Colorado Matters

Former NPR science reporter David Baron, of Boulder, gives Colorado Matters an exclusive sneak peek at his new book, “The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze That Captured Turn-Of-the-Century America.” Listen to a captivating conversation in front of an audience at Library 21c in Colorado Springs.

Denver singer/songwriter Such is driven by a passion to connect and take care of others, first in nursing, now in real estate and especially, in her music. Then, Coloradans are living longer. And an Arapahoe County sheriff’s deputy finds connection and community through his cowboy hat.

Most people want to stay in their homes for as long as possible as they get older. But if you do decide it’s time to downsize, where do you begin? In a special “Aging Matters on Colorado Matters,” we ask what to consider when selling your home and how to start getting rid of decades and decades of stuff. Then, a neighborhood health fair at a time when it’s needed the most. Also, “An Open Door” is a new documentary about CSU’s Temple Grandin, a legend in animal science and autism advocacy. Plus, the return of an immersive theater experience.

The Americans with Disabilities Act became law 35 years ago. Coloradans reflect on our state’s pivotal role and on the progress still to be made. Then, ahead of a special session of the state legislature, a look at a bad budget gap and some bad behavior. Plus, the season three premiere of Systemic, CPR’s podcast about changemakers.

Denverites are trying to square something: the city’s about to lay off employees but at the same time it wants voters to approve nearly a billion dollars in projects. We ask Denver Mayor Mike Johnston about that, tensions with Trump, turning office towers into apartments, and the future of the Broncos. Then, remembering a Hiroshima survivor in Denver 80 years after the bombing. Plus, the State Fair is back with a new general manager with an eye on the future. And Kyle Hollingsworth of The String Cheese Incident has a new single: Colorado.

Psychedelics can help people see things from a new perspective. That includes veterans and first responders who are also using storytelling to help them overcome challenges. Also, handheld devices that translate nearly 100 languages, including Azerbaijani, Haitian Creole and Spanish are being used by some Colorado counties to help non-English speakers with civic needs. Then, their stories were nearly lost, but through art, “12 Tablecloths” recognizes Black domestic workers who served white families more than a century ago. The exhibit closes tomorrow at the Trinidad History Museum.

When someone tries to buy a gun in Colorado and is denied, it gets flagged. A CPR investigation finds that intelligence is underused. CPR justice reporter Allison Sherry on how this connects to the firebombing in downtown Boulder and to immigration enforcement. Then, Donald Trump promised to deport “the worst of the worst,” but an analysis of ICE arrests doesn’t square up. Plus, a challenge to rethink the immigration system altogether from a Colorado Book Award winner.

New research shows that respiratory viruses, like the flu and COVID-19, could “wake up” dormant cancer cells. We speak with with James DeGregori, the senior author of the study and deputy director of the Colorado Cancer Center. Then, Theodore “Bubbles” Anderson was the only Colorado native to play in the Negro Baseball League. A century later, he’s been inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame, thanks to the efforts of sports journalist Justin Adams.