July 14, 2025: Pettersen braces for impact of ‘Big Beautiful Bill;’ Decoding ancient sign language
Colorado Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen sees little value in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and is bracing for the impact on everything from healthcare to immigration. Plus, the “skinny’ Farm Bill continues to leave farmers and ranchers in limbo. Then, a Metro State anthropologist has discovered what may be the world’s oldest sign language. And finding harmony in the workplace.
One Big Beautiful Bill a ‘catastrophe’ for local communities, says Colorado Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen
Pettersen represents Colorado’s 7th Congressional District, including the western Denver metro area and central counties south and southwest of the metro area.
Acclaimed Colorado sci-fi author: Future stupider than I imagined
Paonia writer Paolo Bacigalupi reflects on 10 years since the publication of his climate thriller “The Water Knife.”
July 11, 2025: Hurd on ‘Big Beautiful Bill,’ from rural hospitals to immigration; ‘The Water Knife’ proves prophetic
Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd answers questions about how the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” now federal law, will affect people in Grand Junction, Pueblo, and more rural parts of his district. Plus, his high hopes for new drilling and border security under ICE. Then, author Paolo Bacigalupi marks a 10-year milestone with “The Water Knife” which has proven more accurate than he hoped. Plus, drought and demand are tapping aquifers in Southeastern Colorado, where tens of thousands of people rely on well water. And a Grand Junction baseball team adopts a rare alter ego.
Rep. Jeff Hurd on Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill: ‘It’s not perfect’ but positives win out
The freshman Republican Congressman discussed impacts on energy, healthcare and immigration enforcement.
‘Miracle’ small-town theater company marks 60th summer season as federal cuts hit
In an out-of-the-way former silver mining town, Creede Repertory Theatre has proven itself gritty enough to thrive.
July 9, 2025: 60 years of theater in Creede amid funding cuts; Healthcare impact of ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’
As the Creede Repertory Theatre celebrates a milestone — 60 years of performances — it grapples with federal funding cuts to the arts. We also breakdown how the “One Big Beautiful Bill” may impact healthcare in Colorado including Medicaid. Then, what to do about the Emerald Ash Borer, a tiny green beetle that’s killing trees along the Front Range. And, an arctic adventurer from Carbondale shares his first-hand view of climate change at the top of the world.
July 7, 2025: Leaving light pollution in the dark to discover the stars in the sky
Eighty percent of the world’s population can’t see the Milky Way. Light pollution interferes. Author and adventurer Craig Childs, of Norwood, Colorado, writes about a trek from light to dark in his new book. “The Wild Dark” takes readers from the incandescence of Las Vegas to the spangled skies of rural Nevada. Childs spoke with Sr. Host Ryan Warner at the Mountain Words Festival in Crested Butte in May.
Look inside Creede, Colorado’s ‘underground fire department’
It’s the world’s only — built out of necessity.
July 4, 2025: For the Fourth of July, bald eagles, buffalo, Johnny Appleseed, and America the Beautiful
Happy Fourth of July! Today, how the bald eagle finally became the nation’s bird after nearly 250 years and the return of the bison to Colorado. Plus, a Fort Collins horticulturalist is preserving the legacy tree of Johnny Appleseed, and the Colorado inspiration for “America the Beautiful.”
A whiskey that tastes like the San Luis Valley and benefits the Rio Grande
We take you to church… whiskey church at Law’s Whiskey House. The Denver distillery, co-founded by Al Laws, has released a special edition made with San Luis Valley rye and Rio Grande river water. Meet brothers Jason and Joshua Cody who grow and malt the grain. Proceeds from Rio Grande Rye benefit river conservation.
July 2, 2025: Traffic and history collide at this Colorado Springs intersection; Whiskey with a purpose
At the most recognizable intersection in Colorado Springs, where crashes have been frequent, a statue of a man on a horse will remain. So will people’s strong feelings. Then, two brothers who never imagined they’d be farming rye for whiskey. Plus, the Sky Sox are back in Colorado Springs, at least for now. Later, a meaningful hike along Fountain Creek with author Jim O’Donnell. Also, Colorado College’s new president, a callout to federal workers and potential new spots for immigrant detention.
June 30, 2025: Water problems in West go deeper than Colorado River; Asian chefs in Presidential history
Water problems in the West go deeper than the Colorado River. Beyond reservoir levels, diminishing groundwater is now an important consideration according to new research. Then, Denver’s “soul food scholar” delves into the history of Asian chefs who served US presidents, often on the high seas.
From chow mein to corn fritters: A history of Asian chefs who served US presidents
This story starts with the discovery of a rare cookbook in a Denver library. It ends with the publication of “Cooking to the President’s Taste: Asian Heritage Chefs in White House History.” Denver’s “Soul Food Scholar” Adrian Miller and his co-author Chef Deborah Chang share this culinary and US history.
June 27, 2025: AG Weiser on birthright citizenship ruling; Challenges facing conservation under Trump
With Colorado’s attorney general, we decipher an important Supreme Court ruling today related to birthright citizenship. Then, we take the pulse of conservation under President Trump with Salida journalist Ben Goldfarb. Later, we sit down with the CEO of Colorado’s hometown burger chain, Good Times. Thank goodness we had napkins. And new music from Arvada artist Holly Lovell, who was recently featured in the Local 303.
‘Haphazard’ and ‘dangerous’: Colorado AG talks Supreme Court ruling that affects birthright citizenship
A lengthy opinion issued Friday presents more questions than answers.
