For our fifth episode of the Converge Lecture Series Podcast , we're joined by writer Carmen Maria Machado . Machado is an author, essayist and critic, best known for her debut short story collection Her Body and Other Parties . Blending elements of horror, fantasy and stark realism, her work explores themes of power and sex, pleasure and alienation, and the particular way these forces shape the lives and experiences of women.

The 6th Annual Creek Week begins this Saturday, Sept. 28, and continues until Sunday, Oct. 6. During those nine days volunteers will gather to remove litter and debris along creeks, trails, parks and open spaces from Palmer Lake to Pueblo and beyond. Alli Schuch, Fountain Creek Watershed Outreach Coordinator, sat down with 91.5 KRCC’s Abigail Beckman to talk about the event.

Wildfire is a continual threat in the West, but researchers say an invasive species of grass that’s taking hold in states like Colorado, Wyoming, Nevada could make things worse.

It's chile season and people are stocking up on the fruit to roast and eat. As usual, the governors of New Mexico and Colorado are keeping up a good-natured fight about which state's chile is the best—Hatch from New Mexico, or Pueblo chile from Colorado. And this weekend 150,000 people are expected at the 25th annual Chile and Frijoles Festival in Pueblo.

For the second time this year, kids around the world are striking from school to demand action around climate change. And it’s happening just before world leaders gather at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York City. There were only a handful of strikes in our region last time but this time there are several dozen.

Kendrick Castillo was killed in the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch. He’d been involved in the school's robotics team as had his dad, John Castillo. Castillo talked about his son’s death and the legacy Kendrick leaves behind.

As he delivered the annual State of the City address on Thursday, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers was interrupted several times by people calling for justice in the officer-involved shooting death of De’Von Bailey last month.

Pendley reiterated previous arguments in favor the move while some opponents said they worried it would weaken the agency.

The state's new poet laureate shows CPR around his north Denver neighborhood, which has undergone major development since he was a child.

You might not know it but there’s a branch of the U.S. Department of Agriculture whose job includes killing wild animals – to the tune of millions each year. It used to be called Animal Damage Control. Now it’s simply called Wildlife Services. Depending on who you talk to, the agency is controversial and secretive or, well-managed and essential.