Joe Wertz | Colorado Public Radio

Joe Wertz

Climate Editor

Joe Wertz is the climate and environment editor at CPR News.

Professional Background: Joe joined CPR in 2020 after working as a senior investigative climate and environment reporter at the Center for Public Integrity. He previously worked as a managing editor and senior reporter at StateImpact Oklahoma, a journalism collaboration of public radio stations in Oklahoma, where he covered environment and energy issues for NPR audiences and other national outlets.

His work includes leading coverage of his home state’s oil- and gas-linked earthquake surge and the state’s plodding regulatory response, Scott Pruitt’s rise and fall at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and national reporting on drilling, renewable energy, agriculture, pollution and climate change. Joe also teaches a university course on data journalism and has worked as an editor and staff reporter at several major newspapers in Oklahoma.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma, emphasis on journalism.

Environment
Icy weather, slick roads and more snow expected for much of Colorado today
The weather forecast shows high snowfall across the state, as well as increased avalanche warnings in the high country.
By Allison Sherry and Joe Wertz
News
Sheriff’s office says the Marshall fire investigation could be completed in early 2023
The probe into the cause of the wildfire is considering sources ranging from lightning, fireworks and campfires to underground coal mine fires, burning debris and sparks from electrical equipment.
By Joe Wertz
Environment
Wildfire burning near Fort Collins contained; all evacuations lifted
No injuries or major damage has been reported, but the County Road 21 wildfire burning near Fort Collins led to evacuations and is generating periods of heavy smoke, which spurred state health officials to issue an air quality alert.
By Joe Wertz
Environment
Colorado’s monsoon season is over. Summer rains were ‘hit and miss,’ and a warm, dry fall could be ahead
Veronica Penney/CPR News Colorado had a “hit and miss” monsoon season despite summer rainstorms that brought periods of intense rainfall and flash flooding to parts of the state, said Zach Hiris, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Boulder office.
By Joe Wertz
Environment
Ethylene oxide emissions from Lakewood plant could pose long-term risks to residents, says EPA. What does that mean?
In a statement, Terumo BCT said the plant is “extremely diligent” in its use of the toxic compound.
By Joe Wertz
Colorado Matters
Looking for answers, learning lessons six months after the Marshall Fire
Two people died, and more than 1,100 homes and other buildings were destroyed in the Marshall Fire, which hit neighborhoods in Louisville and Superior. Following the most devastating fire in Colorado history, investigators still haven't specified a cause, but say they've learned a number of lessons from the blaze.
By Joe Wertz
Environment
Investigators say Colorado wildfire sparked by Forest Service, fueling more public fallout over controlled burns in the West
The Forest Service started the planned burning on May 16 on agency-managed land near Montrose. The resulting Simms wildfire spread rapidly through dry brush, grass and forested areas and burned about half a square mile of federal and private land.
By Joe Wertz
News
Two workers pronounced dead after being trapped in a coal pile at Pueblo power station
Rescue crews were called to the site at 8:30 a.m. to search for the two workers trapped under an 80-foot pile of coal.
By Abigail Beckman, Joe Wertz, Alejandro A. Alonso Galva, and Tony Gorman
Environment
As Colorado wildfire season heats up, low pay and slow reforms could spell staffing trouble for federal firefighting efforts
Colorado’s wildfire season is now 78 days longer than it was in the 1970s, and the state is just now entering its predicted peak fire season.
By Joe Wertz
News
Colorado wildfires: Multiple wildfires in Colorado Springs spur evacuations, burn 8 structures at a mobile home park
A grass fire near the 6700 block of Ackerman Drive in Colorado Springs started around noon.
By Matt Bloom, Joe Wertz, Dan Boyce, and Abigail Beckman
Climate Change
Air quality, wildfires and building codes: Here are the climate bills headed to Gov. Jared Polis’s desk
And the bills that didn't get passed.
By Sam Brasch, Joe Wertz, and Michael Elizabeth Sakas
Environment
Fire officials want to create a powerful new body to enforce statewide wildfire building standards
The proposed wildfire code board would have wide-ranging authority over construction, remodels and land development in many of Colorado’s most populated areas.
By Joe Wertz
Environment
Colorado weather: Fire danger extremely high due to hot, dry and very windy conditions
There's a rare warning of “extremely critical” fire weather across 16 counties in northeastern Colorado.
By Joe Wertz and Miguel Otárola
News
Colorado Wildfires: Evacuation orders lifted in Boulder County, homes burn in Monte Vista
Residents are being evacuated from homes and businesses in Monte Vista in the San Luis Valley due to a wildfire burning near the city, local officials said.
By Joe Wertz and Alejandro A. Alonso Galva
Climate Change
New UN climate report says the world has a brief window to avoid a deadlier climate future. Here’s what’s at stake in Colorado
More wildfires, longer droughts and decreasing water supplies are all on the line.
By Joe Wertz
Environment
We now know lightning didn’t spark the Marshall fire, but not much else is publicly known about the investigation
Investigators are actively focused on three explanations: downed power lines, human activity, and underground coal fires.
By Joe Wertz and Veronica Penney

Icy weather, slick roads and more snow expected for much of Colorado today

Sheriff’s office says the Marshall fire investigation could be completed in early 2023

Wildfire burning near Fort Collins contained; all evacuations lifted

Colorado’s monsoon season is over. Summer rains were ‘hit and miss,’ and a warm, dry fall could be ahead

Ethylene oxide emissions from Lakewood plant could pose long-term risks to residents, says EPA. What does that mean?

Looking for answers, learning lessons six months after the Marshall Fire

Investigators say Colorado wildfire sparked by Forest Service, fueling more public fallout over controlled burns in the West

Two workers pronounced dead after being trapped in a coal pile at Pueblo power station

As Colorado wildfire season heats up, low pay and slow reforms could spell staffing trouble for federal firefighting efforts

Colorado wildfires: Multiple wildfires in Colorado Springs spur evacuations, burn 8 structures at a mobile home park

Air quality, wildfires and building codes: Here are the climate bills headed to Gov. Jared Polis’s desk

Fire officials want to create a powerful new body to enforce statewide wildfire building standards

Colorado weather: Fire danger extremely high due to hot, dry and very windy conditions

Colorado Wildfires: Evacuation orders lifted in Boulder County, homes burn in Monte Vista

New UN climate report says the world has a brief window to avoid a deadlier climate future. Here’s what’s at stake in Colorado

We now know lightning didn’t spark the Marshall fire, but not much else is publicly known about the investigation

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