Sam Brasch | Colorado Public Radio

Sam Brasch

Climate / Environment Reporter

Sam Brasch covers the state legislature for Colorado Public Radio. Sam came to CPR in 2015 as the recipient of the organization’s first news fellowship.

Education:
Bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy, Colorado College.

Professional background:
Sam came to Colorado Public Radio in 2015 as the recipient of the organization’s first news fellowship. The year-long position allowed him to hone his journalistic skills working alongside CPR reporters, producers and editors.

Following his fellowship, Sam was awarded an 11-Hour Food and Farming Journalism Fellowship from the University of California Berkeley where we worked with mentors like Michael Pollan to produce a radio documentary on kosher slaughter practices.

Sam rejoined Colorado Public Radio in 2016 as a contract reporter where he filled in for newscasts, reported on the state legislature and supported long-term feature stories and interviews for “Colorado Matters.”

Before his career in broadcast journalism, Sam worked for Modern Farmer Magazine where he wrote articles on goat towers and lambie jammies, and promoted the magazine’s work on social media.

Money
Why The North Face Led An Advertiser Revolt Against Facebook
The outdoor apparel brand was one of the first to join the Stop Hate For Profit campaign against the social media giant.
By Sam Brasch
Why Colorado-Based ‘The North Face’ Joined The ‘Stop Hate For Profit’ Campaign
By Sam Brasch
Climate Change
Activist Lawsuit Alleges Gov. Polis Isn’t Moving Quickly Enough On Climate Change
The complaint alleges July 1, 2020 was the legal deadline to propose rules to meet the state's ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals.
By Sam Brasch
Denver’s New Climate Action Vision Could Lead To A Very Different Denver
More buses, bike lanes and energy-efficient buildings — paid for with higher parking prices and maybe a sales tax — would come alongside more walkable places, according to the city’s latest climate guide for the future.
By Sam Brasch and Nathaniel Minor
Life and Culture
The Vail Valley Is Open For Business. Just Bring Your Mask
The coronavirus is not keeping tourists away from Colorado’s Vail Valley.
By Sam Brasch
Environment
EPA, Colorado Sue Kerr-McGee Over Leak Detection And Repair In Weld County
The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
By Sarah Mulholland and Sam Brasch
Health
How One Young Colorado Woman Copes With The Mental Hardships Of The Pandemic
While the ongoing pandemic has caused distress, it’s also cut off the main ways people tend to cope.
By Sam Brasch
2020 Elections
Coloradans Could See An Anti-Fracking Measure On Their 2020 Ballots After All
Colorado Rising announced it would not collect signatures to put a drilling setbacks measure on Colorado’s 2020 ballot, but two anti-fracking activists are blazing ahead.
By Sam Brasch
Health
Families Hold Vigil For Inmates Inside Colorado’s Largest Prison, Home To The State’s Biggest Coronavirus Outbreak
Outbreaks inside Colorado’s prisons and jails have continued to grow. In the Sterling Correctional Facility, 561 inmates have tested positive for the virus.
By Sam Brasch
Health
Colorado Is Seriously Beefing Up Coronavirus Contact Tracing With The Help Of Americorps
Gov. Jared Polis said 800 members of the Americorps and Senior Corps would join the state’s efforts to monitor the disease as Colorado begins to reopen more public spaces.
By Sam Brasch
Government and Politics
Polis Praises Denver Protesters’ ‘Acts Of Goodwill’ In First Public Address Since Demonstrations Began
Polis condemns the alleged murder of George Floyd as "brutal" and "inhumane." He said he look forward to working with people to address widespread inequities.
By Sam Brasch
Health
Colorado Scientists Warn Of A Second, Bigger Coronavirus Peak
As Gov. Jared Polis extends the state's safer-at-home order, public health officials say high levels of social distancing will be necessary for months to come.
By Sam Brasch
At a Distance
Let’s Get Together
What does the pandemic mean for summer soirees and backyard barbecues? May and Sam look for answers by dreaming up a socially distanced party of their own.
By May Ortega and Sam Brasch
At a Distance
This Has Happened Before: Lessons From The 1918 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult, but it’s hardly unprecedented. In 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic sickened or killed millions around the globe. In this episode, we look at the lessons of the 1918 pandemic.
By May Ortega and Sam Brasch
Health
Some States Have Big, Public Goals to Hire Contact Tracers. Why Not Colorado?
Around the world, contact tracers have helped some countries slow the spread of the coronavirus. But in Colorado, contact tracing has been rare.
By Sam Brasch
At a Distance
Feeling Uncertain Right Now? Here’s How To Handle It
The lack of scientific clarity around COVID-19 has offered a perfect opening for conspiracy theories. But accepting a certain level of uncertainty around the pandemic can help people resist easy answers and, over time, inch closer to the truth.