Shanna Lewis (she/her/hers) joined KRCC in 2021 as the Growth/General Assignment Reporter.
Professional Background:
Shanna joined KRCC after 15 years as an independent Southern Colorado based radio producer, journalist and photographer, regularly contributing to KRCC and CPR News, as well as NPR. Her freelance print and photography have been featured on NationalGeographic.com, The Denver Post, The National Post (Canada), High Country News, U.S. News and World Report and other publications. Shanna served on the board of directors for KLZR 91.7 FM, a community radio station in rural Colorado, for 15 years. She’s contributed to and collaborated on numerous award-winning broadcast, online and multimedia projects and is the recipient of multiple awards for reporting and photography.
Some of Shanna’s favorite stories that she’s reported, written and and produced for KRCC and CPR are:
New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Thursday shows Colorado’s population continuing to grow. The same is true for the southeastern part of the state. But there are nuances hidden in those metrics.
Cars, buses, bikes - all are part of a major update to a two decade old transportation plan in Colorado Springs. It delves into how people currently get around the city and how to contend with the challenges that come with growth.
Colorado Springs intends to create a dozen community plans to get viewpoints from people all over town. The process is an offshoot of the city’s comprehensive master plan, PlanCOS.
If the new rezoning application is approved, the proposed 2424 Garden of the Gods development on the city’s west side could have some 220 apartments, 100 townhomes and commercial uses.
Considered a Pueblo specialty, a slopper is a burger with a bun, often open face, drowned in green chile. Cheese, onions and French fries are often in the mix.
The project is aimed at two proposed services, Front Range Rail that would run from Fort Collins to Pueblo and an expansion of Amtrak’s long-distance Southwest Chief line that would possibly connect La Junta to Pueblo and Colorado Springs.
Colorado Springs City Council will again consider an ordinance next month that specifies if and when the city-owned utility can extend water service to new areas. It would affect future annexations of land into the city and potential new development.
Contaminated soil cleanup around homes in the Colorado Smelter Superfund site is expected to wrap up in 2024. Meanwhile work is underway to craft a new zoning ordinance to protect residents from any remaining toxic arsenic or lead.