In The NOCO

A stolen idea for a novel, an angry social media post – and an online backlash that engulfs the main characters. These are the elements of an intriguing novel by Colorado author R.L. Maizes. The writer says it draws on some of her own experiences. And the novel raises thorny questions about who gets to own an idea, who has the right to tell a particular story, and the tension of writing a novel in an age of social media tirades. A Complete Fiction was released in November, and recently won the 2026 Colorado Book Award for fiction. Maizes, who lives near Boulder, joined Erin O’Toole to share the real-life challenges of being a writer in our chronically online society. We’re listening back to that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer:…

It’s an ambitious — and expensive — project to reduce collisions between motorists and wildlife on one of Colorado’s busiest highways. The state’s newest wildlife overpass stretches 200 feet across Interstate 25 near Castle Rock. The project funnels elk, deer, coyotes and other critters over the highway. It cost $15 dollars, according to our partners at The Colorado Sun. It opened 10 months ago. And if you ask transportation and wildlife officials, it's working. So, what makes a wildlife overpass a success? Michelle Cowardin is a wildlife movement coordinator with Colorado Parks and Wildlife. She’s worked on several wildlife overpasses. Host Erin O'Toole spoke with her to get an expert’s report card on the I-25 overpass. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive…

It's finally starting to feel like fall on the Front Range. And along with those glorious fall colors – comes the dreaded task of raking up all those fallen leaves. Now, if you're one of those people who shuffles them into piles, rakes them into giant leaf bags, and then sets them out at the curb for the garbage, consider this: Those leaves could instead be doing valuable work to help make your lawn healthier. That’s according to Alison O'Connor, a horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension. She says fallen leaves can help return nutrients to the soil and give pollinators a home over the winter. But this doesn't mean you can just ignore all those leaves in the yard, either. Alison talked with Erin O'Toole to share tips to help you skip the leaf bagging this year – and the science behind why this approach can be beneficial for your yard. For more on how to prepare your lawn and garden for winter, check out these tips from CSU Extension. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter:…

If you pay attention to your local elections office this time of year, you often see recruiting ads for seasonal election workers. These folks might manage a polling place or help process ballots after votes are cast. This year in Boulder County, the elections office is recruiting for a different kind of role, which they call an Election Champion. They've invited the public to attend trainings that touch on the nuances of how elections are run in Colorado, and try to dispel misinformation about mail ballots or voter fraud – both of which are talked about frequently by the Trump administration. So far, more than 100 people have signed up for the training. Boulder County Clerk and Recorder Molly Fitzpatrick talked with Erin O'Toole to explain more about the training, and why Election Champions are needed this year. One last training session before the midterm election is set for Oct. 27 in Louisville. Find your nearest mail ballot drop box location here. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit…

Wolf & Wren Press in Longmont has built its reputation by designing cards that capture an emotion. Their offerings include a sympathy card for someone who’s lost a pet dog. Or a Mother’s Day card for a woman who’s been like a mother to you. Wolf & Wren has won four Louie Awards, which honor outstanding greeting cards. The company takes its name from its co-founders, Liz Wolf and Lauren Stapleton. (Lauren is the Wren in the name.) Erin O’Toole spoke with Liz and Lauren about how they built a thriving printing press in the 21st century, and the art of designing a great card. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for…

A day on the slopes. A horseback ride along a mountain trail. An afternoon in an escape room, or at the pickleball court. Those activities are how some homeschool students have spent their days, under the banner of enrichment. And Colorado taxpayers have funded many of these outings – to the the tune of tens of millions of dollars last year. If these activities sound a bit more extravagant than the school field trips you remember, some lawmakers agree. Colorado legislators have taken steps to rein in some of the swankier outings for homeschool students – especially when the same activities aren’t funded for public school students. And the State Board of Education this week is set to consider permanent rulesto govern publicly funded homeschool enrichment programs going forward. So, how did nearly $100 million get spent on these activities? And how have lawmakers worked to stop this from continuing? Education reporter Ann Schimke has been covering this story for Chalkbeat Colorado. She talked with Erin O'Toole…

Colorado recently reached a new clean energy milestone: In the first six months of this year, the majority of its electricity – 53.5 percent– came from renewable sources, like wind, solar and geothermal. That's according to a recent article from the energy news website Big Pivots. And it marks a significant step toward Colorado's goal of getting to 100% emission-free electricity by the year 2050. But despite hitting this threshold, energy officials say the most challenging part of the transition may still lie ahead — and big questions remain about how to keep the grid reliable while keeping costs down. To learn more, we spoke with Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office, who has led the state’s clean energy strategy since 2019. He talked with Erin O’Toole in July about how Colorado reached this point — and what it will take to get all the way to 100% renewable energy. We're listening back to that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org…

Jeff Kagan and Paige Doughty have been wearing rainbow-colored socks while performing songs about nature and science in front of kids in Boulder for more than 20 years. Their performances get kids rolling, crawling, and acting out animal moves while they sing fun, catchy lyrics about scientific concepts. The duo, who perform under the name Jeff and Paige, recently created a TV show called Rainbow Socks. It airs at 8 a.m. Sundays on Rocky Mountain PBS and is available to stream at PBS.org. Early during the filming of the show, Jeff and Paige spoke to Erin O'Toole to talk about what they hope to bring to TV. We’re listening back to that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by…

Table settings that reveal a deeper understanding of what life was like for Black women in Colorado throughout different periods of history. That concept is the core of a traveling History Colorado exhibit on display in Leadville, called 12 Tablecloths. Artist and historian Chloé Duplessis, who specializes in fabrics and textiles, created the show, which has traveled to several cities around the state. The exhibit tells the stories of Black women who worked as domestic servants at a military outpost in Fort Garland or in a wealthy Denver household, as well as the story of Jessie Barton Randolph, the first Black child born in Leadville. And Chloé, who is legally blind, incorporates non-visual aspects that people can touch, like garments and tablecloths. Chloé joined Erin O'Toole to share stories of some of the women who inspired her art. 12 Tablecloths is on display at the Healy House Museum in Leadville through Oct. 24. This is the show's final appearance in Colorado. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo…

Nearly one in five new moms experiences anxiety or depression during pregnancy or after giving birth. These conditions can lead to difficulty bonding with a newborn, or a higher risk of suicide, if left untreated. But a new experimental treatment is giving some researchers hope. It's a psychoactive substance derived from mushrooms called luvesilocin. In a recent set of FDA trials, a single dose of luvesilocin turned out to be highly effective – and worked more quickly – in improving patients' postpartum depression and anxiety. Dr. Camille Hoffmanis an OB-GYN and Professor of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz. She helped oversee an early clinical study of luvesilocin, and wrote about it for The Conversation. Hoffman spoke with Erin O'Toole earlier this year about what researchers found, and why luvesilocin may be a promising alternative to psychotherapy or prescription drugs that are often used to treat postpartum depression. We're listening back to the conversation today. * * * *…

If you ask a wildlife official – moose are relatively new arrivals to Colorado. In the late 1970s, wildlife managers released two dozen moose captured in other states into Routt National Forest near Walden. Before that, moose may have occasionally wandered in and out of Colorado, but didn’t have a permanent home here, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s official moose webpage. But a researcher at the University of Colorado says that history is all wrong – and that moose have been part of Colorado’s ecosystem for centuries. William Taylor is an archeologist and associate professor of Anthropology at CU Boulder. He studied moose remains, along with Indigenous and historical records, that suggest moose roamed Colorado long before their reintroduction in the ‘70s. The research was recently published in the Journal of Biogeography. William joined Erin O’Toole earlier this year to talk about the research and the questions it raises about the right way to treat the roughly 3,500 moose in Colorado now. We’re…

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials made a major announcement last week: They will no longer kill wolves believed to have repeatedly preyed on livestock. It's a shift in how Colorado has managed its fledgling wolf population. Previously, officials tried to strike a balance between Colorado voters’ desire to reintroduce wolves – and the concerns of ranchers who say the animals kill and harass their livestock. But for now, using lethal methods to manage wolves is off the table. So, what's behind this no-kill directive from Colorado Parks and Wildlife? Tracy Ross follows this story for The Colorado Sun. She talked with Erin O’Toole about what this new policy says about the state of wolf reintroduction in Colorado. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad…

Across Colorado, public schools are serving more students with autism. The increases over the past five years are striking: In Denver Public Schools, the state's largest district, there's been a nearly 75% increase in the number of students with an autism diagnosis who seek help from special education services. And while the exact increase varies from district to district, those figures are higher across Colorado, according to data from the state's Department of Education. Students on the autism spectrum often require extra support from a teacher. Or a more calming classroom setting. So how do Colorado schools support those students -- and where do they find the resources to serve more of them? Melanie Asmar is an education reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado. She recently spent time in some Denver classrooms and reported on the numbers. She joined Erin O'Toole for a look at how this trend is shaping the state's public schools. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback?…

It’s fall in Colorado – which means mountain roads have been filled with people enjoying the sight of all those red, orange and gold aspen leaves that cover the hillsides. And you can bet that quite a few of those tourists will look at those vibrant aspen trees and wonder why they can't just plant one in their own yard. John Murgel, a horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension, says they frequently field questions from the public about whether they can plant an aspen tree at home. "I think aspens have a special way of evoking strong memories of going to the mountains and looking at leaves,” he said. “So it's a way to bring those experiences and those memories closer to home.” Unfortunately, Murgel says that although the aspen is a uniquely beautiful tree, it may be a lousy choice for your landscape. He joined Erin O’Toole in 2024 to discuss the science behind that. We’re revisiting that conversation today. If you’re looking to plant a tree this fall or in the spring, Murgel mentioned…

A library that’s focused on encouraging people to get outside might feel a bit odd – especially in a state like Colorado with a multitude of ways to hike or camp or spend time outdoors. But getting out into nature isn't always within reach for everyone. For example, a camping trip can require expensive gear like tents, backpacks and sleeping bags. The new Anythink Nature Library in Thornton opened in August with an unusual mission: to remove some barriers to getting outside. In addition to books, patrons can check out rentable outdoor gear – or hike on a trail at the open space just outside the library branch. Mark Fink is the executive director of Anythink Libraries, which is the library district for Adams County. He talked with Erin O’Toole about the idea behind a nature library, and how the response has been. If this conversation makes you realize you’re overdue to get out and enjoy autumn in Colorado, these recent In The NoCo interviews might help: Check out a guide to the restorative practice of forest…

The Colorado Rockies have some of the most loyal fans in all of baseball. And that might be part of their problem. As we look back on another historically bad season, consider this statistic: The Rockies now have the dubious distinction of being just the fifth team in major league history to lose at least 100 games in four consecutive seasons. And yet, plenty of fans still show up. That's been the story of the Rockies for years: The team struggles. The fans keep coming. And the steady ticket sales mean ownership has little incentive to build a better team. So what’s behind the uncommonly loyal baseball fans here in Colorado? To find out, In The NoCo’s Brad Turner talked last year with Kevin Simpson of the Colorado Sun. Kevin’s been a season ticket holder since the Rockies’ very first season – and he’s written about why the fans stick around, even as the Rockies have one bad season after the next. We’re revisiting that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org…

More transparency in healthcare pricing – and fewer surprises from the billing department. Those are the key concepts behind a new Senate bill called the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act. It would require hospitals to be more up-front about what they'll charge you for medical procedures, and to send an itemized breakdown of the costs after a patient receives care. Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper introduced the bill with a Republican co-sponsor, Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas. Since then, it's moved forward from Senate committee hearings with bipartisan support. As the bill waits to be heard on the U.S. Senate floor, we talked with Sen. Hickenlooper about why he thinks transparent pricing is a key first step toward reforming American healthcare. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and…

A fictional shooting in a Colorado diner. A protagonist who finds himself in a space in between life and death. And a hero who's forced to grapple with whether or not he's led a meaningful life. These are key elements of a thought-provoking new novel by Colorado author Melissa Payne, called In This Life or Another. It was published earlier this month. The book explores the question of what it means to live a life of meaning and purpose, and whether small acts count as much as grand gestures like saving another person's life. Melissa has written seven novels, several of which have been recognized by the Colorado Authors League and the Colorado Book Awards. She spoke with Erin O’Toole about the book, which she began writing at a point in her life when she found herself grappling with some big life questions of her own. Melissa will also help present the inaugural Mountain Stories Literary Festival this weekend at the Center for the Arts Evergreen. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit…

It's become common in recent years: In the first weeks after summer break ends, many educators find themselves dealing with stifling temperatures in the classroom. And a string of early release days often follows. It happened again this year -- at the tail-end of a summer that saw record-breaking temperatures across the Front Range, according to meteorologists. If you find yourself wondering if kids should just deal with a warmer classroom, some new research from the American Psychological Association might change your thinking. Researchers there dug into findings from hundreds of studies about how classroom temperature affects student performance. Nicole Barnes is executive lead psychologist for education with the APA, and author of the study. She joined Erin O’Toole to talk about the research and why classroom heat affects some students more severely. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help…

Director and longtime Estes Park resident Nick Mollé spent decades making documentaries. His subjects include Rocky Mountain National Park, birds of Costa Rica and Australia’s wild animals. And a few years ago, he turned his attention to one of the most prominent environmental crises in the U.S. – the drought-stricken Colorado River. But midway through the project, Mollé faced a major setback: Doctors diagnosed him with cancer. It would ultimately prove fatal. Mollé spent his final months capturing sweeping vistas and quieter moments along the Colorado River, and enlisted family and friends to help capture footage. Mollé died in March, but the finished film, called Stream of Conscience: The Colorado, debuts Monday night at the Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park. Nick’s daughter Claire Mollé worked on the film and helped finish it. Claire joined Erin O’Toole to discuss her father’s work, and what gives this film about the Colorado River a distinct perspective. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo…

Capt. Frank Keesling runs a busy operation each summer on Dillon Reservoir in Summit County. Keesling owns the Dillon Water Taxi, which for the past decade has ferried passengers on a scenic journey across the reservoir and back – including people going to concerts at Dillon Amphitheater. But this summer, things changed. Drought, low snowpack, and little rainfall have pulled the reservoir’s water levels down to historically low levels – which put a stop to water taxi service between Frisco and Dillon. So, the captain created a new angle to keep his business afloat. He’s hosting small groups for catered cruises aboard his 30-foot boat. He calls it The Captain’s Table. At a moment when fishing guides, ski resorts and other Colorado businesses are still rebounding from a tough season, Erin O’Toole sat down with Keesling to hear how one business rolled with the punches. This Sunday is the last day of operation this year for the Captain’s Table. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org…

That heat wave that broiled Colorado and the U.S. this summer? Scientists are fairly certain it was made worse by climate change. But with disasters like tornadoes or wildfires, drawing a clear connection to climate change is trickier. Connecting those dots is part of a scientific field called extreme event attribution. And it matters because it influences how leaders, and the public, might take steps to address climate change. So, how confident can scientists be when they connect a weather-related event to a warming climate? That depends on the particular type of event, according to our guest, who recently wrote about extreme event attribution for the website The Conversation. Jim Hurrell is a professor of atmospheric science at Colorado State University who studies the climate system. He spoke with Erin O’Toole about the science of extreme event attribution, and why it’s getting stronger. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us:…

In 2026, artificial intelligence can draw a picture for you. Or write you a song. Or a whole novel. And a lot of people have strong feelings about that. Many artists and audiences find it uncomfortable when artificial intelligence replaces human creativity. So, it may be surprising to meet a poet who has embraced writing AI poetry – and more recently, has begun teaching AI to write its own poems. Lee Frankel-Goldwater teaches environmental studies at CU Boulder. He and his co-author, Eric Fischman, recently published some of his AI poetry work in a book called Lily in a Codebox. He told Erin O’Toole he thinks collaborating on poetry with artificial intelligence not only unlocks creative possibilities – it might even help inject some morality and humanity into a field where tech companies are investing billions to create more powerful AI. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people…

Doctors who practice at Children's Hospital Colorado find themselves in court as part of a case focused on one of the most divisive issues in the U.S. Attorneys for hundreds of younger patients seeking gender-affirming care say doctors at the hospital are refusing to provide treatment like puberty blockers or hormone therapy. That’s in spite of a Colorado Supreme Court order instructing the hospital to do so – even after threats from the federal government. The doctors who offer gender-affirming care at Children's Hospital, however, say they fear retribution. They say federal regulators have threatened to cut off Medicare funding and investigate their billing practices. So, they’ve stopped writing prescriptions. John Ingold, a health reporter for the Colorado Sun, has been following the trial, which began last week and continues this week. He joined me to talk about what's happening in the courtroom and what it says about transgender care as a political issue. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo…

Using bees to gauge the health of an ecosystem. Scientists in Boulder are testing out an unusual plan to use bees to gauge how plants and other species in the city are thriving. It works like this: A neighborhood group hosts a few hives on their property. Thousands of bees fly around the neighborhood collecting pollen and returning it to the hive. Then, researchers can test the different types of pollen that bees bring back to paint a picture of the different plants in the area. Or tests may reveal traces of pollutants that show what could be harming the ecosystem. Brett KenCairn manages nature-based solutions for the City of Boulder. He's overseeing the bee project, which launched recently. And he says the data being collected by the bees would take a huge amount of human effort to gather. He spoke with Erin O’Toole about it. If you’re interested in hosting your own “biomonitor” beehive, read more about the program. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story…

In recent weeks, Colorado has seen record-high numbers of bears roaming in places where they clash with humans: neighborhood streets, trash bins, cars – even people’s homes. Severe drought conditions across the state, along with a late-spring freeze, have decimated the supply of berries and fruit that bears rely on. So, the animals head into town looking for other food. And it turns out these encounters aren’t just jarring in the moment. For bears, they can have ripple effects that determine how many offspring they can produce, and their chances of survival. It’s part of a concept biologists call an ecological trap – and it’s especially relevant this fall, as many bears struggle to survive. Kara Van Hoose, a spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, joined Erin O’Toole to explain the science of why bears foraging in urban areas puts both the animals and humans at risk. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what…

This summer left yards across the Front Range devastated. Brown, dry patches of grass are everywhere – and so are yards that have been taken over by bindweed, thistles, and spurge. Experts at Colorado State University Extension say they've been getting lots of calls from anxious homeowners with similar problems. And they say fall can be a great time for some lawn rescue projects to help get the yard ready for next year – which, hopefully, will be a little kinder to our landscapes. Alison O'Connor is a horticulture specialist with CSU Extension. She joined Erin O’Toole with answers to some of our most pressing lawn questions, and advice for how and when to start a fall yard project. If you enjoyed this interview, check out a few of our other conversations with CSU Extension experts, including how to care for trees during a dry year, how Colorado law is on your side if you want to xeriscape your yard, how to protect your plants from pesky bugs, or why an aspen tree might not be the best choice for your yard. *…

A new lawsuit takes aim at the business model of some major Colorado ski resorts. For years, skiers and snowboarders have watched the price of a one-day lift ticket climb by hundreds of dollars, while more expensive season passes have become the industry’s central product. Now, a group of skiers has filed a lawsuit in Colorado’s federal court, arguing that the country’s largest ski resort companies have been operating like a cartel – working together to artificially inflate prices. Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain Company, which both run several Colorado resorts, are named as defendants. The lawsuit, filed in August, claims the country’s largest ski resort operators shared confidential business information and coordinated their prices to drive up the cost of lift tickets and season passes – and in doing so, violated antitrust laws. It’s the second antitrust lawsuit that skiers have filed this year in U.S. District Court in Denver. Reporter Jason Blevins covers the ski industry for The Colorado Sun, and…

It's one of the more unusual exhibits on display at the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster. Stroll past the colorful butterflies and other insects, and you'll find a 250-gallon saltwater tank. It houses part of a nationwide collaboration to save a badly damaged coral reef found off the coast of Florida. The rescue project began in 2020 after a coalition of zoos and aquariums teamed up to house and grow coral in response to a disease that spread across the underwater habitat off Florida. The Butterfly Pavilion stepped up to be part of the project. Six years in, we wanted to hear how a coral colony ended up in Colorado and what challenges its handlers overcame along the way. Sara Stevens is a marine biologist who manages the coral ark project for the Butterfly Pavilion. She spoke with Erin O’Toole in April about this unusual rescue mission. We’re listening back to that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org…

A small nuclear reactor proposed by the Pentagon may be a reality soon in Aurora. The proposed microreactor would power Buckley Space Force Base and give the site a steady source of electricity. But it would look different – and operate at a smaller scale – than the nuclear reactors built a few decades ago. Rather than a large energy plant with cooling towers that jut into the sky, this small reactor would fit inside a semi-trailer. The Buckley project is one of three microreactors proposed for military bases around the country. Even so, nuclear energy, and the radioactive byproducts associated with it, make many people uneasy. So we reached out to Thomas Albrecht for some context. He's a professor at Colorado School of Mines who studies the chemistry of nuclear materials and the long-term storage of nuclear waste. He spoke with Erin O’Toole back in May about how microreactors operate, and why nearby Aurora residents shouldn’t be worried. We’re listening back to that interview today. * * * * * Sign up for…

E-bikes and e-scooters are having a moment right now. Battery-powered, motorized transportation is becoming more common on streets and bike paths. E-bikes and e-scooters are considered green transportation, since they don’t emit the exhaust that cars produce. And some cities, including Denver, offer rebates for e-bikes to encourage more people to buy them. But today we’re digging into some pretty jaw-dropping numbers around kids getting injured on e-bikes. Children’s Hospital Colorado reported that, from 2024 to 2025, traumatic injuries related to e-scooters nearly doubled – an 84% increase. And kids treated for traumatic injuries related to e-bikes nearly tripled – up 184%. Health reporter John Ingold of the Colorado Sun wrote about these trends. He joined Erin O'Toole to share more about them. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your…

TikTok has become a go-to source for news, especially for younger audiences. But short-form videos on the social network don’t look or sound much like traditional journalism. Users see a stream of bite-size videos that favor strong opinions and controversy over nuance and depth. So, how does consuming political content on TikTok actually affect young people? Michaelangelo Landgrave is a political scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, and co-author of a new study that looked into that question. He and his fellow researchers found that TikTok may not change young voters' political views – but it does tend to make them feel more angry, sad or anxious about the world. They recently published their findings in the journal Political Studies Review. Landgrave spoke earlier this year with Erin O’Toole about the study, which he said was partly inspired by seeing his students use TikTok and other social media far more than traditional news outlets. We’re listening back to their conversation today. * * * * *…

Melissa Strong didn't set out to be a writer. In her twenties she was an accomplished rock climber. In her early forties, she was working on a new chapter in her life: opening and running her own restaurant in Estes Park, called Bird & Jim. But in 2017, a devastating accident threw all of her plans into chaos. Melissa details her experience in a new memoir is called Climbing Through: A Courageous Story of Grit, Healing, and Second Chances. In it, she traces not only her physical recovery from the accident, but also how building a sense of resilience in one part of your life can help you through a challenge in another part. Melissa spoke with Erin O’Toole onstage at the Historic Park Theatre in Estes Park on Tuesday as part of a live edition of In The NoCo. We’re listening to highlights from that live interview. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the…

Colorado voters have a right that many Americans don’t. Colorado, and 25 other states, allow residents to collect signatures and put questions on the ballot, rather than relying solely on lawmakers to decide whether an initiative goes before voters. And Colorado has been putting that tool to use. Only Oregon and California use the referendum process more. But in recent years, some unusual proposals have made their way onto ballots – including one that will ask voters this fall to guarantee your constitutional right to use natural gas for cooking and heating. Some political observers question whether Colorado's initiative process is out of hand – especially when the November ballot might contain more than a dozen items referred by voters. Reporter Colleen Slevin recently took a deep dive into the past and present of Colorado’s citizen initiative process for The Colorado Sun. And as state election workers comb through scores of collected signatures to decide what will make it onto the ballot, she joined Erin…

An ancient collection of dice discovered by archaeologists might rewrite the history of how humans have understood mathematical concepts like probability. A new Colorado State University study examined the earliest known dice in human history. Native American hunter-gatherers across the western U.S. first used the dice as early as 12,000 years ago. Robert Madden, the CSU researcher behind the finding, says these dice weren't just for entertainment. They were tools of commerce. They helped people barter and trade goods – and also helped shape early thinking about probability and other math concepts. Robert spoke with Erin O’Toole earlier this year about the discovery and what it reveals about humanity’s long-running fascination with games of chance. We’re listening back to that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your…

Renewable energy is becoming cheaper and more common. Just a few months ago, Colorado generated the majority of its electricity from renewable sources for the first time. And that raises questions about which sources do the most good. Wind or solar? Hydroelectric or geothermal? A researcher at the University of Colorado set out to find answers about what forms of renewable energy are most effective at reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. Dan Kaffine is a professor of economics and a fellow at the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute at CU Boulder. He studies energy and renewables. He joined Erin O’Toole to talk about his research, which he recently published in The Energy Journal. If you enjoyed this conversation, listen to our recent interview with Will Toor, head of the Colorado Energy Office, about how the state generated the majority of its power from renewables for the first time recently. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story…

Recent storms have given the Front Range relief after an unusually hot and dry start to the season. Lawns look a little greener – and Denver Water, one of the state's largest providers, says customers' usage actually dropped because of the rain. So, you might think that all these afternoon showers surely mean reservoirs are filling back up, and we can relax a bit on conserving water. But the reality is that Colorado is still deep in a drought – and still reeling from a lack of snowpack last winter. Reporter Michael Booth recently wrote about this for the Colorado Sun. He joined me to talk about how the recent storms helped, how they didn’t, and what the months ahead look like. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner Theme music by Robbie Reverb…

Could planting aspen groves slow the spread of wildfires in Colorado’s forests? It’s an idea that could help some mountain communities seeing increased threats from wildfires. And it’s backed up by several recent studies, including one that looked at 20 years of data from more than 300 wildfires in Western states. It found that large aspen groves often slowed the spread of forest fires. That’s partly because aspen contain more moisture than other trees in mountain forests. So, should mountain communities across Colorado plant aspens on the outskirts of town? To find out, Erin O’Toole talked last year with Camille Stevens-Rumann. She’s a professor of forest and rangeland stewardship at Colorado State University and was the principal investigator on the 2025 study. We’re listening back to that conversation today. For more on aspen trees, listen to this episode about why aspens rarely thrive when planted in yards. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas?…

Colorado's business climate is hurting. Over the past 18 months, the state lost more than 6,000 jobs. A CNBC ranking of top states for business saw Colorado slide from a top-10 position four years ago to 25th this year. And a coalition of tech and other business leaders recently issued a letter warning that Colorado’s high cost of living and excessive regulations are bad for business. Gov. Jared Polis says he's addressing it. Last month he launched a council to help make the state more competitive. And he directed the state's Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) to hold listening sessions with employers. But with the governor’s term ending in January, his time to act is limited. Gov. Polis and Eve Lieberman, executive director of OEDIT, joined Erin O'Toole to discuss how state leaders hope to quickly turn the tide. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people…

On Nov. 7, 1893, men in Colorado did something extraordinary for the time: They granted women the right to vote – which made Colorado the first state to do that not by legislative action or executive order, but by a vote of the people. It was a moment of triumph for activists who fought for women's suffrage for decades. It meant women in Colorado could vote 27 years before that right was granted to all women, with the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920. And they used that victory as a springboard to get things done – from electing women to political office in the state, to helping women secure more economic power. A new History Colorado exhibit, Votes and Dreams: At the Ballot and Beyond, highlights those accomplishments. It’s on display now at the Center for Colorado Women’s History in Denver. Exhibit developer Margaux Miller joined Erin O'Toole to share more about it. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what…

For decades, Warren Miller was synonymous with a very Colorado genre of film. In Miller’s films, skiers glide across pristine winter terrain and hurtle down near-vertical slopes. Over the decades, Miller and his film crews turned those images into dozens of feature-length documentaries that celebrated the thrill of a day on the mountain – and also captured the poetry of skiing. Miller died in 2018 at the age of 93. Now, his work and legacy are the subject of a new exhibit at the Colorado Snowsports Museum in Vail. The museum’s executive director, Jen Mason, spoke earlier this year with Erin O’Toole about how Miller's movies defined an entire genre of sports documentary known as the “stoke” film. We’re listening back to that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and Producer: Erin…

Every summer in Colorado’s high country, yellow-bellied marmots race to gain enough weight to make it through months of hibernation. But this year’s meager snowpack and early spring have put that survival strategy under new pressure. Scientists with the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory near Crested Butte have studied individual marmots in the wild for more than six decades. And they say that understanding what's happening with these mammals reveals a lot about the overall health of high-alpine ecosystems. This month, the RMBL Marmot Project is set to turn serious science into a fun public competition with the launch of the first-ever Fat Marmot Week – a bracket-style tournament that invites the public to vote for the marmot who’s most ready for winter. Dan Blumstein co-leads the Marmot Project. He's a biologist and UCLA professor who has spent many years studying different species of marmots. He joined Erin O'Toole to talk about their research into these chunky, ground-dwelling mammals. The RMBL team is…

If you read the Colorado Sun, you might be familiar with the comic strip called ‘What’d I Miss?’ It follows conversations between Ossie, a young Black man, and Myra, an older white woman who has awakened from a long coma. Together they struggle to understand modern day politics and culture. Ossie and Myra talk about issues like artificial intelligence, disinformation on social media and more recently, the rise of the ultra-rich in America. ‘What’d I Miss?’ is written by Denver-based artist R. Alan Brooks. He also writes graphic novels and teaches graphic novel writing at Regis University. This weekend, he will be a featured guest at Fort Collins Comic Con. Erin O’Toole spoke with Brooks in 2024 about his work and how he uses comics and graphic novels to unpack current events and culture. We're listening back to that conversation today. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover…

Railroads transformed the American West – and immigrant labor made the railroads possible. But many of those immigrants’ stories haven’t been well documented - including those of the Mexican railroad workers known as traqueros. Beginning in the late 1800s, railroad companies recruited thousands of Mexican and Mexican-American workers to build and maintain the tracks. At one time, Mexican workers made up more than two-thirds of the railway labor force in the U.S. Many traqueros brought their families with them to settle in Colorado and other parts of the country. These workers played a key role in the railroads’ expansion well into the mid 20th century, including during World War II, when another initiative was used to bring in Mexican laborers to build tracks. An exhibit at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden highlights the legacy of the traqueros. Jasmine Robertson, Curator of Exhibits at the museum, spoke with Erin O'Toole about this often-overlooked piece of American history and culture. Traqueros:…

The soldiers who trained in Colorado for alpine combat in World War II helped turn the tide of the war. And later, many of them changed outdoor recreation in Colorado as we know it. The U.S. Army built Camp Hale in the high country near Leadville. Thousands of soldiers there trained for skiing, rock climbing and other elements of high-altitude combat. But the story of Camp Hale and the 10th Mountain Division didn’t end there. After the war, many of those veterans became trailblazers in the outdoor sports world. Some became athletes; others started ski resorts or recreation companies, while others helped invent or redesign outdoor gear. A History Colorado exhibit on display in Leadville highlights the legacy of Camp Hale, and the post-war contributions that the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division made to Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy and culture. Sydney Mauck is History Colorado's Anschutz Military Collections specialist. She spoke with Erin O’Toole about Camp Hale’s enduring legacy. As Colorado…

During World War II, the U.S. Army built a unique training ground in the mountains outside Leadville. At Camp Hale, soldiers in what would become the 10th Mountain Division trained for combat in extreme alpine conditions. And that led to key victories for Allied forces in the mountains of Europe. After the war, some of the soldiers returned to Colorado and helped launch the state’s ski industry. A new History Colorado exhibit called Winter Warriors explores the legacy of Camp Hale and its impact on surrounding communities. It’s on display at the Healey House Museum in Leadville. With Colorado celebrating 150 years of statehood this year, we wanted to learn more about this fascinating piece of the state’s history. So, we reached out to Sydney Mauck, History Colorado's Anschutz Military Collections specialist. She talked with Erin O'Toole earlier this year about the U.S. Army’s first, and only, winter warfare division – and the pivotal role of these "soldiers on skis" in World War II. It's one of several…

There's a trend in Colorado that has higher education officials concerned. The number of high school graduates is declining -- and that means the state's colleges and universities are expecting a dropoff in enrollment in the coming years. Colorado is one of three dozen states bracing for what's become known as the "enrollment cliff." And the prospect of fewer students only adds to the pressures that many colleges and universities are currently navigating, like recent cuts to federal research grants or a drop in international students. Education reporter Erica Breunlin recently wrote about the looming enrollment cliff for the Colorado Sun. She joined Erin O'Toole to talk about what's driving the problem -- and what state education leaders plan to do about it. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks! Host and…

The Colorado River has been under strain for years from hotter temperatures and prolonged drought. It supplies drinking water to tens of millions of people and provides irrigation for more than 5 million acres of farmland. And demand has been growing for a shrinking supply. The seven states that rely on water from the river have spent years trying - and failing – to agree on how to divide up less water. Now the federal government has stepped in with a plan that could mean steep cuts for some users, especially in the lower-basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada. So, what does the proposal mean for Colorado? And does it help solve the problem? Luke Runyon is co-director of The Water Desk, an environmental journalism initiative at the University of Colorado. He joined Erin O’Toole to explain some of the details. * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by…

Colorado has played a leading role in many films. The state’s western landscapes can be seen in movies like The Hateful Eight and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Then there’s the famous scene in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in which Paul Newman and Robert Redford leap off the edge of a cliff into the rushing river below. That scene was filmed near Durango, above the Animas River. Robert Redford famously spent a lot of time in Boulder. And actors like Don Cheadle and Pam Grier have all come from Colorado. This summer, the first-ever Colorado 150 Film Festival will celebrate these movies and actors with screenings of 150 films being shown in 35 independent theaters across the state. It’s also a celebration of the state’s 150th anniversary on Aug. 1. Erin O'Toole spoke earlier this year with one of the festival’s organizers, Rob DuRay, about the festival – and where Colorado’s film industry might go from here. As Colorado prepares to mark its 150th birthday tomorrow, this is one of several…

In an era of high-speed gondolas and sprawling ski resorts, it's easy to forget how some of Colorado's smaller mountains shaped ski culture as we know it today. Howelsen Hill in Steamboat Springs is one of those mountains. It's a fraction of the size of the resorts in Aspen or Vail – or the bigger resort across town. But Howelsen Hill made a huge impact when it opened back in 1915. The hill bears the name of its founder, a champion ski jumper from Norway named Carl Howelsen. Over the years, Howelsen Hill got more people skiing, and eventually served as the training ground for dozens of future Olympians. Candice Bannister is the executive director of the Tread of Pioneers Museum in Steamboat Springs, which has plenty of Howelsen-related artifacts in its collection. She talked with Erin O’Toole in January about Howelsen’s legacy – and why Howelsen Hill is still an important place today. Ahead of Colorado's 150th birthday this Saturday, this is one of several In The NoCo conversations about the state's…