Aspen Public Radio Newscast

On today's newscast: In the shadow of wildfire and controversy, Garfield County greenlights a bold return to gas drilling near the Roan Plateau; Portland-based firm ZGF Architects will lead the terminal redevelopment project at the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport; and four Democratic members of Congress are complaining about a lack of information after touring the ICE detention facility in Aurora. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: As Glenwood Springs weighs how to support its homeless population, one regional group is pushing forward with housing plans — even as key funding is set to dry up next year; officials say they're seeing “unprecedented” fire behavior from the Lee Fire in northwest Colorado; and six counties in Wyoming lost local newspaper outlets last week. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Over the weekend, the Lee Fire, which is burning near Meeker, caused the first evacuation order in Garfield County; the city of Rifle recently approved a plan that lays out ways to adopt clean energy and make the community more resilient to climate change; and Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed plans to begin treating part of the Colorado River for invasive zebra mussels. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Dozens of people gathered to celebrate the opening of Catholic Charities' new affordable housing project for seniors in Glenwood Springs; the brand new Up in the Sky Music Festival at Buttermilk Mountain begins today and runs through tomorrow; and Colorado is the first state in the nation to require a cigarette-style warning label on gas stoves. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A new cell tower deal in rural Pitkin County could bring critical coverage to areas still without service; Colorado lawmakers will hold a special session later this month to try to close a billion-dollar hole in the state budget; and a new study shows climate change is causing the Earth's supply of fresh water to quickly disappear. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Glenwood Springs will soon have a new affordable housing option for seniors; two Colorado congressmen are suing the Trump administration over ICE's refusal to let lawmakers enter immigration detention centers without giving prior notice; and the U.S. Department of Energy is leveraging federal land to win the global AI race. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Basalt's search for a new town manager is coming full circle — with some familiar names in the mix; as censorship shakes the art world, Anderson Ranch puts the issue front and center; and more Coloradans, especially men, are reaching out to the state's mental health crisis line. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The owner of two mobile home parks up for sale in Basalt and Carbondale has accepted an offer from residents to buy the land under their homes for $42 million; two new state laws taking effect this week will change rules around pet sales and ownership in Colorado; and researchers say they are a step closer to getting rid of a dangerous PFAS chemicals. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen Art Fair co-founder Becca Hoffman says that as wildfires and floods grow more frequent, so does the urgency to protect not just homes — but the art, heirlooms and treasures held dear; Colorado Attorney General commits to defending in-state tuition programs for undocumented students; and Sen. Michael Bennet is part of a bipartisan group pushing a bill to bolster airport security.

On today's newscast: RFTA is considering reviving a program that gives its buses priority at traffic lights along Highway 82; a group of health organizations is calling on governors to declare extreme heat a public health emergency; and AI is driving demand for data centers — and massive amounts of water needed for cooling.

On today's newscast: During a conversation about trusting science at the Aspen Ideas Climate festival in Chicago last week, panelists discussed why false narratives take hold; Colorado's Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against a Mesa County sheriff's deputy for violating state immigration laws; and Police in Nevada have confirmed that three people died in a shooting at the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino.

On today's newscast: The Aspen Art Fair, Intersect Aspen and AIR at the Aspen Art Museum all kick off today; Colorado public health officials confirmed a new measles case last week; and old squabbles have created new hurdles among stakeholders from the seven states negotiating water usage from the shrinking Colorado River.

On today's newscast: Last week, Glenwood Springs officials held a town hall to discuss homelessness; after facing setbacks from the pandemic, Carbondale-based Solar Rollers is revving up again, teaching students about solar energy through the thrill of remote-controlled race cars; and communities in our region are turning to trees in an effort to combat the effects of urban heat islands. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A new report finds that affordable housing in Colorado remains out of reach for many lower-wage workers, especially in the Roaring Fork Valley; state health officials urge caution after confirming the first human cases of West Nile virus this season; and the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students will spend the rest of his life in prison. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen City Council formally agreed to move forward with a reevaluation of the proposed Highway 82 alignment at the entrance to Aspen; the Resnick Center for Herbert Bayer Studies is celebrating its fourth year on Saturday, as well as the 75th year of the Aspen Institute; and Congress may make it a bit more affordable to finish building a billion-dollar pipeline to bring clean drinking water to southeastern Colorado. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen City Council approved the most recent changes to the Armory Hall redevelopment project; the legal effort to free former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters while she appeals her nine-year sentence took a small step in a Denver courtroom yesterday; and the VA secretary defended federal cuts to veterans' health care in a visit Monday to the agency's main facility in Colorado. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Garfield County has initiated a hiring freeze in anticipation of a $9-million budget shortfall in 2026; reproductive-rights advocates were in Aspen yesterday seeking financial support for Cobalt, the statewide abortion rights and advocacy group; and Democratic Colorado Sen. Jessie Danielson has announced her bid to be the next Colorado Secretary of State. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A $9 billion rescissions bill is on its way to President Trump's desk, with six-figure implications for local public-radio stations; the Bureau of Reclamation says water levels at Lake Powell could drop too low to generate hydropower as soon as next year; and a Christian bookstore is challenging a Colorado anti-discrimination law. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A brush fire burning just south of I-70 between Parachute and Rulison prompted evacuation orders and closed Highway 6 yesterday; the Disney musical "Newsies" premiered at the Aspen District Theatre yesterday; and Nebraska is suing Colorado over the South Platte River, accusing Colorado of taking more water than it has a right to under a century-old agreement. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Planned Parenthood is suing the Trump administration over a new budget provision that could strip Medicaid funding from its health centers, threatening vital services for low-income women; comedian Adam Cayton Holland debuts his one-man show Happy Place at TACAW tomorrow night, blending humor with heartfelt reflections on mental health, grief and his sister's suicide; and a recent attempt in Congress to sell federal public lands triggered a flood of comments to politicians' inboxes. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: As the Aspen Security Forum kicked off yesterday, the United States Department of Defense abruptly cancelled its attendance; multiple wildfires on Colorado's Western Slope have caused poor air quality throughout the region; and the man accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at peaceful marchers in Boulder could stand trial for hate crimes as early as September. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Roaring Fork Safe Passages is seeking public input on its new plan for wildlife crossings to prevent wildlife collisions on Highway 82; Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser is leading a multistate lawsuit against the Trump administration over education funding; and Gov. Jared Polis has issued a verbal disaster declaration as wildfires burn tens of thousands of acres on Colorado's Western Slope. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" could slash Medicaid funding, putting health care access at risk for thousands in our region who rely on Mountain Family Health Centers; the Aspen Security Forum returns tomorrow; and a conservative action group wants to permanently eliminate income taxes on tips and overtime for Colorado workers. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A smoky haze that settled over the Roaring Fork Valley yesterday is believed to have drifted in from a wildfire burning in southern Utah; the Aspen School District is using grant funding to explore whether it could effectively harness geothermal energy; and a new study from CU Boulder shows that wildfires can hurt water quality for years — much longer than scientists originally thought. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Gravity Haus and its affiliated coffee shop and restaurant in Aspen will close at the end of August; the Rocky Mountain National Park is reopening its largest campground for the first time in two years; and SCOTUS has allowed the Trump administration to go ahead with firing thousands of federal workers across several agencies. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The owners of Aspen-Basalt and Mountain Valley mobile home parks did not accept their residents' first offer to buy the parks, but it's not the end of the road; a CU Boulder study found that marijuana sold in Colorado is often less potent than it claims; and in the past two decades, Mountain West states have seen the steepest declines in the birth rates. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: New parking fees at Aspen's private airport may be sending business downvalley — and a competitor in Rifle is ready to take off; Aspen City Council is updating its decades-old highway plan at the town's entrance, opting for a reevaluation over a new environmental impact statement; and two attorneys who defended MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell in a Denver defamation case have been sanctioned for submitting a brief riddled with AI-generated errors. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Colorado's Western Slope has a child care shortage, but a new facility in Avon will help address the regional crisis; mosquitos in the state are testing positive for West Nile Virus; and President Trump's push to slash federal spending in next year's budget could mean big hits for space and climate research. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen City Council will review a contract with Gorman and Company on Tuesday to construct the Lumberyard; the Republican-led budget bill could rescind hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits for renewable energy, like wind and solar power; and the Fourth of July is one of the busiest days of the year for wildfire starts — this year, the holiday arrives amid elevated fire risk. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: This week, environmental advocates took to the skies over western Colorado to spotlight growing concerns over oil-and-gas development on public lands; the Aspen School Board is weighing up to four ballot measures for this fall — and they could have big implications for local education funding; and a new budget Trump administration proposal would eliminate federally funded climate and weather labs in Colorado. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen Valley Health announced yesterday that CEO Dave Ressler will retire in early 2026; a group of Aspen Institute researchers explore how proposed federal benefit cuts could hit women the hardest; and Cornerstone Christian Center cleared a major hurdle this week in its effort to expand its church and school near Basalt. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A wildfire on Snowmass Creek Road was contained to 5 acres without evacuations; 85% of Gen Zers are worried about climate change, discussed at Aspen Ideas; and resort towns may face a tourism slump this summer. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Hilltop Fire near Rulison is 100% contained; Colorado babies born to noncitizens will still get birthright citizenship despite a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, but with potential ripple effects for Wyoming; and the Bureau of Land Management is fast-tracking a review for a project that could increase oil trains along the Colorado River. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Two Western Slope wildfires prompted evacuations yesterday and a third closed I-70; residents of Aspen-Basalt and Mountain Valley mobile-home parks are offering $42 million to block Dallas-based buyers who are raising rents in other resort towns; and Rep. Jeff Hurd joins GOP colleagues raising alarms about proposed Medicaid cuts in the Senate. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: ICE told the Pitkin County Sheriff it plans to increase its presence in the area, multiple hikers were rescued by helicopter from Snowmass Lake and Capitol Peak this week, Aspen's airport is trying to address issues with its private aircraft parking, and more.

On today's newscast: The Aspen-Pitkin County Airport is overhauling its aircraft parking system with new lease terms, waitlist fees, and plans to maximize limited space; at the Aspen Ideas: Health festival, experts discussed the strides and challenges in addressing disparities in women's health care; and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is holding hearings on working conditions during extreme heat. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Kids First wants to find ways to offer more financial aid for families and wage increases for early childhood educators; a Colorado restaurateur is taking an unorthodox approach to sustainability marketing; and the Trump administration's proposed budget would cut funding to the U.S. Geological Survey by nearly 40% — including grants to universities. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Three years after the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the fight for reproductive rights continues, with the fallout still being felt in our region; a judge has ruled there's enough evidence for federal prosecutors to move forward with hate crime charges against accused Boulder firebomber Mohamed Soliman; and Gov. Jared Polis has issued a mass pardon for individuals with past convictions for psilocybin. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A community event in Snowmass aimed to turn wildfire risk into wildfire readiness; Gov. Jared Polis says Medicaid cuts in the Republican budget bill would throw hundreds of thousands of Coloradans off their health care; and the Colorado River Basin is losing more water stored underground than it's losing in the river itself. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Officials are considering feeding roadkill to wolves to protect livestock near Aspen; Colorado attorney general Phil Weiser filed a brief with 17 other attorneys general to urge a federal court to protect Job Corps; and a proposal to sell millions of acres of public lands in the West is drawing significant backlash. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen City Council decided to expedite the Armory Hall's land-use review process, Pitkin County is preparing for millions of dollars in capital improvements at Phillips Mobile Home Park, President Trump ordered the departments of Agriculture and the Interior to consolidate wildland firefighting services in the next 90 days, Colorado is suing the Trump administration to save its electric vehicle plan and more.

On today's newscast: A Glenwood Springs resident and cyclist was found dead on the side of Highway 82, Aspen One announced its contributing funds to help nearly 500 residents of two mobile home parks purchase their land, the state's wildlife commission has decided not to kill any additional wolves for now, a jury found that My Pillow CEO defamed a former executive at a Colorado voting systems company, and more. Tune in every weekday morning on our website, or on your favorite podcast app.

On today's newscast: 'No Kings' protestors in Glenwood Springs spoke out against a range of issues from immigration enforcement to health care cuts, Alpine Legal Services is hosting a series of bilingual presentations this week, free summer meals for youth are returning to the valley this summer, Republicans in Congress are again pushing to sell public lands, and more. Tune in every weekday morning on our website, or on your favorite podcast app.

On today's newscast: the nationwide 'No Kings' protest is coming to Glenwood Springs, CDOT's inspection found that the Castle Creek bridge into Aspen is structurally sound, local water managers say this year's peak flows are the lowest in the past six years, the new chief of the U.S. Forest Service faced scrutiny in front of Congress this week, and more.

On today's newscast: Dozens of concerned residents met in Aspen Tuesday evening to learn about how to support immigrant communities amid increased ICE activity; the Pitkin County Jail is set to get $2.5 million in improvements; and Colorado utilities warn President Trump's multi-trillion budget plan could increase household energy bills. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A Trappist monastery in Old Snowmass is back on the market after a buyer terminated their contract Monday; Vail Resorts is struggling to overcome recent setbacks to its bottom line and its image; and health advocates are raising concerns that temporary cooling stations aren't open long enough during high-heat days. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: From political commentary to embroidered pandemic reflections, two new exhibitions at the Red Brick Center reveal how Colorado artists are mixing media to make meaning; freshman Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd is getting a primary challenger from the right; and a new Trump administration budget proposal hints at big layoffs for Colorado climate and weather researchers. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: As wildfire season looms, Colorado's wildland firefighters gear up — and for the women in their ranks, the fireline isn't the only place they're breaking barriers; Carbondale Arts organized a Pride Parade on the town's First Friday last week; and as high-stakes talks over the Colorado River continue behind closed doors, a rare public appearance by a top water official hints at the federal push to unite the West. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The city of Aspen has selected a developer for the Lumberyard affordable housing project — find out who they chose and what's next; local attorneys are raising alarms about a rise in scams targeting immigrants, amid increasing federal immigration crackdowns; and State Treasurer Dave Young is eyeing a new role as he runs for Congress. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Food insecurity is on the rise in the Roaring Fork Valley; residents of two mobile home parks in the valley are teaming up to buy their parks and fight off rent hikes and evictions — and one major donor just stepped up; and a federal judge has temporarily blocked the deportation of the wife and five children of the suspect in this weekend's Boulder firebombing. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen City Council and Pitkin County Commissioners are considering convening a housing summit to develop more collaborative affordable housing solutions; a pricey bridge plan to ease traffic near Aspen is officially off the table, but a new trail connection could still be on the horizon; and as Senate budget talks ramp up, proposed cuts — and the possible sale of public lands — are drawing fresh scrutiny in the Mountain West. Tune in for these stories and more.