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KUNC's Colorado Edition: Getting Really Awkward

Courtesy of AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com/Museum of Art Fort Collins

On this week's Colorado Edition, we get meta with StoryCorps, awkward with family photos and ... potentially taxed for better roads? 

First, we take a moment to mark the ten-year anniversary since a tornado tore through Weld County. On its nearly 40-mile path through Windsor, Greeley, Gilcrest and Platteville, it destroyed homes and damaged buildings, and caused one fatality.

Then we take a look at a big issue facing Colorado's sugar beet farmers: GMO labeling. Esther Honig shares what's at stake for farmers ahead of a U.S. Department of Agriculture announcement on what foods will be required to label. 

Luke Runyon reminds us that droughts across the Western U.S. are getting worse. A study out of NASA says it's likely because of human-caused climate change

In related news, Rae Ellen Bichell fills us in on a study from the National Park Service on sea level rises, now out after being delayed for over a year. There were concerns over climate change-related censorship in earlier drafts.

Colorado's roads need work, but there's a huge backlog of projects — about $9 billion worth — and not nearly enough money in the state's budget to pay for it. As Matt Bloom reports, a coalition of business leaders around the state is proposing that we tax ourselves to fill the gap.

We've also got a reminder about roads opening across the state after the winter season — and Highway 34 through Big Thompson Canyon opening for good.

The StoryCorps MobileBooth Tour has pulled out of Fort Collins, but before they left, Stacy Nick stopped by the booth to meet some of the people who make those weekly cry-fests possible. We also hear a collection of some of the stories shared during their visit to Colorado.

This week, KUNC film critic Howie Movshovitz, who teaches film and television at CU Denver, reviews On Chesil Beach. He says it's a better novel than film.

And before we leave, we dive into the world of awkward family photos, courtesy of a new exhibit on display at the Museum of Art Fort Collins. The Awkward Family Photos exhibition pays special tribute to the more cringeworthy moments that happen in life. Like when you thought getting a portrait taken with your pet snake would be really cool, or that time you and your mom had matching haircuts.

Our intro music is "Remember Me" by Colorado musician Kalatana. Our outro is "Good Grief" by Ryan Little. Other music this week:

  • "Lullabye" by Ghost
  • "One And," "Only Knows" and "Note Drop" by Broke for Free
  • "Neogrotesque" by Tortue Super Sonic
  • "Never Gets Out" by Ellen Fullman

StoryCorps is sponsored locally by Kaiser Permanente.

The Museum of Art Fort Collins is an underwriter with KUNC. Underwriters do not play a role in coverage decisions. KUNC is solely responsible for its content and editorial decisions.

KUNC's Colorado Edition is a weekly look at the top stories from our newsroom. It's available every Friday on our website, as well as on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher or wherever (RSS) you get your podcasts.