Colorado Matters

Hosted by Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield, CPR News' daily interview show focuses on the state's people, issues and ideas.
Airs Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-10 a.m. & 7 p.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays: 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
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Latest Episodes

Governor Candidate Cary Kennedy; Boulder Again Considers Assault-Style Weapons Ban

In our latest interview of candidates governor: Democrat Cary Kennedy. She’s served as Colorado State Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Mayor under Denver Mayor Michael Hancock. Democratic State Rep. Alec Garnett offers a bill to allow a judge to keep firearms out of the hands of people who may be a risk to themselves or others. The Boulder City Council will again take up a proposal to bar assault-style weapons, high-capacity magazines and bump stocks. And Vietnamese American poet Diana Khoi Nguyen’s parents fled Vietnam. She reads from her new book of poetry, “Ghost Of.”

Gov. Hickenlooper Hears The Teachers Protest, And Offers A Remedy

Colorado’s governor says taxpayers need to change the state constitution to provide money for schools because it’s largely the reason the state has fallen about $6 billion behind in education funding. “Through hiking” the entire Continental Divide Trail from Canada to Mexico means covering 3,100 miles, and Felicia Hermosillo says there aren’t enough signs. Jess Davidson was sexually assaulted by another student at DU. She’s supporting a bill in the state legislature she hopes will help future victims. And, states along the Colorado River have come together in recent years on water conservation experiments. But the University of New Mexico’s John Fleck says there are cracks in the cooperation.

Recruiting Teachers Gets Harder; Storm Chaser Tim Samaras

University of Northern Colorado education dean Eugene Sheehan talks about recruitment challenges facing the teaching profession. Police Officer Jason Gallardo, who works at Littleton High School, offers a window into his experiences in these times of heightened fears. Journalist Brantley Hargrove discusses his book about Tim Samaras, a legend among storm chasers. And Jacquin Buchanan is part of an international network of people who use 3-D printers to make prosthetic limbs for people for free.

Governor Candidate Victor Mitchell; Floyd Landis Now; What Is Alden Global Capital?

Republican Victor Mitchell has run six different companies, accruing enough wealth to self-fund his campaign to be the next governor of Colorado. He goes on the record with us. Floyd Landis, disgraced Tour de France cyclist turned whistleblower, talks about his new cannabis business. And Washington Post media reporter Paul Farhi talks about about his reporting on the secretive company, whose newspaper holdings stretch far beyond just Colorado.

Governor Candidate Mike Johnston; Post Editor Marty Baron; Chef Karlos Baca

Democrat Mike Johnston goes on the record in the first of our series of interviews with the men and women who want to replace Gov. John Hickenlooper. The Washington Post’s Executive Editor, Marty Baron, will be recognized this week by the Denver Press Club for his long history as an ethical journalist who holds the powerful accountable. And we meet Ignacio Chef Karlos Baca, an indigenous food activist who says the loss of traditional foods threatens the very lives of his people.

What’s To Be Gained Calling Russia A State Sponsor Of Terrorism?

State lawmakers are still wrestling with what to do about Colorado’s public pension fund. Sen. Cory Gardner suggested the U.S. name Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution tells is what that might mean. Alan Cass was an announcer for CU football and basketball games, but he was also behind an idea that grew into the Glenn Miller Archive. “Just Elliot’ tells the story of a young boy with autism. And we look at whether the Front Range is prepared for floods.

A Race To Find Remains At Teller Indian School; A War Veteran And His Art

At least 23 American Indian students died at a boarding school in Grand Junction at the turn of the last century. Where are their remains? War veteran Mark Fitzsimmons uses conceptual art to make connections and change perceptions. Seed specialist John Coykendall talks about the alarming disappearance of vegetable crop varieties in the past 100 years. And the latest adventure for Nick Petrie’s ex-Marine Peter Ash rolls from the mountains to downtown Denver.

Staff

Tom Hesse.
Colorado Matters Western Slope Producer

Tom Hesse