Colorado Matters

As Colorado embarks on its psychedelic experiment, people can now receive psilocybin-assisted therapy at healing centers. The state is also grappling with how to enable therapy with the psychedelic ibogaine, which has shown promise for treating addiction. The use of psychedelic-assisted therapy was a component of Colorado’s psychedelic law approved by voters in 2022.

As some Coloradans halt work to protest today, Congress is at work– to avert a shutdown. The future of ICE is central to both. Then, “I’ll consider her case–as I would any other.” The governor has said that repeatedly — when asked about clemency for Tina Peters. We looked into his past pardons for clues. Also, 40 years ago, Americans watched as Challenger broke apart; we speak with a CU Boulder professor who worked for NASA. Plus, we meet Colorado’s new poet laureate; Crisosto Apache, of Lakewood is the first Indigenous person to hold the title. And, Colorado Wonders about a cluster of curvy courts on Denver’s North Side.

Although she’s been a theater actress for most of her life, Jenna Bainbridge never envisioned herself performing on the grandest of stages — Broadway. The issue wasn’t one of talent or confidence, but rather, accessibility. Partially paralyzed as a child, Bainbridge didn’t think she’d find the accommodations necessary for her to live and work in New York.

Rural life often means being exposed to the sun. With it: the risk of skin cancer. But dermatologists can be hard to come by in the country. At least one practice, though, is making investments in small towns. Then, Colorado has taken some costly hits from the Trump Administration in recent months. It might seem punitive, but the growing number has others seeing a pattern. Also, as a store close to her heart changes hands, Kali Fajardo-Anstine, bestselling author of “Woman of Light” and “Sabrina and Corina,” provides an ode to the independent bookstore. And, meet our new CPR Classical host, Monique Brooks Roberts.

Public transit touches nearly every corner of life in Colorado, from how people get to work to how our region grows. But the state’s largest transit agency is facing big questions from riders, workers, and lawmakers about reliability, safety and trust. CPR’s Haylee May spoke with RTD CEO and GM Debra Johnson. Then, amid DEI backlash, a statewide coalition is working to share the stories of diverse communities here, starting with working to ensure the media outlets they support, stick around. We speak with Brittany Winkfield, the executive director of the Colorado Ethnic Media Exchange.

This legislative session is the swan song for Colorado’s outgoing governor, Jared Polis. He still has a lot on his “to do” list, but policy clashes within his own party could create some challenges. We explore that today with Purplish. Then, a researcher at the Colorado School of Mines has developed a new way to treat deep wounds, and that could just be the beginning for its use. Also, what Colorado’s two largest cities are doing to send a message to ICE. Plus, we answer a Colorado Wonders question about the impact of moose on our state.

You can’t go home again, as the saying goes. But Denver author Josiah Hesse did. He returned to Mason City, Iowa — with a journalistic lens— to better understand his evangelical upbringing, and the social and economic forces that shaped it. We spoke in front of an audience at the Denver Press Club for the release of “On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right – a Personal History.”

Colorado now has a plan to reintroduce wolverines to the state, but meantime, the reintroduction of wolves is on hold for now. Then, cannabis businesses are still waiting for the executive order to reclassify marijuana to take effect. Also, a milestone for the survival rate for all types of cancer combined. We re-visiting Southern Colorado’s “Gathering Place” and celebrate a pop culture moment with DeVotchKa.