Aspen Public Radio Newscast

On today's newscast: Two hundred fish died suddenly last month in a popular reservoir near Aspen; a Utah musician who was detained by immigration authorities and held in Colorado is expected to be released soon; and Colorado and Wyoming will get federal funds to help reduce the risk of wildfires in Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Snowmass Tourism has spent the last year overhauling its tourism marketing plan; a jury in Colorado has awarded a $21-million verdict to a woman who was paralyzed after falling from a ski lift at Crested Butte; and Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse introduced bills this week to reverse cuts to federal climate and disaster agencies. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The city of Aspen is making plans to deal with more traffic in the coming years as 277 new affordable housing units become available across from the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport by 2029; with federal tax credits going away sooner than expected, it's going to be more expensive to build wind and solar projects; and a new report shows America's water systems need more than a trillion dollars in upgrades in the coming decades. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Pitkin County Coroner's Office has identified the 64-year-old female who died in an electric bicycle accident that closed Castle Creek Road on Monday; in an exercise designed to challenge perspectives, Crystal River Elementary School students participated in an art program in which their final artwork was only visible from the sky; and a former Democratic statehouse speaker has dropped her bid for Attorney General. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Eagle County Housing and Development Authority is asking Gov. Jared Polis for state funding to help residents of two local mobile home parks purchase the properties; Mesa County health care facilities are adding precautions following recent measles cases; and Space Command will move from Colorado Springs to Alabama, President Trump announced yesterday. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Colorado Department of Education released attendance data for the 2024-2025 academic year last week, but Aspen officials say that excused absences obfuscate the data; in Colorado, more than a third of counties are now considered maternity care deserts, as they have no obstetric facilities or providers; and the Trump administration is pushing forward a plan to rescind a two-decades-old rule that blocks road building and logging on millions of acres of national forests. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The 29th annual Redstone Art show took place over the weekend and included more artists than ever before; Colorado fire departments say they need more money, but November ballots may address the issue; and a Texas law that would let almost anyone sue out-of-state abortion pill prescribers — and collect cash rewards — won initial approval in the state House last week. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The most expensive home for sale in America right now is in Aspen, the Roaring Fork School District board race received four candidate petitions ahead of Friday's deadline, volunteer rangers dismantled more than three times as many illegal campfire rings as they typically do in the summer season, and more.

On today's newscast: A mixed-status family in Parachute shares how they're coping with increased immigration enforcement, Basalt has chosen its new town manager out of more than 60 applicants, Governor Jared Polis will unveil his state spending cuts, the JAS Labor Day festival is this weekend, and more.

On today's newscast: Residents at Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park near Glenwood are trying to buy the land under their homes, but they're having a hard time raising funds; The city of Aspen will ask voters to approve an $85-million bond for improvements to the Castle Creek water treatment facility; and Colorado's youth suicide rate has dropped to its lowest level in more than 15 years. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Kids are back at school in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, but less than half of children under 5 in our region have access to licensed childcare providers; Aspen City Council will not increase the number of short-term rental permits it allows for one of the city's zone districts; and a state prison in western Colorado has been evacuated for two weeks because of a wildfire. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Residents of Cavern Springs are scrambling to find a way to fund the purchase of their mobile home park; as Aspen's Raizado festival, which celebrates Latine culture and heritage, wrapped up yesterday, organizers already have their eye on next year; and state employees who already feel overstretched are worried a hiring freeze on Colorado agencies will make their jobs harder. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Garfield County continues to address its $9-million budget shortfall going into 2026; wildfire smoke from multiple large blazes on the Western Slope poses magnified health risks for someone who is pregnant; and Colorado public-health officials are alerting the public about a possible measles exposure at Denver International Airport. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A new report on homelessness in Pitkin County says there are 153 people receiving services related to their lack of secure housing, the Derby Fire north of Dotsero continues to burn resulting in evacuations and air quality alerts, the Aspen School District board approved ballot language for two tax measures, and more.

On today's newscast: Evacuations were ordered Wednesday morning for residents living near the Derby Fire north of Dotsero, Voces Unidas is calling for an investigation into possible collaboration between the Garfield County Sheriff's Office and ICE, Cornerstone Christian Center's expansion plans were approved without any affordable housing, Latine-led Raizado Festival returns to Aspen, and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen City Council discusses rush hour traffic congestion in the West End, enrollment in the Roaring Fork School District is expected to fall over the next decade, Colorado lawmakers debate an AI law, and more.

On today's newscast: Wet weather over the weekend helped firefighters continue making progress on the historic Lee Fire near Meeker, the city of Aspen ramped up water-use restrictions last week, coal mining companies say they are poised to grow, particularly at the West Elk Coal Mine in the North Fork Valley, for the third year in a row Colorado lawmakers are headed back to the state capitol for a special legislative session, and more.

On today's newscast: Crews were able to gain ground on the Lee Fire burning near Meeker and north Rifle but evacuations remained in place Friday morning, Pitkin County is seeking a $340 million airport bond amid uncertain grants, Garfield County Libraries' leadership is criticizing the county's decision to postpone filling a vacant library board seat, and more.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County is poised to ask voters to approve a $340 million bond for the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport redevelopment project; there's a new bagel shop opening in Aspen today; and in the three years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Colorado has strengthened state-level reproductive rights — but that hasn't stopped efforts to challenge those protections. Tune in for these stories and more.

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.