Colorado Matters

Former University of Denver chancellor Rebecca Chopp says she was lucky her doctor diagnosed her Alzheimer’s early.

We consider the possible impacts as the Drug Enforcement Administration considers reclassifying cannabis to a Schedule III substance. Then, Colorado sounds the alarm over congenital syphilis.

As state lawmakers head into their final week of the legislative session, gun policy is once again a hot topic. We’ll find out where nearly a dozen proposals stand.

Salma Khalif and Nzube Kolawole visited an exhibition at Stanley Marketplace in Aurora.

Now what? AG Phil Weiser on what’s ahead now that the final sentence has been handed down in the killing of Elijah McClain in Aurora police custody.

Colorado ranks second in the nation for the number of women elected to the state legislature. But what does it mean for our state?

It’s tricky to protect newborns whose mothers use drugs; how Colorado’s law has evolved to serve infants and families.

Colorado hospitals don’t have to report newborns who test positive for drugs as child abuse cases.

In the new short film “Canyon Chorus,” openly-gay adventurer Mikah Meyer takes his choral mentor and some friends on a rafting trip.

Four Coloradans share why they chose to leave the state to attend an HBCU (Historically Black College and Universities) and how it’s affected their lives.

NPR host Ayesha Rascoe's book features prominent graduates of historically Black colleges and universities.

Take two trees and call me in the morning. On this Earth Day, how nature affects our health, from brain studies in national parks to forest bathing in Japan.

Slowing climate change is considerably cheaper than purely reacting to it. Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson is back for our regular discussion.

Air travel will be much speedier in the future if the Colorado-based company Boom Supersonic has its way.

In their regular chat, Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson and Senior Host Ryan Warner discuss a new report in the journal Nature that finds, “economic damages resulting from climate change […]

Before ski resorts came to dominate life in the mountains here, the Colorado Rockies were home to Indigenous tribes.

With a record-setting 10th national championship trophy in hand, DU hockey players and their coaches are already looking forward to next season, while taking some time to celebrate the moment.

The Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs hosts a free opera Sunday. "Glory Denied" tells the story of the longest-held American prisoner of war.

Aging can be tough, and one of the most difficult and lesser-discussed aspects of aging for many is dealing with loneliness and social isolation.

Young people face an increased risk for colorectal cancer; cases are expected to grow 90% by 2030. Now there’s an effort to improve early detection.

Young people are developing colon and rectal cancer more often. Cases in 20- and 30-somethings are expected to grow a whopping 90% before the decade’s end.

We’re going skiing today with one of the best mogul skiers in the world. 14-year-old Ava Keenan, of Vail, hopes to be the first Black gold medalist in the sport.

It’s a big tax surplus that could help nearly 300,000 families in Colorado get out of poverty, and give the state one of the lowest child poverty rates in the nation.

An attempt to impeach Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold failed at the state Capitol. We get perspective from public affairs reporter Bente Birkeland.

Rather than risk sparking a wildfire in high winds, Xcel Energy opted to cut power to tens of thousands of people. But the decision caused other problems.

Joseph Goodfox Jr., a sophomore long snapper for the Fort Lewis Skyhawks football team, was among the Osage performers at March’s Academy Awards ceremony.

Krista Hanley survived the Columbine shooting. 25 years later, she helps people feel safer together even as she navigates her own recovery.

Krista Hanley, co-founder of Safer Together, survived the attack on Columbine High School 25 years ago this month.

The term ‘motherlode’ is synonymous with the Gold Rush, yet women weren’t welcome to wield pickaxes or pan for flakes.

Brain injuries in the military are possible outside of combat. Training with grenades, for instance, carries risks.

Army reservist Robert Card II went on a shooting rampage in Maine last fall. An autopsy showed he had extensive brain damage, likely from repeated exposure to grenade explosions. He'd never been in combat.

Composer and multi-instrumentalist Jeremiah Fraites, of Denver band The Lumineers, has released “Piano Piano 2.” The mostly instrumental album also features a cover of Radiohead’s “No Surprises,” with Colorado’s own […]

Colorado is getting older. The fastest growing population in the state is people 65 plus. But people age in different ways. Today, we begin an ongoing series, Aging Matters.

You might say that Colorado Springs will be the center of the universe next week as people from more than 40 countries gather for the annual space symposium.

What issues will shape your decision on election day? We’re kicking off Voter Voices to find out. Then, tobacco is a leading cause of preventable death in Colorado.

Dearfield was once a thriving community in northeastern Colorado where hundreds of Black farmers homesteaded beginning in 1910.

A recent study found people are willing to accept false or misleading statements if they align with their political ideology. We talk with a CU Boulder researcher about the findings.

Few Colorado musicians have had a more impressive and varied career than Chris Daniels. The singer-songwriter has led Chris Daniels and The Kings for 40 years.

There is a critical shortage of veterinarians and vet techs in Colorado. We talk with veterinarian-turned-lawmaker, Rep. Karen McCormick, about solutions.

The ballot’s starting to take shape in the special election to replace former Rep. Ken Buck.

March Madness continues on Saturday, and fans of women’s college basketball in Colorado are in for a special treat: the CU Buffs meet the University of Iowa in Albany, New […]

The Philippines is an island country of Southeast Asia located in the western Pacific Ocean. And it’s far, far away from here.

Colorado is the only state that does not require people who work in funeral homes to be licensed, but that could be changing.

Colorado is the only state that does not require people who work in funeral homes to be licensed.

Black pregnant and postpartum people in Colorado continue to die at disproportionately higher rates. A new report found that they experience a mortality rate of 104.5 per 100,000 people.

Colorado’s hometown soccer star Sophia Smith is now the highest-paid player in the National Women’s Soccer League. She just signed a new deal with the Portland Thorns.

A small-town synagogue in Southern Colorado was once considered endangered. Now it’s received the strongest historic protection there is.

Going from homelessness to housed is complicated; Grand Junction is looking to create interim housing to help in the transition.

The latest edition of our “Purplish” podcast explores $1 billion in tax credits under consideration at the state legislature. Then, Steamboat Springs is dealing with a housing crisis – but there are questions about the scale of affordable housing. And, families struggle to trust the funeral industry. Plus, an editorial cartoonist’s work is on display.

The Yampa Valley Housing Authority purchased 534 acres of land thanks to an anonymous donor who was concerned about housing affordability in Routt County.

I just love a road trip. And I came across a new guide. It’s not filled with hotels or restaurants.

From one wet, spring snowstorm to another, we get the outlook from Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Mike Nelson, and the impact on snowpack.

A formidable winter storm hit much of Colorado last week. Another is waiting in the wings for the high country.

Punk paragon Dana Meyers, of Indie 102.3, hosts The Punkyard on Saturday nights.

What is it like to live undocumented in Colorado?

We’re in the throws of March Madness, and the women’s teams are center court, including the CU Buffs. We’ll talk with hall-of-famer Ceal Barry about this moment in women’s basketball.

It’s the most important source of water in Colorado and across the region. We’ll get an update on making sure there’s enough to go around.

During the worst part of the pandemic, Candace Oates had an “ah-ha moment.”  She saw the way COVID was disproportionately adversely impacting Black and brown communities, and she was inspired […]

A solar eclipse will cross the U.S. on April 8. Coloradans will get a partial, but impressive, view. Then,100-year-old news clips about abortion echo the current debate. Plus, are airplanes really policing your speed? And, Air Force Academy alumna Madison Marsh will use her Miss America platform to raise awareness of pancreatic cancer.

Just a few months after she graduated from the  U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, and while working on a graduate degree at Harvard, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh took on a new challenge. Marsh represented Colorado in the Miss America pageant earlier this year and took the title.

Why did some places in Colorado get a lot more snow than others this week? We’ll assess with National Weather Service meteorologist Greg Heavener.

As we dig out from the snowstorm, why did some parts of Colorado get inches of snow, while others got feet? And what does the wet, heavy snow mean for the state's snowpack, which is critical to our water supply?

St. Patrick’s Day is Sunday, and while it’s an opportunity to celebrate, it’s also a time to reflect and pay homage to Irish culture and lives lost.

Don the goggles and meet a CU student who’ll let you hold a holographic sun in your hand. Dezell Turner wants to use augmented reality to map trajectories in space.

Colorado may become the first state to cap the price for a pharmaceutical drug it says is unaffordable. Then, Dr. Antonia Novello is used to breaking barriers as the first woman and first Hispanic person to serve as the U.S. Surgeon General. She held the post from 1990 to 1993. And after a year of turmoil and challenges, Central City Opera has a new artistic director.

The Aurora Police Department is releasing weekly data in an effort to create transparency with the public.

Many Americans experience sticker shock when they pay for certain prescription drugs.  Americans pay the world’s highest prices for drugs even though many are developed with money from the U.S. government.

Colorado has had a medical aid-in-dying law on the books for eight years, but using it can be deeply frustrating. State lawmakers are considering changes. We’ll get context with Purplish.

Tonight is the State of the Union; we’ll talk about what issues will hit home in Colorado.

Trump and Biden take Colorado, and the nation, on Super Tuesday. We'll drill into the results. Plus, with Nikki Haley suspending her campaign, what's next for a self-described Reagan Republican in Colorado who backed her? Then, you might think people suspected of violent crime would be held until they stand trial, but that doesn't always happen. And a push to protect pollinators.

It's Super Tuesday. We'll walk through the voting process and get a little voting history along the way. Plus, the head of Colorado's county clerks talks about what's next now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled Donald Trump can stay on the ballot. Also, a mother's journey to help her daughter overcome an underdiagnosed virus. And Colorado wonders about its wild weather changes.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that votes for Donald Trump in Colorado’s presidential primary will count. Hear analysis from CPR's Washington reporter Caitlyn Kim, plus reaction from a plaintiff in the case and an election official. Then, calls for an independent audit of Aurora’s police intelligence unit. And, state lawmakers want to limit access to public records.

M'Lis Ward trained fighter pilots. But as a woman, she wasn't allowed to be one. Instead, she went onto United, becoming the first Black female captain at a U.S. passenger airline. Now she trains other pilots at United in Denver. Plus, a coming-of-age story set at a family reunion in Denver's city park.

As Black History Month comes to an end, Chandra visits a popular trivia event in Denver called, "Black People Know Things," where they elevate and celebrate Colorado's Black history, from the serious to the funny.

State Democrats have a three-pronged plan to reduce ozone pollution in the summer months, but it's facing an uphill battle. Then, no matter what social media might suggest, there's no such thing as the "perfect parent." And, two gene therapies approved by the FDA could give people with sickle cell disease new hope.

Another park closes in Grand Junction, frequented by people experiencing homelessness. But the closure may be more about perception, as the city votes down a ban on daytime camping in parks. Then, Colorado's Black history is diverse and rich but not widely known. An exhibit at the Museum of Boulder is working to change that by illuminating the stories of Black people across the state.

As Denver works to help thousands of new immigrants who've arrived from the southern U.S. border, the city finds itself increasingly isolated from other communities in Colorado. Today we share the latest episode of Purplish which examines the complexities and considerations.

First lynx, then wolves, now wolverines. Colorado revisits plans to bring the rare and elusive member of the weasel family to the state's alpine tundra. Then, why is the 118th Congress so ineffective? CPR's Caitlyn Kim talks with some of Colorado's delegation about the frustration. Also, the pandemic story behind United's new flight training building in Denver. And, remembering singer/songwriter Randy Sparks.

Should students be allowed to celebrate their cultural diversity at graduation? What state lawmakers are considering and what students at one school have agreed to do...at least for now. Then, as consumers we may think we're making choices that are good for the environment. But is that actually the case? And, farming... ice.

At the start of the year, Denver’s mayor declared victory on a big campaign promise. He said the city had successfully sheltered more than 1000 people who’d been without housing. But 30 times as many people metro-wide used homelessness services over the past year. So, now what?

Democrats in the state legislature are introducing a wide array of gun measures this session. Then, is joining a club a way to save democracy?

There’s a totally different way the U.S. could handle immigration. It’s not something you’ll hear talked about in Congress these days. But in a new book, "Welcome the Wretched," a Colorado legal scholar argues it would fix the current situation, which overwhelms cities and nonprofits. And, says author César Cuauhtémoc García Hernández, it would help the U.S. economy and set the country up for success in other ways, too.

Her family's musical legacy goes back four generations in Colorado. But Denver singer/songwriter JoFoKe isn't relying on that as she makes her own mark, baring her soul on stage and tackling issues like mental health. Then, in the early 1900s, about 300 Black homesteaders created a community called Dearfield in northern Colorado. The site where it used to stand could soon be added to the National Park Service. And Nuggets' stadium announcer Kyle Speller goes to the NBA All-Star Game.

Much has been written about the science of love. There is far less about the chemistry of being dumped.

We're heading into the snowiest time of the year, so what can we expect and how will it impact snowpack? We talk about that with Denver7 chief meteorologist Mike Nelson, who himself is making news: he's retiring. Then, Colorado Wonders if the Grand Mesa really is the world's largest flat top mountain. And Colorado's love affair with beer includes a Beer Spa and Stout Month.

Ballots are in the mail for Colorado’s March 5 presidential primary. We'll break down what you need to know. Then, congressional primaries are June 25. For the first time in nearly two decades, the 5th District has an open seat. Also, how a community’s feelings about its poorest residents shape housing policy. And, the taste of Mardi Gras in Olde Town Arvada.

Hear highlights of Thursday's Trump v. Anderson hearing at the US Supreme Court. Colorado State University student filmmaker Ali Niaz shares his award-winning documentary, "The Rocket Scientist v. The Journalist." And why the term "sanctuary city" is squishy.

The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court spent hours wrestling with the knotty legal issues of Trump v. Anderson — the presidential eligibility case from Colorado. CPR's Washington correspondent Caitlyn Kim was in the courtroom and breaks down what happened. Then Purplish looks at the first month of the state legislative session and what's ahead. Also, the Lunar New Year, and Denver native and Grammy winner Lecrae.

Larkspur is a family of eye catching but poisonous wildflowers ranging from light to inky blue, or violet to deep purple. Tall larkspur favors meadows.

Tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court hears the Colorado case to keep Donald Trump off the state's primary ballot. Krista Kafer and Norma Anderson are two of the plaintiffs. Then, Colorado researchers on how climate change is changing the acidity of the Antarctic Ocean. Also, the largest air pollution penalty in state history. And "Hooked" explores how easy it is for teens to get tobacco products.

A Black mother was verbally assaulted by a white mother using a racial slur outside their daughters' elementary school; she wanted the justice system to educate, not incarcerate. Systemic tells the story. Then, a Broomfield stylist wants designers in Africa to get their due; she's working to bring the modern looks of the Motherland to the Mile High and beyond.

In Colorado, there was a man, who became a town, which became a tourist attraction and movie star of sorts. And now: “Buckskin Joe” is in private hands.

Colorado is sixth in the nation in alcohol-related deaths, with the problem taking an increasing toll on women and younger people. Denver Post health reporter Meg Wingerter’s series is “Colorado’s Quiet Killer.” Then, a task force wants to overhaul Colorado’s school funding system. And, “Full Circle: A Story of Post Traumatic Growth,” chronicles an adaptive skier's journey both on and off the slopes.

As Congress tries to address the record number of people crossing the border, host Ryan Warner asks Colorado's senior senator, Michael Bennet, about ongoing immigration reform failures. Then, Colorado's Most Endangered Places list now includes a bowling alley and a century-old schoolhouse. And we remember photographer and filmmaker Jim Havey.

In 1922, at a time of deep racial segregation in the US, two Denverites realized their dream of building a resort in the Rockies for Black people to socialize and escape the stress of racism. They called it Lincoln Hills. For Black History Month, we revisit Lincoln Hills with retired Denver County judge Gary Jackson and former state historian Jared Orsi in 2022. Winks Lodge at Lincoln Hills was designated a National Historic Landmark in December.

Colorado is a quantum technology hub, but what does that mean? Then, a program that empowers prisoners to become professors. Also, an online map that documents environmental injustice by neighborhood isn't working the way it should. Plus, her name's on the ballot but she's not running for president. We revisit the historic Hayden Granary, and new music from Cousin Curtiss!

For decades, the industry's own documents show that Big Tobacco targeted communities of color in Colorado and across the nation. The effects are still being felt today. Keith Wailoo is the author of the book, "Pushing Cool: Big Tobacco, Racial Marketing, and the Untold Story of the Menthol Cigarette."

A college student from Colorado leads the EPA’s new National Environmental Youth Advisory Council. Then, a new exhibit featuring conservationist John Fielder who left a legacy, and a timeline, for scientists studying climate change. And "Purplish," has the behind-the-scenes story of Colorado’s effort to keep the U.S. Space Command in Colorado.