Colorado Matters

How do you help someone break the cycle of homelessness, if they don't want help? Denverite's Kyle Harris joins us with one woman's story that raises bigger questions about finding solutions to an issue that can divide communities. Then, a new state law puts portable solar panels within reach, especially for renters. Also, amid drought and water restrictions, one homeowner fights to re-use water. Plus, a "Sex and the City" star has a message for CU-Boulder graduates, CPR's new host of Morning Edition, Bazi Kanani, talks about her journey in journalism, and Aging Matters puts the focus on fitness; it can be as simple as going for a walk.

As much as we hear about Iran, there's a lot we don't know about daily life and politics there. Shideh Dashti is a professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. She speaks regularly with her father, who lives in Iran, and spoke with Andrea Dukakis, about what he's experiencing. Then, we meet Sam Nilsson, head grower at Phelan Gardens in Colorado Springs, to talk about planting in a drought amid water restrictions. And, a new exhibit at the Pioneers Museum celebrates the art and history of tattoos.

There are new rules of the road for Colorado teens as a new state law requires hours more training before young drivers can even get a permit, and it doesn’t stop there. We'll get you up to speed on passenger limits, curfews, and the rules on cell phone use. Then, hundreds of Colorado moms are asking for a little help...in the name of fun and self-care. We talk with the founders of the Mom Dance party -- back this Mother’s Day weekend in metro Denver -- about their mission to boost the mental health of moms through music and movement. Also, two harbingers of Spring...it's peak real estate season in Colorado but it's getting harder for home sellers to find buyers. Meanwhile, local colleges and universities are sending graduates out into the world. We're featuring the words of wisdom they hear as they depart. And, a new wheelchair rugby force to be reckoned with calls Denver home.

The Sundance Film Festival relocates to Boulder January 21-31, 2027. What will it be like? Who is welcome? Will there be enough popcorn? At this year's CU Conference on World Affairs, Colorado Matters previewed Sundance and discussed its year-round mission, in front of a live audience. Our guests are director Lulu Wang ("The Farewell"), producer and Sundance Institute trustee Gigi Pritzker, and CU-Boulder student filmmaker Kate Yezzi.

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Today, we talk with the head of one publication that’s been telling stories of that community here in Colorado for two decades. We’ll also discuss some recent big milestones in our state and the challenges that persist. "Asian Avenue Magazine" is part of CEME, the Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange, a coalition focused on elevating the voices of diverse and often underserved communities. Annie Guo VanDan is the magazine co-founder and president. Nga Vương-Sandoval is featured on the May cover. She is receiving the Asian American Hero of Colorado Award, largely for her extensive work as the founding executive director of "Refugees + Immigrants United," a Colorado nonprofit dedicated to “empowering, advocating for, and celebrating the voices of refugees and immigrants.” And, we revisit the effort to make sure Denver's Chinatown is not lost to history.

State democrats want Colorado to push back against ICE, but how is still up for debate. Purplish explains why coming up with a unified approach has proven to be challenging. Then, Gunnison author C. William Langsfeld's debut novel, "Salvation," explores the feelings that unspool after a murder in a small Colorado town, the pitfalls of westerns masculinity, and isolation. And, Colorado Wonders about the lakes in Denver's City Park.

ICE deportations mean criminal suspects in Colorado are not always held accountable. CPR justice reporter Allison Sherry shares her investigation. Then, Denver Health serves people across the state as a "safety net" hospital, which makes it particularly vulnerable to federal cuts. Plus, how an atmospheric scientist at Colorado State University is keeping us safe from "rain bombs." And “12 Tablecloths” by artist Chloé Duplessis tells stories long overlooked of labor, resilience and survival. It's now at the Fort Garland Museum and Cultural Center through May 30.

The 1965 Voting Rights Act was designed to ensure the right to vote for all citizens, regardless of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and background. The Supreme Court rolled back a key provision of the landmark legislation on Wednesday. We talk through what it means, and what protections are in place in Colorado. Then, older Coloradans are especially at risk for scams -- and they can often suffer in silence. For our series Aging Matters, we talk about efforts to stay one step ahead as scammers get more sophisticated.

April will end with much-needed rain, and even some snow in the mountains. This also marks the start of tornado and severe weather season. Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo is back for our regular chat about weather and climate. Then, "Dude Talk Dinners" help connect men in a non-judgmental environment. Plus, as more people hop on e-bikes, what to know about safety and the rules of the road.

The murder convictions in one of the most notorious criminal cases in Grand Junction history were tossed out, but there are still unanswered questions about the pipe bombings that killed two people in 1991. Today, we hear from the original public defender in the case against James Genrich, who is now eligible for parole. Then, for "Raise the Curtain," the Arvada Center explores racism in America through theater. And a project to preserve loving memories, through lullabies.

Should Colorado lawmakers get a pay raise at the same time the state faces a $1.5 billion dollar budget shortfall? We'll get into the debate today with Purplish, and the reason it could impact policies and laws in Colorado. Then, "Crossroads: The Journey of Becoming," is a new immersive play that explores what it's like to be a child in Colorado’s foster care system.

The US Supreme Court will hear another case from Colorado that pits LGBTQ rights against questions of religious freedom. Meantime, Colorado voters will decide two initiatives on transgender youth this fall. Then, how an artist in Pueblo saved a painting by a Holocaust survivor that faced an uncertain fate. We also re-share the amazing achievement of Durango speed skier Ross Anderson 20 years after his record-setting feat. And today and tomorrow, FoCoMX, the Fort Collins Music Festival, is back with more than 450 artists from around Colorado. We get a preview with the Local 303 from Alisha Sweeny at Indie 102.3.

There's never been an NBA and NHL champion that's come from the same city in the same year; as the playoffs begin, the Avalanche and Nuggets hope to change that. Denver Post sports columnist Troy Renck sizes up their chances. Then, a Denver man walks free after 27 years in prison. What his release says about the justice system and reasonable doubt. And, we "Raise the Curtain" on how the latest work at the Arvada Center is excavating history and providing kindness.

What makes a downtown successful? Why are some bustling while others are hollowed out? Downtown Colorado, Inc. came to Main Street in Grand Junction to award innovators across the state. Some of the finalists joined Ryan Warner on stage to discuss delicate downtown ecosystems. Kat Correll is the executive director of Downtown Colorado, Inc., Kimberlee McKee is the executive director of Longmont’s Downtown Development Authority, Lynn Clark is the executive director of the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo Authority; and from Telluride, but appearing on behalf of a project in Montrose: Jay Raible, who co-owns the new Rathbone Hotel.

Primary ballots will arrive in mailboxes in a few weeks, and now, we know which candidates will be on them. Today Purplish looks at which candidates rallied enough support at the recent state assemblies and what this method of selecting candidates means in the big picture. Then, today marks 10 years since the passing of pop icon and musical virtuoso, Prince. Chandra shares her personal reflections on what his music meant to her, and speaks with Coloradans about their memories of his visits here and the influence he had on their lives.

On 4/20, an addiction psychiatrist raises red flags around high-potency cannabis. Dr. Libby Stuyt has particular concerns about psychosis as THC levels increase multifold in today's cannabis and wants to raise awareness about the evolution of the drug. Then, for Aging Matters, Ryan meets an octogenarian who has mastered the "dead hang" at her gym in Woodland Park; it's about more than strength. And Colorado Wonders about finding gemstones in our state.

The ultimate goal of Artemis is to get people to Mars. But there was a time, in the early 1900s, when it was widely believed there was already life on Mars. And that the Martians had built canals to bring water from the planet's poles to its cities. There were skeptics, for sure, but it’s hard to overstate how ingrained this idea of Martian life became. Former NPR science correspondent David Baron, of Boulder, has written “The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America." He spoke with Ryan Warner last August in front of an audience in Colorado Springs, where some of the story unfolds.

The Western Slope farming family who introduced the world to Olathe Sweet Corn is scaling back in the face of a rough economy and a pesky crop worm. They talk about the mixed blessing of farming... and how you can still get that beloved corn. Then, Spring is here, and it's nearly time to start gardening. We'll head back to a sprawling greenhouse in Colorado Springs in the coming weeks to speak with a master gardener, but first, please send us your yard and gardening questions. Also, leading UCLA to a national championship was just the latest chapter in a lifetime of hoops success for sisters Lauren and Sienna Betts. Their coach at Grandview high school in Aurora reflects on their time there as well as the dynamics that drives them. And, what state legislators do when they're not in session.

A water project known as The Arkansas Valley Conduit became a political football, with a presidential veto. But for rancher Kevin Karney, of La Junta, it's about quality of life for his community. Then, we visit the Colorado Farm Brewery in Alamosa in the San Luis Valley, where a fifth generation farming family brews beer on land that's been in the family for nearly a century. And Boulder author Erika Krouse is a finalist for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize for her collection of short stories, "Save Me, Stranger."

Eleven questions could save a life. That's the idea behind a bill in the state legislature right now. It would require law enforcement officers to ask the questions to determine if someone is at risk of dying at the hands of a domestic abuser. We'll explore the issue with Purplish. Then, Denver Center Theatre Company announces its new season. We get a glimpse into how those choices are made with artistic director Chris Coleman us for our series "Raise The Curtain," about Colorado's vibrant theater scene.