Aspen Public Radio Newscast

On today's newscast: Aspen-Sopris District Ranger Kevin Warner painted a bleak picture to Pitkin County commissioners during an impromptu update on Forest Service staffing and budget capacity; Garfield County commissioners are trying to get U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Bergum out to Colorado for the 2026 Jolt Energy Summit in Grand Junction; and President Donald Trump is urging the Department of Justice to help free former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is serving time for tampering with election equipment. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Site prep for the controversial Lift One Corridor project in Aspen will likely start this summer; a decades-long push to protect the Crystal River gains new urgency — and faces new hurdles — at the federal level; and Colorado lawmakers are racing the clock to pass major bills before the legislative session ends, including a key change to labor law. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A late-night executive order targets NPR and PBS funding — what it means for public media and local stations like Aspen Public Radio; Snowmass Village has several new art installations around town; and Colorado River experts are providing a roadmap for solving the region's water crisis. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A few hundred protesters gathered yesterday at Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs for the May Day National Day of Action, highlighting concerns over cuts to public programs and the targeting of immigrants; a new report shows the Trump administration's plans to repeal clean-energy tax credits could increase energy bills for households; and while snowpack was near normal for much of the upper Colorado River Basin this winter, drought forecasters say the spring runoff will be well below normal. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Eagle County commissioners passed a resolution reaffirming their support for all community members on Tuesday; Colorado lawmakers voted to create a statewide curriculum on Black history; and as homeowners across the Mountain West face rising insurance costs and dropped coverage, Idaho takes a rare step to pull back the curtain on the industry. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Aspen Fire Protection District announced that deputy chief of operations Jacob Andersen is the only finalist for the organization's CEO and fire chief position; Colorado has joined 24 other states in suing the federal government over its gutting of the AmeriCorps volunteer program; and a coalition of Native American tribes has been working to protect Bears Ears, which holds sacred significance for the tribes. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Jonathan Godes is now the director of the I-70 Coalition, following his eight-year tenure as Glenwood Springs mayor and council member; Aspen City Council pushes back against a proposal to limit lottery entries for deed-restricted housing, sparking debate over how to balance fairness for long-time residents and newcomers; and U.S. Army officials said several active-duty members were swept up in a makeshift nightclub raid conducted by immigration and law enforcement over the weekend. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Filmmaker Soraya Simi thought her documentary about a 60-year-old paraplegic rower's solo journey across the Pacific was lost forever — until the boat carrying all of the footage washed up 4,000 miles away; long-running alt-weekly newspaper the Colorado Springs Independent is changing ownership for the third time in two years; and Gov. Jared Polis has vetoed a bill regulating social media sites, setting up a potential showdown with the legislature if it tries to override him. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: She soars off the same jumps, skis the same grueling trails and she's the top-ranked woman on the U.S. Nordic combined team — but Nordic Annika Malacinski's Olympic dream stops at the starting line; a new proposal at the statehouse would create a coordinator position to help reduce Colorado's backlog of sexual-assault evidence kits; and a regional airport in Wyoming is the first to officially commit to dimming its lights to protect dark skies. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County joined 29 other Western Slope counties, cities and towns, irrigation districts and water providers in financially backing a plan to buy a critical Colorado River water right; the winner of the 2025 Aspen Words Literary Prize was announced last night in New York City; and several counties across our region do not meet federal standards for safe air quality. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Residents of two mobile home parks voted to pursue ownership of their neighborhoods — if they can secure funding; comedian Maria Bamford will perform at The Arts Campus at Willits tonight; and the head of the federal agency that oversees water-sharing agreements between the U.S. and Mexico was pushed to resign this week by the Trump Administration. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The 18th 5Point Film Festival kicks off this week and will showcase brand new venues, reimagined events and timely films; the fate of two Venezuelan men in Colorado who fear deportation to an El Salvadoran prison is now in the hands of a federal judge; and the Department of the Interior is embarking on a major restructuring. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Glenwood Springs City council approved an updated tax incentive last week for the construction of another extended-stay hotel at Glenwood Meadows; Gov. Polis vetoed a bill last week critics said would hurt the public's ability to access government records; and the Trump administration has announced its intent to repeal a landmark Bureau of Land Management rule that placed conservation on equal footing with other uses of public lands. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A Western Slope judge issued an order to get ICE to halt immigration detentions in and around his courthouses; another court hearing over abortion rights happened in the Mountain West, this time in Wyoming; and new research shows high levels of a toxic byproduct linked to cancer and other health problems is polluting drinking-water supplies — one of the main causes is manure runoff from livestock farms. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Debate heats up in Pitkin County over a proposed change to the housing lottery, as officials consider whether limiting entries to one per applicant could level the playing field and create opportunities for younger homeowners; summer programming has been announced for both Anderson Ranch Arts Center and Snowmass Village's free concert series; and a federal judge blocks the removal of two Venezuelan men detained in Aurora to an El Salvadoran prison. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Aspen School District is nearing a decision on the calendar for the 2026-2027 academic year, but the community remains divided over two vastly different options; Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) visited Glenwood Springs yesterday to address concerns from Colorado River water users regarding federal funding freezes; and around 200 Coloradans are currently hospitalized with respiratory viruses — a significant drop from this winter's peak, which saw numbers three times higher. Tune in for these stories and more.

Several fires on Saturday afternoon stretched firefighting resources between Snowmass Village and Basalt; the Red Brick Center for the Arts is opening what leadership calls “the greatest show on Earth” tomorrow; and the Bureau of Land Management will no longer report the toll of environmental impacts from thousands of oil and gas leases across the Mountain West. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Fire managers are scheduled to ignite a 900-acre prescribed fire today on Sunnyside, a plot of National Forest System land one mile north of Aspen; English in Action hosted its annual Immigrant Voices storytelling event at TACAW last week; and U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) is running for governor. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority is considering what it would take to offer free bus service across the valley this fall; as Aspen Film's 34th Shortsfest wrapped up last week, an awards ceremony was held over the weekend; and a new federal effort aims to end homelessness among people released from prisons. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County has hired Ryan Mahoney as its next deputy county manager; a ski festival for women and nonbinary people is returning to Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood tomorrow; and the Trump administration is opening up almost 113 million acres of land to logging, mostly in the Mountain West region. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County will contribute $2 million to a regional housing coalition over the next two years; the newly elected members of Aspen City Council were sworn in last night; and the Trump administration's new energy secretary has announced plans to open up federal lands to streamline the construction of massive data centers amid a boom in artificial intelligence. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Contract negotiations between Aspen Skiing Company and the union that represents ski patrollers are set to start today; Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is entering the race for Attorney General; and federal forecasters are predicting a very active fire season in large swaths of the West. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Nearly 2,000 people turned out for Saturday's Hands Off! rally at Sayre Park in Glenwood Springs; a group of Colorado's Democratic state lawmakers are trying to expand protections for immigrants in the state; and advocates for wastewater recycling say the technology could significantly help with supply shortages on the Colorado River. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Funding and staff cuts at a federal agency that provides grants to libraries across the country has raised concerns for local libraries; Colorado's state treasurer Dave Young, a Democrat, is speaking out against potential deep Medicaid cuts from the Republican Congress; and The Bureau of Land Management plans to remove all wild horses from a large section of southwest Wyoming. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Local officials are urging residents to be aware of the risk of measles amid a nationwide outbreak, a closer look at the impact of the third annual Limitless Mountain Challenge for adaptive skiers at Snowmass, Aspen Words announced several well-known authors are coming for its first-ever Aspen Literary Festival, and more.

The Trump administration issued an executive order in January restricting federal funding to institutions that provide gender-affirming health care for patients under 19 years old. The state of Colorado has joined a lawsuit challenging that decision, but transgender teenagers remain worried about their access to health care.

On today's newscast: Voters in Aspen and Glenwood Springs have chosen their next city council members, a federal court judge has delayed a hearing on the detention of a Denver-based immigrant activist, some Colorado health centers are seeing a surge in abortion patients after Wyoming's only clinic closed, and more.

On today's newscast: Voters in Aspen and Glenwood Springs have until 7 p.m. on Tuesday to cast their ballots in two city council elections, Habitat for Humanity is seeking funds from Pitkin County to build a housing production and workforce training facility in Rifle, Response is hosting a storytelling event with survivors of domestic and sexual abuse at TACAW, and more.

On today's newscast: President Trump's tariffs on some Canadian goods have reached the Roaring Fork Valley, Mountain Rescue Aspen helped evacuate someone at the Lindley Hut, Colorado is close to having some of the strictest gun-ownership laws in the country, Aspen Film's 34th annual Shortsfest begins Monday at the Wheeler, and more.

On today's newscast: The City of Aspen has been without an official representative at the Airport Advisory Board for months and they're likely to nominate a citizen to that position, Colorado will be the new host city of the Sundance Film Festival, Colorado's job market is weaker than the numbers have been showing and more.

On today's newscast: Residents from Aspen to Parachute are one step closer to having a new source of funding for childcare, the Trump Administration is directing the Department of the Interior to ramp up mining operations on federal public lands, A wolf released by Colorado in January has been killed in north-central Wyoming and more.

On today's newscast: Residents of two mobile home parks in the Roaring Fork Valley recently got an official notice that their landlord intends to list or sell the properties, the Colorado House gave final approval to a bill that would limit the sale of most rifles with detachable magazines, many states in the region have created outdoor recreation offices to bolster their state economies and more.

On today's newscast: Two candidates vying for a city council seat in Glenwood Springs talk affordable housing, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just wrapped up a rally in Greeley, a rule change from the Trump administration would change the way environmental analysis and public comment is done for federal agencies and more.

On today's newscast: The city of Aspen is collecting skis and snowboards for recycling now until April 30, noteworthy locals are in the running for Pitkin County's deputy county manager, hundreds of teachers and supporters gathered at the Colorado State Capitol to protest and more.

On today's episode: Eight new AI-enabled traffic counters in Pitkin County will give officials a clearer picture of traffic flows in the upper Roaring Fork Valley; more than 20 Senators want answers about apparent underinvestment in food for Army troops; and several universities in our region are facing federal investigation by the Department of Education for their participation in a program aimed at helping underrepresented students earn advanced degrees. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: Garfield County commissioners voted unanimously Monday night to put a childcare measure one step closer to voters; a long-sought water deal is among the programs frozen by Trump spending policies; and Denver-based immigrant rights activist was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: A proclamation against gender-affirming care has left some local transgender teenagers worried about future access to health care; a bill was reintroduced to Congress last week that would settle water rights for four tribes in Arizona; and wildland firefighter advocates are celebrating the permanent pay raises included in a larger funding bill just passed by Congress. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The Aspen City Council might consider reforming its campaign-finance rules for issue committees; in addition to St. Patrick's Day, today is also Latino Advocacy Day; and Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser has joined a multi-state lawsuit to block the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the Department of Education. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: About a hundred people gathered in Glenwood Springs yesterday to show support for federal public lands managers and workers; Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats look to be on a collision course over a plan to rewrite Colorado's labor organizing laws; and Indigenous business owners are gathering in a major conference in our region this week to discuss ways to bring more business opportunities to Native communities. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The Aspen Police Department has filed charges in connection with a fatal car-pedestrian crash in December; CDOT says that the recent passage of Referendum 2 does not change much for the agency — at least right now; and unemployment claims from Colorado's federal workforce are creeping up as the Trump administration cuts government jobs. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The city of Aspen has begun its process to hire a new city manager; for the first time ever, Roaring Fork Valley locals performed at the Aspen Laugh Festival; and the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge to Colorado's conversion therapy ban. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The Roaring Fork Wildfire Collaborative raised nearly $3 million in its first year as a nonprofit; Jerry Seinfeld is headlining the Aspen Laugh Festival on Saturday at the Wheeler Opera House, but several other performers will be gracing the stage this week starting tonight; and President Trump's trade war could cost Coloradans $1.4 billion dollars per year. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The U.S. Forest Service is preparing for a prescribed burn later this spring around the Sunnyside Trail in Aspen; Colorado lawmakers are trying to strike a balance between its geothermal renewable energy development and its hot-springs tourism economy; and the 28 collared grey wolves in Colorado are spreading across the western part of the state. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: In 2024, Pitkin County saw a surge in bear activity, leading Colorado with more than 1,200 reported instances in the Roaring Fork and Eagle Valley areas; the Aspen School District Board of Education reviewed a new facilities master plan this week; and George Washington is coming to the Wheeler Opera House this weekend — or at least the actor that played him in the Broadway musical Hamilton is. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: Candidates for Glenwood Springs City Council spoke at an issues-and-answers forum Tuesday to share their platforms; a resource center for LGBTQIA+ residents is opening in New Castle on Saturday, a first-of-its-kind space in the Colorado River Valley; and Colorado officials are pushing back against the U.S. Department of Justice decision to review the conviction of Tina Peters. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The results of yesterday's municipal election in Aspen are in, and Rachel Richards will be the next mayor of Aspen; four candidates vying for two seats on Aspen City Council are headed for a runoff; and voters have narrowly approved Referendum 2 regarding the entrance to Aspen. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: It's Election Day in Aspen, and voters are weighing in to elect a new mayor and two city council members; local immigration attorney Jennifer Smith's "Know Your Rights" trainings are evolving in response to the Trump administration's policies; and the scope of recent federal layoffs at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is still unclear. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The Garfield County commissioners pushed their final decision for an open seat on the public library board to March 11; a global nonprofit working to help people retain or regain their eyesight was just denied funds from the Trump administration to expand the organization; and Colorado Democrats are calling for an investigation into reports of mass firings at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: The two top leaders at the White River National Forest are resigning, and with no succession plan, local partners are worried; a packed house at the Garfield Re-2 school board meeting shows strong responses as the final vote on a new name-change policy took center stage; and musician John Oates will perform at the Wheeler Opera House today and tomorrow. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's episode: Aspen City Council candidates address the Entrance to Aspen issues and if downvalley residents should have a say; Aspen City Council candidates give thoughts on how to use the RETT funds for arts and culture endeavors; and a decision was made on the Name Change Policy in the RE-2 School District. Tune in for these stories and more.