Colorado Matters

The terrorist attacks last year in Paris and the mass shootings in San Bernadino, Calif. led to an immediate rise in anti-Muslin threats and hate crimes. Muslims have also been singled out in the presidential campaign -- with Republican candidate Donald Trump's call to ban Muslims from entering the US. We asked Colorado Muslims to tell us what they want others to know about them. Three of them joined us in the studio: One attended school in Saudi Arabia, another is a Pakistani-American who grew up in Wyoming, and a third is a former president of The Colorado Muslim Society. Then, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, we hear from a Denver Musician and how his obsession with Irish folk music has become more than a hobby. And, we learn how tax return fraud might keep you from getting your refund checks in a timely matter.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, of Denver, thinks people will be so sickened by the money spent this election that they'll support public financing of congressional campaigns. She has signed onto a plan that she says will take away the influence of the largest donors. Then, why three prominent Republicans in central Colorado defected from the GOP. Also, in some countries being an environmentalist is risky business, according to a Boulder group still reeling from the death of Honduran activist Berta Caceres. And, we have a county-by-county breakdown of people's health.

At the state Capitol, a lot is in limbo. Lawmakers are holding off on tackling some of the biggest issues because a giant question mark looms: How much money the state can spend. Halfway through the session, we talk to two Capitol reporters about what's in store. Then, the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame inducts 10 new members this week. We'll meet one of them; she has spent her career fighting child abuse. Plus, bands that want to make a splash in the music industry flock each year to SXSW in Austin, Texas. This year, the State of Colorado isn't funding a showcase there to show off its homegrown talent. But that doesn't mean Colorado acts aren't down there.

Powerful Democrats known as superdelegates are in the Colorado spotlight because even though Sen. Bernie Sanders won this state's caucuses, he could end up tied with Hillary Clinton when it comes to Colorado delegates at the Democratic National Convention this summer. We talk to Elaine Kamarck about that. She wrote the book "Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know about How America Nominates Its Presidential Candidates."

Then, we hear feedback on our interview with Holocaust survivor Walter Plywaski. Ben Markus reports as Colorado construction booms, there's no sign the state's in a bubble. As we mark Sunshine Week, the Independence Institute's Todd Shepherd questions whether the state does enough to archive the email of public officials. And we visit the crane migration near Monte Vista in the San Luis Valley.

Your family dog could help cure cancer in humans. That's because dogs can develop the same types of cancer as humans. We learn about efforts in Colorado to combine cancer researchers from the medical and veterinary worlds. Then, a uniquely carved symbol has survived four massive renovations to Denver's Union Station. It's part of the station's history told in a new book. Also, the science behind pairing beer with food. We go inside Colorado's Spelling Bee. And, we're starting to keep track of who Colorado newcomers should follow on Twitter.

Today, the story of Holocaust survivor Walter Plywaski. He's 86 years old and lives in Boulder -- now. His happy childhood in Poland was turned upside down the day his father's friends turned on the family and ordered them into a ghetto: "Here we were in the stinkiest, oldest, rottenest, barbed-wire surrounded environment with not enough food, not enough education, not enough of anything." Then, it was onto the camps. Plywaski made it out Auschwitz and eventually made it to the U.S. by stowing away on a ship. He tells us his story.

Terrorists have to find a way to pay the bills, and a Colorado-based company tracks how ISIS gets and spends its money -- even down to the salaries of fighters. Also, Denver clears a homeless camp it says threatened people's health and safety. And, now that combat roles are open to women, Congress is weighing whether they should have to register with the Selective Service as men do. But two Colorado congressmen say want to do away with selective service entirely. And, we go inside a play about three generations of Hispanic military veterans.

The black market for marijuana has shrunk considerably in Colorado since the drug became legal here. But less so in Washington State, where recreational sales are also legal. So what's the difference? We'll talk with an editor at The Economist who's dug into "narconomics." Then, the challenges of being a young farmer in the West. We'll hear from one who's making a go of it. And, it's been a real rollercoaster ride for Yankees first baseman Greg Bird, who went to high school in Aurora. He talks about the highs of being called a "phenomenon" while he substituted in the majors, and the lows of an injury and being sent back to the minors.

Colorado created drivers licenses for immigrants living in the country illegally several years ago. But the issue is hardly settled, with Republicans at the state Capitol calling it backdoor amnesty and limiting the program. We'll debate its future. Then, a report last spring showed that male full professors at Colorado State University made 16 percent more than their female counterparts. While investigating this issue, Nick Coltrain of the Coloradoan in Fort Collins also raised questions about above-average raises for administrators.

After voters vented on the CPR News Facebook page about long lines and other frustrations Tuesday night, we spoke with the leader of the Democratic Party in Colorado, Rick Palacio about what happened. He says Colorado may have outgrown presidential caucuses, and he will continue to push for a primary. Then, immigrants in Colorado can expect to wait 933 days for a hearing at Denver's immigration court. Why? And, what does it mean for people whose cases may not be heard for years. Also, a new thrift store has opened in Denver, staffed by teens who used to be homeless. Finally, we hear about Colorado bands in NPR's Tiny Desk Competition, and an encore piece about a local boy's lemonade stand business.