Colorado Matters

Teachers in Colorado are chronically tired, underpaid, and leaving the classroom in record numbers. A new report from the Colorado Education Association shows the situation is more complicated now because of directives handed down by the Trump administration and new conditions in the classroom. Then, how climate change is shaping some students in Boulder. Plus, as the New Year starts, rethinking sustainability through the clothes we buy. Also, cattle ranchers navigate the hard realities of supply and demand at the Stock Show. Later, restoring the Governor’s office to its original grandeur, a chance to get organized, and creating tactile photography.

In his final year as governor, Jared Polis says he wants to “lean into the value of mercy.” Would that apply to imprisoned former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters? In an interview after his final State of the State address, we also discuss housing, healthcare, coal, and why Polis hasn’t read the Epstein Files. Then, why the Broncos just might pull off on Saturday what they failed to do last post-season against Buffalo. And, rodeo as… diplomacy? Ahead of Canada Night at The National Western Stock Show, we speak with a bull fighter-turned-producer from Alberta.

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters gets her proverbial day in the Colorado Court of Appeals. We’ll break down the oral arguments and what happens now. Then, Denver’s annual Marade marks a milestone this year, and organizers say Dr. King would see it as a fitting tribute. How the event to honor the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to be, how it got its unique name, and what it took to make it a state, and ultimately federal, holiday. Plus, how AI is helping train Colorado teachers and how students are using it in the classroom.

One year into President Donald Trump’s second term, he continues to break democratic norms. In our series, “If You Can Keep It,” University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket provides context as the president intensifies his punishment of Colorado. Plus, Mary Jane turns 50! Also, a Denver man finds hope with a new program to help break the cycle of addiction. And a food bank café takes an innovative approach to hunger and nutrition in Grand Junction.

It’s a common New Year’s resolution to start exercising, but after a few weeks, it’s easy to lose motivation and fall back into old habits. A fitness expert has ideas on how to get active at any age. Plus, we share another “Portrait in Aging” featuring people in the state’s fastest growing population: those 65 and older. Today, the story of 71-year-old Lucy Guo of Denver. Also, the challenge of storage for Colorado law enforcement as evidence goes digital. Then, our discussion continues about how Evangelical Christianity has shaped Colorado Springs and beyond with historian William Schultz, author of “Jesus Springs.” And Colorado wonders, who comes up with the clever messages on E-470’s smart signs?

We run down state lawmakers’ “to-do” list as they head back to the Capitol this week, with Purplish. Then, the author of the new book, “Jesus Springs” on how evangelical Christianity shaped Colorado’s second-biggest city. Plus, join Ryan live and in-person for “On Fire For God” Friday at the Denver Press Club. Also, tempting tastes in the Pikes Peak region with “Side Dish.” And we hop on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe.

Tina Peters is back in court next week as her lawyers try to free her from prison. Unless and until that happens, Colorado may continue to feel the Trump Administration’s wrath. Then, after a history of oil booms and busts — and its most recent collapse, an expert at DU on what comes next for Venezuela. Also, could Denver experience a wildfire? Denverite talks with concerned residents. And an idea that never came to pass: Why can’t you check your bags at Denver Union Station when you take the train to the airport?

Women have helped in wartime since the nation’s founding, but have only been allowed to serve in combat for a decade. A call to review the military’s physical fitness standards could lead to fewer women on the frontlines. Then, when you hear the word “prepper,” you might picture someone stockpiling supplies for doomsday. Disaster preparedness is different. Also, Dry January doesn’t have to mean white-knuckling your way through happy hour. And, Colorado Wonders about mysterious brick domes in The Roaring Fork Valley.