Jackson Unpacked

On this week’s episode: Following the election, immigrant advocacy organizations say more deportations are looking likely and a slew of legal challenges could also get in the way. KHOL’s Jenna McMurtry talks with Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr, Lincoln County Sheriff Matt Johnson and Jackson immigration lawyer Elisabeth Trefonas about that reality.

It’s been about a year since Teton County Search and Rescue was able to add a multi-million-dollar helicopter to the organization. KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney reports a chopper is a rare addition to a volunteer search and rescue group in the West. For most, it’s too expensive. The costly addition is helping Cody Lockhart, Steve Wilson and the entire TCSAR team with rescues in the county and in communities throughout the region.

Also, nearly 30% of Teton County residents identify as Latino. KHOL’s Rachel Stevens talked to KHOL DJ Valeria Abad about occasional isolation, being from a Latin country that isn’t Mexico, but also, how being in-between cultures opens doors. 

And lastly, republicans often don’t see tackling climate change as a top priority… but  conservative environmentalist Benji Backer is trying to change that. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Hanna Merzbach spoke with him, Jessica Burley and Andrew Mentzner in Jackson.

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney and Jenna McMurtry hit the polls to talk to voters in both Wilson and Jackson about what was on their minds as they cast their ballots. Those voters include: Marge Glick, Alex Coosaia, Anne Jones, Karyn Chin, Rachel Miller, Keith Cozzens, Milli Dawson, Margaret Gordon and Annette Robertson.

KHOL’s Emily Cohen attended two election watch parties in Jackson. At the Teton County Democratic Party’s event at the Wort Hotel we hear from Maggie Hunt, Clare Stumpf and commissioner elects Natalia Macker and Len Carlman. At the Teton County Republican Party’s event at Sidewinders we hear from Cornelius Kinsey, Ray Espinoza and John Farrell.

Wyoming Public Radio’s Nicky Ouellet reports some Wyomingites, especially those with the political action committee Wyoming Election Integrity, have been pushing for ballots to be hand counted. She spoke with Campbell County Clerk Cindy Lovelace who hosted the group for a test trial to estimate the time, cost and manpower.

Lastly, emotions tend to run high during election season spanning political lines and into each and every home. Those emotions, often more than reason, determine our decision-making, including how we vote. KGNU’s Susan Moran spoke with University of Colorado Boulder psychology professor Leaf Van Boven about exactly that.

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Grizzly 399’s death has made national headlines and triggered memorials and gatherings from the Snake River Canyon to Grand Teton National Park. KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney reports both wildlife advocates like Kristin Combs and wildlife managers like Chris Servheen and Dan Thompson say the bear had a positive impact throughout it’s life but posed some unique management challenges.

Former Jackson Hole Fire Chief Stephen Jellie resigned under much scrutiny last year with a substantial severance. KHOL’s Sophia Boyd-Fliegel talks with Mat-Su Sentinel reporter Amy Bushatz about a similar situation, this time in Palmer, Alaska.

Many who can’t vote in Tuesday’s election are still anxious about the results. A group of Jacksonites and immigrant service providers met last month in the Teton County Library to recap recent immigration policy changes and outline potentials for under a Trump OR Harris administration. KHOL’s Rachel Stevens attended and talked Alin Yukiro Badillo Carillo — the leader of an immigration group in town who fears her complicated legal status could change. 

Over the past few months KHOL and StoryCorps have connected Teton County residents with candidates running for local office through one-on-one conversations. In the final installment of our election edition of One Small Step produced by Alyson Spery, we hear from two candidates: Devon Viehman who’s running for town council and Jerry Bosch who’s running for the school board. 

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Producer Alyson Spery brings us a special election edition, featuring conversations with candidates running for local office and the constituents they aim to represent. 

These conversions were recorded as part of KHOL’s local One Small Step initiative, produced in partnership with StoryCorps. One Small Step brings people with different beliefs into the recording studio to talk and discover their common ground. 

Featured here are: 

• Town Councilor and mayoral candidate Jessica Sell Chambers in conversation with Melissa Malm, the first woman on the Jackson Hole Ski Patrol 

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Emily Cohen takes us overseas, to Kazakhstan where Jacksonites Scott Zimmerman and Hayden Hilke with a group of others from across the West compete in the World Nomad Games. 

Wyoming Public Radio’s Caitlin Tan reports the U.S. Forest Service is facing budget cuts, meaning Scott Kosiba and the local nonprofit he leads, Friends of the Bridger-Teton, will continue to be leaned on for funding and support. They contract people like Rhett Jones for essential services. Public Affairs Officer with the Bridger-Teton National Forest Mary Cernicek shares the nonprofit also helps with fundraising.

KHOL’s Dante FIlpula Ankney reports Teton County has been working to secure ownership of over a thousand acres of land owned by the Bureau of Land Management. The Snake River Fund, a local advocacy group led by Orion Hatch, floats from Moose to Wilson and shares the land deal is in limbo after nearly a quarter of a century and County Commission Chair Luther Propst he’s unsure when the deal will finalize.

Lastly, in partnership with Storycorps — KHOL is hosting a series of conversations between candidates running for local office and a constituent they aim to represent, finding common ground. Tune in to hear self-proclaimed “ski bum” Larry Hartenstein and Jackson Couny Commissioner candidate Vicky O'Donoghue in the fourth installation of our election series produced by Alyson Spery.

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

KHOL reporter Jenna McMurtry tells us Teton County is proposing changes to its Fire Protection Plan, that among other things, expands the boundary of what’s considered wildland urban interface. Robb Sgroi of the Teton County Conservation District, Todd Fitzgerald of a local tree service business and Jackson Fire Marshall Raymond Lane provide insight into why and how residents can make their homes more fire resistant.

And in partnership with Storycorps — KHOL is hosting a series of conversations between candidates running for local office and a constituent they aim to represent, finding common ground. Tune in to hear Jacksonite Jessica Baker and Jackson Town Council candidate Kevin Regan in the third edition of our series produced by Alyson Spery.

Also, the Mountain West News Bureau’s Hanna Merzbach takes us to Pinedale and Victor where some like Doug Rellstab, Lindsey Love and Will Haywood are building houses out of straw bales.

Lastly, KHOL Music Director Jack Catlin sat down with Fire In The Mountains music festival founder Jeremy Walker who says he’s disappointed to be leaving Teton County. Still, he’s excited about the possibilities about a new location on the Blackfeet Reservation in Northwestern Montana.

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Host and KHOL Senior Reporter Dante Filpula Ankney heads to Teton Village to talk to Jacksonites Gabe McNees, Ryan Stanley, Anna Catino and Erme Catino after they finish Lotoja. The over 200 mile bike race ends here in the Tetons and is only possible due to work from organizers like David Bern. 

KHOL reporter Jenna McMurtry talks with professional skier and ultrarunner Drew Petersen about his new film “Feel it All,” which tackles mental health in mountain towns. 

Wyoming Public Radio’s Hannah Habermann takes us to the Fish Creek fire where basecamp manager Morgan Faber and a crew from the Wind River Reservation including Teresa Swimmer, Tara Jorgenson, Mavis Willow and Jason Stevenson worked to support fire operations. 

And lastly — in partnership with Storycorps — we are hosting a series of conversations between candidates running for local office and a constituent they aim to represent finding coming ground. Tune in to hear MacKenzie Moore of Jackson and Scott Anderson, a candidate for town council in the second edition of our series produced by Alyson Spery.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story mistakenly said Moore works for the Teton Literacy Center, her previous employer. Moore currently works as the interim residential advocate for the Community Safety Network Jackson Hole and as a massage therapist.

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Host and KHOL Senior Reporter Dante Filpula Ankney introduces us to the station’s revival of One Small Step. In partnership with Storycorps, we’re hosting a series of conversations between candidates running for local office and a constituent they aim to represent —- that hold differing beliefs — finding coming ground. Tune into the first of the series between Wilson resident Kat Clauson and Republican candidate for county commissioner Melchor Moore, produced by Alyson Spery.

We’ll hear about wildfires — like the Fish Creek fire that has burned thousands of acres —- and how even after the destruction and the devastation has passed — it can spur communities to come together. Lori Peak studies how communities come together during and after natural disasters and talks with KUNC’s Erin O’Toole. Peak is a sociologist and the director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

And to close out this week’s episode, as communities in the Mountain West grow - so does the need for Spanish language interpreters. This is especially true in booming resort towns where Latinos power economies — and need to access services. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Hanna Merzbach reports some people — like Jackson local Celia Perez — are stepping up to fill that language gap.

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Trumpet Swans — the large, straight necked black billed bird was once thought to be extinct but its recovery has had strong ties to a Jackson-based nonprofit. We’ll hear more from a music therapist about their work in the community, a discussion about a tax on empty homes that’s been considered in mountain towns across the rocky mountain west including Jackson and we hear from Teton County voters about what brought them out to the polls for the primary election.

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Former President Donald Trump is coming to town for a costly private fundraiser, a Jacksonite is training to become the first Winter Olympian from his country, the science of wildfire smoke in the Rocky Mountain West and we’ll take a trip to a jagged rock face in Grand Teton National Park. How do we balance safety with the desire to leave no trace? 

Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.