Colorado Matters

A temporary village has popped up near Denver International Airport, with completely solar homes built by college students and sponsored by the federal government. A team from the University of Denver built a home with a wall covered in moss. Then, with the possibility of snow hitting the Front Range by Monday, a meteorologist offers a ski season forecast. And, a Coors heir was killed in a botched kidnapping in 1960. A new book tells the tale of the manhunt for his brilliant but bumbling murderer. Plus, CPR’s OpenAir remembers rock legend Tom Petty, who passed away this week at the age of 66.

You may think twice about squishing bugs after hearing today’s show. Denver science writer David MacNeal says insects help people solve murders, cure diseases and design better buildings. His appreciation runs deep: MacNeal fed his blood to bed bugs in the name of science. Then, the metro area’s booming population leads to a fight over growth in a Denver suburb. And, The Denver Post’s food writer scoffs at the sheer number of food holidays, but she got a new one created in honor of an iconic Colorado dish.

Mexico and the United States may not agree on a border wall, but the countries did just sign a historic agreement over water. A water resources expert says what it means for Colorado and for conservation in Mexico, which lags way behind. Then, during the Cold War, Rocky Flats made plutonium triggers for nuclear bombs, and property values for nearby residents plummeted. Now, those residents are getting compensation for their financial loss. And, we remember a poet from Denver who had Down Syndrome and later developed Alzheimer’s Disease. Her family donated her brain to the University of Colorado Medical School at the Anschutz Medical Campus so scientists can study the link between the two conditions. Also, the debate over using marijuana in social settings.

Open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act begins in less than a month, at a time when the future of Obamacare is uncertain. We get the long view from the Republican lawmaker who helped create Colorado’s insurance exchange. Then, what happened when the daughter of a Focus On The Family executive came out of the closet. And, scientists brought in beetles to get rid of a pesky plant called the tamarisk that invades riverbanks. Now, the beetles have spread beyond where they were expected to be. Also, the number of boys playing high school football in the United States has dropped. Some coaches attribute those declines to parent’s concerns about the risks of football.

As many Puerto Ricans try to flee the U.S. territory after Hurricane Maria, a Denver woman plans to move back to help with recovery. Then, Colorado businesses are sick of congested roads, according to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. They want a new source of funds, and say they won’t wait for the state legislature any longer. What voters across Colorado might get if they vote to raise the sales tax. Plus, what makes this week’s special session of the legislature, special? And, a support group for people who hear voices. Then, a poem from the Western Slope’s new poet laureate.

The Denver area’s transit system, RTD, faces continued delays in opening a commuter rail line that should have started a year ago. The problem is linked to longstanding technical issues with the train that serves Denver International Airport. The agency’s general manager, Dave Genova, talks about those problems, and whether a legislative error could prompt service cuts across the system. Then, Cyndee Rae Lutz’s son started using drugs in high school. Now she helps other families recognize the signs of addiction. And, before the controversy over NFL players taking a knee, a promising point guard for the Denver Nuggets refused to stand for the national anthem. He paid a price.

Some of the new technology at people’s homes now seems right out of “The Jetsons.” Denver Startup Week explains what domestic convenience will look like in the future. Then, new research into exactly how much oil and gas companies are responsible for rising sea levels. And, floodwaters, like those in Colorado four years ago, are connected to the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Also, scientists may have figured out a way to get around around zero gravity. Then, Curious Theater’s 20th season begins with a play tackling racism.

Aerial firefighting often stops at night because it’s dangerous to maneuver in the dark, although nighttime conditions can be really good for fighting wildfires. We hear about a center in Colorado that’s figuring out how to keep these aircraft flying safely. Then, spacecraft could refuel without returning to earth if they could mine asteroids — but landing on those bodies is hard, so a Colorado scientist dreamed up a squishy robot to make it easier. And, Papa Dia has helped countless African immigrants adjust to life in Colorado. He’s just been given an award for his courage. Plus, the big, gigantic music of the Boulder electronic band Big Gigantic.