Colorado Matters

Federal prosecutors have claimed a Venezuelan gang is entrenched in Colorado. Case filings reveal otherwise. Then, a week of whirlwind weather makes way for the return of warmer and drier days ahead. Plus, meet Colorado's new home-grown state supreme court justice, Susan Blanco. And the Local 303 celebrates Black History Month across musical genres.

Finding affordable housing has been a challenge in Colorado for years. A measure passed by voters statewide four years ago is starting to make a difference. We'll talk through what it's meant for the state's small mountain towns and what still needs to be done. Then, we remember civil rights activist, Reverend Jessie Jackson, who died this week. We also remember the loss of the occasionally high-strung, legendary coach of the Denver Nuggets, Doug Moe. And we celebrate Lunar New Year with a behind-the-scenes look at the tradition of lion dancing!

Denver comedian Josh Blue may be best known for "putting the cerebral in cerebral palsy," but there is so much more to his life than laughing audiences know. In his new autobiography, "Something To Stare At," Blue recalls his formative years in West Africa, his Paralympic soccer career, and his comedic rise. Enjoy a mix of stand-up and conversation with Sr. Host Ryan Warner — recorded at The Dairy Arts Center in Boulder.

The history of Colorado and the West is the history of the Black cowboy; now it's inspired the play "Godspeed" which just had its world premiere in Denver. Plus, we visit a museum that shares an often untold and overlooked aspect of the history of the West. Also, about half of counties in Colorado do not have emergency shelters for people trying to leave abusive situations at home. We hear from a researcher who's mapped the state about what she found in the search for a solution. And later, for Aging Matters, we revisit a that pairs older volunteers, with older companions, leading to bonds of friendship and helpfulness as we age.

Even if you think Valentine's is a Hallmark holiday, we think you'll be heartened by a love story that begins in grade school. Then, a castle sits in disrepair in Gunnison. It's just landed on Colorado's Most Endangered Places list. Plus, we "Raise the Curtain," on the Denver New Play Summit. And, Ryan asks, "Would I date that building?"

Colorado is mourning the loss of a radio legend; we remember the life and legacy of James "Dr. Daddio" Walker whose radio station KDKO was long known as "The Soul of the Rockies." Then, how do you recruit more teachers of color? Students at Northglenn High School recently tried to address that concern. Also, black holes, microplastics and new beginnings sound like things that may not go together. But for a Colorado Springs artist they have quite a lot in common.

Over the weekend, pairs skaters Danny O’Shea and Ellie Kam helped the U.S. figure skating team win gold. O’Shea graduated from the University of Colorado - Colorado Springs. Kam’s still a student there. Pairs competition begins in earnest this weekend. We reached their coach, Drew Meekins, of Denver, Tuesday, in Italy. Then, Gunnison author Shelley Read's debut novel, "Go As a River," has now topped 1 million copies worldwide. We turn the page with her again at Colorado Mesa University.

There’s been an evolution in understanding concussions and a Colorado researcher has teamed up with experts worldwide to offer an easy guide for coaches and parents to recognize and to know what to do when a young athlete gets a concussion. Then, a push for juvenile justice reform at the state capitol through the first-hand stories of adults who were incarcerated as children. Also, the unseasonably warm weather has meant more fatal traffic crashes; we talk with a woman working to help injured motorcyclists and their families. Plus, a Valentine's Day tradition that has volunteers waiting in years' long lines to help.

President Trump has made it clear: He has beef with Colorado, from his ire over the presidential portrait that once hung in the State Capitol to mail-in balloting to immigration policy. We delve into that with Purplish. Then, long before the COVID pandemic, novelist Peter Heller imagined a world wiped out by a virus, and some lonely Colorado survivors, in his debut novel, "The Dog Star" in 2012. Now it's headed to the big screen.

He’s been U.S. Senator, Interior Secretary, and Ambassador to Mexico. Now, Ken Salazar is donating his papers and many keepsakes to History Colorado. They paint a picture of his public service and of his family’s deep roots in The San Luis Valley. Then, a promise to high schoolers in the Gunnison Valley of free tuition to Western Colorado University. Plus, we "Raise the Curtain" on the new play "Cowboys and East Indians" with Fort Collins author Nina McConigley. And the Colorado Symphony debuts in NYC!

Club 20 has been the political force on Colorado’s Western Slope since the 1950s. The group’s newest leader says he wants to be a lot louder fighting for issues in the region while also being more hospitable to Front Range politicians. Then, aging is one thing we all have in common -- but we all age differently. For Aging Matters we continue to share the stories of people in Colorado's fastest-growing population. Also, just a decade ago, coal provided 60 percent of the state's electricity. Now it accounts for less than half of that -- and that decline is no accident. Plus, Colorado is known for its mountain ranges, hiking trails, and rivers. But our great outdoors is not always inclusive of people with disabilities -- a new booking platform wants to change that. And, we "Raise the Curtain" on the future of local theater.

The president just suggested nationalizing elections. The constitution has something to say about that. So does our guest, Matt Crane, the head of the Colorado County Clerks Association. Then, two Colorado-based figure skating coaches talk about the artistry, pressure, and finding balance as three of their skaters get ready to compete at the Olympics. Plus, why some parents are opting for landlines instead of smart phones for children. And the Colorado South Asian artist collective celebrates its first anniversary in Evergreen and looks forward to the future.

The first healing centers to offer therapy using psychedelics are open in Colorado and they've been a longtime coming. They're meant to treat things like PTSD and depression. For our series, The Trip: CPR’s Coverage of Colorado’s Psychedelic Journey, Denverite's Kiara DeMare visited some of these new facilities. Then, state lawmakers will consider a bill today with the goal of reducing domestic violence fatalities. Plus, still trying to make good on that New Year's Resolution to kick that tobacco habit? The good news is that there's free help available and an extra incentive through Colorado Quitline. And we "Raise the Curtain" with theatre critic John Moore of the Denver Gazette who shares highlights of the recent True West Awards and the healing power of theatre and storytelling.

As Colorado embarks on its psychedelic experiment, people can now receive psilocybin-assisted therapy at healing centers. The state is also grappling with how to enable therapy with the psychedelic ibogaine, which has shown promise for treating addiction. The use of psychedelic-assisted therapy was a component of Colorado’s psychedelic law approved by voters in 2022. We share a conversation from the most recent Aspen Ideas Festival as part of our coverage, "The Trip," about Colorado’s psychedelic journey. Krista Tippett, who created and hosts the podcast “On Being,” interviewed Gül Dölen, a psychology professor at the University of California Berkeley and a leader in psychedelics research.

As some Coloradans halt work to protest today, Congress is at work-- to avert a shutdown. The future of ICE is central to both. Then, "I'll consider her case--as I would any other." The governor has said that repeatedly -- when asked about clemency for Tina Peters. We looked into his past pardons for clues. Also, 40 years ago, Americans watched as Challenger broke apart; we speak with a CU Boulder professor who worked for NASA. Plus, we meet Colorado's new poet laureate; Crisosto Apache of Lakewood is the first Indigenous person to hold the title. And, Colorado Wonders about a cluster of curvy courts on Denver's North Side.

Although she's been a theater actress for most of her life, Jenna Bainbridge never envisioned herself performing on the grandest of stages -- Broadway. The issue wasn't one of talent or confidence, but rather, accessibility. Partially paralyzed as a child, Bainbridge didn't think she'd find the accommodations necessary for her to live and work in New York. However she's now performing on Broadway in the long-running hit, Wicked.

Rural life often means being exposed to the sun. With it: the risk of skin cancer. But dermatologists can be hard to come by in the country. At least one practice, though, is making investments in small towns. Then, Colorado has taken some costly hits from the Trump Administration in recent months. It might seem punitive, but the growing number has others seeing a pattern. Also, as a store close to her heart changes hands, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, bestselling author of "Woman of Light" and "Sabrina and Corina," provides an ode to the independent bookstore. And, meet our new CPR Classical host, Monique Brooks Roberts.

Public transit touches nearly every corner of life in Colorado, from how people get to work to how our region grows. But the state’s largest transit agency is facing big questions from riders, workers, and lawmakers about reliability, safety and trust. CPR's Haylee May spoke with RTD CEO and GM Debra Johnson. Then, amid DEI backlash, a statewide coalition is working to share the stories of diverse communities here, starting with working to ensure the media outlets they support, stick around. We speak with Brittany Winkfield, the executive director of the Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange.

This legislative session is the swan song for Colorado's outgoing governor, Jared Polis. He still has a lot on his "to do" list, but policy clashes within his own party could create some challenges. We explore that today with Purplish. Then, a researcher at the Colorado School of Mines has developed a new way to treat deep wounds, and that could just be the beginning for its use. Also, what Colorado's two largest cities are doing to send a message to ICE. Plus, we answer a Colorado Wonders question about the impact of moose on our state.

You can't go home again, as the saying goes. But Denver author Josiah Hesse did. He returned to Mason City, Iowa — with a journalistic lens— to better understand his evangelical upbringing, and the social and economic forces that shaped it. We spoke in front of an audience at the Denver Press Club for the release of "On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right – a Personal History."