Summary:
In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Weston Kurz, Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Private Schools (CAPS), to discuss how private schools operate, why they need representation in policy conversations, and the challenges facing independent schools in Colorado. Ross and Weston explore the role of private schools, the work of CAPS, and how policies around universal preschool, regulation, and educational choice are shaping the future of independent education in Colorado.

What we cover:
• What CAPS does and why private schools need representation
• How private schools differ from public and charter schools
• Universal Preschool and religious liberty concerns
• The impact of state regulations on independent schools
• Educational choice and the future of school policy in Colorado

About the guest:
Weston Kurz is the Executive Director of the Colorado Association of Private Schools (CAPS) and a longtime private school leader. He works to support and advocate for independent schools across Colorado.

Resources:
• Colorado Association of Private Schools (CAPS)
• Council for American Private Education (CAPE)

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Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with longtime Colorado political strategist Dick Wadhams to discuss how Colorado shifted from a competitive purple state to a solidly blue one and what that means heading into the 2026 election cycle. The conversation explores the rise of unaffiliated voters, growing frustration with both political parties, and the internal battles shaping the future of the Colorado GOP.

What we cover:
• Why Colorado became a blue state
• The rise of unaffiliated voters
• TABOR and Colorado tax politics
• The evolution of the Colorado GOP
• Internal party fights and election politics
• What to expect in 2026

About the guest:
Dick Wadhams is a longtime Colorado political strategist and former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party. Over a five-decade career, he has worked on major local, state, and national political campaigns and remains a leading voice in Colorado politics.

Resources:
• Colorado GOP
• Colorado General Assembly

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If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected].

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Deborah Flora to unpack one of the least understood parts of Colorado politics: the caucus and assembly system. From precinct captains and state assemblies to petitions and primaries, the conversation breaks down how candidates actually make it onto the ballot and why many voters feel disconnected from the process. They also explore the growing debate over whether Colorado’s caucus system still reflects a representative democracy in a state where most voters are now unaffiliated.

What we cover:
• How Colorado’s caucus and assembly system works
• The difference between caucuses, petitions, and primaries
• Why voter participation in caucuses has steadily declined
• The growing influence of unaffiliated voters in Colorado
• The debate over representation, party control, and reform
• What a move to a straight primary system could look like

About the guest:
Deborah Flora is a longtime Colorado radio host, commentator, nonprofit founder, and former congressional and U.S. Senate candidate. Through her work in media, public policy, and civic engagement, she has spent years covering Colorado politics and advocating for greater public understanding of the political process.

Resources:
• Colorado Secretary of State: Colorado Secretary of State
• Colorado Republican Party: Colorado GOP
• Colorado Democratic Party: Colorado Democrats

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If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected].

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

Water is one of the most critical and complex policy issues in Colorado, yet most people rarely think about how it actually works. In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Casey Davenhill of the Colorado Watershed Assembly to break down the systems, history, and policies that govern how water is managed across the state.

From the Dust Bowl to today’s drought concerns, the conversation explores how Colorado built a legal and collaborative framework around water, why watersheds shape decision-making, and how competing interests from agriculture to cities to recreation all intersect in one shared system.Because when it comes to water, everything is connected, and understanding that system is the first step to protecting it.

What we cover:
 • What a watershed is and why it matters
 • How Colorado’s water system developed over time
 • The concept of “first in time, first in right” water law
 • Why water policy is so complex and stakeholder-driven
 • How organizations collaborate across regions and interests
 • The role of the Watershed Assembly and the Healthy Rivers Fund

About the guest:
Casey Davenhill is the Executive Director of the Colorado Watershed Assembly, a statewide nonprofit that supports and connects watershed groups across Colorado. Her work focuses on collaboration, funding, and on-the-ground efforts to improve water quality, conservation, and long-term watershed health.

Resources:
 • Colorado Watershed Assembly: https://www.coloradowater.org/
 • Colorado Water Conservation Board: https://engagecwcb.org/
 • The Colorado River: https://coloradoriver.com/
 • South Platte Basin Roundtable: https://cwcb.colorado.gov/about-us/basin-roundtables/south-platte-basin-roundtable

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If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Reach out to the team at [email protected]

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

Housing is one of the most talked-about issues in Colorado, but the reality on the ground is far more complex than most people realize. In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Tony Lewis of the Donnell Kay Foundation to unpack what’s actually driving the affordable housing crisis, especially in rural communities.

The conversation goes beyond headlines and legislation to explore the real bottlenecks slowing housing development, from financing gaps and workforce constraints to the limits of government-driven solutions. It also highlights an often overlooked truth: building new housing is only part of the solution. Preserving existing affordable housing may be just as critical.

Because when it comes to housing, there isn’t a single fix, only a series of interconnected challenges that require new ways of thinking.

What we cover:
 • Why affordable housing is so difficult to build, especially in rural areas
 • The gap between state funding and real-world project timelines
 • Why developers, not governments, ultimately build housing
 • The role of nonprofit developers and philanthropic capital
 • The limitations of policies like Proposition 123
 • Why preserving existing affordable housing is just as important as building new

About the guest:
Tony Lewis is a longtime leader at the Donnell Kay Foundation, where he works at the intersection of policy, philanthropy, and systems change. With more than two decades of experience, he focuses on practical solutions across issue areas including housing, food systems, and education, with a particular emphasis on underserved and rural communities.

Resources:
• Donnell Kay Foundation: https://dkfoundation.org
• Rural Homes Colorado: https://ruralhomescolorado.com/

Leave a review and stay in touch:
If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Reach out to the team at [email protected]

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Cortney Crouch and Rob Moulton of the Education Alliance of Colorado to explore how schools and parents can come together to influence education policy. What started as a small group of charter school leaders looking for better representation has grown into a statewide alliance supporting tens of thousands of students. The conversation breaks down how advocacy actually works, why parent voice matters, and how organizations like EAC are helping schools navigate an increasingly complex policy landscape.

What we cover:

• What the Education Alliance of Colorado is and how it started
• Why schools formed an association to engage in policy and advocacy
• How lobbying and grassroots parent engagement work together
• How EAC supports schools before, during, and after legislation passes
• Why empowering parents has become a key driver of policy impact

About the guests: 

Cortney Crouch is Board Chair of the Education Alliance of Colorado and works with charter schools on finance and operations. Rob Moulton is a board member and longtime advocate for charter schools, with experience in school governance and legislative engagement. Together, they help lead EAC’s efforts to support schools and activate parent voices across Colorado.

Resources:
• Education Alliance of Colorado: edallianceco.org

Leave a review and stay in touch:

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected]

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

New data centers are rapidly expanding across the country, driven by the growth of AI and digital infrastructure.

But behind that growth are real questions about energy use, water consumption, cost to consumers, and community impact.

In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Senator Cathy Kipp to break down one of the most complex policy debates of the Colorado legislative session. Two competing bills are shaping the conversation, one focused on incentives and economic growth, the other on guardrails, transparency, and long-term sustainability.

Because when new industries move fast, policy has to catch up just as quickly.

What we cover:
• What data centers are and why demand is growing so quickly
• The two competing bills at the Capitol and what each is trying to do
• Concerns around energy use, water consumption, and grid expansion
• Who should pay for infrastructure, companies or ratepayers
• The debate over tax incentives and whether they actually deliver value
• Community impacts, including environmental concerns and local opposition
• The political challenge of balancing labor, environmental, and economic interests
• What happens next as the legislative session moves toward a deadline

About the guest:
Cathy Kipp is a Colorado State Senator representing Fort Collins and currently serves as Senate President Pro Tempore. She is the sponsor of Senate Bill 102, which focuses on establishing guardrails, transparency, and protections related to data center development in Colorado.

Resources:
• Colorado General Assembly: https://leg.colorado.gov/
• Senate Bill 102: http://www.leg.colorado.gov/bills/SB26-102
• House Bill 1030: http://www.leg.colorado.gov/bills/HB26-1030

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If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected].

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

Most of us assume government funding is tracked, understood, and easy to follow. But when it comes to federal dollars flowing into states, especially through grants, the reality is far more complicated. In this episode, Ross Izard sits down with Steven Johnson of the Center for Practical Federalism to unpack how federal money moves, why transparency is so limited, and what it means for taxpayers, lawmakers, and communities. Because if we cannot see where money is going, it becomes nearly impossible to understand what government is actually doing or whether it is working.

What we cover:
• What federalism means and how power is split between federal and state governments
• How federal funding and grants shape state decisions
• Why it is so hard to track where federal money actually goes
• The lack of transparency around billions in public funding
• Why this issue has bipartisan support
• How better transparency could improve accountability and decision-making

About the guest:
Steven Johnson is a Fellow with the Center for Practical Federalism at the State Policy Network. A former Michigan state legislator, his work focuses on restoring the balance of power between federal and state governments and advancing practical solutions like federal grant transparency to improve accountability and decision-making.

Resources:
• Federalism Scorecard: federalismscorecard.com
• State Policy Network: spn.org

Leave a review and stay in touch:
If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected].

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard sits down with Roweena Naidoo, Vice President of Policy and Community Initiatives at Mile High United Way, to unpack the complex intersection of foster care, education, housing, and policy. The conversation goes beyond legislation to focus on what actually happens after a bill passes—and why implementation is often the hardest and most important part. From education access and housing stability to statewide programs like 211, this episode highlights how policy decisions directly impact some of Colorado’s most vulnerable young people and what it takes to turn good policy into real outcomes.

What we cover:
• What Mile High United Way does and how it operates within a broader national network
• The realities facing foster youth, including low graduation rates and high risk of homelessness
• Why stability in education (like staying in the same school) matters for foster youth outcomes
• The gap between passing legislation and actually implementing it effectively
• How policies like free college for former foster youth took years to fully reach students
• The importance of cross-sector collaboration to address housing, education, and workforce challenges together
• Current challenges including frozen housing vouchers, threats to 211 funding, and state budget pressures

About the guest:
Roweena Naidoo is the Vice President of Policy and Community Initiatives at Mile High United Way. She leads the organization’s policy and advocacy work, community grantmaking, and major initiatives including Bridging the Gap (supporting youth aging out of foster care), community schools, and eviction prevention efforts. She works at the intersection of policy, community impact, and systems change to improve outcomes for vulnerable populations across Colorado.

Resources:
Mile High United Way: https://unitedwaydenver.org/
211 Colorado (statewide resource line for support services): Dial 211

Leave a review and stay in touch:
If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected].

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.

In this episode of the Straight-Up 30, host Ross Izard talks with Erik Billinger, Chief Development Officer at ACE Scholarships, about how private school scholarship programs work and why the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit could be a major shift for families across the country. They break down ACE’s role as a scholarship-granting organization, the difference between traditional fundraising and tax credit-supported giving, and the policy fight now unfolding in Colorado over how the new federal program could be implemented. The conversation also explores why school choice is about more than academics and how access to the right school can change outcomes for students.

What we cover:
• What ACE Scholarships does and how scholarship-granting organizations work
• The difference between charitable giving and state tax credit scholarship programs
• How the new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit is designed to work
• Why Colorado is becoming an early testing ground for how states regulate the program
• The legal and policy tension between federal law, state law, and school participation
• Why families choose different schools, including safety, values, and academic fit

About the guest:
Erik Billinger is the Chief Development Officer at ACE Scholarships, a national nonprofit that helps low-income families access private K-12 schools through scholarships. ACE has awarded nearly $400 million in scholarships and supported more than 121,000 students across 13 states.

Resources:
ACE Scholarships: acescholarships.org
Education Freedom Tax Credit: educationfreedomtaxcredit.org

Leave a review and stay in touch:
If you enjoyed the episode, please rate and review the show. It helps more listeners find us. Have feedback or questions? Email [email protected].

Straight facts. Straight talk. Straight to the point.