County health officials confirm Whooping Cough cases in Carbondale

Last December, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment declared a pertussis, or whooping cough, epidemic in Colorado.

And this week, officials confirmed several cases of whooping cough, all in the Carbondale area.

KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to Sara Brainard, Immunization Director for Garfield County Public Health to find out what symptoms to be on the lookout for, and what precautions Carbondale residents can take.

County Enviro Health Manager on Carbondale Air Quality Monitoring

This week county authorities put up an air quality monitoring station near the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale. KDNK's Ed Williams spoke with Garfield County Environmental Health Manager Paul Reaser about air monitoring in the area.

Dangerous isolation in the Roaring Fork Valley

According to Carrie Marsh of the Aspen Hope Center, one of the major contributors to the Roaring Fork Valley's elevated suicide rate is isolation. KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke with Marsh about that and other contributing factors that make the valley's suicide rate three times the national average.

Local grocers move to protect customers as state officials identify source of Listeria outbreak

The recent listeria outbreak that hospitalized at least 20 and killed two, was pinpointed to Jensen Farms in southeastern Colorado. In order to protect it's customers, City Market Grocery Stores issued automated warnings to shoppers - including ones here in the Roaring Fork Valley - who had recently purchased the contaminated melon. KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke with Dr. Chris Urbina, who heads the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Some hospitals getting out of the baby business

The long anticipated St. Anthony hospital is holding its grand opening in Lakewood today.It's taken seven years to plan and build the 450 million dollar facility, but there's one major service that won't be offered: labor and delivery. As KDNK's Bente Birkeland reports, getting out of the baby business is a decision more and more hospitals are making across the county.