Colorado Matters

Research finds that kids are exposed to online pornography more often, and at younger ages, than ever before, thanks to technology and social media. The effects are often damaging, negatively shaping how they understand relationships, consent, and even their own bodies. We speak with Craig Knippenberg, a licensed clinical social worker, family therapist and author about the trend and what parents need to know. Plus, we revisit concerns about an increase in motorcycle accidents in Colorado with BikerDown, a Lakewood-based non-profit that helps injured riders and their families recover. 

When it comes to wildlife and water use, golf courses have room for improvement. Today, a one-of-a-kind partnership between golfers and the botanic gardens. Then, the town of Kremmling has pulled itself out of a water crisis, for now. And on her album "Appalachia," a Ouray singer-songwriter contrasts her hometown mountains with her adopted Rockies. 

A sheriff's office is under federal scrutiny for its hiring practices; the effects could ripple across the state. Then, filmmaker Rick Vigil is preserving the oral history of people who call the San Luis Valley home. Also, what to know about staying safe from lightning. And singer/songwriter Isaac Slade returns to Colorado to wish his home state a happy 150th. 

Since it became a state 150 years ago, Colorado's political identity has always been hard to pin down. You might say... it's purplish! But it's also been a leader in things like women's suffrage and civil rights. We explore some of that history today with Purplish. Then, the Colorado River makes life possible for some 40 million people from here to Southern California, but making sure there's enough water to go around is getting harder. Plus, new efforts to preserve the state's wetlands. And, Boulder's "Poetry in the Parks" is part scavenger hunt, part performance. 

Colorado just tuned 150. Roy Romer jokes he's been alive for most of that time. The former three-term governor is 97 and just donated his papers to Metropolitan State University of Denver. We ask him to look back, and to look forward, along with MSUD's provost and historian Matt Makley. Then, an Aurora Police Officer is indicted in the shooting death of a Black man during a traffic stop. CPR's Ava Kian speaks with the driver's family. Also, the drought is taking its toll on Colorado's fish, and anglers, as river levels continue to drop. And Colorado bands join in a celebration of Julia Louis Dreyfest. 

Dr. Reiland Rabaka, founder and director of the Center for African and African American Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder (CAAAS), widely known as "The Cause," joined Colorado Matters host Chandra Thomas Whitfield to discuss the Center's fifth anniversary and his work as a scholar and author. The author of the books, The Funk Movement and Black Feminist Funk, Dr. Rabaka shared his reflections (and playlist) that he says trace the cultural and political power of Black music and its role in shaping history. 

In his first interview since qualifying for the ballot, unaffiliated candidate Dr. Shimon Blau introduces himself to Denver voters. He got into the congressional race after Melat Kiros secured the Democratic nomination. Then, it's dry times in La Veta, Colorado. The mayor and town manager discuss life under draconian water restrictions. And ski towns beef up their summer offerings after paltry snowfall. 

Our state is turning 150. We celebrate with "Colorado Saves The World." The new podcast inspired by "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me." That means comedians, headlines and quizzes. They were kind to make Colorado Matters part of their first episode. 

If death is universal, why is it so hard to talk about? Today, in our series "Searching for Jobie," a conversation with a woman who cares for the dying about her efforts to make the subject of death less taboo. Also, what she's witnessed that makes her believe death is not an end. Then, a new medical school in northern Colorado could help with a nationwide doctor shortage. And, doctors can now use an innovative wound care option thanks to a Colorado School of Mines professor. Plus, an apple thought to be extinct is rediscovered in southern Colorado. Also, she's running the length of the Colorado River to highlight its water crisis in a search for solutions. 

Governor Jared Polis joins us for the first time since he freed convicted clerk Tina Peters, since deadly wildfires broke out, and since U.S. News & World Report named Colorado #1 in education. Then, for Colorado's 150th birthday, we got the state an astrological reading. Born August 1st, the state is a Leo. And, The Centennial State's long, bumpy road to statehood.

She hoped to escape Vietnam and reuniting with her mother in Colorado. It led Sister Sen Nguyen to a life of service and a love of learning. For Portraits in Aging, her story about never giving up. Then, multiple award-winning photojournalist Kevin Hartfield reflects on his career milestones and the state of journalism today as he retires as chief photographer from CBS Colorado. And we speak with rising Colorado Rapids soccer star Lucas Herrington, just back from the World Cup playing for his home team of Australia.

The deadly fire on the Colorado/Utah border has claimed the life of a fourth firefighter. 43-year-old Nathan Matthews, of Lincoln, Nebraska, had been hospitalized since the Snyder fire burnover June 27. Also this season, a helicopter pilot died fighting the Gold Mountain fire. How does this affect the mental health of their fellow firefighters? Then, a new exhibit featuring works by the Denver Art Museum's Indigenous artists-in-residence opens Saturday. We speak with two artists whose intricate beadwork reimagines traditional designs. 

Drought and wildfire mean hopes are high for monsoon (from the Arabic word for "season"). Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo returns for our regular climate and weather conversation. Then, among the headstones at Fairmount, we meet the authors of "Historic Cemeteries of Denver." Plus, innovations in water conservation, and a poll takes Coloradans' pulse at our state's sesquisemiquincentennial. 

The Denver-based SafeSport is supposed to protect Olympians and Paralympians from sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Its new CEO, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, a gold medal Olympian herself, acknowledges it's had its share of challenges. Now, it's striving to repair its relationships with athletes and the public. Then, Durango author Heather Hansman is back on the shelves with “Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America's Love For The Wild,” a new book that profiles three women who are legends of the outdoor world. 

92-year-old Ed Dwight, of Denver, is a legend. The sculptor and spaceman is the subject of a retrospective at History Colorado. "Casting a Legacy" features his figures of Black cowboys and homesteaders, jazz greats, and civil rights leaders. Then, a United Airlines pilot who was a Make-A-Wish kid pays it forward. Plus, what it takes to turn an office building into housing. 

An off-duty employee at the ICE detention center in Aurora faces charges after police say he shot toward a demonstrator who was struck in the foot amid heightened tension about immigration enforcement. Then, homeowners try to cope after losing everything in the Aspen Acres fire. Plus, the Denver Sports Commission celebrates 25 years of bringing big sports events and sports history to Colorado. Also, journalist and author Linda Stasi's historic novel, "The Descendent" receives a big honor as it becomes a best seller. And the effort to save an endangered fish on the Western Slope brings together the federal government, high school students, and baseball players. 

You can't go home again, as the saying goes. But Denver author Josiah Hesse did. He returned to Mason City, Iowa — with a journalistic lens— to better understand his evangelical upbringing, and the social and economic forces that shaped it. We spoke in front of an audience at the Denver Press Club for the release of "On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right – a Personal History." Editor's Note: This episode of Colorado Matters originally aired on January 23, 2026.

The constitution gives states dominion over elections. Here, mail-in ballots are popular and secure. But the president wants to turn that upside down. Reaction and analysis to Thursday's address, including the latest edition of "If You Can Keep It." Then, a Denver immigration judge -- hired during the first Trump administration -- was fired in the second. She says she refused to cave to political pressure. And, in Indie's 102.3's Local 303, Colorado musicians pull off a feat -- appearances at two festivals at the same time. 

Colorado's population is aging and birth rates are dropping. We ask the new state demographer, Neal Marquez, what the changes might mean for Colorado. Then, CU Boulder researcher Mija Hubler has helped design a new material using a quick-growing bacteria that's a clean alternative to concrete and cement. Plus, a podcast examines Colorado's habitual offender law and asks if harsher sentences are truly a deterrent. Also, new hope for an infamous apartment complex in Aurora. And, a Colorado author explores salt lakes as they face an uncertain future. 

Front Range passenger rail could barrel down the tracks three years from now. We speak with Sal Pace, general manager of CoCo – the Colorado Connector. Then, a new mile-high marker for Denver that's as accurate as ever. Plus, a massive bathhouse is planned for an acre in downtown Denver. How might it create community? Also, how "movies under the stars" support firefighters, and a woman who lost her home twice to flames reflects on recovery. Later, a Colorado wilderness doctor returns from Greenland where he tended to climate scientists. And Colorado Wonders, where do bats hang out during the day? 

In Colorado, many families spend more than 20% of their income on child care, if they can find it all. A new documentary from Rocky Mountain PBS, "Careless: Colorado's Child Care Struggles," shares the stories of parents working to navigate the challenges of child care, and those coming up with creative solutions. Then, there's a new accelerated program at the CU School of Medicine to become a doctor. And it's one of the darkest moments in Colorado history: the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, but Captain Silas Soule refused to take part. What the letters he wrote say about moral courage and conviction ahead of a panel discussion at the National Western Center July 25.

"I'm not an artist." That's something two art instructors who founded Purple Art hear a lot as they visit retirement communities across the Front Range. Many of their clients have dementia. In our series Aging Matters, we speak with art teachers the Colorado's Alzheimer's Association hand-picked. Then, tourists think twice about their vacations because of wildfire. Plus, an effort to make Colorado's Great Outdoors more inclusive and affordable. Also, why it's not only okay, but recommended, for kids to play in the mud. And "Cowboys and East Indians," a play about identity, culture, and belonging, is up for a Colorado Theatre Guild award. 

The mayor of Colorado Springs, who's independent, hired the Republican he beat as his chief of staff. Today, a conversation about civility, service and even and submission with Yemi Mobolade and Wayne Williams. Then, we visit a fire camp for the Aspen Acres fire near Pueblo. Plus, an adobe labyrinth by the state's oldest church in the San Luis Valley. And a living kidney donor proves you can have a normal life after giving the gift of life. 

As we wait to find out who the Republican candidate for governor will be in Colorado, we speak with Democratic candidate Phil Weiser, the current attorney general. Ryan Warner asks about his statewide strategy heading into the general election as well as gerrymandering and consequential court rulings. Then, we "Raise the Curtain" on theater critics with OnStage Colorado and find out their suggestions for the summer theater season. 

Denver's representative in Congress will, very likely, be Melat Kiros. Fresh off her primary upset, the Democratic Socialist goes in-depth on how she'd legislate with a Republican president. Kiros also tells us her recent comments about the Boulder firebombing fell short. Then, CSU starts a new chapter in sports history as it joins the Pac-12. We speak about the change and the opportunities it presents with CSU athletic director John Weber. And, we share Denverite's "race" to Red Rocks with a new option in public transit. 

The Colorado Black Arts Festival marks a milestone this summer. One of the state's most enduring cultural institutions is celebrating 40 years of showcasing Black art, music, food, and community as the festival returns to Denver's City Park July 10-12 with the theme, “Through Our Eyes,” a reflection on past, present, and future. We chat with executive director Jaleesa McIntosh and featured artist Keisha Makonese. Then, Purplish takes stock of the primary election and what it may say about the state of politics in Colorado heading into the general election. 

Climate change means stronger winds and more dry lightning, says Senior Editor at Inside Climate News Michael Kodas. The Boulder journalist is the author of "Megafire: The Race to Extinguish a Deadly Epidemic of Flame." Then, Estes Park climber and restaurateur Melissa Strong has written "Climbing Through," about recovering from electrocution. 

In the face of global climate change, what room is there for the concept of "Leave No Trace?" We sit on a riverbank and ask the head of the Boulder-based Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, which is in its third decade. Then, we get a bead on Indigenous designers Adrian Stevens and Sean Snyder who have been celebrated by both Vogue and the Denver Art Museum. 

As America prepares to celebrate the Fourth of July, a Colorado man with ties to one of the Founding Fathers, reckons with the country's complicated history and a family divided. Then, as wildfires continue to burn in parts of Colorado, we hear the stories of people forced to leave their homes at one of the largest, the Gold Mountain Fire near Ouray. Plus, a new documentary streaming on HBO Max shares the history of the legendary band, Earth Wind & Fire, featuring Philip Bailey from Denver. And as America marks 250 years, we re-share a musical milestone for Colorado jazz saxophonist Tony Exum Jr. who performed the National Anthem at an NFL game.

With one statewide race still too close to call, we take Colorado's political pulse after the primary election. We dip into victory speeches and get insight from a panel of politicos: Alton Dillard, an unaffiliated communications specialist; Bianca Emerson, a Democratic political strategist and president of Colorado Black Women for Political Action; and Republican Krista Kafer, weekly opinion columnist for the Denver Post. 

At least five major wildfires continue to burn in parts of the state today, prompting some evacuations and air quality warnings. Then, it's Election Day in Colorado; we'll take a closer look at how your vote is counted and why it can take weeks to get final results. Also, as Colorado marks its 150th anniversary, Purplish shares the unique history inside the State Capitol. Plus, Annie Barbour is nominated for a Henry Award from the Colorado Theatre Guild for her work at the Dairy Arts Center in Boulder for "Brooklyn Laundry," a role that took on deeper personal meaning. We spoke with her in March for our series, "Raise the Curtain," highlighting Colorado's vibrant theater scene. 

Long before Donald Trump came to power, the Republican party was getting ready for him... or someone like him. You can go as far back as Nixon's loss to Kennedy, which University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket does in his new book. It's titled “The Elephants in the Room: How Trump Voters Seized the Party from Republican Leaders.” But it's not just a look back. It's a reflection on political violence today. Masket also ponders what the GOP might look like after Trump. We traveled to The Tattered Cover Book Store on Colfax in Denver for the book's release. 

In mountain towns and plains communities, voters approach Tuesday's primary with a unique agenda. CPR has been traveling the state to hear what's on their minds. Then, Megan Falley, the widow of Colorado's late poet laureate, Andrea Gibson, reflects on loss and the possibility of an afterlife with Andrea Dukakis for "Searching for Jobie." A film of Gibson's final live performance with the Colorado Symphony premieres at Red Rocks on July 5. And later, the Local 303 celebrates Pride with local musicians ahead of this Sunday's parade and the Local 303 meetup on Monday. 

Today, the story of one woman in recovery from an eating disorder that started when she was very young. The Eating Recovery Center in Denver has seen an uptick in younger kids needing treatment. Then, how the San Luis Valley overcame a justice system in crisis. Plus, we "Raise the Curtain" on a theater company in Colorado Springs with half a century under its belt. And we hike up Colorado's only active volcano! 

The primary election's next week. We're talking to voters about some of the tightest races. Then, two student filmmakers take on the subject of family: the one we're born into versus the one we choose. And we pinch, pleat, fold, then turn with award-winning dumpling chef Penelope Wong of Denver's Yuan Wonton, who was recently named "Best Chef in the Mountain Region" by the James Beard Foundation. 

Burping your home involves opening windows and doors to let the outdoor air in to get rid of toxins inside. We met Delphine Farmer, an atmospheric chemist at Colorado State University who studies indoor air, at a house in Westminster, to learn what to consider. Then, a mother works to balance child care with her dream of working in healthcare. And composer Grace Hale returns to her alma mater to premiere her new chamber piece, "Colored Glass" at the Colorado College Summer Music Festival.

In bear encounters and shipwrecks, Rachel Weaver was steady on her feet. But after leaving Alaska for Colorado, something knocked her off of them-- a medical mystery that dragged on for nearly two decades. Weaver's new memoir "Dizzy" is for anyone whose medical claim has been denied or who has waited an hour for the doctor... then not felt heard. The Louisville, Colorado author joined us at this year's LitFest from Lighthouse Writers Workshop for our reading series “Turn The Page.” 

Summer officially starts with the solstice on Sunday, but Colorado's already feeling the heat. We get the seasonal outlook with Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. Then, Denver's city auditor wants input about what to scrutinize next. And Broomfield librarian and author Pardeep Toor debuts "Hands," a collection of short stories that question the American Dream. 

The debate over data centers has prompted thousands of questions about the approval process and the impact in Colorado Springs. Then, what if the United States treated child care in the same way it treats schools, parks and libraries? Denver author Elliot Haspel explores that idea in his book, "Raising a Nation." And we catch up with 14-year-old Jeremiah Daniels and his parents, Joy and Terrance, as his debut movie, "The Color Book," about a father raising a son with Down Syndrome, premieres on Netflix June 19. 

Kind of like renters do, oil and gas operators must leave a deposit in case they make a mess. But an investigation by Denver journalist Joe Fassler found the state's failed to collect as much as $1 billion in bonding. Then, "Raising Colorado" looks at the challenges military families have finding childcare. Plus, we visit a French-inspired restaurant in Crested Butte which opens for the season on Friday. And get a behind-the scenes tour of the new Leonardo da Vinci Museum in Pueblo. 

There's a lot at stake in this month's primary election, including helping shape who takes control of Congress in the general election in November. We'll break it down with Purplish. Then, the Colorado Rockies will honor Theodore "Bubbles" Anderson in a pregame ceremony on Friday. Anderson was the only Colorado native to play in the Negro Baseball League in an era of racial segregation in America and was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame last spring.

We go underground into the tunnels Denver International Airport wants to transform into passenger walkways between the concourses. And Ryan Warner sits down with outgoing CEO Phil Washington, about the airport's growth and what the future may hold. Then, a commencement speech at Colorado College that resonates beyond the graduating class. Also, "On Our Minds" gives budding journalists a chance to share their stories, including memories of childhood road trips to Winter Park. And an entrepreneur taps his record collection to trade in Silicon Valley for the San Luis Valley.