Public Affairs

The American Beekeeping Federation is a national organization that supports the interests of all beekeepers and the beekeeping industry in the United States. It also runs the American Honey Queen program, a national competition with the goal to promote beekeeping, increase national honey consumption, and educate the public about the value of honey bees.Colorado does not have a Honey Queen program, but in January last year KDNK's Marilyn Gleason visited with the 2024 American Honey Queen and the three young women hoping to take her place.

Across Western Colorado there are many counties and small communities that lack easy access to medical specialists, Dr. Mark Deutchman at the University of Colorado Anschutz is trying to change that. Dr. Deutchman directs the Rural Program at the University’s School of Medicine. It’s his goal to fill the care gap in so many small towns across the state. Two of his students, Joslin Blair and Aidan Sokup, are getting a hands-on education at Valley View in Glenwood Springs. This episode covers their unique insights on healthcare access in rural areas and the unique challenges and privileges in the Roaring Fork Valley

KDNK's own Marilyn Gleason is abroad in Europe, enjoying the glamor and thrills of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Come along with Marilyn as she meets friends and families of athletes, captures nail-biting races, and hops all over Europe.

KDNK continues its early election coverage with Garfield County Sheriff candidate Brent Baker. Baker has been in law enforcement for twenty years and previously spent nearly a decade as a wildland firefighter. KDNK's Lily Jones asks Baker about Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, new state laws regarding inmate treatment, and what the Sheriff's Office can improve.

News Director Marilyn Gleason speaks with Rachel Perkins of the Mt Sopris Nordic Council and John Armstrong, longtime board member. Ski for SISU is coming up this very weekend, and it's the Council's largest annual fundraiser. This episode is all about love of the great outdoors and humankinds great determination to enjoy every moment.

Rifle resident and Eagle County Undersheriff Dan Loya has been working in law enforcement for nearly 30 years. He's hoping to take his experience in criminal investigation, disaster management, and policing to the office of Garfield County Sheriff. Loya and KDNK news host Lily Jones discuss immigration law, wildfire preparedness, and the importance of accountability in law enforcement in this episode of Municipal Matters.

Colorado is experiencing more, and worse, climate disasters, wrecking havoc on people’s homes — and their homeowner’s insurance rates. Coloradans face rising premiums, less choice and availability, and in some cases, getting dropped by insurers altogether. Today on Purplish, CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Rocky Mountain PBS’ Andrea Kramar look at what’s happening with the home insurance market in Colorado.

On Thursday Governor Polis delivered his seventh and final State of the State speech. Listen to the whole speech here.

Delia Malone is an ecologist who works with Roaring Fork Audubon and Colorado Wild. She and Marilyn discuss Colorado Parks and Wildlife's plan for better coexistence with beavers, high rates of mortality among reintroduced gray wolves, and whether the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service could take control of the wolf project from CPW.

Cindy Suplizio is a Western Slope native and skied for CU Boulder before turning her talents to coaching. She and Marilyn Gleason discuss all the local talent and who to watch this year.