Colorado Matters

Travel with our “Parched’’ podcast team to the end of the Colorado River, where the ecosystem and the cultures that have long depended on it are in jeopardy – and people are working on solutions. Then, what will happen to Colorado’s deer and elk herds when wolves come back to the state?

The historic Five Points neighborhood in Denver is known for its legacy of jazz music. But it's also a vibrant business and entertainment district with a longstanding spirit of entrepreneurship. Then, the future for a Gathering Place for some of the area's most vulnerable people. And, a Mo' Betta farmer's market.

A federal judge has ruled a law enforcement tactic called the “Kansas Two-Step” unconstitutional. The Kansas Highway Patrol allegedly targeted drivers from states where marijuana is legal without reasonable suspicion. Then, the history of slavery is family history. And, how the Rockies came to Colorado. Plus, swing music from the Flatirons Jazz Orchestra.

If Colorado's weather this summer has left you bewildered, you're not alone. Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson is back for our regular conversation about climate and weather, discussing two phenomena that occurred this week. Also, In the latest episode of CPR's "Parched," meet an Indigenous farm manager who's setting an example by growing food with much less water.

If you’ve spent any length of time in Colorado, you probably love the mountain views, the outdoor recreation, the low humidity and the daily sunshine. But the latter is often not so kind to the largest organ on the body, our skin. And people of color say they struggle even more with the effects of the arid air. Here’s what a Denver woman did to address the problem.

Three years after the pandemic, Colorado and other states face record teacher turnover. Chalkbeat’s national reporter, Matt Barnum, talks causes and solutions. Then, Xcel tests hydrogen to clean up its natural gas system. And, a Colorado family creates a liquer that numbs your mouth, but enhances flavors. Finally, the Susan Lucci of the Colorado Book awards.

The 2024 election is still a year away, but races in two of Colorado's most competitive Congressional districts are already taking shape. Plus, Denver's new mayor, Mike Johnston, shares his vision for the city. Then, America's next World Cup star might be Colorado's Sophia Smith. Chandra speaks with her parents, Mollie and Kenny, at their home in Windsor.

Voters statewide will decide Proposition HH this November. The idea is to ease property taxes, but it may do more than that. Then, Ken Felts marries at the age of 93, three years after his coming out story was shared around the world. Also, rethinking school lunches. Plus, preserving a heritage language.

CPR Transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor explains why Denver's campaign to eliminate traffic deaths remains in the slow lane. Then, "Brave the Wild River" tells the determined story of two female botanists.

Space may be the final frontier, but some feel it hasn't been quite as accessible to LGBTQ+ people. Jason Reimuller, the Executive Director of the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences, is on a very personal mission to change that. Then, the Winter Park Jazz Festival, once a sleepy mountain get-together, celebrates its 40th anniversary in grand style with an all-star lineup.