Colorado Matters

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.

The flu picture ain’t pretty in Colorado, but we look at it anyhow with Dr. Ken Lyn-Kew, a critical care pulmonologist at National Jewish Health in Denver. Then, they were some of the first Black law students at CU, but their names had been lost to history. Also, local companies, from Denver to Creede, produce top-notch theater. That’s the focus of a new series, which we raise the curtain on today, with Colorado Springs actor Anne Terze-Schwarz.

The fastest growing population in Colorado is people 65 and older. But we all age differently; today we hear about misperceptions and opportunities from everyday Coloradans who are part of the state’s fastest-growing group, people ages 65 and older. Their personal reflections are featured in a sub-series of our ongoing Aging Matters series, called “Portraits in Aging.” Host Chandra Thomas Whitfield takes a closer look at what life is like for older adults across Colorado, exploring how they are living, aging and thriving at this stage of life in their own words.

Images of overrun apartment buildings in Colorado and of severed fingers landed in President Trump’s Venezuela remarks over the weekend. CPR Justice reporter Allison Sherry provides some context.

The legacy of Cherry Creek is rooted in Black history and it played a pivotal role shaping Denver into the city that it is today. Chandra Thomas Whitfield moderated a panel discussion called “Legacy of Cherry Creek: Growing Up Black in Denver’s Transforming Neighborhood” in front of an audience this past spring. It was hosted by Arapahoe Libraries to reflect and share the personal stories of four life-long Colorado residents whose families called Cherry Creek home, and some who still do: Former Denver County Judge Gary Jackson; his uncle, Warren Scott, a retired U.S. Post Office Manager; Trudi Morrison, a retired lawyer and former Deputy Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. Senate; and Cleo Parker Robinson, the renowned founder and artistic director of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance in Denver.

On the first day of the year, a conversation about fresh starts.  Forgiveness is the focus of Kristin Koval’s riveting novel, “Penitence.” We spoke at Lit Fest last spring. Then, a final reflection on 2025 with a hall of fame moment for rock legend Joe Cocker who found happiness living in Colorado.

As 2025 draws to a close, we revisit the stories of four people who now call Colorado home. They have a common bond: They all survived the American tragedy known as Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans 20 years ago and remains one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history. They share their journey from Louisiana to Colorado and how it forever shaped their lives, in a Colorado Matters special: “After the Storm: Reflections on Hurricane Katrina.”

There’s promising new research out of Colorado in the effort to treat Alzheimer’s Disease. The study focused on the drug Leukine, which is already on the market to treat other disorders. Andrea speaks with the study’s senior author, Huntington Potter, who directs the University of Colorado Alzheimer’s and Cognition Center. Then, another study shows how lifestyle can help prevent memory loss. Also, the city of Denver won’t meet its first big climate goals. We ask the mayor why the city is falling short, and about the plan moving forward.