Colorado Matters

CPR Transportation reporter Nathaniel Minor explains why Denver's campaign to eliminate traffic deaths remains in the slow lane. Then, "Brave the Wild River" tells the determined story of two female botanists.

Space may be the final frontier, but some feel it hasn't been quite as accessible to LGBTQ+ people. Jason Reimuller, the Executive Director of the International Institute of Astronautical Sciences, is on a very personal mission to change that. Then, the Winter Park Jazz Festival, once a sleepy mountain get-together, celebrates its 40th anniversary in grand style with an all-star lineup.

Colorado outlawed discrimination against gay, lesbian, trans and bisexual people 15 years ago but the Supreme Court’s recent decision in the 303 Creative case could dismantle some of those protections. Ryan Warner speaks with Kyle Velte, a past president of the Colorado LGBT Bar Association. Then, poet Suzi Q. Smith uses birds to reflect on life in Denver.

Secret meetings and encrypted conversations. Those claims are at the heart of a lawsuit filed by two Democratic state representatives against their own party. Then, Michael Hancock reflects on the accomplishments and challenges after three terms as Denver's mayor. And a new rule could change how more than 8 million acres of public land are managed in Colorado.

Kits meant to stop someone from bleeding are now available to schools. One former educator in Colorado is alarmed at what this represents for our kids and people who work in schools. Then, Vic Vela joins us to talk about season 4 of "Back from Broken," CPR's podcast about the journey of recovery.

In “Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden,” author Camille T. Dungy tries to bloom where she’s planted as the pandemic shuts down the world.

A new state law that took effect on July 1 is supposed to help keep your personal data more private. Then, a new study shows a daunting trend about the number of people dying from pregnancy-related causes in the U.S. It's especially true for Black and Indigenous women. Plus, "My Story So Far" highlights perseverance in the restaurant industry. And, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival is back!

Farmers and ranchers use about 80% of the water tapped from the Colorado River. So what if the government paid them to keep their water in the river instead? "Parched" explores that idea. Then, we answer a Colorado Wonders question about wildflowers. And a sport in southern Colorado that hearkens back to the Middle Ages.

Colorado weather has felt like an assault, from a metro Denver tornado to flooded roads to heavy hail. Then, the US Supreme Court rules Colorado cannot force a business owner to design wedding websites for same-sex couples. Plus, a Colorado Wonders question about a work of art in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Also, a Delta ice cream shop reimagined, and the Costa Rican cuisine of "Top Chef" Byron Gomez.

So you want to get into bicycling, but you're a little intimidated. We take you to a nonprofit shop that's changing how people are welcomed into the bike community. Then, "My Story So Far" shares the journeys of the LGBTQ-plus community on the western slope. Plus, the ink is flowing again at the Pueblo-based Chicano newspaper, La Cucaracha. And, meet a Coloradan who makes her living through the world of fantasy gaming.