On this week's Colorado Edition - the last episode of 2018 - we look at lawmakers' plans to address high insurance rates on the Western Slope. Other stories this week include what ski resorts are doing to combat climate change and one man's personal debate on whether he should start carrying a gun.
Listen to KUNC's Colorado Edition for Friday, Dec. 28.
There are only five Colorado lawmakers with leadership titles on live on the Western Slope. Rep. Dylan Roberts is one of them. The Democrat from Avon will soon lead the state's new Rural Affairs Committee. As Scott Franz reports, Roberts says the rising cost of health insurance will be at the top of his agenda when the session starts on Jan. 4.
For many people, guns are one of the most polarizing of topics. To better understand why that is, we asked the question, "When you look at a gun, what do you see?" We've carried two stories on this topic so far: One from a rancher who uses guns to protect his livestock, another from a teenager who sees them as a symbol of the trouble in his neighborhood. Guns reporter Leigh Paterson brings us another perspective from a doctor at a community health center in Colorado Springs.
One of the most important contributors to our region's economy is the ski industry. It's dealing with some pretty big changes - including climate change. Ali Budner with the Mountain West News Bureau reports on how resorts in Colorado (and across the West) are having to adapt.
The new movie "Vice" may be about crime - or not. Its director, Adam McKay, mostly does comedy. For KUNC film critic Howie Movshovitz, who also teaches film and television at CU Denver, "Vice" may be a comedy - or not.
In the headlines:
- It's been a profitable year for U.S. Christmas tree farmers. Strong sales are due in part to a particular generation of clientele: millennials.
- Broncos fans were recently able to experience the height of boozy technology when the Bud Light Bot was introduced.
- More than 50 craft breweries are in line to get on grocery store shelves Jan. 1, when they'll be allowed to sell full-strength beer. King Soopers and Safeway will be taking a regional approach to stocking shelves with more localized breweries.
Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members . Thank you!
Guns & Americais a new public media reporting project on the role of guns in American life.
Our intro music is "Remember Me" by Colorado musician Kalatana. The midshow break is "Bling Bong" by Robbie Reverb, and our outro this episode is "Auld Lang Syne" by Dexter Britain. Other music this week by Blue Dot Sessions:
- "Dance of Felt"
- "Noe Noe"
- "Rapids"
- "Greyleaf Willow"
- "Dash and Slope"
- "Pat Dog"
- "Greylock"
And also:
- "Auld Lang Syne" - The United States Marine Corps Band
This episode was hosted and produced by assistant news director Erin O'Toole and Karlie Huckels. Digital manager Ashley Jefcoat handled the web. News director Catherine Welch and managing editor Brian Larson also contributed to this episode.
KUNC's Colorado Edition is a weekly look at the top stories from our newsroom. It's available every Friday on our website, as well as on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or wherever (RSS) you get your podcasts. You can hear it on the air every Sunday at 9 p.m. on KUNC.
Copyright 2018 KUNC
