them Hear You. After that, herbalist Brigitte Mars […]
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash The state of Colorado has appointed its first, full time Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission. The commissioner is expected to take a lead role in upcoming negotiations around the Colorado River and its water uses. […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about the work ahead from the newly-appointed first full-time Colorado River Commissioner. H20 Radio is taking a break this week. Instead we’ll hear from Colorado Senator Michael Bennet about how a recent rafting trip […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from someone who treks up canyons for their sounds. Then, a dive into what’s behind all those “We Buy Ugly Houses” signs and billboards as City Cast Denver sits down with a Pro Publica reporter […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, members of Colorado’s Turkish community and local musicians have teamed up to organize a concert to benefit victims of the massive earthquakes that hit Turkey and Syria earlier this year. We’ll hear from one of the […]
A series of massive earthquakes tore through a region along Turkey’s shared border with Syria in February of this year. The largest of them occurred on February 6th. It was the second most powerful earthquake in Turkey’s recorded history. The […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from a renowned psychiatrist who specializes in trauma healing ahead of a talk he’s giving at Boulder’s Highland City Club. Then, “Radio Nibbles” host John Lehndorff speaks with Darren Cook from Boulder Fermentation Supply […]
Photo by Alexis Kenyon via DALL·E 2 People attending loud concerts or listening to music on their earbuds this summer should be aware— about 1.1 billion young adults worldwide are at risk of hearing loss according to the World Health […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, an audiologist will walk us through how to identify and prevent hearing loss. Then, Chris Mohr has his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You,” centering today’s discussion on amnesia. After that, herbalist Brigitte Mars shares her regular […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we wonder what will the climate be like when today’s college students are approaching retirement age? A new book out today wrestles with that question, and author David Gessner joins us in the studio. Today’s feature […]
Photo from Wikimedia Creative Commons Boulder City Council members discussed the future of the city’s Police Oversight Panel, or POP, again during the Thursday, June 15 meeting. The conversation comes on the heels of last month’s vote to remove Lisa […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear a special feature from Denver reporter Dave Ashton on the Nuggets Parade. Then, an exclusive story on the controversy around the Boulder Police Oversight Panel (POP) following the appointment and then removal of one […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’lll get some expert advice about growing an edible garden this season. This morning on the “Cannabis Report,” is a sneak peek of Rocky Mountain High: A Tale of Boom and Bust in the New Wild […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
Photo courtesy of Canva Download Audio On this week’s “Naturally,” herbalist Brigitte Mars explores natural stroke healing methods to implement before and after medical help arrives.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear about what’s in the works for Boulder County’s Juneteenth celebrations. Then we’ll take a look at state laws designed to limit the impact of the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions–or BDS– movement. Next, Chris Mohr has […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about how Colorado insurance regulators have reached a tentative agreement with Cigna as part of an effort to create an affordable public option in the state. In This Week in Water, a study explores […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the fatal shooting of a 14 year old by Aurora police sparks community outrage and renewed demands for accountability. We’ll have a report from Friday’s rally in Aurora. Then, City Cast Denver takes us to the […]
The Richardson family addresses a crowd outside the Aurora Municipal Building following the killing of their son, Jor’Dell. Photo courtesy of Kira Zizzo Download Audio Aurora Police are once again facing community calls for accountability after killing a 14 year-old […]
Photo By Wallpaper Flame There hasn’t been a greyhound race in Colorado since 2008, but that hasn’t stopped Coloradans from gambling on out-of-state races. Since the ban in 2014, Coloradans have placed almost $23 million on out-of-state greyhound races, which […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from two DACA recipients who are worried about what could happen if the Supreme Court overturns the DACA protections. After that, we have “Sports Talk” with Jimmie Searfoss. Then, it’s “Dot Org”, our weekly […]
(Motus Theater monologists Armando Peniche and Victor Galvan at the Buell Media Center) The state legislature passed a measure this session to prohibit state and local governments within Colorado from participating in the immigrant detention industry as a business partner […]
Photo by Alexis Kenyon On this week’s “Naturally,” herbalist talks about the plethora of common flowers that you didn’t know you could eat/use to make tea/floral essence water. Listen: Download Audio
On today’s Morning Magazine, we speak with a conservation photographer who has a new book out about the Colorado River. After that, Chris Mohr has his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You.” Then, herbalist Brigitte Mars shares her regular Wednesday […]
Activists across the country rallied this past weekend, to draw attention to gun violence in the United States. In Colorado, Governor Jared Polis signed a bill requiring all firearms in the state to be serialized — in effect, banning otherwise […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a new photography exhibit at NCAR which looks at the effects of climate change through the lens of Indigenous communities on the frontlines. This Week in Water has a story about how manufacturers […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from a rally in Louisville that was part of a national day of action calling for gun violence prevention measures. Then, City Cast Denver examines the city council run off races on tomorrow’s municipal […]
On today’s show, we’ll speak with Community Cycles in studio about Bike to Work Month. After that, on The Nature Almanac, we hear about the American white pelicans that you may be seeing during your commute to work. Then as […]
Immigrant rights groups are organizing to put public pressure on Governor Jared Polis to sign House Bill 1100. It would prohibit state and local governance from renewing or agreeing with ICE, the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency to house […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, Rossana Longo-Better speaks with an immigrant rights advocate about efforts to encourage Colorado Governor Jared Polis to sign a bill limiting immigration detention facilities. Then, it’s Radio Nibbles with local food journalist, John Lehndorff. (Download Audio) […]
KGNU’s studio was perfumed with saffron this a.m. when chef Dakota Soifer arrived with warm breakfast paella in hand to join John Lehndorff for Radio Nibbles. They discussed the recent first paella in space, upcoming farm dinners, dining on The […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, everything you want to know about appealing your property valuation. We’ll hear from the Boulder County Assessor Cynthia Braddock. Then, Chris Mohr Brings us his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You,” and local herbalist Brigitte Mars […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a Supreme Court decision last week undermines the Clean Water Act. We will hear more on “This Week In Water.” Then, we’ll take you to a recent bilingual production of the Vagina Monologues. Also, some ideas […]
Lisa Armao is a retired Montessori teacher and after a 30-year career teaching, she created a nonprofit called the Early Childhood Service Corps. It’s a program that recruits older adults to work in preschools across Colorado. Since its inception and […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a Supreme Court decision last week undermines the Clean Water Act. We will hear more on “This Week In Water.” Then, we’ll take you to a recent bilingual production of the Vagina Monologues. Also, some ideas […]
Image created by Alexis Kenyon via Dall-E This month, with wildfire smoke blanketing the Front Range, Denver and surrounding areas have had some of the worst air quality in the world. And while the air has cleared, even on good […]
This month the lower basin states on the Colorado River announced an agreement to cut their use of the river’s water by about 13% over the next three years. The deal avoids federal intervention for now and offers a short-term […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear about several preschool closures in Boulder County. After that, it’s Sports Talk with Jimmie, and then Dot Org, our weekly look at local nonprofits. (Download Audio)
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear from science and environment journalist, Jim Robbins, as he tells KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon how poor air quality affects more than our physical health — it affects our mental health as well. Afterwards, food writer […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we discuss this week’s historic Colorado River deal. The agreement announced Monday by California, Nevada, and Arizona helps in the short term but may make harder choices necessary in the long term, according to Colorado River […]
On today’s KGNU, we check in with the Alliance center. They’ve been bringing nonprofits and people together for almost twenty years. After that, the world’s largest lakes are getting smaller. That story and more on This Week In Water. […]
On today’s KGNU birthday edition of the Morning Magazine, we discuss how smoke from Canadian forest fires serves as a reminder about ongoing climate change, but also how transitioning to clean energy comes with its own set of challenges. We’ll […]
On today’s program, we speak with an ornithology expert from Environment for the Americas about an event this Saturday at Boulder’s Walden Pond celebrating World Migratory Bird Day. Then, it’s Sports Talk with Jimmie followed by Dot Org, KGNU’s weekly […]
Before and after Photos courtesy of John Lehndorff of the Voodoo Donuts building at 3210 Arapahoe Ave On today’s Radio Nibbles Food News Update, John Lehndorff weighs in on a quintessential Boulder code-violation moment, when the much-anticipated Voodoo Doughnut, 3210 Arapahoe […]
Saturday, May 20 is World Bird Migratory Day. Environment for the Americas is a nonprofit that works to conserve bird populations through education and community outreach, will facilitate over 700 World Bird Migratory Day events across the Western Hemisphere. Boulder’s […]
Image of John Trudell, via John Trudell Archives From the Archives to the Air, Part 3 In this third installment of KGNU’s From The Archives to The Air, we hear from three prominent figures in 20th Century Indigenous Peoples culture: […]
Image via Briscoe Center for American History, Austin, Texas Weatherby Gallery From KGNU’s Archives to the Air, Part 2 Produced By John Kelin and Alexis Kenyon From KGNU Archival Audio On this second episode of From the Archives to the […]
On today’s program, we’ll hear how some state legislators representing rural areas describe their work this session to constituents. Then, the Cannabis Report will fill us in on some of the marijuana and psychedelic-related bills that got traction this session… […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s program, we’ll have a glimpse of the discussions happening today at The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s educational conference at Denver University. Then we’ll get the details about how closures of special needs facilities are affecting families in rural […]
Peter Underhill, longtime owner of Dot’s Diner passed away earlier this month from a rare and aggressive form of cancer at age 59. (image Courtesy photo/Megan Yalkut) On today’s Radio Nibbles host and Boulder Weekly food columnist, John Lehndorff tells […]
Alpine natural rind cheese, via Loveland-based Colorado Farmhouse Cheese Instagram. Spring was in the air and taste buds for the May edition of Kitchen Table Talk, KGNU’s monthly hour-long food show. Co-hosts John Lehndorff and chef Dan Asher of River […]
Lawmakers passed, and Governor Jared Polis signed into law, at least four major pieces of gun safety legislation this session. New laws include raising the minimum age to buy a firearm to twenty-one, and an Extreme Risk Protection Order, or […]
On today’s program, Colorado lawmakers passed a slew of gun violence prevention bills this legislative session. We’ll hear from the head of Colorado Ceasefire. After that, a newly developed sponge can pull lead and other toxic metals out of water. […]
In the aftermath of the Marshall Fire, an outpouring of donations flooded to victims who lost everything to the largest wildfire in Colorado history. The Community Foundation, a Boulder nonprofit, took up the reigns for collecting these donations which amounted […]
Boulder officials, with the help of contractors, are out to prove that when a commercial building meets its end of life, many parts of that structure don’t necessarily have to go to the landfill graveyard. They instead can be reincarnated […]
On today’s program, we’ll have the latest installment in our award-winning “Follow the Waste” series; this time looking at efforts to deconstruct – rather than demolish – the former Boulder Community Hospital on Broadway. Then, City Cast Denver sits down […]
On today’s program, we’ll get a debrief from the Colorado Sun’s political reporter on what did and did not pass during the legislative session. Then we’ll have a sweet Radio Nibbles with John Lehndorff and two guests, Kevin and Heidi […]
On today’s program, we’ll hear from a longtime journalist – originally from Boulder – who documented his journey on foot from Washington DC to New York City. We’ll have a preview of this weekend’s Palestinian Cultural Day at the Museum […]
The Palestinian city of Nablus is one of Boulder’s sister cities. The Museum of Boulder is hosting a celebration of Palestinian culture this Saturday. KGNU’s Elena Klaver spoke with festival organizer Julia Halaby about what’s planned for this year’s event. […]
Food inflation has been a reality for anyone buying groceries in the past couple of years, but it disproportionately affects those with lower incomes. With the pandemic public health emergency declaration officially ending Thursday, many emergency programs put in place […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear why letter carriers nationwide will be collecting food donations door to door this Saturday. The Federal Trade Commission is examining ways to crackdown on greenwashing; that story and more on This Week in Water. […]
Image created by Alexis Kenyon with help from Dall-E 3 years into the pandemic, school attendance rates are still at record lows across the country. In Colorado, according to the Department of Education, 1 in 3 students are chronically absent […]
On May 4, flanked by state legislators and a dozen Native Americans, Governor Jared Polis signed legislation to protect Indigenous rights in Colorado. One piece of legislation enshrines the federal Indian Child Welfare Act as Colorado state law. When it […]
May 5th marks a national day of awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). The date comes with Indigenous-led efforts to raise public awareness around high rates of violence committed against Indigenous women and girls…and the lack of prosecution, […]
On today’s program, we’ll look at some legislation in Colorado that specifically affects Indigenous residents. Friday was a day of awareness about long standing impunity in cases of missing and murdered indigenous women. We’ll hear interviews from a rally on […]
Colorado has seen a 72% decline in the western bumble bee, according to a recent study from the National Academy of Sciences. Advocacy groups have been lobbying lawmakers for years to increase legal protections for bees and other animals that […]
On today’s program, pollinator protectors are celebrating the passage of state legislation to limit the sale of neonicotinoid pesticides. This time on the Cannabis Report, we’ll get an update on the new state-funded loan program for cannabis social equity businesses. Then, […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
The state legislature is in the final days of the session and the pressure is on to tie up loose ends and pass pending bills. One bill that passed Saturday attempts to address poor air quality along the Front Range. SB […]
On today’s program, we’ll take a look at what the state legislature has been doing to craft policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Chris Mohr has his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You”. Then herbalist Brigitte Mars shares her regular Wednesday […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll visit “cancerland” through the eyes of a local author with lived experience. Then, as sea ice shrinks in the Arctic Ocean and shipping routes open, vessels face an unexpected obstacle, that story and more on […]
Cancer is a diagnosis no one wants to be on the receiving end of, but it is a leading cause of death in this country. However, sharing the experience with others going through the same life and death fight can […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we get a Boulder City Council Update. After that, we hear from fans at CU Boulder’s Black and Gold Scrimmage. Then, it’s Dot Org, our weekly spotlight on local nonprofits. Listen: (Download Audio)
In Colorado, when we look up at the rocky mountains, it’s difficult to imagine how much those snowy white peaks mean to the rest of the world. But for more than a hundred years, millions of people have relied on […]
How much should you really tip when you dine out? What’s fair to you and the server? Radio Nibbles host John Lehndorff talked with writer Kate Jonuska about her recent Boulder Weekly feature on the highly contentious issue of tipping and […]
Coming up on today’s program we’ll check in on water levels along the Colorado River. Then Radio Nibbles will provide tips on tipping. Listen: (Download Audio)
What happens when baby birds aren’t successful in their initial attempts to fly? They may end up with Donna Nespoli, a bird rehabilitation expert and founder of Colorado Native Bird Care and Conservation. KGNU’s Benita Lee spoke with her about […]
Dandelions, despite being extremely difficult to get rid of, are great for the soil and they’re one of the first foods for the bees in the springtime. Along with being 100% edible for human consumption, gardeners can use dandelions in […]
(Photo: Trevor McCarthy who works at Safeway in North Longmont speaks to AG Weiser during the meeting in Longmont on Tuesday April 25, 2023. Credit: Maeve Conran) Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser has been visiting communities around Colorado who could […]
Colorado’s Attorney General is holding public meetings on the proposed merger between the parent companies of Safeway and King Soopers. We’ll hear what Longmont residents had to say yesterday. Spring is baby bird season. We’ll visit a the home of […]
How much did the labor battles of Colorado coal workers contribute to the legal gains of the New Deal Era? Perhaps more than you think. A new book out from the University of Colorado Press details how a labor movement […]
On today’s program we’ll dig into some of the lesser known histories of labor struggles in Colorado’s coal fields with a local author. Replacing lead pipes with PVC? A new report says that’s leaping from the frying pan into fire, […]
Photo: Dr. Richard Reading with Mongolian butterfly researchers, Dr. Gantigmaa Chuluunbaatar and PhD student Bayarmaa Duinkherjav Pollinators play a key role in ecosystems around the world, but are under stress due to a number of factors. One of the nation’s […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll go to the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster to hear about the work they do locally and abroad. After that, City Cast Denver speaks to an urban planner about transforming suburban sprawl into dense and walkable “15 […]
The Colorado Senate yesterday passed a bill that calls for standards for compost labels and prohibits marketing look-alike compostable products. This comes after the Federal Trade Commission announced last week that they are cracking down on so-called greenwashing practices. KGNU’s […]
Image Courtesy Of Sustainable Resilient Longmont This year Longmont will host its 9th Annual Sustainable Resilient Longmont Earth Day Event. There will be upcycled arts and crafts, food trucks, dozens of educational booths, and even goats at Timberline School in […]
Coming up on today’s program, tomorrow is Earth Day and we will hear about what’s in store for Longmont’s 8th Annual Celebration. After that, it’s Sports Talk with Jimmie and then, Dot Org, our weekly look at local nonprofits. Listen: […]
Photo via Wikimedia Commons of Emma Bates It feels like everything is going on in the sports world when it comes to Colorado. So why try to cover just one thing? This week Jimmie speeds through the highlights starting with […]
Coming up on today’s program, we’ll hear about efforts at the state and federal levels to end the practice of greenwashing. Then, as it is 4/20, today, “The Cannabis Report” brings us up to speed on the history behind today’s […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
Naropa University is hosting Earth Justice Week this week, with a special line up today. KGNU’s Shannon Young spoke with Michael Bauer, Director of Naropa’s Joanna Macy Center for Resilience and Regeneration and organic gardener and vegan chef, Dr. Ietef […]
Earth Day is coming up this weekend, but on today’s program, learn about some groups making a week of it. We’ll hear from two individuals participating in Earth Justice Week at Naropa University, including an organic gardener and vegan chef […]
High school seniors are in the final stretch of the school year. For many, that means preparing to take finals or make last minute scholarship applications. But for seniors and juniors alike, it means prom season. While the rite of […]
Coming up on today’s program High school seniors and juniors will be celebrating prom nights over the coming weeks. We’ll hear what BVSD and parent groups are doing to make the afterparties safer. Then, lavish lifestyles of the wealthy use […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear about Navajo miners in Fruitland, New Mexico who are suffering from black lung. After that, on City Cast Denver, a new bill would make it easier to build affordable housing across Colorado. (Download Audio)
On Radio Nibbles, host John John Lehndorff talked with Ashwin Ramdas of DeliverZero, a growing local service designed to package food at restaurants and supermarkets in reusable, returnable containers. Ramdas described how easy it is for cafes and markets to […]
At Thursday’s Boulder City Council meeting, city staff announced the location of a new day shelter for those experiencing homelessness. The announcement comes after months of debate and a spike in unhoused families and individuals in Boulder. Shay Castle of […]
Photo By Jeffrey Beall via Flicker On this week’s Sports Talk, the mascot for the Colorado Rockies, a purple dinosaur known as Dinger, was tackled during a game at Coors Field on Monday. Who did it? We still don’t know. […]
On today’s Morning Magazine Boulder City Council met last night to discuss homeless strategies. Shay Castle of Boulder Beat is in the studio to give us an update. After that, we will go to Sports Talk and then, it’s Dot Org, […]
The earth’s climate patterns are changing due to human activity and accumulated gasses released into the atmosphere. While many trace the start of the warming trend back to the Industrial Revolution, the extraction and burning of fossil fuels in the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine: How can younger generations prepare for the climate change that’s already underway? We’ll speak with an award-winning team that puts hard truths into graphic novel formats. This time on Radio Nibbles host John Lehndorff will chat […]
With the Spring comes tax season, if you haven’t already completed your paperwork you may find a few surprises this year as pandemic expansions to certain tax credits have expired and TABOR (Tax Payer Bill of Rights) checks have the […]
Coming up on today’s program, as the weather warms, bears are coming out of hibernation. We’ll hear about attempts to carry out a bear census. The tax filing deadline is approaching and returns may look a bit different than they […]
Image courtesy of the University of Colorado, Boulder The 75th edition of the Conference on World Affairs opens tomorrow on the CU Boulder campus. The conference is an annual gathering of academics, experts, policymakers, and community members. Hannah Wood, interim […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, get a preview of what’s coming up this week at the 75th annual Conference on World Affairs. The Colorado River Basin benefited from this past winter’s precipitation but will need several years of the same to […]
Bohemian waxwings eating berries. Photo by Chris Petrizzo Bohemian Waxwings are wandering the front range in high numbers this winter, due to an “incursion” that led them to leave their homes in Canada and Alaska. Scott Severs and Ruth Carol […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, for the first Friday of the month, we have the Nature Almanac. After that, we tune into Sports Talk with KGNU’s Jimmy Searfoss and Dot Org our weekly look at local nonprofits. Listen: (Download Audio) .
On the Feb. 2 Kitchen Table Talk, co-hosts John Lehndorff and Boulder chef Dan Asher (Ask’Kara and River & Woods) welcomed chef Edwin Zoe (Zoe Ma Ma, Dragonfly Noodle) and chef Eric Skokan (Bramble & Hare, Black Cat Farm) to […]
On this week’s Sports Talk, Jimmie celebrates the national Women In Sports Day that took place this week. Among the leaders is Shannan Lane, the first female to coach a male high school basketball team in the state. Listen: Download […]
CU Boulder yesterday hosted the grand opening of the Center for African and African American Studies – known as the CAAAS (pronounced “the cause”) for short. It’s the first initiative to center and focus Black and African diaspora students at […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the new Center for African and African American Studies formally inaugurated its space on the CU Boulder campus yesterday. The center – known as “the cause” – is the first space of its kind on a […]
Image by Alexis Kenyon via DALL-E About 150 Broomfield residents are joining together to create Broomfield’s first Solar Co-op. The members of this Co-op will vote next week to choose a collective-wide installer. KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon spoke with Tanner Simeon-Cox– […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we get an update on Broomfield’s new solar co-op. Then we have our latest “Follow The Waste” story, this time, looking at one way to reduce trash from takeout orders. Finally, it’s Chris Mohr’s weekly commentary, […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a public health professor shares how research is showing the value of early and evidence based sex education; from Rocky Mountain Community Radio, we’ll hear about an after-school cultural development program by the Ute Mountain Ute […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll look at policies around domestic animals in the urban wildlife interface in Telluride and CityCast Denver chats with The Colorado Sun’s environment reporter about some proposals ahead of a federal water management deadline. Listen: (Download […]
KGNU Young Adult book reviewer Phoebe Donovan is back – this time with an in-studio interview. Ellen O’Clover and Jessie Weaver are both Colorado based authors of young adult fiction. Their books – Seven Percent of Ro Devereux and Live […]
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mile High Blaze (@milehighblaze) The Mile High Blaze of the WFA has been winning since its inception in 2013. On this episode with Jimmie Searfoss, we dive into […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, A Young Adult book reviewer sits down with two local authors. After that, we hear about a student-run rally get keep NARCAN in schools in Durango. Then, it’s Sports Talk with Jimmie Searfoss, and Dot Org, […]
On Radio Nibbles, host John Lehndorff welcomed author Gil Asakawa who has just published “Tabemasho! Let’s Eat! The Tasty History of Japanese Food in America.” They discussed the rise of ramen in Colorado, Pelican Pete’s memories and the best thing Gil has […]
About 50 to 70 Boulder community members gathered at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce yesterday morning to discuss another group of about 50 to 70 Boulder residents. The individuals not in the room but at the center of the discussion […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, several city and county officials, business figures, and Boulder residents gathered at the Boulder Chamber of Commerce yesterday to discuss so-called “high utilizers.” We’ll have a report back from Alexis Kenyon. After that, Radio Nibbles host […]
In today’s Morning Magazine, We’ll hear from a local doctor and author about his new book, which explores the link between population growth and ecological disease. Chris Mohr is still out this week – but we will have the latest […]
What are the environmental implications of a global population that keeps expanding year after year? Can the planet handle the pressures of humanities demand for resources? And why have we – as supposedly intelligent homo sapiens, been unable to halt […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, nearly 15 thousand upcoming students have enrolled in Colorado’s new universal preschool program. We’ll get the details from Chalkbeat Colorado. After that, Colorado wildlife commissioners are soliciting public comments on the state’s wolf restoration and management plan […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll visit two different traditional events in Denver. First, we’ll go to the kick off for Lunar New Year celebrations at the Far East Center. Then City Cast Denver takes us to the National Western Stock […]
Yesterday marked the start of the Year of The Rabbit across East Asian and diaspora communities worldwide. In Denver, festivities kicked off Saturday with a community fair and packed performance of dancers, musicians and acrobats at George Washington High School. […]
Art by Alexis Kenyon via DALL-E University Of Colorado Boulder Communications Professor Karen Lee Ashcraft’s new book, Wronged and Dangerous,Viral Masculinity and The Populous Pandemic, analyzes the impact of what she calls “aggrieved masculinity” in all parts of society. From […]
Boulder City Council voted to delay the approval of two new appointees to the Police Oversight Panel last night. This is the second time Boulder’s city council has punted the vote. Concerns over the new nominees being biased against police […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we talk with Boulder Beat’s Shay Castle to get an update on a controversy over new appointees to Boulder’s Police Oversight Panel. After that, we hear about a design studio tackling affordable housing. Then, as always, […]
We are impressed when local restaurants last two or five years. On today’s Radio Nibbles, John Lehndorff and Shannon Young celebrate eateries that have gone the distance including Ras Kassa’s Ethiopian Restaurant (35 years), Boulder’s original Walnut Cafe (40 years), […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a final deadline for approving or denying an air pollution permit for the West Elk Coal Mine in western Colorado could come as soon as tomorrow. The Cannabis Report has this week’s marijuana news both inside and […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a program to inform parents about fentanyl, opioids and overdose reversals happening tomorrow night. Wyoming researchers are taking to the air to look after the health of pronghorn sheep. Chris Mohr is out […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear from the director of a new state office tasked with tracking gun violence across Colorado. Then, H20 Radio reports on A Royal Pain—How King Tides In California Reveal A Troubling Future. Finally, we go […]
Colorado has been the scene of several notorious mass shootings. But suicides are by far the leading cause of gun deaths here. In 2021, Colorado voters approved the creation of a new office within the state’s Department of Public Health […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we have a special Martin Luther King Jr. Day special broadcasts, featuring two esteemed guests. Dr. Reiland Rabaka is the Director of CU Boulder’s Center for African and African American Studies. Candice Bailey is a community […]
The nation’s best tastes are in Boulder County The Good Food Awards are the Oscars of American food and drink. On Radio Nibbles, Jimmie Searfoss and John Lehndorff discuss the national finalists for the 3rd annual awards in our own […]
This week on Sports Talk, KGNU’s Jimmie Searfoss reviews the career of one of the best lacrosse coaches of all time Bill Tierney. His accolades while at the University of Denver and Princeton have made him a legend in the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the deadline to enroll in Affordable Care Act health coverage is Sunday. We get an update on what people should know. After that, we hear about city officials in Durango who resigned after accusations of racism. […]
This year four out of five Americans are eligible for Affordable Care Act health coverage for $10 or less a month thanks to increased subsidies in this year’s Inflation Reduction act. About 11 million people have already signed up for […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, kicking us off today, we talk about an issue regarding Proposition FF, which helps provide school meals for all. After that, we discuss the relics left behind in Colorado’s rich mining history. Finally, Radio Nibbles host […]
On today’s show, we talk about the ongoing struggle between Colorado regulatory agencies, the federal government, and Suncor refinery, the state’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases that’s in a mostly Latino residential North Denver community. The Environmental Protection Agency announced […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the new session of the Colorado legislature convenes this week. We’ll get an overview of the legislative horizon from The Colorado Sun. After that, Chris Mohr will have his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You,” and […]
Denver’s City Council unanimously passed a new measure last night to increase worker protections against wage theft. News Director Shannon Young got the details from Pamela Reséndiz Trujano, Executive Director of Colorado Jobs with Justice. Listen: (Download Audio)
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about an event happening tonight at CU Boulder organized by Iranians on campus to update the public about the ongoing popular uprising there. Then, Chris Mohr will have his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear […]
The University of Colorado Boulder is hosting an event tonight to raise awareness about the ongoing popular uprising in Iran. Widespread protests began after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September. Iranian morality police had arrested Amini in Tehran […]
Administrators at Denver Public Schools have been considering a number of school closures, citing low enrollment numbers. Earlier this month, the district’s school board voted against closing 10 DPS schools, but another school – separate from those ten – still […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear about a Denver charter school for predominantly Native American students that’s in danger of closing less than three years after it opened. After that, today marks another anniversary of the Sand Creek Massacre, the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we have an update on the aftermath of the deadly attack on Club Q in Colorado Springs, and CityCast Denver host Bree Davies chats with Monica Martinez of the Fax about efforts to convert old motels […]
Over the past year, KGNU has been collaborating with contributors and independent producers across the region to track Boulder county’s goal of reducing waste to zero by the year 2025. On today’s program, we listen to some of our favorite […]
Over the past year, KGNU has collaborated with contributors and independent producers across the region to track Boulder county’s goal of reducing waste to zero by 2025. On today’s Morning Magazine, we have part 2 of our “Follow The Waste” […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll share some of the details that have emerged about the attack on Club Q in Colorado Springs. Then we’ll bring you the latest in our Follow the Waste series – this time it’s about contamination […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about what neuroscientists call “structured reflection” and what it has to do with communicable disease during holiday gatherings. Chris Mohr will have his weekly commentary, Make Them Hear You. And then herbalist Brigitte Mars […]
Authorities in Colorado Springs released further details about Saturday night’s armed attack on Club Q. Alexis Kenyon has more. Listen: (Download Audio) Among the new details released in Monday afternoon’s media briefing were the names of those killed when a […]
As Colorado processes yet another mass shooting, KGNU News Director Shannon Young talks with someone who has lived experience with the sudden death of a loved one. Phil Calitre created a foundation in honor of his daughter Cara who died […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear about yet another mass shooting in Colorado. This one targeted an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance. We’ll center the voices of the local LGBTQ community. Then, […]
The Latino Chamber of Commerce played an important role during the COVID pandemic and actively help with applications to access federal loans or other supports for undocumented business owners. During that time, the Latino Chamber expanded virtual services outside Boulder […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the Latino Chamber of Commerce opens a new physical space to continue providing support for diverse small businesses. Then, we’ll visit a dress rehearsal of a dance theater performance opening this weekend at the Dairy Arts […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from the community ahead of the Denver Public School board of education meeting tonight where they will vote on the proposed closure of five of the district’s schools. Then, we’ll learn about Colorado’s health […]
The Denver Public Schools Board of Education will vote tonight on whether to close five schools with fewer than 215 students. The proposal comes after years of declining enrollment and an earlier announcement that the district would close 10 DPS […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s Morning Magazine, dozens of DACA recipients are in Washington DC today to lobby the lame duck Congress to pass the Dream Act. We’ll hear from a Fort Collins resident participating in the day of action. After that, Chris […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a ProPublica investigation uncovered a pattern of irregularities within Colorado’s family court system. We’ll get the details from the reporter. The midterm red wave didn’t materialize—but an emerging green wave did. That’s coming up in H20 […]
America Recycles Week kicked off Monday and runs through November 18th. This year’s week of awareness comes on the heels of electoral wins for a nationwide smattering of ballot initiatives on recycling. One of those successful initiatives was Denver’s Ordinance […]
If you get a divorce in Colorado and there’s conflict over child custody, Colorado family court gives couples two options. First, you can take a court-appointed and, often, court-funded child family investigator or CFI to look into your cases. Or, […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about Denver voters passing the “Waste No More” ballot measure to expand curbside recycling and composting. Then, CityCast Denver host Bree Davies will chat with Blackpacker founder, Patricia Cameron, to discuss why the camping […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about Denver voters passing the “Waste No More” ballot measure to expand curbside recycling and composting. Then, CityCast Denver host Bree Davies will chat with Blackpacker founder, Patricia Cameron, to discuss why the camping […]
Mother-ship Boulder presents a unique art, poetry, and jazz event with three remarkable women artists. The exhibit 3 Muses Of Arts will take place at 3450 Penrose Place today Friday, November 11th. KGNU’s, Rossana Longo-Better spoke with artists Topaz Hooper, Radna […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, it’s Veterans Day, and we hear how Boulder County is helping veterans heal through art. After that, we talk with the creators of 3 Muses, an art exhibit in Boulder, this weekend. Then, it’s a live […]
November 11th is Veteran’s Day, a federal holiday set aside to honor military veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Many combat veterans still struggle with the trauma of their war experiences. There’s a large sculpture project taking shape in […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear more election news. Then, delays in asylum case processing are causing bottlenecks at the US/Mexico border, putting pressure on local shelter capacity. We’ll hear how Denver area groups have built a support network to […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll look at the results of yesterday’s elections. Boulder Beat’s Shay Castle will report how the residents of Boulder voted on various ballot measures. Then, herbalist Brigitte Mars will bring us her regular Wednesday feature, “Naturally.” […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear what’s on the minds of Boulder County voters as they drop off their ballots. We’ll also check in on the mood in Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, currently represented by conservative Lauren Boebert. Then, This […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, up first, we’ll hear about a number of education issues on this year’s state ballot. Then, CityCast Denver skeptically dives into the questions around the immersive art trend and why it seems to be taking off […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, up first, we have November’s Nature Almanac. After that, are you procrastinating on filling out your ballot? We’ll give you a few reasons to get it done sooner than later. Then, we’ll hear about what’s going […]
Many cities across the country – but especially in the Front Range – are experiencing a housing crisis, with costs far outpacing the wage hikes. One of the effects has been an increase in homelessness. At the same time, some […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear why immigrants rights organizers held a Day of the Dead vigil outside of the private immigration detention center in Aurora yesterday evening. Then, we’ll have a report examining what’s behind Prop 124; a liquor […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a graphic novel premiere at the Dairy Arts Center coming up this Saturday. Chris Mohr will have his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You.” Then herbalist Brigitte Mars will bring us her regular […]
By John Kelin Nov. 1 2022 Resources to help people in the ongoing recovery from the Marshall Mesa Fire have been centralized in a brand-new location. The Marshall Fire Recovery Center in Louisville launched with a ribbon-cutting on a suite […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a spin on “trick or treating” that brought pollinator-friendly seed balls to doorsteps on Boulder’s University Hill. After that, a new Marshall Fire recovery center has opened its doors in Louisville. We’ll visit […]
There’s a big effort underway this election cycle to reach underrepresented voters – both with multilingual ballots and with in-person outreach efforts to university students. Data shows that young people are among the least likely to turn out in elections. […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about efforts underway this election cycle to reach underrepresented voters – both with multilingual ballots and with in-person outreach efforts to university students. Then, City Cast host Bree Davies sits down with Denver’s Clerk […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about Proposition 122, on this year’s ballot, which aims to decriminalize psychedelic substances. Then we’re hearing about a new inclusive dance studio that recently opened in Boulder. After that, it’s sports talk. Listen: (Download Audio) The […]
A new, inclusive Dance studio recently opened up in Boulder. Mi Chantli a movement and arts sanctuary, will host Baile de Calacas to honor El Dia De Los Muertos. Rossana Longo-Better spoke to the creators of Mi Chantli Mario Olvera, […]
You are listening to the Morning Magazine on KGNU. I’m your host, Jack Armstrong. Coloradans will vote on the decriminalization of the use, possession, and growth of natural medicines commonly known as magic mushrooms in the upcoming November ballot. KGNU’s […]
In this week’s episode of Sports Talk with Jimmie, he takes us on a trip back to the 90’s when the all-women baseball team, The Colorado Silver Bullets. Listen: (Download Audio)
Holiday celebrations can produce a lot of trash. Think gift wrapping on Christmas or those plastic Easter eggs or balloons on Valentines Day. The aftermath of the next annual celebration heading to a landfill near you is Halloween. From plastic candy […]
State Ballot Proposition 121 asks Colorado voters if they would like to decrease the state income tax rate. Supporters say the cut will put money into people’s pockets. Opponents say the tax decrease is actually a tax increase for most […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll get into the weeds about two tax related propositions on this year’s ballot. After that, we’ll look at efforts to reduce and reuse waste during Halloween. Then, Rocky Mountain Community Radio has some tips if […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a local election rundown from Shay Castle of Boulder Beat News. Then, we’ll go to court – Community Court at the Boulder Bandshell. After that, Chris Mohr will have his weekly commentary, “Make […]
On November’s ballot, Boulder County voters will weigh in on who should serve as their region’s Regional Transportation District Board director. On today’s A Public Affair, KGNU News Director Shannon Young hosts a candidate forum with three candidates running for […]
One of the statewide measures on Colorado ballots is Proposition 123. It calls for the allocation of 0.1 percent of state tax revenue to fund the construction of affordable housing units. Proponents say this measure will provide overdue relief while […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll learn more about a state ballot measure that aims to allocate a portion of tax revenue to affordable housing. Open enrollment starts next week for health insurance through Connect For Health Colorado. We’ll have the details. […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about how the Colorado State Board of Education is in the process of setting new K-12 curriculum standards for the next several years while implementing changes mandated by recent legislation. Then, City Cast Denver […]
On this week’s regional sports newscast, Sport’s Talk host Jimmie Searfoss talks about Denver’s Chatfield High School’s historic women’s flag football championship. Chatfield High School is one of 25 schools selected by the Denver Broncos to take part in a […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we hear about a new report showing that Wyoming is home to the largest intact sagebrush habitat in the West. After that, it’s Dot Org and then, Sports Talk. Listen: (Download Audio) The Morning Magazine features […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll take a look at statewide trends in down ballot items through a new tool to track local initiatives. Then The Cannabis Report brings us up to speed on some of the biggest marijuana ballot measures […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
Every election season, political strategists talk about wooing swing voters, while one of the biggest voting blocks often goes overlooked, new voters. Julia Hunt is a senior at Fairview High School who knows a little something about mobilizing new voters. […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from a local high school student about efforts to register new voters. Then Chris Mohr will have his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You”. After that, we’ll learn about how cooling weather means bears […]
Some of the stars of the Spanish art form known as flamenco are in Denver this week to give a series of intensive workshops capped by a music and dance performance on Saturday at the Newman Center for the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, a new hybrid healthcare and housing facility has opened in Denver to serve the city’s unhoused population. After that, some of the world’s top Flamenco performers are in the Mile-High City this week for a showcase […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, Rocky Mountain Community Radio takes us to the Four Corners region to meet a Navajo seed keeper preserving and sharing ancestral foods online. Then, City Cast Denver looks at how History Colorado is preparing to retell […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we will learn about migratory animals from wildlife corridors in Wyoming and then look ahead to what’s in store for migratory Bird Day. After that, it’s Sports Talk with Jimmie. Listen: (Download Audio) The Morning Magazine […]
Plans are in the works to open an arts academy for under-served youth in Northeast Denver. The Radical Arts Academy will launch in 2024 and it will start with first and second grade and keep on growing every year. […]
Local award-winning travel writer Sandra Bornstein takes us on a trip around the best places for food, drinks, music, entertainment, sports, creation, culture, history, and activities by season in her new book 100 Things To Do In Boulder Before […]
Photo Credit: Feminis Collective Las Tesis The only support center for sexual assault victims in Boulder County will host its 50th-anniversary fundraiser next week. Boulder created what has become MESA, Moving to End Sexual Assault, in response to a high-profile […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, three generations of women gathered in the studio to examine how the community’s understanding of sexual assault has evolved over the years. Then, This Week in Water reports on how “America’s first solar-powered town” rode out […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, Colorado’s snow pack plays a vital role in the region’s water supply, but climate change and a prolonged drought are throwing water security into jeopardy. Mountain town mayors got together recently to discuss climate solutions. And, City […]
Bears are fattening up for their winter hibernation. Ruth Carol Cushman ventures into Bear Canyon, on the lookout for signs of bears. (photo credit: Glenn Cushman) Listen: (Download Audio)
The Black Lives Matters demonstrations that erupted nationwide in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 did more than occupy space on the streets. They created a discourse and a reckoning that forced […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from an Arapahoe elder participating in a weekend full of Indigenous arts events and happenings at the Dairy Arts Center. Then, for this first Friday in October, we’ll join Boulder Naturalist Ruth Carol Cushman […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear why a Denver church is hosting a Palestinian festival this weekend. This time on the Cannabis Report, marijuana reporter Leland Rucker discusses the lack of legal places to consume marijuana in public, ten years […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from co-authors of the recently released book, Courageous Discomfort ahead of their in-person event tomorrow for the Boulder Library Foundation. Then, Chris Mohr is back with his weekly commentary, “Make Them Hear You”. And then herbalist […]
(Photo credit: Dre Erwin Photography licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.) One of the more lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is how it has impacted youth mental health. From extended isolation to canceled rights of […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll look at how mental health professionals are grappling with pandemic-fueled youth mental health needs and staff shortages. This Week in Water reports on how a preliminary analysis concluded that human-induced climate change increased Hurricane Ian’s […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll examine the issues behind Boulder’s ballot question 2F and the annexation of CU south. Then, City Cast Denver looks at gun culture and the death of Isabella Thallas, who was fatally shot while walking her […]
The Annexation of CU South [Download Audio] Watch debate here. CU South Boulder is a 308-acre parcel of land at the southernmost city limit of Boulder. The former gravel mine has been undeveloped for over 20 years now. The […]
A team of Harvest of All First Nations, a group focused on Indigenous-led reparations, rematriation & Earth-based Decolonization for the benefit of BIPOC peoples for cultural enrichment and health equity, in collaboration with the Foundation for Leaders Organizing for Water […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll get a preview of the Harvest of All First Nations Corn festival taking place tomorrow in Longmont. Then, we’ll learn about how Denver’s Mizel Museum is keeping the memory of one of the largest single […]
When most people think about college recruiting, they imagine coaches from top-tier teams scouring the nation for the best of the best. Today, the recruitment industry has transformed that narrative. This industry, which brings in tens of millions of dollars […]
Colorado has the highest recidivism rate in the country. For the past decade, about 50% of inmates released from the state’s prison return within three years. A recent ProPublica investigation has uncovered that the state’s halfway houses may be a […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear what transpired at the first gubernatorial debate of the season hosted last night at Colorado State University – Pueblo. Federal officials have announced $1Billion of funding for public schools nationwide. Plans include expanded in-school […]
(Photo credit: Venkat2336, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons) Look in the garbage in any city or town, and chances are, plastics make up a big part of what is in the waste. Some of that is due to people […]
Despite a staggeringly high 50% rate of teen pregnancy, youth involved in Colorado’s child welfare system have little to no education about contraception or safe sex until after they have become sexually active. That’s according to a new study from […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, well look at what a CU researcher as to say about kids in Colorado’s foster care system and how it has the highest rates of teen pregnancy in the state. Then, we’ll hear about research in […]
After a COVID-related break, Boulder has reinstated a requirement that food businesses report what they’re doing to comply with the city’s Zero Waste ordinance. Restaurants, grocery stores, coffee shops and almost all other businesses involved with food are supposed to […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, our latest story in the “Follow the Waste” series looks at how food vendors in Boulder fared in this year’s zero waste audit. This Week in Water is taking a break, so we’ll stick with the […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about what CU Boulder is doing to address sexual misconduct on and off campus. And, City Cast Denver asks what Denver Metro officials can learn from Houston’s seemingly highly effective response to homelessness. Listen: (Download […]
CU Boulder will host a campus sexual misconduct town hall from 4-5:30 PM today. The event will discuss the recently announced CU Boulder Sexual Misconduct Task force and answer questions about how misconduct is addressed on campus. KGNU’s Claire Purnell […]
The Latino Chamber of Commerce of Boulder County will host a big “Fiesta and Food Trucks” event to celebrate the growing diverse cultures of the Hispanic and Latinx communities in Boulder County, this Saturday at Roosevelt Park in Longmont. KGNU’s […]
In this week’s edition of Sports Talk, KGNU’s Jimmie Searfoss explores not your fathers base ball, or even his father. Colorado is home to a vintage base ball league that plays the game by 1890’s rules. Take a deep dive […]
On today’s Radio Nibbles, host John Lehndorff spoke with Ileana Barbu to discuss the Annual Romanian Festival Sunday, Sept. 25th at Belmar Plaza in Lakewood. More information on the festival here. Listen: (Download Audio)
Home from School: The Children of Carlisle is a documentary film that retells the story of a delegation of tribal elders and youth from the Wind River Reservation who traveled to the U.S. Army War College in Pennsylvania, to retrieve […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear about a documentary film screening this evening at the Museum of Boulder that examines the history and legacy of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School and the policy of forced assimilation that separated Native American […]
The Boulder Valley School District released data on in and out-of-school suspensions. An analysis of that data by Boulder Reporting Lab shows that Latino students are suspended at triple the rate of their white counterparts. Disciplinary actions like suspensions […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll look at disparities in suspensions from Boulder Valley School District schools with a reporter from the Boulder Reporting Lab. Then, we’ll hear about new maps that expose methane ‘super-emitter’ sites. Chris Mohr will bring us […]
Comic conventions are a subculture of their own and now there’s a new book out documenting its past and present. Mathew Klickstein is the author of See You at San Diego; an Oral History of Comic-Con, Fandom and the Triumph of […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll hear from an oral historian of comic book conventions, author of the new book, See You At San Diego. This Week in Water will examine the use of fish bones and shells as “fingerprints” to […]
The Environmental Protection Agency – or EPA – has issued a final determination to downgrade air quality in the Denver Metro and Northern Front Range area to “severe” non-attainment for ground level ozone. The area was one of five nationwide […]
On today’s Morning Magazine, the Environmental Protection Agency has followed through on warnings that it would downgrade the air quality nonattainment status of the Denver Metro and Northern Front Range. We’ll speak with a CU Boulder scientist about one of […]
Colorado Chautauqua is proud to present the second annual free and bilingual Festival Del Sol (formerly Celebración de la Comunidad) on Sunday, September 18th! Enjoy live music, food trucks, outdoor beer/wine garden, traditional dance, games, children’s activities, photo booth, and […]
El Centro Amistad women’s summit, known as Cumbre de Mujeres, this year opened with a youth summit or Cumbre Juvenil with 175 middle and high school students to explore their identities, empower themselves and offer an altar as an ofrenda […]
Did you know that Denver has its very own circus ensemble? The Circus Foundry is a small contemporary circus group made up of members who have performed in other troupes around the world, but who call Denver home. The […]
In today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll take a look at arts and culture events happening this weekend; from the Festival del Sol in Boulder to performances by Denver’s own Circus Foundry. Then we’ll go to Sports Talk, our weekly regional sports roundup. […]
On this week’s edition of Radio Nibbles, host John Lehndorff speaks with Blair Norman, president of Community Fruit Rescue. Listen: (Download Audio)
In today’s Morning Magazine, today representatives of four organizations behind the largest-ever poll of Latino voters in Colorado presented their findings yesterday on the State Capitol steps. This time on the Cannabis Report, we’ll hear about the end of a […]
Bi-weekly updates on what's happening in the world of cannabis with marijuana reporter Leland Rucker.
Boulder City Council’s conversations about creating a new day for those experiencing homelessness have exposed how divided people in Boulder continue to be when it comes to the causes of and solutions to homelessness. KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon reports. Listen: (Download […]
In today’s Morning Magazine, home care workers and union organizers rallied on the steps of the state capitol yesterday, calling for a home care worker bill of rights. Boulder City Council is exploring the possibility of reopening a day shelter for […]
The Boulder B-Cycle e-bike share program is experiencing record levels of ridership and the heavy use has been making the bikes harder to find at stations around town. News Director Shannon Young spoke with Boulder B-Cycle General Manager Kevin Crouse […]
In today’s Morning Magazine, we’ll speak with Boulder B-cycles’s general manager about the pros and cons of record-setting ridership. This Week in Water will examine climate tipping points – and what they imply – in increments as small as a […]
Award-winning journalist, author and professor Linda Villarosa will be in town this afternoon for a speaking engagement at her alma mater; CU Boulder. Villarosa will present her latest book, Under The Skin; The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives […]
In today’s Morning Magazine, an award-winning journalist – and CU Boulder alum – will speak on campus this evening about her groundbreaking research linking the accumulated effects of racism to poor health outcomes and RTD’s experiment with a month of free […]
Motus Theater monologists have been busy this summer and have prepared special events for the month of September to provoke community conversation about issues of human rights in collaboration with Edica Pacha. A set of 12 large murals with explanatory […]