Colorado Matters

A pivotal vote is scheduled at the state Capitol today on the so called “Red Flag Warning” bill. If passed, it would allow judges to take guns from people deemed a risk to themselves or others. Its co-sponsor, Cole Wist is in hot water with some of his fellow Republicans. Then, Colorado is ground zero for marijuana legalization, but as more states seek to expand or legalize sales, many policy makers are getting key facts wrong about Colorado’s pot market. Also, Colorado’s painful history of lynching, and how a local artist is recreating artwork destroyed by ISIS.

You probably think your vote is private, but there’s a twist in Colorado’s upcoming primaries. Then, freestanding ERs are popping up all along the Front Range and chain drug stores are becoming doctors offices. What do these changes mean for patients in Colorado and the cost of care? Plus, why a Colorado business that makes a killing looks like it’s dying. And Latino families in Southern Colorado still feel the effects of the Mexican-American War.

Our latest interview with the candidates for governor: Doug Robinson, who has never run for public office before, but has Republican politics in his blood. Then, retired Iliff School of Theology professor Tink Tinker on white Christian colonialism. Two longtime dance teachers at the prestigious Denver School of the Arts resigned earlier this year– after a 5-month investigation into charges they created an abusive environment. And, how the governor wields his veto pen.

Heidi Thomas talks about testifying against Bill Cosby in his sexual assault trial, and a larger message to other victims of sexual assault: There is power in coming forward. Then, what a Moody’s warning means for Denver’s commuter rail system.The InSight lander, built in Colorado and scheduled to launch Saturday, wants to find out if there are Marsquakes. And singer and guitarist Erin Roberts, who performs as Porlolo, talks about the motivation for her new recording, “Awards.”

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.”

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.

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.

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.