Colorado Matters

​Gov. John Hickenlooper opines on the campaign season, warns about the wildfire fighting budget. Sen. Michael Bennet has harsh words for President Trump on Russia, as well as immigration. And we meet a mermaid from Pueblo, Pixy "Queen Ary" Wright, who was carried into our studio by her husband, Bill Wright, while he was dressed as a pirate.

The Colorado author scaled ice fields and ancient caves to follow the route early humans would’ve taken to cross the Bering Land Bridge into North America. Ryan Warner interviewed him live on stage at the Avalon Theatre in Grand Junction. Then, extreme drought has put Colorado farmers and ranchers in a tight corner.

Pazen, who succeeds the controversial Robert White, wants to tailor community policing strategies to the neighborhood. Then, inside an advocacy group finding and training independent candidates for office. Next, why the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel is cutting down print editions. Finally, remembering teacher Scott Horsley and musician Henry Butler.

Colorado's economy is doing swell, but state unemployment hovers around 2 percent and restaurants industry pros tell us why eateries are having a heck of a time finding workers. Then we'll take a tour of an archeological site in golden that lets you dig for artifacts alongside scientists. And we'll catch up with extreme skier and mountaineer Hilaree Nelson of Telluride. She's in a new PBS documentary.

Junkyards and uranium mills once dominated Grand Junction’s riverside. Now, townhomes and breweries loom large. Then, we hear from a DACA recipient and Republican supporters about immigration. Next, Colorado’s longest-serving sheriff has seen Telluride transform. Also, the iconic Bar D Chuckwagon lives on. Finally, the Colorado border isn’t a straight line.

As Front Range real estate costs increase, businesses are migrating to the Western Slope to take advantage of tax breaks and the higher quality of living. Then, the executive chef of Bin 707 Foodbar shares some Palisade peach recipes. Next, an artist known for his jumbo-sized sculptures downsizes. Finally, local band Mount Orchid breaks down some tracks.

The small town of Center has a history of racism, and political intrigue. Listen to the second of this two-part series and read more at center.cpr.org. Then, Mike Nelson, Channel 7 meteorologist and author of "The Colorado Weather Almanac," predicts that summer monsoon will soon be here to break the heat and help douse the wildfires.

The small town of Center has a history of racism, and political intrigue. See the rest at center.cpr.org. Then, Saira Rao was harassed after she tweeted about whiteness. Next, how Colorado will adapt to legal sports betting. And, how the AG candidates weigh in on the opioid lawsuit. Finally, a farting unicorn design tears a local artist and Elon Musk apart.

When lives are at risk, firefighters have to choose which homes to save and which to not. Then, while test scores overall at Denver Public Schools are average, the gap between poor and affluent students is not. Next, a baseball card worth millions makes an appearance at History Colorado. Finally, a bestselling YA author returns with her newest book.

Casa de Paz provides shelter and essentials to immigrants newly released from the Aurora detention center. Then, Tamara Estes’ family lost five of eight of their homes to the Spring Creek Fire. Next, why new restrictions in China are impacting recycling plants in Colorado. Finally, what to do if someone steals your license plates.