Could the once-thriving town of Dearfield become a national park?
In the early 1900s the little farming community of Dearfield on the plains east of Denver embodied the dreams of the Black people who homesteaded there. Now, U.S. representatives Joe Neguse, who’s a Democrat, and Ken Buck, a Republican, are co-sponsoring a bill to explore making the town site a national park.
James Webb Space Telescope reaches its final destination a million miles away from Earth
SA’s $10 billion mission that could transform our knowledge of the universe achieved a critical milestone this week. The James Webb Space Telescope reached its final destination and entered into an orbit around the sun. The telescope is now about a million miles away from Earth. It launched into space a month ago. That’s when we spoke with Makenzie Lystrup about the mission. She’s an astrophysicist from Colorado-based Ball Aerospace, which built the telescope’s unique optical system.
Tremaine Jackson reflects on coaching, racism, and social justice
He was the first Black head football coach at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. And after just two successful seasons, Coach Tremaine Jackson is moving on. His tenure coincided both with the pandemic and the protests over police brutality — issues that made it into locker rooms and onto playing fields. Jackson is moving on to Valdosta State in Georgia. He spoke with Nathan Heffel from his new home there to reflect on his time on the Western Slope.
Denver Mayor Hancock on affordable housing, public safety & the pandemic
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is in Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He’s meeting with other city leaders to discuss a wide range of ideas, from the pandemic to public safety to affordable housing.
Purplish explores what’s ahead when the legislature returns
It’s beginning to look a lot like… politics. With the Colorado state legislature set to return on January 12, the Purplish team takes a look at what lies ahead.
Understanding 1993’s ‘Summer of Violence’ and how it influenced criminal justice
It was dubbed “the summer of violence.” A period in 1993 when there were several high profile killings in Denver. It led lawmakers to pass harsher punishments for juveniles. But in The New Republic, education reporter LynNell Hancock writes that there was mass hysteria, rather than mass violence.
‘Triggers’ explores life’s challenges when decisions can mean life or death
The new mini-movie, “Triggers” kicks off a weekend of community outreach and conversation in Denver and Aurora. Halim Ali is executive director and president of the non-profit, “From the Heart Foundation.” He’s also one of the organizers of the “Youth Gun Violence Awareness and Suicide Prevention Wellness Weekend” which will engage adults and youth, especially young men, “to know that it’s okay not to be okay, that it’s okay to seek help … that it’s all right to say that they’re hurting before they take a step in the wrong direction where there is no coming back from.”
What are monoclonal antibodies and how do they treat COVID-19?
A lot remains elusive about COVID-19 including what to expect from the new Omicron variant. But a few things scientists do know: the vaccine offers the best protection yet against the virus and severe illness. And, more recently, that monoclonal antibodies help prevent people with COVID from getting very sick.
Helping search and rescue crews deal with their own stress and trauma
We think of backcountry rescuers as the toughest of the tough; volunteers who save, or recover, people after avalanches, falls, crashes and other calamities. But the mental toll of responding to disaster after disaster means these rescuers sometimes need help themselves. A new state law has created a rescuer support program, which will eventually be available to teams across Colorado. Summit County’s busy search and rescue operation is part of the pilot program. Aaron Parmet is the medical officer there. He joined us from Keystone.
Audio recordings offer insight into NRA strategizing after Columbine
The National Rifle Association has long held a position that after mass shootings the gun debate which usually follows is about politics, not public safety. We now know that messaging first took shape after 12 students and a teacher were killed at Columbine High School in 1999. NPR investigative correspondent Tim Mak obtained never-before-made-public recordings among NRA leadership as they strategized a response to the attack the next day.
Colorado’s working to welcome back international and business travelers
The pandemic hit the tourism industry hard in Colorado. Travel spending was down 36 percent last year but there’s renewed hope heading into the winter ski season. Tim Wolfe is the new director of the Colorado Tourism Office. He talks about efforts to attract international travelers back to the state, along with business travelers. We also ask about travel equity and sustainable tourism.
Gen. Colin Powell reflects on leadership and lessons learned with the Aspen Institute
General Colin Powell was known as the “favorite of presidents,” a military leader and the first Black U.S. Secretary of State. He died Monday at age 84. Powell’s being remembered as an American hero who put country first. In 2012, General Powell spoke with Walter Isaacson in front of an audience at The Aspen Institute. They talked about his book, “It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership.”
Returning ill-gotten art and artifacts
Returning art to its original and rightful owners is a huge discussion these days in the larger context of colonialism and conquest. And it’s something associate history professor at the University of Denver, Elizabeth Campbell, has dedicated a career to. She directs DU’s Center for Art Collection Ethics.
The Process To Create A New Public Health Department In Douglas County
A school mask mandate has led Douglas County to split from the Tri-County Health Department and to form its own health department. Elliott Wenzler is a reporter for Colorado Community Media and covers Douglas County. She explains what led to this point and what happens next.
‘A Climate Scientist’s Case For Hope And Healing In A Divided World’
When she talks about climate change, scientist Katharine Hayhoe has a powerful tool: Her faith. Hayhoe is an evangelical Christian and directs The Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. On Tuesday, her new book comes out: “Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World.” We spoke in 2018 when she was in Colorado to work with researchers here.
A Castle Of Cans Holds Special Connection For Its Creator
There’s a proverb that one mans’ trash is another man’s treasure. That might be true for a unique home in Antonito. It’s known as Cano’s Castle. It’s covered in old hub caps, aluminum cans, and other scrap metal and objects. Denverite’s Kevin Beaty stopped by and talked with its “king,” Dominic “Cano” Espinoza.
