Colorado Matters

By day, Colorado’s convention delegates attend meetings to get motivated for the long election season. At night, they hear from the party’s most prominent leaders. Then, as kids return to school the head of the Colorado Education Association outlines the challenges and opportunities ahead. Also, exposure to the sun can be extra hard for people with darker skin. And, why Colorado raised the drinking age.

As the Democratic National Convention gets underway, Polly Baca of Denver has participated in every one of them since 1964. She says delegates are united around Kamala Harris’ candidacy. Then, Colorado ranks fifth nationwide in school absenteeism. And, Paralympic hopeful Madison Champion on why she loves her sport. Also, a poet laureate promotes rest over relentless productivity.

They may not have planned to go to college, but they did, thanks to a network of mountain campuses. As Carrie Besnette Houser steps down as the longest-serving president of Colorado Mountain College, a picture of education, employment, and equity. Then, let's ride in a Great Dale House Car, rooted in Denver history. Plus, Yoga on the Rocks. And, your chance to "Turn the Page with Colorado Matters" and author Timothy Winegard's, "The Horse: A Galloping History of Humanity."

The Museum for Black Girls in downtown Denver honors the accomplishments, resilience and “magic’’ of Black women around the world and inspires new generations. Colorado Matters co-host Chandra Thomas Whitfield toured the interactive exhibits with students from the Opening Act Theatre Camp.

People were allowed to keep Medicaid coverage during the pandemic without the usual restrictions. But when things went back to normal, some lost coverage who shouldn’t have.

During the pandemic, the US government required states to keep people on Medicaid without checking their eligibility. Then, as the pandemic wound down, those who found jobs or earned too much to qualify, had to find other coverage. The problem was, some people who still qualified for Medicaid also lost coverage.

What's next now that former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters has been convicted on seven charges connected to breaching election system security? Then, "Aging Matters" on how to avoid real estate scams. Plus, working through challenges to harvest Olathe sweet corn. Also, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on bird flu in Colorado. And how Project Play is working to make sports accessible to all kids.

A packed school bus, stranded in a blizzard. The driver's gone for help, and the older children are left in charge. Today, "Children of the Storm," the story of the Pleasant Hill school bus tragedy on Colorado's southeastern plains in 1931. Author and historian Ariana Harner joins us. Then, Colorado Paralympian YanXiao Gong heads to Paris already a world champion. He talks about his childhood love for his sport.

Ira Flatow wants to turn science... into dinner conversation. The host and creator of Science Friday has spent a career quenching our curiosity, and his, and making science accessible. But amidst the fun are serious issues, like water shortages, climate change, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence. Flatow was in Colorado recently. He spoke with CPR Southern Colorado Reporter Dan Boyce in front of an audience.

Colorado's county clerks have been fighting back against disinformation and election lies for years. But this election, there's a twist -- Artificial Intelligence -- and they're training to ensure election integrity, before and after the vote. Then, ballroom culture has been sweeping the nation -- and the world -- for more than 40 years. How the spirit of the LGBTQ sub-culture that originated in New York City in the 1960s is shaping pop culture globally today, and making its mark here in Colorado. Plus, finding the right tree for your yard.