Public Affairs

Flock cameras, and other license plate reader systems, are installed all over Colorado. The technology gives law enforcement access to a new level of tracking, a reach they say has helped them solve all kinds of terrible crimes and made the state safer. But community fears that law enforcement could misuse the data and invade people’s privacy, and share it with federal immigration authorities, are mounting — and getting the attention of state lawmakers.

The six lawmakers tasked with writing Colorado’s budget have an excruciating job this year — they must find about $1.5 billion in savings to keep the budget in balance, and understand that many of their cuts will have direct, human consequences. That’s because the state's Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to low-income Coloradans, accounts for a significant part of Colorado’s budget, and costs have ballooned in recent years.

This episode of Municipal Matters is the entire recording of the CoWest Noticias Collaborative's Local Mayors Forum from March 19th. The Local Mayors Forum in collaboration with Colorado Mountain College included mayors from Aspen to Rifle, excluding GWS due to scheduling issues, to deepen the connection between elected officials and their constituents.

Auden Schendler had a long career with the Aspen Skiing Company as the Environmental Affairs Director and recently published a book called Terrible Beauty. Schendler's long experience provided him razor sharp insight on climate change, corporate blame culture, and what it is to be a human being in today's world. He joins KDNK's Marilyn Gleason for a discussion on the failure of corporate America to confront the climate crisis.

The Town of Basalt’s local election is rapidly approaching, and Town Council Candidates appeared at a forum in late February to answer some burning questions. The candidates are Angela Anderson, Benjamin Fierstein, Elyse Hottel, and Greg Shaffran.

For a lot of farmers in Colorado, and across the country, insecticides known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, have been a game changer. But what’s been a breakthrough for some has been a nightmare for others. Neonics are being blamed for die-offs in domestic bees and native pollinators, and there’s growing concern over their potential impacts on human health as well. This year, some Democratic lawmakers proposed a bold step to reduce the chemicals’ use in Colorado; they wanted farmers to get something like a prescription to be allowed to use neonic-treated seeds.CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Rae Solomon discuss what those lawmakers tried to do, and why they faced such fierce opposition from the get go.

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.