Aspen Public Radio Newscast

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.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County commissioners weigh the risks of proclaiming June as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month amid concerns over potential federal funding cuts; a Denver lawyer representing workers' rights cases, including a lawsuit in Aspen, announced his candidacy for Colorado Attorney General last month; and environmental advocates warn the Supreme Court's recent ruling on a proposed oil train in the region could undermine key environmental laws and public challenges. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Garfield County's planning commission has voted unanimously to deny Nutrient Farm's agritourism proposal, but the final decision now rests with county commissioners; the FBI is now investigating after eight people were injured in Boulder yesterday afternoon when a man threw Molotov cocktails at a group rallying for the release of Hamas hostages; and after state lawmakers unanimously approved a bill to cap ambulance ride costs, Gov. Polis's veto last week left many supporters shocked. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A Latino advocacy group raises concerns that the Roaring Fork School District isn't doing enough to bridge the achievement gap between White and Latino students; Colorado has allocated $130 million to bolster the state's safety-net hospitals and clinics; and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of developers looking to build a railway for transporting fossil fuels from Utah through the Rocky Mountains. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The traffic lights at two narrow portions of Independence Pass came down this year; the Colorado Cattlemen's Association reported multiple wolf depredation incidents in the last week at three ranches in the Roaring Fork Valley region; and a fatal neurological disease that affects deer and elk is spreading in Wyoming. Tune in for the stories and more.

On today's newscast: Basalt is stepping up with seed funding as two Roaring Fork Valley mobile home parks fight to stay in the hands of their residents; a new focus group in the Roaring Fork Valley is exploring how intentional communities could help adults with disabilities live more independently; and scientists are sounding the alarm over federal budget cuts they say could jeopardize weather forecasting and decades of climate research. Tune in for the stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen Public Radio and NPR are suing the Trump administration, alongside two other Colorado-based public radio stations, CPR and KSUT; the Aspen Education Foundation wants to build a $10-million endowment for the Outdoor Education program at the Aspen School District; and Gov. Polis has vetoed a rideshare safety bill that was prompted by the sexual assault of a state lawmaker. Tune in for the stories and more.

On today's newscast: There was an uptick in community reports last week of ICE activity in the Roaring Fork Valley and I-70 mountain corridor; the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport's upcoming overhaul of its runway, terminal and west-side general aviation infrastructure is expected to cost $518 million through 2029; and Gov. Jared Polis says that a budget passed by the U.S. House of Representatives would be disastrous for Colorado. Tune in for the stories and more.

On today's newscast: An Aspen-based developer made progress on workforce housing projects in Parachute and Fruita this week, Snowmass Village moved forward on its affordable housing project, the National Weather Service in our region is seeing impacts of the federal hiring freeze and cuts, some local government offices will be closed on Memorial Day, and more.

On today's newscast: Local health providers are worried about access to abortion pills, the Aspen School District is considering cost-cutting and ballot measures to rebuild its reserve funds, a new employer-based child care facility is coming to the CMC Spring Valley Campus next year, Independence Pass will open ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and more.

On today's newscast: Roaring Fork Habitat for Humanity announced its new CEO, the BLM is assessing whether e-bikes should be allowed on Crown Mountain trails, Roaring Fork Conservancy is offering clinics to get more women into fly fishing, a new report finds mixed results for air quality in our region, and more.

Millions of people in the U.S. experience domestic and sexual violence each year, including children and teens. To try to prevent this from happening, Basalt-based nonprofit Response is partnering with K-12 schools from Aspen to Carbondale to teach students about consent and healthy relationships in the age of smartphones and social media.

On today's newscast: EcoFlight gave aerial tours of our region amid threats to public lands, crews are mitigating wildfire risk at South Canyon in response to an ongoing underground coal mine fire, six front range cities are suing the state over housing laws, it's "Bonedale Bike Week" in Carbondale, and more.

On today's newscast: As mobile home parks in the Roaring Fork Valley work toward ownership, Mountain Mobile Home Park in Glenwood Springs received a $1.5 million loan from the city last week, a couple of Coloradans were at the Supreme Court last week to hear the historic arguments dealing with birthright citizenship and the power of lower court judges, one company in our region is partnering with private property owners to help people access more public lands, and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen and Pitkin County step up to make riding the bus free this fall, in the hopes that traffic take a back seat; the Roaring Fork School District is trying to close the achievement gap between White and Latino students; and Uber and Lyft are formally asking Gov. Jared Polis to veto a rideshare bill intended to increase safety for passengers and drivers. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Colorado Parks and Wildlife says its Range Rider Program is now fully staffed and ready to be deployed to reduce wolf conflicts in the state; the sports betting industry continues to thrive in Colorado, even as the randomness of outcomes sometimes hurts the bottom line; and newly released documents reveal the Trump administration's energy push on public lands, but much of the story is hidden behind redactions. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Despite pushback and a split vote, Basalt's Town Council moved forward with a bold new fee on short-term rentals — one that could cost owners thousands each year; the X Games will return to Aspen for the 25th consecutive year in January 2026; and after a major gas spill on their land, the Southern Ute Tribe is demanding stronger action from the pipeline company responsible for the contamination. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A proposed short-term rental fee in Basalt is sparking controversy, and some residents say they're ready to take the town to court; Bruce Berger's Aspen cabin on West Main Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places; and businesses that raise their prices during a natural disaster or other emergency could be punished for price gouging under a new state law. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Valley View Hospital expands regional breast-cancer care with a new specialist and high-risk clinic; the second annual Backcountry Symposium is this weekend; and a new bill could change how rideshares operate in Colorado — and Uber's threatening to pull out of the state if it passes. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A new report could reshape the future of the Brush Creek Park and Ride, from who oversees it to where you can park overnight; Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year; and Colorado lawmakers adjourned for the year Wednesday with an important issue unresolved — revising the state's first-in-the-nation AI law. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A proposed affordable-housing rule meant to level the playing field sparked pushback from longtime locals, and so the APCHA board decided against the controversial policy; an initiative to create more affordable and accessible childcare in the Roaring Fork Valley is one step closer to achieving its goal; and a late-night amendment to a federal budget bill could open the door to public-land sales, leaving Democrats fuming. Tune in for these stories and more.

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.