Kunc's Colorado Edition

Today on Colorado Edition: We’ll get the latest on how Colorado’s congressional districts are set to change as an independent commission redraws districts based on numbers from the 2020 census. We’ll also remember the life and legacy of former NFL wide receiver Vincent Jackson, and look back at his time as a football player in his home state of Colorado. Plus, we hear about an annual art exhibit involving Lakewood’s internationally-known Casa Bonita restaurant.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore the history and contributions of Black cowboys in the West, and how Black cowboy culture lives on in rodeos today. We’ll also revisit a conversation with Denver-based artist Narkita Gold about her project Black In Denver, and we get the story behind a historic baseball tournament in Colorado, later dubbed “The Little World Series of the West.”

Today on Colorado Edition: We speak with Elijah McClain’s mother, Sheneen, about her son and the recent independent investigation into his death in Aurora. We’ll also get more details about an investigation into coronavirus safety measures in the country’s largest meatpacking plants, including JBS USA in Greeley, which was launched this week by federal lawmakers. Lastly, we check in on basketball at the University of Northern Colorado, which is back to playing games following a recent COVID-19 outbreak.

On today’s Colorado Edition: Whether students should take standardized tests or not during a pandemic is a thorny issue. We explore how state lawmakers are handling that and other education-related matters. We also look back in time to see how the state legislature handled the 1918 flu pandemic at the Capitol building. We’ll learn how the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library documents and displays Black history of Colorado and the American West. And, we hear from a Burmese community organizer in Colorado about his hopes and fears around the political situation in Myanmar.

Today on Colorado Edition: We examine Colorado’s existing power grid and winter contingency plans to see whether a large-scale failure could be possible here. We’ll also hear how Larimer County’s reserve officers training program is addressing growing mental health issues among its ranks. Plus, we hear from Front Range Community College’s new executive director of equity and inclusion about the issues in the current system and what it will take to change them. And we hear a report on food insecurity in the Mountain West region.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear more about one lawmaker’s push to ban or rein-in paramedic’s use of ketamine, following the death of Elijah McClain, and more than 900 other ketamine sedations in the state. We’ll also visit a church in Aurora that’s trying to close the gaps in vaccine distribution. We’ll also speak with a local activist about the last year of protests, where she occasionally tended to protesters in Denver as a street medic, and we’ll hear a review of the new film Minari.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get the latest from Wednesday’s state of the state address by Gov. Jared Polis. We’ll also take a look at where the state is at in its economic recovery. Plus, we’ll learn more about how Colorado is moving forward in helping victims of recent unemployment fraud, and we hear about the Equal Justice Initiative, which works with community organizations throughout the country to help resurface the lost stories of lynchings.

On today’s Colorado Edition: We’ll learn about the state’s efforts to boost the number of adults pursuing higher education to help meet modern workforce demands. And we’ll hear from the president of Metropolitan State University of Denver, who’s working to close a funding shortfall for some higher education institutions. We’ll explore how one Colorado school district is using Indigenous identity and culture to stop drug use among teenagers. And, we’ll meet Time Magazine’s first-ever Kid of the Year, Gitanjali Rao.

Today on Colorado Edition: As we approach a year of COVID-19 in Colorado, we explore the ins and outs of pandemic fatigue. We’ll also learn more about recent drug overdose data, which shows overdose deaths in Colorado more than doubled in 2020 from the year before. Plus, we’ll look into Greeley’s interest in – and the opposition to – the Terry Ranch project, which would provide a new water source for the city. And we get a lesson in baseball history from the president of the Negro League Baseball Museum.

In this podcast exclusive, we feature an extended interview with Dr. Melba Pattillo Beals, one of nine African American students who in 1957, integrated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dr. Beals discusses how her life has been shaped by her experiences as one of the Little Rock Nine, the role of youth activism in addressing racial issues in the U.S., and the current age of misinformation. Our conversation with Dr. Beals first aired on February 9, 2021.

As districts work to get educators vaccinated, schools across northern Colorado are slowly welcoming back students for full-time, in-person instruction. We’ll talk with two teachers about what it’s like getting back to the classroom during the pandemic. We’ll hear about the unexpected flood of betting on an unlikely sport: table tennis. We talk with artist Narkita Gold about her project highlighting Denver’s growing Black community. And we’ll hear a review of the new movie Supernova.

Today on Colorado Edition: We speak to a professor who is using the second impeachment of Donald Trump as a learning opportunity about American democracy. We’ll also hear about the successes and shortcomings of co-responder models in law enforcement, which entails sending mental health professionals on emergency calls along with police officers. Plus we’ll check in on the wolf reintroduction process, which Coloradans voted in favor of last November. And we hear about a new comedy club opening in Fort Collins.

On today’s Colorado Edition: As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out across the state, health experts are noting disparities in communities of color. We’ll hear about the work of a statewide vaccine equity task force, and a group in the Roaring Fork Valley, working to change that by broadening the message around the safety of the vaccines. And we’ll hear from Dr. Melba Patillo Beals, one of the members of the Little Rock Nine, about her experience integrating Central High School in 1957 and the ongoing fight against racism today.

Today on Colorado Edition: At least two variants of COVID-19 have been discovered in Colorado, originating from the United Kingdom and South Africa respectively. We speak to the state’s leading disease expert about the variants and what it means for our state’s fight against the virus. We also learn about the regional origins of right-wing group federal officials says took part in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Plus, we get the latest on avalanche danger following the deadliest week for avalanche deaths in the U.S. in more than a century. We’ll also hear the story of one of Colorado’s most famous dinosaurs.

Today on Colorado Edition: Because of the pandemic, an annual survey of people experiencing homelessness has been called off. We get a closer look at what that means for advocates who rely on the data. We'll also hear from former members of law enforcement about how they are approaching the issue of police violence. We dig into the recent trade of Rockies star player Nolan Arenado, and what it means for fans of the team. And we get a glimpse into life in the Yampa Valley from our My Colorado essay collection.

Today on Colorado Edition: With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Routt County, we hear from their public health director about what’s leading to the increase in cases. We’ll also hear about the COVID-19 research that could be used in the future to help fight other diseases. Plus, we visit a Western town where some activists say police are getting things right, and we hear about a new museum here in the state that lets you get close with things that go bump in the night.

On today’s Colorado Edition: We look at the long, bumpy road to getting essential workers, such as those in grocery stores, factories and food production plants vaccinated against COVID-19. We explore data that shows Indigenous people in the Mountain West are much more likely than whites to be killed in encounters with police. We analyze current drought conditions in the Colorado River basin, and we’ll hear how the pandemic may be spurring school districts across the state to finally update their aging ventilation systems.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get an update from the mass vaccine drive held over the weekend and look at how the model might be expanded to other parts of the state. We’ll also learn about the creative solutions local health officials are coming up with in rural communities in order to get around vaccine distribution bottlenecks. Plus, we’ll get an update on a program in Longmont that provides safe parking for people who live in their car, and we’ll hear the first part in a series on police violence across our region.

Today on Colorado Edition: We hear about vaccine distribution among Colorado nursing home and assisted living facility staff, some of whom are choosing to skip the vaccine. We’ll also explore the mental health challenges facing first responders in northern Colorado. And, KUNC’s film critic reviews Simon Stone’s 2021 film The Dig.

Today on Colorado Edition: We explore what impact the Biden administration’s recent executive actions will have on Colorado’s energy industry. Plus, we learn more about a map that highlights pollution disparities in our state. We’ll also hear from a team of recent MBA graduates who are taking a different approach to banking, and we’ll look at how some businesses are viewing the year ahead.