Colorado Matters

Come along as Boulder County commissioner and former state lawmaker Claire Levy, who's Jewish, has her German citizenship restored. Then, we hear from the two Democrats vying to be the next governor of Colorado, and we take a closer look at the midterms including how to vote in third party primaries. Then, how a small town public radio station in Colorado is doing after losing a quarter of its budget. Plus, an out of this world contract for Lunar Outpost in Golden. And the Denver Greek Festival celebrates 60 years with music, dancing, food and culture. 

For the first time, the three Republican candidates for Colorado governor took the debate stage together, and the result was unlike any political debate in recent memory. Then, a unique summer camp is supporting families through the complexities of transracial adoption while creating a sense of belonging and safety for adoptees and their parents. Also, the parental paradox of needing child care in order to work, and needing to work in order to pay for child care; one business in Denver is trying to helping its employees find balance. And what "Art from the Yard" says about identity, culture, and control over space. 

The first reform to sports gambling in Colorado was signed into law on Monday. It addresses growing concerns about addiction and financial ruin. CPR investigative reporter Ben Markus has covered sports betting since before it was even legal, and spoke about the changes with Ryan Warner. Then, it's a dream come true for Greek and Indigenous artist Anna Tsouhlarakis whose work is now featured in the Whitney Biennial. And, what stress levels in a tiny pika can tell us about a changing climate. 

Colorado hasn't elected a Republican governor in nearly 30 years. Three Republicans on the primary ballot are hoping to change that. Purplish takes a closer look at the field; yesterday, we heard about the two Democrats on the primary ballot. Then, as the average American farmer nears retirement age, there's growing concern about who will take over for them; a new program hopes to inspire and support the next generation. 

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was released from prison today after Governor Jared Polis commuted her sentence. We ask Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, about the release and the Trump administration's pushback against voting by mail. Then, Purplish breaks down the candidates for governor: today, the two Democrats; tomorrow, the three Republicans. And we share another commencement speech during graduation season; this time, Vice President JD Vance who spoke at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.

It stung to hear. Amanda McCracken’s therapist told her, “longing is your lover.” This followed decades of dates, flings, and fantasies, but no committed relationship. The Boulder journalist turned her search for a solution into a cottage industry. She has a podcast called “The Longing Lab.” She did a popular TED Talk. And her new book is “When Longing Becomes Your Lover.” 

Finding affordable child care is a major challenge for many parents, and it's especially true for essential workers on 12 or 48 hour shifts. The system isn’t built for them. That's just one reason CPR News has launched a new series, "Raising Colorado: The untold costs of a broken child care system." It's led by CPR education reporter Jenny Brundin and we're featuring her work today, taking a deeper dive into what's happening. She shares the story of firefighter James Ferraro and his wife Chelsea, a nurse. They're trying to balance work and two young kids with no family in town. Jenny also speaks with Denver-based author Elliot Haspel author of "Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American has a Stake in Child Care for All." 

Julie Gonzales wants to make John Hickenlooper a one-term senator. The state lawmaker is running against him in the Democratic primary and spoke with Ryan Warner about her vision and priorities. Then, a commencement speaker at Front Range Community College who refused to give in to life's obstacles. Plus, how Denver is trying to keep beavers at bay. And meet Lauren Frihauf, the Denver singer/songwriter who made the finals of NPR's Tiny Desk Contest! 

As the United States marks 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 on July 4th and Colorado prepares to celebrate 150 years of statehood on August 1st, today for our series Aging Matters, we feature “Portraits In Aging,” a series of conversations Chandra Thomas Whitfield had with a diverse mix of Coloradans who talk about what it’s like growing older here. Aging, in their own words. And their perspectives are especially relevant and timely; those age 65 and older are the fastest growing population in our state, impacting everything here from housing to healthcare. 

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. This episode of Colorado Matters originally aired on February 2, 2026