Aspen Public Radio Newscast

On today's newscast: The U.S. is having an unseasonably warm holiday week, and the Roaring Fork Valley is no exception; this Christmas marks the 70th anniversary of the NORAD Santa Tracker, based in Colorado Springs; and “Navajo Highways,” a children's TV show using puppets to teach kids the Navajo culture and language, Diné, airs a holiday special. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Residents at Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park in Glenwood are still trying to buy the land under their homes to avoid possible rent increases or redevelopment; food insecurity is still a major concern in our region even after SNAP benefits have been restored; and President Donald Trump has denied Colorado's requests for federal disaster declarations for recent fires and floods — even though the losses exceeded FEMA's threshold for federal assistance. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: An annual Art Base exhibit celebrating newly arrived immigrant students is taking a different shape this year amid as fear of ICE operations; the nation's largest wildlife overpass is ready for use by elk, pronghorn and other critters near the Palmer Divide; and a lack of snow and rise in consumers worried about money are creating the slowest start for winter resorts in years. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Another Aspen lodging property is facing a class-action lawsuit over alleged labor violations involving foreign-exchange workers; the Trump administration plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder; and the federal government is suing more states in an ongoing effort to obtain voter data and election information. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: St. Benedict's Monastery in Old Snowmass has sold for $120 million; a new ice rink is opening in Aspen tomorrow; and Gov. Jared Polis is drawing criticism from public school advocates for his plan to opt Colorado into a new federal scholarship program backed by President Donald Trump. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to boost the state's beaver population; the Aspen Jewish Congregation is hosting several Hanukkah events throughout the Roaring Fork Valley this week; and Affordable Care Act tax credits are set to expire at the end of the month. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Several Woody Creek residents urged the Aspen Pitkin County Housing Authority to evict a convicted sex offender residing in their neighborhood; yesterday kicked off Aspen's 74th Winterskol celebrations; and hundreds gathered on the steps of the State Capitol last week for a memorial service honoring Colorado Sen. Faith Winter, who died in a car crash last month. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Thirteen candidates have applied for three open seats on the Garfield County library board; World Cup ski races in Colorado concluded last Sunday with the Birds of Prey Giant Slalom at Beaver Creek; and many ranchers in our region are starting to track and move their cattle with GPS collars. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Roaring Fork Valley will need about 7,200 new affordable housing units to meet demand in the next 10 years; the Aspen School District is hoping to use geothermal technology to heat and cool its three schools; and the U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that it's investigating Colorado's prisons and youth detention centers. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County's 2026 budget is set to crest 311 million dollars — the biggest in the county's history and up 34% from 2025; several Colorado school districts that challenged state rules on transgender participation in high school sports have reached a settlement with one of the key defendants; and new research shows that mountain regions around the world are warming faster than the lowlands below them. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: After a slow start to the season, snow has begun to pile up at Colorado ski resorts; Democratic Colorado Sen. Julie Gonzales has launched a primary challenge against U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper; and a group of young people from Utah is suing the state's Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, saying its permitting of fossil fuels violates their rights to life, health and safety. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Olympic qualifying races for ski mountaineering — better known as “skimo” — are this weekend in Utah, and Aspen athletes John Gaston and Jessie Young are vying for a spot on Team USA; local residents will have a chance to cut their own Christmas trees at a bilingual, bicultural event near New Castle tomorrow; and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold has rejected the second request this year from the U.S. Department of Justice for sensitive voter information. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County Commissioners unanimously approved a contract for a microgrid project at the Aspen Airport Business Center; new research shows that many rural roads in the Mountain West may be more vulnerable to flooding than people realize; and the Navajo Nation Council is considering a motion to remove the tribe's president and vice president amid accusations of misused government funds. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Trump administration is planning to roll back a Biden-era rule that helped make sure oil and gas companies clean up their well sites; catastrophic wildfires that destroy neighborhoods are destabilizing insurance markets; and the federal government is limiting which bodies of water are eligible for protection under the Clean Water Act. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The city of Aspen terminated a contract with a Centennial-based contractor partway through a remodel of the city's Old Powerhouse building; Mesa County officials are asking Washington state not to give wolves to Colorado; and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office says the state senator who died last week, was killed in the second of two crashes. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Eagle County saw its first notable greenhouse gas emissions reduction last year; reports to the anonymous student reporting system Safe2Tell last school year climbed to their highest level in the program's history; and more than half the water use in the Rio Grande River Basin is unsustainable. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Opening Day festivities continue today and throughout the weekend at Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Ski Area; Colorado's Jefferson County Public Schools' policy around students' gender identity and field trips is headed to a federal appeals court; and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced new investments in travel security just ahead of the busy holiday season. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Jacquelyn Francis, founder and executive director of the Aspen-based nonprofit Climate Curve, just completed two weeks at the United Nations' COP30 conference in Brazil; today is opening day at Aspen Mountain and Snowmass Ski Area; and international tourists will be charged an extra fee to enter some national parks, as of the new year. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Hotel Jerome and the Wheeler Opera House began a year-long partnership this month; Colorado has a draft plan to dramatically expand the state's beaver population; and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox says states need to take an all-of-the-above approach to meet growing energy demands driven by the growth of AI data centers. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen and Snowmass are still on track to open Thanksgiving Day, even after a warm and dry November; for the first time ever, Aspen Sister Cities put on a birding exchange trip with Bariloche, Argentina; and Jackson Hole Ski Patrol is moving toward unionizing. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Atlantic Aviation is one step closer to giving the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport a makeover, free fares boosted RFTA ridership this fall, Colorado will need thousands of more workers to meet its climate goals, and more.

In today's newscast: The Aspen, Roaring Fork and Garfield Re-2 school districts are moving up the age cutoff for kindergarten enrollment starting next year; the town of Rifle has a new housing study and action plan; and the Colorado River District is set to co-manage one of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon — the Shoshone water right.

In today's newscast: Pitkin County deputy manager Kara Silbernagel will take the helm as interim county manager while Jon Peacock transitions out of the role; Aspen City Council is still debating whether to let short-term rental owners transfer their permits to family members; and a federal judge in Colorado is still deciding what to do about a lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding ICE detentions without warrants.

In today's newscast: Residents are worried that Garfield County's roadways won't be able to sustain evacuations in an emergency; the Aspen Chapel Gallery is welcoming back a holiday favorite today, the 18th annual Small Wonders show; and children with autism, their families and providers held a rally at the State Capitol yesterday over what they claim is unfair treatment by the state.

In today's newscast: Pitkin County commissioners will accept public comment on the initial plans for Atlantic Aviation's renovation tomorrow; the federal Bureau of Prisons has officially requested that former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters be moved from a state to a federal prison while she appeals her state conviction; and while prescribed fires and other ways to reduce hazardous fuels are among the most important tools for reducing wildfire risks, new analysis shows that the federal government has been doing a lot less of it this year.

In today's newscast: The Trump Administration's Big Beautiful Bill, will worsen the drivers of women's poverty, according to a new report from the Women's Foundation of Colorado; Gov. Jared Polis has long promised climate-friendly electricity, but his administration now wants to keep a Pueblo coal plant up and running; and a new national report finds more than 500 solar projects could be blocked as the Trump administration pivots to fossil fuels. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's newscast: Pitkin County is moving ahead with hybrid heating systems at two of its highest emitting buildings; Gov. Jared Polis unveiled his proposal to close a nearly $850-million budget shortfall; and national parks remaining open but without staff during the government shutdown led to damage and graffiti at Arches National Park near Moab. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's newscast: Aspen City Council is considering entering into agreements with some local employers, to give their workers priority in the Lumberyard Affordable housing project lottery; Colorado cattle ranchers are frustrated by the Trump administration's decision to quadruple the amount of beef imported from Argentina; and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will no longer work on a recovery plan for gray wolves. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's newscast: The city of Aspen's sales tax rate will rise above 10% for the first time beginning next year; Colorado is back on the wolf market — and looking for another batch of carnivores to release into the wild; and one state in our region is exploring new ways to expand conservation and recreation on trust lands. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's newscast: Aspen Skiing Company's lift ticket art for the upcoming season was revealed last week; a Colorado State University professor was recently named one of Time magazine's climate innovators of the year; and unreliable internet is making it harder for Indigenous veterans to apply for benefits. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's newscast: The Glenwood Springs City Council approved its 2026 budget during a meeting last week; Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd is part of a bipartisan group trying to find a fix for an expiring ACA tax credit that's at the heart of the stalemate over government funding; and almost 200 local officials in the West are urging the Interior Department to keep a major land-conservation policy. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's newscast: The Aspen School District's teacher turnover rate was 11.5% during the last school year, roughly 6% lower than the state average; Winter Park Resort's new ski fast pass allows you to skip the lines at the chairlifts and includes reserved parking, but it comes with a price tag; and former New Mexico U-S Representative Steve Pearce has been nominated to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's newscast: The city of Aspen is planning nearly $2 million in renovations at the Aspen Recreation Center next year; multiple freedom of speech advocacy groups are criticizing the History Colorado Center over what they call unfair censorship of an artist; and Democratic lawmakers in Nevada on Tuesday raised concerns about Trump administration statements calling for the testing of nuclear weapons systems. Tune in for these updates and more.

In today's special election-coverage newscast: Tammy Nimmo and Kathryn Kuhlenberg are in the lead in the race for the Roaring Fork School District Board; Pitkin County voters appear to resoundingly support the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport's bond question, with 62.8% in support of 1A and 37% voting against; and voters look to have approved a sales tax to fund childcare in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. Tune in for these updates and more.

On today's newscast: In the Roaring Fork Valley, officials and hunger relief organizations are trying to respond to the Trump administration's announcement yesterday that it will reinstate only partial SNAP payments; Durango City Council held a special meeting Thursday after federal immigration agents used pepper spray and rubber bullets on protesters earlier last week; and Denverites are voting whether to repeal or retain a ban on flavored tobacco products passed by city council. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Election day is tomorrow, and Colorado voters will decide on two statewide ballot questions and there are also lots of local issues in cities and counties across the state; family-owned farms and ranches could get a break on their taxes, under a bipartisan bill planned for next year; and Paleontologists have revealed the first reptiles with hooves in the form of mummified, duck-billed dinosaurs in Wyoming. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Hunger relief organizations in Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield counties met yesterday to discuss the upcoming suspension of food stamps; Colorado has a U.S. attorney thanks to a district court appointment during the federal government shutdown; and The Navajo Nation has a new attorney general — its fourth in less than a year. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Midvalley voters are facing two lodging tax questions next Tuesday; Some Colorado credit unions are offering financial support for federal employees struggling during the government shutdown; and President Trump's decision to move Space Command headquarters out of Colorado is being challenged by Attorney General Phil Weiser. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The city of Aspen will explore a dozen projects intended to improve traffic and public safety in the West End neighborhood; Colorado labor officials say about 1,500 furloughed federal employees have applied for unemployment benefits in the state since the government shutdown began; and vaccination rates in Colorado for respiratory viruses are low so far this fall — especially for Hispanic residents. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: A 77-year-old man died in a bike accident on Castle Creek Road on Sunday; Garfield County commissioners have approved a low-density residential development at McClure River Ranch, near the Catherine Store bus stop; and a new study finds that what we eat — especially meat — plays a big role in city carbon emissions. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Financial leaders at the Aspen School District say it will take 16 years to rebuild depleted reserves if voters don't approve several tax measures on the November ballot; Pitkin County wants to stop overnight parking at the Brush Creek Park and Ride; and data centers powering artificial intelligence in the Northwest are impacting the price of electricity in Teton County, Wyoming. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The city of Rifle is asking residents to consider increasing its lodging tax; Gov. Jared Polis is taking steps to backstop the lack of federal food aid in November due to the government shutdown; and Colorado officials are sounding the alarm on threats to public lands. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: This November, voters in Garfield, Pitkin and southwest Eagle counties will decide whether or not to establish a sales tax to fund childcare in the region; the city of Aspen is proposing a 15% increase in water rates for customers in 2026; and the Interior Department is laying out where it wants to cut its federal employees, including in Colorado. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Carbondale's Fire District is asking voters to approve a 1.5% sales tax this November; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also called SNAP or food stamps, will be paused if the federal government shutdown continues past Nov. 1; and Navajo Technical University is working on a sovereign database system to track and support families of missing Indigenous relatives. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen City Council officially appointed Pete Strecker as Aspen city manager during a special meeting last night; Colorado's congressional newcomers are pulling in strong fundraising numbers as they run for reelection for the first time; and California just took a big step toward changing how electricity moves across the West. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Roaring Fork school board candidates shared opposing ideas about how to deal with ongoing budget challenges at last week's election forum in Glenwood; around 4,000 people gathered in downtown Glenwood Springs on Saturday for the second nationwide "No Kings" march; and the autonomous-vehicle company Waymo recently announced that its self-driving cars had arrived in Denver. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The seventh Shining Mountains Film Festival begins today and runs throughout the weekend; ski resorts in Colorado are already gearing up for the season — some could open soon; and Republican governors in our region discussed their plans yesterday to “unleash American energy” at an economic conference in Montana. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: The Aspen School District is asking voters to approve four different tax measures on the November ballot; more patients are requesting long-term birth control at Mountain Family Health Centers since the 2024 election; and Gov. Jared Polis and Attorney General Phil Weiser are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a lawsuit filed against Colorado this summer by the state of Nebraska. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: As the Nov. 4 election nears, candidates seeking public office in both Silt and Rifle have discussed the most pressing economic issues for their respective communities; Colorado civil rights attorneys have sued the Department of Homeland Security for detaining Latinos in the state without warrants or probable cause; and major storms from the Pacific Ocean brought 2 to 4 inches of rain to the San Juan Mountains over the weekend. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Pitkin County Manager Jon Peacock is a finalist for Winter Park's town manager position; a new kind of cloud seeding technology — for rain — is coming to Weld County; and the federal government shutdown is also affecting some hunters in Southern Colorado. Tune in for these stories and more.

On today's newscast: Aspen officials are exploring ways to back up the city's energy supply in the event of a wildfire; Indigenous health workers are stepping up their battle against opioid addictions; and one nonprofit is bringing private dollars to the table to fund recreation projects in our region. Tune in for these stories and more.