Colorado Matters

Hosted by Ryan Warner and Chandra Thomas Whitfield, CPR News' daily interview show focuses on the state's people, issues and ideas.
Airs Monday-Friday: 9 a.m.-10 a.m. & 7 p.m.-8 p.m.; Sundays: 10 a.m.-11 a.m.
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Latest Episodes

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Nov. 1, 2024: Alien Enemies Act; Seeking Common Ground; Why hurricane forecasts come from Colorado

A swirl of accusations and demands after passwords for election equipment in Colorado appeared online. Then, Donald Trump suggests invoking a centuries-old law to combat a Venezuelan gang in Aurora; the law has a grim history in Colorado though. Plus, ‘Seeking Common Ground’ looks for connections amid division. And why is Colorado the center for the nation’s hurricane forecasting?
Author Evette Dionne stands next to Manual High School student Jaci Colllins-Falcon and Colorado Matters host Chandra Thomas Whitfield in front of a CPR News sign at an event at the Blair Caldwell African-American Research Library in Denver.

Oct. 31, 2024: From civil rights to suffragists, the legacy and power of Black women in elections; how to engage young voters

When it comes to elections, Black women are historically a voting block that can wield a lot of power. Evette Dionne, the author of “Lifting as we Climb: Black Women’s Battle for the Ballot Box” joins Chandra Thomas Whitfield at the Blair Caldwell African-American Research Library, along with future voter, 17-year-old Jaci Collins-Falcon, a senior at Manual High School. Plus, how some Denver students are using technology to help people register to vote and to understand the ballot.
A woman in the foreground looks into an open box, filled with electrical equipment, as a man in the background stares up at the gear.

Oct. 30, 2024: Aging in rural Colorado; Tracking evaporation; The science of scares

In rural Colorado, one in five people is over 65. We’ll talk about the challenges of aging in place in a small town, like Rangely, as part of our series, “Aging Matters.” Then, how climate change is changing evaporation, and what researchers are doing to catch up. Plus, the final push for votes in Colorado’s closest congressional race. Also, an electrifying new superhero. And for Halloween, the science behind scares.
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Oct. 28, 2024: Food safety after E. coli outbreak; ‘Purplish’ on election security; Denver’s crowded ballot

Colorado officials have eliminated tainted meat as the cause of an E. coli outbreak linked to McDonald’s quarter pounders. That leaves raw onions as the likeliest source. Food safety expert Alice White explains why raw produce is a particular problem. Then, how Colorado secures the vote with “Purplish.” And, in addition to 14 statewide ballot measures, Denver voters have another 12 local ones to decide.

Oct. 24, 2024: Support for domestic violence survivors as cases remain high; Nuggets are back in action

The number of people killed by domestic violence in Colorado is down by more than a third, but the number of cases is still high. Then, the Denver Nuggets open their NBA season tonight. What will it take to be a contender again for the championship? Plus, hometown hero Chauncey Billups gets his Basketball Hall of Fame moment. And later, Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, begins next week. It’s a time of remembrance and a celebration of life.  And food… is a central part.
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Oct. 23, 2024: Ukrainian family rebuilds life in Colorado; Carbon-friendly hotel takes root

When Russia invaded Ukraine, a young couple fled the home they’d just bought in Kiev with their three young children. Now they’re living in Colorado and running a bike shop, but they don’t know how long they can stay. Then, a new hotel in Denver hopes to minimize its carbon footprint well beyond its walls. Plus, a Colorado startup offers haunted rail rides for Halloween. And reimagining the oldest continuously-run business in Colorado.

Staff

Tom Hesse.
Colorado Matters Western Slope Producer

Tom Hesse