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December 28, 2005
Western Skies Year in Review: Part 2
December 28, 2005 1:26 PM
archivesWESTERN SKIES YEAR IN REVIEW: PART 2
This segment takes a look at one fun story (the Pikes Peak Derby Dames) and several stories that weren't fun to report on: obituaries for U.S. soldiers. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:26 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Memorial , Military
Western Skies Year in Review: Part 1
December 28, 2005 1:24 PM
archivesWESTERN SKIES YEAR IN REVIEW: PART 1
As Western Skies' inaugural year draws to a close, we take a look at some memorable stories from the past twelve months. This segment reviews stories about energy development and renewable energy. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:24 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Energy , Politics
High Country News Talks Agriculture
December 28, 2005 1:21 PM
archivesHIGH COUNTRY NEWS TALKS AGRICULTURE
Eric Whitney talks with Paul Larmer, Executive Director of High Country News about new agricultural trends in the west. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:21 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Agriculture/Ranching , Colorado , Interview
December 27, 2005
War on Christmas? Please.
December 27, 2005 12:46 PM
archivesWAR ON CHRISTMAS? PLEASE.
If you pay any attention to the media, it's been kind of hard to ignore the assertion from a certain segment of the political spectrum that there is a "war" on Christmas. But one local media player isn't buying it. Noel Black edits the monthly humor and opinion publication The Toilet Paper, and has these thoughts on Christian persecution. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:46 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Media , Religion
Disagreement over Proposed Art Installation Still Brewing
December 27, 2005 12:44 PM
archivesDISAGREEMENT OVER PROPOSED ART INSTALLATION STILL BREWING
Back in August, Western Skies reported on the installation artists Christo and Jeanne Claude's plans to turn several segments of the Arkansas River into an artwork by draping industrial fabric over it. The Bureau of Land Management has scheduled several public meetings for January, and both supporters and opponents of the project are getting ready. Stephen Raher talked to one local activist and has this report. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:44 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Arts & Culture , Environment
Colorado Charter School Diversity
December 27, 2005 12:42 PM
archivesCOLORADO CHARTER SCHOOL DIVERSITY
A left-leaning Colorado think tank recently released a report on the state's charter schools, saying that they're becoming more diverse, but still lag behind most other states in the percentage of students of color. Sam Fuqua of KGNU in Boulder recently interviewed Andrew Rotherham, a senior fellow at the think tank, who is also co-director of Education Sector, a non-partisan research institute. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:42 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Children & Youth , Colorado , Education
Newscast
December 27, 2005 12:39 PM
archivesNEWSCAST
Brian Larson has an update on the debate in Greeley over the possibility of a new federal immigration office. Victor Locke reports on the impact a new California law may or may not have on a coal-fired power plant being proposed in New Mexico. Eric Whitney has the story of the federal government's efforts to encourage wind power. And Stephen Raher looks into the controversy brewing in Oklahoma over whether that state should adopt a taxpayers' bill of rights. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 12:39 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Immigration , Legal , Regional
December 22, 2005
Agnostics at Christmastime
December 22, 2005 4:11 PM
archivesAGNOSTICS AT CHRISTMASTIME
The Colorado Freethinkers are a social group that speak out and act to preserve the separation of church and state. Molly Adams finds them at a party, where they talk about what Christmas looks like to them, and why they've chosen the spiritual path they have. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:11 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Holiday , Religion
Southern Colorado Muslim Christmas Experience
December 22, 2005 4:09 PM
archivesSOUTHERN COLORADO MUSLIM CHRISTMAS EXPERIENCE
Of course not everyone in southern Colorado celebrates Christmas. We've got a couple of stories now about people for whom the whole winter holiday frenzy is largely a spectator sport. We start with this piece from Victoria Rios, who tuned in to what Christmas looks like from the local Muslim perspective. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:09 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Holiday , Religion
Tri-Cultural Christmas
December 22, 2005 4:06 PM
archivesTRI-CULTURAL CHRISTMAS
Next, we visit the oldest Catholic parish in Colorado, Our Lady of Guadelupe in the San Luis Valley. It was established in 1858 and is still a vital part of the largely Hispanic community. Shanna Lewis visited the parish recently for its annual Our Lady Of Guadelupe Festival and brought back this audio portrait. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:06 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to History , Religion
Mega-Church Christmas
December 22, 2005 4:04 PM
archivesMEGA-CHURCH CHRISTMAS
We start our look at Christmas celebrations in the area with what was probably the biggest production on the Front Range. "Wonderland" is the holiday extravaganza that ran last week at New Life Church on Colorado Springs' north side. New Life is a big church and tends to do things in a big way. Jeff Briggs went behind the scenes to find out what "Wonderland" is all about. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:04 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado Springs , Holiday , Religion
December 16, 2005
Consumer Powerline
December 16, 2005 10:00 AM
archivesCONSUMER POWERLINE
Spectrum Radio's Bill Sweet speaks with the CEO of Powerline Industries to set the record straight on the simplicity of energy trading for the common consumer. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 10:00 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Energy , Media
Homeless for the Holidays
December 16, 2005 9:59 AM
archivesHOMELESS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Today is the last day of class at Colorado College before winter break. Most students will probably travel back home to spend the holidays with their families. The trip home, and even time spent at home, can be a challenge, but not as difficult as this season can be for young people without homes. CC Student Lindsay Patterson visited Colorado Springs' shelter for homeless teens, and has this report. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:59 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Children & Youth , Colorado Springs , Health
Greeley ICE Office Debate
December 16, 2005 9:59 AM
archivesGREELEY ICE OFFICE DEBATE
In August it was reported that Colorado Springs will soon be home to a regional office of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (or ICE, formerly the INS). There has not been a great deal of fanfare, and the move is being welcomed by El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa. But as Brian Larson from KUNC reports, things are quite different in Greeley. On Tuesday that city's Human Relations Commission strongly rejected a resolution to open an ICE office in Greeley. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:59 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Immigration , Legal Affairs
Mesa Verde Anniversary
December 16, 2005 9:58 AM
archivesMESA VERDE ANNIVERSARY
Victor Locke of KSUT reports that 2006 is going to be a big year for one of Colorado's premier national parks. Mesa Verde will celebrate its one hundredth anniversary next year. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:58 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to History , Memorial
Newscast
December 16, 2005 9:58 AM
archivesNEWSCAST
Nancy Greenleese reports on the recall of District Attorney Colleen Truden, in the Ninth Judicial District. Eric Whitney has an update on failed attempts to revise the 1872 mining law. And Stephen Raher reports on a new Congressional push to amend the Endangered Species Act. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 9:58 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Legal Affairs , Politics , Regional
December 14, 2005
Methamphetamine: A Home Cooked Threat - Part V (The Newborns)
December 14, 2005 4:08 PM
archivesMETHAMPHETAMINE: A HOME COOKED THREAT - PART V (THE NEWBORNS)
The final of our five part series on methamphetamine, Patricia Murphy reports on infants who are exposed to the drug in utero. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:08 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Children & Youth , Health
California's Coal Shadow
December 14, 2005 4:08 PM
archivesCALIFORNIA'S COAL SHADOW
California has some of the most restrictive clean air laws in America. But it buys a fifth of its electricity from states where power plants aren't subject to California's clean air laws. Eric Whitney reports on how this might be changing in the future. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 4:08 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Energy , Legal , Regional
What's the West Getting out of the Energy Boom?
December 14, 2005 3:58 PM
archivesWHAT'S THE WEST GETTING OUT OF THE ENERGY BOOM?
Eric Whitney talks with High Country News about how different western states are responding to a booming energy industry. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 3:58 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Energy , Regional
Nostalgia Pie is a Dish Best Not Eaten at All
December 14, 2005 3:57 PM
archivesNOSTALGIA PIE IS A DISH BEST NOT EATEN AT ALL
The food we prepare for certain holidays define our experience and say a lot about who we are. Commentator Melissa Musick explains how Christmas takes her back several decades to when she lived in Muleshoe, Texas. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 3:57 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Commentary , Holiday
National Immigration Debate Comes to Denver
December 14, 2005 3:56 PM
archivesNATIONAL IMMIGRATION DEBATE COMES TO DENVER
The debate over immigration is heating up again, both nationally and locally. Yesterday, lawmakers from four states and policy experts got together in Denver to come up with strategies to reform state and federal immigration laws. Maeve Conran reports. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 3:56 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Denver , Immigration , Legal Affairs
Quivara Coalition Interview
December 14, 2005 2:49 PM
archivesQUIVARA COALITION INTERVIEW
The 1990s was a time of fierce conflict about livestock grazing on public lands in the West. Environmentalists and ranchers argued vigorously over what the solution was. But the grazing wars also gave birth to a new organization whose mission is to find the common ground between ranchers and environmentalists. It's called the Quivara Coalition, and it calls its position "the radical center." Recently, on a science show called "How On Earth" produced at KGNU in Boulder, Ewan Callaway spoke with the Quivara Coalition's founder, Courtney White. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 2:49 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Agriculture/Ranching , Colorado , Legal
Methamphetamine: A Home Cooked Threat - Part IV (The High Cost of Cleanup)
December 14, 2005 2:49 PM
archivesMETHAMPHETAMINE: A HOME COOKED THREAT - PART IV (THE HIGH COST OF CLEANUP)
In the fourth installment of our five part series on methamphetamine, KUOW's Patricia Murphy looks into the costly endeavor of cleaning up meth's aftermath. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 2:49 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Drug Use , Health
Newscast
December 14, 2005 2:45 PM
archivesNEWSCAST
Nancy Greenleese reports on school report cards. Eric Whitney has details on the Forest Service's temporary withdrawal of the environmental study on lower Gold Camp Road. And Victor Locke explains a recent decision to allow more oil drilling on Colorado's Western Slope. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 2:45 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Children & Youth , Environment
Heating Bill Blues
December 14, 2005 11:46 AM
archivesHEATING BILL BLUES
A study released last week by Energy Outreach Colorado says that more people are going to have trouble meeting their heating bills this year. Sam Fuqua, the news director at station KGNU in Boulder got more on that from Peggy Hofstra, communications director for Energy Outreach. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:46 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Colorado , Interview , Utilities
Methamphetamine: A Home Cooked Threat - Part III (The Meth Mess)
December 14, 2005 11:44 AM
archivesMETHAMPHETAMINE: A HOME COOKED THREAT - PART III (THE METH MESS)
In the third of a five-part series on methamphetamine, Patricia Murphy of KUOW examines the environmental hazards caused by meth labs. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:44 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Drug Use , Environment
Renewable Energy Spurs Hopes Among Farmers
December 14, 2005 11:42 AM
archivesRENEWABLE ENERGY SPURS HOPES AMONG FARMERS
There's a lot of hype these days about how much energy is available from untapped sources in America's breadbasket. But what can farmers really expect from crops that can be converted into alternative fuels like bio-diesel and ethanol? Stephen Raher talks to a couple of knowledgeable sources. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:42 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Energy , Environment
Economic Uncertainty in La Junta and Lamar
December 14, 2005 11:35 AM
archivesECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY IN LA JUNTA AND LAMAR
Eric Whitney visits the once-thriving farm towns of La Junta and Lamar in the Lower Arkansas Valley. Both towns were recently hit with the loss of major employers, but leaders refuse to give up hope. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 11:35 AM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Regional
December 2, 2005
Methamphetamine: A Home Cooked Threat - Part II (The Cooks)
December 2, 2005 2:04 PM
archivesMETHAMPHETAMINE: A HOME COOKED THREAT - PART II (THE COOKS)
This is the second of a five-part series on meth. Patricia Murphy of KUOW talks to a man formerly known as Pierce County's (Washington) most notorious meth cook. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 2:04 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Drug Use , Legal Affairs
New Mexico Doctor Fights AIDS in Africa
December 2, 2005 2:01 PM
archivesNEW MEXICO DOCTOR FIGHTS AIDS IN AFRICA
Today is World AIDS Day. Eric Whitney reports on a unique way that one New Mexican physician is helping the fight against AIDS in Africa. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 2:01 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Health , Interview , New Mexico
Wounded Mom Dedicates New Domestic Violence Facility
December 2, 2005 1:25 PM
archivesWOUNDED MOM DEDICATES NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FACILITY
Brian Larson reports on a new facility in Northern Colorado that helps victims of domestic violence. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:25 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Health , Women's Issues
Census Data Shows Regional Economics in Colorado
December 2, 2005 1:23 PM
archivesCENSUS DATA SHOWS REGIONAL ECONOMICS IN COLORADO
Stephen Raher reports on new Census data released this week on income and poverty in Colorado. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:23 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Colorado , Poverty
Fighting Eminent Domain in Eastern Colorado
December 2, 2005 1:23 PM
archivesFIGHTING EMINENT DOMAIN IN EASTERN COLORADO
Super Slab, the private toll road that was proposed earlier this year, sparked a large opposition movement on the eastern plains. Eric Whitney has this report on how activists are preparing for the 2006 legislative session. [LISTEN] []
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Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:23 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Environment , Legal , Regional
Newscast
December 2, 2005 1:23 PM
archivesNEWSCAST
Nancy Greenleese reports on the Secretary of State's abrupt termination of a contract for a new voter registration system. And Molly Adams has details on a new small business assistance program at CSU Pueblo. [LISTEN] []
Posted by Eric Whitney at 1:23 PM| Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Posted to Business/Labor , Politics , Regional
