Colorado Matters

Today we talk with Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, one of “The Swans of Harlem,” a Denver native featured in a new book about these pioneering ballerinas and their effort to make sure their history is not overlooked or forgotten. Then, Denver's iconic Cleo Parker Robinson sees her dream come true.

Free syringe exchange programs are now outlawed in Pueblo. The city council passed the ban last week. We'll talk about what's changed and why the debate is ongoing. Then, a new state law allows wolverines to be reintroduced to Colorado, but it won't be an easy task. And Judy Collins is back in Colorado for a sold-out concert. We revisit our conversation with the folk singer who grew up in Denver.

Colorado's putting a lot of stock into the idea of ADUs, Accessory Dwelling Units, to help ease the housing crunch. We'll talk about the potential impact and how similar programs are working in other states. Then, Denver native Karlya Shelton-Benjamin is among a pioneering group of ballerinas known as the Swans of Harlem. Plus, how one Pueblo educator is making sure students don't get left behind when it comes to technology.

They're known as the Swans of Harlem and they've performed for the Queen of England, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, at the White House, and beyond. Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, a Denver native, was among them, and she's featured in a new book about this pioneering group of ballerinas.

Colorado's putting a lot of stock into the idea of ADUs, Accessory Dwelling Units, to help ease the housing crunch. Governor Jared Polis signed a new law earlier this month that helps homeowners build them.

He's spent 50 years at the University of Colorado Boulder, including the last 15 as chancellor. Now Phil DiStefano is stepping down. He discusses how to add more value to a liberal arts degree, the challenges facing higher education, and the importance of what he calls, "humble leadership." Then, we remember a champion for pedestrian safety in Denver, Phyllis Mack.

Daily life has been disrupted in Gunnison by the ongoing closure of an important bridge, from high school athletics, to timber, to health care. What might a fix look like? And what's the timeline? Then, geomagnetic storms test Boulder's Space Weather Prediction Center. Plus, Steve Wozniak, a co-founder of Apple, speaks at the commencement for CU Boulder, where he once was a student. Plus, words to live by from 102-year-old Bill Powell of Fort Collins.

It's a state law that's supposed to weed out police officers and sheriff's deputies who are dishonest. But is it working? We'll discuss the results of a special investigation through the Colorado News Collaborative. Then, as Colorado gets older, what are the changing needs and resources? And the first KlezKolorado Festival hopes to find harmony in music.

In a warehouse in north Denver, students of all ages are learning the construction trades. The Build Strong Academy served as something of a backdrop to a bill signing– legislation that lets folks up and down the Front Range build ADUs – Accessory Dwelling Units – on their property. It’s also where Ryan Warner met Governor Jared Polis for their regular interview to talk about everything from housing to transit to taxes.

Did you know that If you're critically ill and can't make decisions for yourself, your family can't automatically step into help? We'll talk through what to know for our series, Aging Matters on Colorado Matters. Then, Colorado Wonders, where was the state's first public library? Later, former Broncos players Terrell Davis and Brian Griese share their own stories of loss as they work to help children coping with grief.

Grief wasn't a topic that came up very often in their NFL locker rooms, but Brian Griese and Terrell Davis both have experience with loss. Recently the former Denver Broncos teammates got together to discuss their journeys as part of a fundraiser for Judi's House. Founded in 2002 by Griese and his wife Brooke, a clinical psychologist, the Aurora-based facility helps provide support for children grieving a death loss.

The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind now has a superintendent who's deaf. Then, Broncos football asseses potential starting quarterbacks.

The Denver Broncos have gone through more than dozen quarterbacks --with very little success to show for it -- since Peyton Manning retired eight years ago. But one of the Hall of Famer's teammates, offensive tackle Ryan Harris, thinks the team has finally found an answer in 2024 first-round draft pick Bo Nix. Harris talked about Nix' debut last weekend at the Broncos' rookie camp.

The Kirkland Museum, named for artist Vance Kirland who suspended himself above giant canvases, is merging with the Denver Art Museum. DAM's director Christoph Heinrich tells Ryan Warner what the deal means for art lovers and, more specifically, members.

In Colorado Springs, they're equipping first responders with whole blood that can be transfused on the scene of an accident, an attack, or a medical emergency. Then, what a merger means for the Denver Art Museum and the Kirkland Museum. Plus, charging EVs across Colorado. Later, division over a proposed national monument on the Western Slope. Later, how do birds survive hail storms? And using goats to keep brush at bay.

At Goat Mowers, the workforce mostly has four legs and horns. The business, based in Calhan, Colorado, harnesses the hunger of goats to care for lawns and fire-prone landscapes. We meet owner Kimberly Jones and a goat named What What.

For many people, having a safe and reliable car is more than just a want; it’s a critical need, and one that can determine whether we can get to work, […]

From lowering property taxes to changing gun policy, we'll break down the hits and misses as state lawmakers wrap up the legislative session. Then, when the vehicle you depend on requires costly repairs, getting it fixed can be a total budget buster. We tell you about a Colorado nonprofit that is helping working single mothers get back on the road.

Legal recreational cannabis sold in Colorado for the first time ten years ago. Now, marijuana is on the verge of another turning point. We'll take stock and look ahead with two guests who watched the industry -- and regulation-- grow up in Colorado. Then, the giant Pikeview quarry is a scar, and an opportunity. Also, you don’t have to be a graduate to benefit from a commencement speech, this time at Ft. Lewis College. And a life-changing stroll for Dr. Royce Fitts.

Last week, the Biden Administration proposed reclassifying cannabis as a less-dangerous drug. We discuss the federal government’s move to ease restrictions on marijuana as well as Colorado's decade-old cannabis law with Ricardo Baca, the first-ever cannabis editor of the Denver Post and Sam Kamin, a professor at the University of Denver law school.

An estimated 200,000 people in Colorado have Long COVID. We speak with two of them today about their lives 4 years after diagnosis. Then, what a proposed plan at the state capitol could mean for property taxes. Later, healing the scar on the mountainside near Colorado Springs. And one of the new markers sharing the history of Denver's Chinatown is missing.

There are still many mysteries about Long COVID, but what is clear, is that about 200,000 Coloradans have the condition. A recent book called "The Long COVID Reader," edited by Mary Ladd, features essays and poems by long-haulers, including two from Colorado.

State lawmakers say social drinking can relieve stress and promote camaraderie – but what's the trade-off? Then, the reason the legislature killed a proposal to limit access to public records for some people. Also, students advocate for technology to keep classrooms cooler. Plus, climate change means rising acidity in the Antarctic ocean.

As antiwar protests continue on college campuses, we get perspective from a student journalist. Then, Colorado's bishop for the United Methodist Church talks about the decision to allow gay clergy. Also, the state appears ready to expand public transit funding, but there are strings attached for RTD. Plus, rethinking offices as housing, healing through music, and jazzing up graduation.

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.