Kunc's Colorado Edition

Today on Colorado Edition: We learn about the push for changes in policing — everything from sweeping reforms to the system, new ways officers can address their mental health, and steps residents are taking to feel safer in their communities. Then, we hear how Colorado renters and landlords are preparing for the first month in almost a year without a federal moratorium on evictions. Plus, we learn how the regional Anti-Defamation League is addressing an increase in hate crimes across the state.

Today on Colorado Edition: We take a look at the mental health struggles often faced by law enforcement officers in Boulder County, and learn how the pandemic has exacerbated these problems. Then, we hear from Larimer County’s public heath director about the latest push to encourage residents to get vaccinated in light of a recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases.

Today on Colorado Edition: After a months-long delay, Colorado finally has the local Census population data needed to draw electoral districts. We’ll dive into what the new data means for the redistricting process. We’ll also hear about a recent push to name a Colorado Veterans Affairs clinic after an anti-racist trailblazer. Plus, we hear about a slate of new laws that aim to address issues of discrimination and accessibility for Coloradans with disabilities. And, we explore how methane leaks impact our changing climate and the multiple efforts underway to locate and fix them.

Today on Colorado Edition: In the wake of a newly released United Nations report on climate change, we explore how technology and policy can help turn climate challenges into opportunities. We learn about efforts to solve lingering racial disparities in postsecondary education attainment, and the long-term impact those disparities can have on students’ economic future. We hear about how the loss of caregivers to COVID-19, including parents and grandparents, is impacting Colorado children. And, with athlete mental health at the forefront now that the 2020 Olympics have wrapped up, we talk with a sports psychologist about the unique pressures and challenges that come with competition.

Today on Colorado Edition: A report from the United Nations out this week catalogues the physical science behind human-driven changes to our climate and paints a grim picture of what could lie ahead if significant changes aren’t made. We’ll explore the report’s findings, and how our changing climate could shape the inhabitability of the Front Range. We’ll also hear from artists who have used time away from performing to examine the safety and equity of their art. And, we speak with teachers from different school districts about how their schools are approaching the return to in-person classes this month.

Today on Colorado Edition: We learn how the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is taking action against a Weld County company accused of oil spills and gas leaks. Then, we shift our gaze towards the sky and learn about the annual Perseid meteor shower. Next, a climate reporter tells us what she’s learned from two different journeys down a dam just upstream of the Grand Canyon, 30 years apart. Plus, we hear how hiking 14ers can sometimes harm the very trails we rely on — and what one group is doing to mitigate the damage.

Today on Colorado Edition: As the concert scene heats back up, some Front Range clubs will require concertgoers to show proof of vaccination. We’ll explore what that will entail and how venues hope it will help them recover from last year’s pandemic slump. We talk with an Olympic gymnast from Colorado about his road to Tokyo, and how COVID-19 has impacted the games. We hear how the rafting industry has made a comeback, despite this summer’s mudslides and wildfires. And, we meet bumblebee-sniffing dog Darwin, trained to work with conservation experts to help increase our understanding of bees and other pollinators.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore the latest COVID-19 health and safety guidance and its influence on how school districts are envisioning the year ahead. We also hear about a team of homebuilders in Northern Colorado that's exploring shipping containers as an affordable housing solution. We’ll visit a class in Denver that’s teaching children about a newly popular, cutting-edge technology. And we investigate the consequences of how crime is reported, both by police departments and news organizations.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get the latest on rising cases of COVID-19 and learn how Colorado officials are trying to mitigate the spread. Then, we hear from a runner who is blind and his sighted guide as they embark on their longest trail race to date -- and learn what message they are trying to send with the ambitious feat. Plus, we hear about a “pulse flow” that reconnected the Colorado River to the Pacific Ocean as we say a temporary farewell to KUNC’s resident water reporter, Luke Runyon.

Today on Colorado Edition: After a federal moratorium on evictions expired over the weekend, we get an update on what will happen next with Colorado renters and landlords. We also hear about the Olympic debut of sport climbing, and the Colorado climbers who will be competing. Plus, we learn how the Americans with Disabilities Act has shaped outdoor places in the last 31 years. And, we visit the Wilderness on Wheels camp in Park County that has focused on accessibility in nature since the mid-1980s.

Today on Colorado Edition: We look back on the history of Black cowboys in the American West and how they helped shape what our state would become. And, we travel back to a time before Colorado was a state to hear the story of a man who successfully lobbied to delay statehood until African Americans received the right to vote. We’ll also revisit our conversation with the artist behind the trail maps found at ski resorts across the state. And KUNC’s film critic reviews a movie about the intelligence and emotions of trees.

Today on Colorado Edition: we learn about the uptick in health organizations requiring their employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and why these mandates are coming months after the onset of widespread vaccine availability. Then, we check in with Colorado local Flora Duffy, who recently won the first Olympic gold medal for her home country of Bermuda. Plus, with Colorado Day on the horizon, we meet the newest state historian and learn about her goals for the year ahead.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear how the pandemic has changed some students' college paths. We ride along with a co-responder team in Summit County to learn how they’re changing the way they respond to people in mental health crises. We talk with the head of the state’s new environmental justice unit about the work they’ll be doing. And, we hear how the wedding business is bouncing back in America’s wedding capital, Las Vegas.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear how monsoon patterns and thunderstorms contribute to flash floods, like the ones last week in Glenwood and Poudre Canyon. We also get an update on unidentified aerial phenomena spotted in Eastern Colorado last year. Plus, we explore how Colorado mountain towns are weathering a “perfect storm” of a housing crisis, worker shortages and waves of tourists. And, we learn the results of a study on a Denver program that gave people experiencing homelessness a permanent place to live and access to extensive social services.

Today on Colorado Edition: We learn how ozone pollution and wildfire smoke are impacting air quality throughout the state. We also hear about a recent report that examines how Colorado has changed since legalizing recreational marijuana. And we revisit a conversation with Dr. Melba Patillo Beals, a former journalist, author and one of the Little Rock Nine.

Today on Colorado Edition: We examine the connection between floods and landslides and burn scars left by previous wildfires, and we hear how the Poudre Canyon community is dealing with recent flooding. Then, we head up to Grand Lake to hear how residents are recovering from last year's wildfires. Plus, we hear about a recent assault on a journalist at our state Capitol, and how it fits into a trend of increasing violence toward journalists. Lastly, we learn more about a voluntary state program designed to increase carpooling and reduce air pollution.

Today on Colorado Edition: As parents, students, and staff get ready for the upcoming school year, some COVID-19 guidance for classrooms is yet to be determined. We hear the latest, and we explore how getting back to our favorite pre-pandemic activities is more difficult for those who are immunocompromised. We hear about the rise in non-police crisis response teams across the state, including in Denver, which just approved more funding for their program. And, we discuss the response to a new state law which bans the use of American Indian imagery in school mascots.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear how drought is pressuring the massive plumbing systems that divert water from the Colorado River to faraway communities. We also explore the results of a recent survey that asked 150 people experiencing homelessness in Denver to share their lived experiences and recommendations for more helpful policies. Plus, we learn how inflation across the country is impacting Coloradans, and we revisit a conversation with a record-breaking professional mountaineer.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear what new research reveals about the path for Colorado’s goal of 100% renewable energy by 2040. We also look back on the legacy of a public television music video showcase that first aired in Colorado in the 1980s. And, we learn how a Nederland town board agreement to recognize the rights of a body of water could allow for fewer legal battles, and more neighbor-to-neighbor conversations.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore how drought conditions in the West are affecting hydropower production at the county’s biggest dams – and how it could lead to increased electric bills. We also hear more about a Colorado program that’s screening babies for a rare and deadly genetic disease. We learn about Colorado Rockies star player Trevor Story, whose time with the team may be drawing to a close. And, we hear tips from Colorado business executives for finding the perfect camping site.