Shining a Light on the Stories and Sounds of 2025
A snapshot of the joyful, difficult and deeply human stories and sounds of 2025, curated by Colorado Public Radio's staff, reporters and hosts
This feature was created by our marketing and promotions department at Colorado Public Radio, which is solely responsible for the content. CPR News editors and reporters were not involved in its creation and no editorial judgment should be inferred.
Colorado’s Indigenous Land Back Movement
This audio documentary looks into the past, present and future of Colorado's tribal population. The story took reporter Paolo Zialcita one year to produce, alongside Rachel Estabrook and Hart Van Denburg. Reporting led the team all across Colorado, from the Platte River in Denver to multiple parts of Boulder County and into the Eastern Plains.
"At a time when much of the United States isn't interested in reckoning with the past, much less acknowledging it, this documentary asks listeners to open their minds to a forgotten history. It documents a pivotal moment of Colorado's Indigenous history; a moment, I am sure, that will be looked back on as a turning point for the state's tribal citizens as the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribe plots its monumental return to Colorado."
- Paolo Zialcita, Reporter
What we saw from inside ICE’s raid at Aurora’s Edge apartments
Denverite documented an immigration raid in Aurora, staying with residents through the night. Reporter and photographer Kevin J. Beaty shared scenes and stories from The Edge at Lowry, the apartment complex at the center of a Venezuelan gang scare last summer that rocketed the metro area into international headlines.
"This story shows the power of in-person reporting, deep source building, beautiful writing and photography, and local relevance. This is the best reporting I've seen coming out of the immigration beat and rivals anything, nationally, that I've read."
- Kyle Harris, Denverite Senior Reporter
(Photos by Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Jocelyn's daughter watches a dubbed Disney movie in their Aurora apartment, in the early hours of Feb. 5, 2025. 
Charles, an immigrant from Venezuela, sits on his bed in Aurora's Edge at Lowry apartments, tearing up as he talks about his wife and young daughter, who've been stuck in Mexico for two months. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite) 
Daniela, an immigrant from Venezuela, embraces her daughter in their apartment in Aurora's Edge at Lowry complex. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)
Connecting Colorado and sharing your stories, from big rigs to secret escapes
Why a Grand Junction food bank opened a restaurant
What we saw at Red Feather Lakes — Colorado’s ‘best-kept secret’
‘This can be the worst drive of your life’: A truck driver’s reality on I-70 in winter
UFO Watchtower in the San Luis Valley famous for a horse skeleton and vortexes celebrates 25 years of aliens
"Sometimes, the stories that stay with you the longest aren't the most serious, hard-hitting or investigative. Sometimes, it's stories that introduce us to truly compelling individuals. At the beginning of the new millennium, San Luis Valley resident Judy Messoline turned hard times at her family ranch operation into an opportunity for some creative entrepreneurship. Taking what she initially considered a joke of an idea and running with it, she created the UFO Watchtower. 25 years later, it remains one of the San Luis Valley's quirkiest tourist attractions. Along the way, it made her a believer in the paranormal."
- Dan Boyce, Southern Colorado Reporter
Ceremonial sunrise blessing atop Pikes Peak to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, unveil plaques
As dawn emerged, tribal nations gave a special ceremonial blessing on top of Pikes Peak — one of the few times the city opens the summit before sunrise. It's the third year for the Indigenous Peoples Day Sunrise Celebration and according to the city of Colorado Springs, it was also the largest.
"Southern Colorado has such a rich cultural backdrop, and it's so critical to recognize and witness testaments to those truths. I felt honored, humbled, and nervous to tell even a small kernel of this story."
- Andrea Chalfin, KRCC Managing Editor
Indieverse Interview: Dead Pioneers’ Frontman on PO$T AMERICAN, Art, and Opening for Pearl Jam
From Alisha Sweeney, Indie 102.3 Local Music Director and Host:
"This year we threw our very first music festival, Indieverse, and we were able to book local talent alongside national bands to perform at our end-of-summer concert!
I was excited when we got Dead Pioneers to join the lineup as they have been touring all over this year as they continue to grow their audience beyond Colorado.
In 2021 we were the first radio station to play the music of Dead Pioneers, fronted by North American Indigenous vocalist Gregg Deal. It was a demo of their song "Bad Indian" and now their music is being played across the Americas, Europe and beyond!
In my in-depth audio interview you can hear the origin story of the band, and how they were discovered and then invited by Pearl Jam to go on tour with them!"
Indie 102.3 staff at the inaugural Indieverse music festival on Sept. 13, 2025 at Levitt Pavilion in Denver. 
OK Go’s Damian Kulash stands atop the stage barricade and greets fans as confetti rains down at Indieverse. 
Indie 102.3's Alisha Sweeney signs an Indieverse poster for an Indie Insider during a VIP backstage event.
Comfort and connection through classical music
Earlier this year, CPR Classical Host Karla Walker received this email:
"Hello Karla!
- Terrie and Virginia
My friend, Virginia and I listen to the Music Room every morning, right after she has her coffee. She is 102 and loves the themes you come up with. We would like to request 'sunshine' as a theme. She loves the light! Thank you for your consideration."
Karla was happy to oblige Virginia's request. After a bit of back and forth, she created a two-part theme in the Music Room. The first day was "Sunrise," and the second day was "Sunset."
After the themes aired, Karla received this note:
"Karla, the smile on Virginia’s face is so worth it! She is enjoying this immensely. I know how hard it is to be long distance from an aging parent. I will keep you and your mom in my thoughts. You have been wonderful with all of this. Thank you so very much for making Virginia’s days!"
- Terrie
It's an honor to share the joy of classical music with our listeners each and every day. Connecting with our listeners through the music we love is the best part of our jobs here at CPR.
"Music is a powerful force in our lives and can be a comforting companion when we need it most. I'm delighted that Virginia listens and finds pleasure in what CPR Classical provides every day."
Karla Walker, Classical Host
Local students record their very own Colorado Postcard
When the 5th grade class of Escuela de Guadalupe in Denver came to record their Colorado Postcard, the CPR team wanted to make sure they walked away feeling empowered to be the future of public radio, and so we also invited Colorado Today Host Arlo Pérez Esquivel to come share his story with them. As the photo below shows, they were duly impressed.
"The expansion of the Colorado Postcards effort into schools is one of the main ways this project gets better and better. In my book, there is no more authentic voice than a elementary school student's. Another plus of this particular collaboration: one of the student's parents told us listening to CPR helped him hone his English skills after he came to this country."
- Jon Pinnow, Senior Producer
(Photo: Jose A. Gutierrez, left, of Texas, and Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales of Colorado, stand before the La Raza Unida Party national convention in El Paso, Texas, Sept. 4, 1972. Fred Kaufman/AP)
Looming cuts to Medicaid would shake entire San Luis Valley health care system — and its economy
"I've covered the health beat for a while, more than a decade now, and this story, more than any other I've done, captures how critical healthcare, and the people and places that provide it, is to the fabric of life in Colorado. It was great to take this road trip down to the San Luis Valley with Hart Van Denburg, who is retiring from CPR. It's always fun and meaningful to share a long car ride, some good laughs and a good meal or two with Hart, who has given so much to CPR. He's is always game for going the extra mile for one more extraordinary image/bit of audio."
- John Daley, Health Reporter
In-depth and independent reporting on the issues, stories and voices of Colorado
The Battle of Iwo Jima, through the eyes of a US Marine who lived it
Denver is at the center of a viral national fight over surveillance
Denver led Colorado in a 30-year journey to protect immigrants. Here’s how it happened
From all of us at CPR, thank you for your support.
Our listeners, members and neighbors fuel the work we're honored to do. We hope you enjoyed this snapshot of the moments we thought shined in 2025. We're looking forward to another year of stories, sounds and moments that show the power of public.