
Startup led by former CU student hopes to use AI to revolutionize sound
Part of the beauty of film is being immersed in sound that transports you directly into a scene; movies like “Gladiator” and “Interstellar” are regarded as masterclasses in sound design. But the work — and time — involved in creating those finished products are often incredibly labor intensive. Isaiah Chavous hopes to change all that; the University of Colorado Boulder grad is the co-founder and CEO of Noctal, a startup that says it uses ethically-sourced artificial intelligence to automate the sound design process for content creators and filmmakers.

Changing the perspective on student athletes and mental health
March Madness reached its pinnacle Monday with the men’s championship game and Sunday with the women’s. But with all the hoopla has come pressure far beyond the court.

Tales of Harold Fungo — The novel ‘Pinch Hitting’ weaves a fantastical baseball story based in Colorado
In the novel “Pinch Hitting,” Harold Fungo goes from the maintenance staff where a local minor league team plays, to becoming a star player, moving all the way up to the major leagues. As it turns out, the unlikely climb is all a figment of the imagination of Joe — who has no idea of how he’s writing the fantastical tale. Morris Hoffman, a retired district court judge, is the author of the book.

Interview: Colorado’s Ken Salazar on trade with Mexico, border security, cartels, and what he calls the Gulf
Speaking with Colorado Matters, Salazar addressed a number of topics, including the impact proposed tariffs will have on Colorado, fighting against the Mexican cartels to keep drugs out of the U.S., and his relationship with Mexico’s new President.

Facing fatal runoffs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife works to keep bighorn sheep healthy and plentiful
No creature says “Colorado” like the bighorn sheep — after all, it’s been the state’s official animal for more than 60 years. Their regal presence has been a visual marvel and a mainstay here – and Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to make sure that’s the case for decades to come. Andy Holland, CPW’s Big Game manager, says the organization is working to combat a spate of disease run off — with the infections coming from an unlikely source: domesticated sheep.

The oldest movie theater in the U.S. may be in Estes Park — visit if you dare
It took a lot of work for the Historic Park Theater in Estes Park (and yes, that’s the actual name) to claim the title of the oldest single screen movie theater in the United States — just as it takes more than a little effort to run the joint.

From buses and tea to DEI, exploring the efficacy of boycotts
Boycotts have long been a way for the disenfranchised to make their voices heard — think the Boston Tea Party, or the refusal of Blacks to ride on buses in Montgomery, Alabama. Today, that tradition continues, with consumers being asked not to buy from major corporations — to protest the rollback of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives by the federal government as well as some big name stores. We speak with Michelle Jackson, who hosts the podcast, “Your American Money.”

AI startup raises questions on ‘local’ news you can use
If you’re hungry for neighborhood goings-on – from government to bake sales – you might be delighted that a newsletter focused your community has arrived in your inbox. But might your enthusiasm be tempered – if you found out the content you crave was being generated by one man. In New York City. Via Artificial Intelligence. That scenario’s playing out across the country – including in Colorado. Reporter Andrew Deck, of the Nieman Journalism Lab discusses the implications of the startup.

‘Laying the groundwork’ or ‘frivolous’ quest — After Colorado Supreme Court decision, what’s next in elephant case
Last week the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that five elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs did not hold the same rights as humans and therefore didn’t have a legal right to pursue their release. The court upheld a lower court decision in a case brought by an animal rights group, the Nonhuman Rights Project. While the zoo said in a statement following the decision that the lawsuit was “frivolous,” Jake Davis, an attorney for the NRP said it, and similar — albeit it, losing — efforts at other zoos around the country are the first step in a movement to overcome the status quo.

Remembering legendary CU football coach Bill McCartney
On Wednesday, the University of Colorado celebrated the life of football coach Bill McCartney. The winningest coach in school history, McCartney died January 10 after a lengthy battle with dementia. In 1990, McCartney led the Buffs to the college football national championship, following a 10-9 victory over Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl. McCartney was perhaps recognized for his faith as much as football — in 1990, he founded the Christian organization Promise Keepers.

The ‘drought’ is over as Denver Broncos return to the NFL playoffs
It’s the talk of sportstalk. A 38-to-nothing win over Kansas City last weekend clinched the Broncos’ first playoff berth since they won the Super Bowl in 2016.

Neither rain, sleet, hail, snow — nor commuting from Estes Park — will stop this fan from attending Bears’ games
With the Denver Broncos in the midst of an upswing from recent seasons, getting tickets is becoming a greater priority for Coloradans. One exception is Scott Wilseck of Estes Park.

New CU Denver program Change Makers inspires those writing their next chapters
People approaching retirement face many challenges–there’s money and affordability, but there are also questions about identity and self-worth… and of course, what comes next. Change Makers, a new program at the University of Colorado Denver offers a chance to help professionals and others navigate those questions. As part of our Aging Matters series, we spoke with program directors Anne Button and Rachel Cohen. We also spoke with Alex Chernushin, a newly-retired aerospace engineer who took part in the program.

Election Day has passed, but work’s not over for Colorado’s County clerks
After a brief respite (and perhaps a little sleep), the clerks for Colorado’s 64 counties were back at work Wednesday, finishing up the tabulations for all of the voting that took place across the state.

State historian William Wei discusses the Alien Enemies Act
When former President Donald Trump spoke in Aurora recently, he pledged to use the Alien Enemies Act to rid the city of violent gang members. The measure, first introduced in the late 1700s, was used in one of the darkest chapters in Colorado history — the formation of an interment facility, called Camp Amache, where thousands of Japanese-American citizens were held during World War II.

Will the Nuggets get back to title contention? A look at the upcoming NBA season
Fans looking for answers about where the Denver Nuggets stand this NBA season won’t have to wait long — the team opens its 2024-25 campaign tonight versus the Oklahoma City Thunder.