Today on Colorado Edition: We look at a bill that would change school immunization requirements, discuss the University of Northern Colorado's budget woes, and learn about two women working to help an older generation get hired. We also dive into the end of Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet's presidential campaign now that he's dropped out of the race, and we explore the intersection between facial recognition technology and gender identity.
Legislation Could Change Student Vaccine Requirements
Yesterday, State Sens. Julie Gonzales and Kevin Priola introduced a bill to the Colorado legislature that would change the immunization requirements for students entering schools in our state. This comes after a similar bill failed to pass in our state last year. To learn more about the proposed bill and how it differs from last year’s, we spoke with KUNC’s Mountain West News Bureau reporter, Rae Ellen Bichell.
University Of Northern Colorado Cuts 65 Jobs Amidst Budget Deficit
On Friday, the University of Northern Colorado, based in Greeley, announced it would cut up to 65 jobs in the coming months. With more on the cuts and what they mean for the university, we spoke with Dan Mika from BizWest.
The Two Women Trying To Help An Older Generation Get Hired
There is a lot of competition in the job market these days. And folks of all ages are hunting for employment, with an unprecedented five generations all competing for jobs in today’s workforce. For some in their 40s or their 50s, finding a new job or even staying employed can be challenging.
KUNC’s Stephanie Daniel reports on two women who are helping this demographic overcome workplace bias and thrive.
Senator Bennet Drops Out Of Presidential Race
Last night, as the results from the New Hampshire primary began to come in, Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet announced he would exit the race for the Democratic presidential primary nomination. Bennet positioned himself as a centrist, who played up his role as a senator from a purple-state — but he never really gained traction in a crowded field. And, after focusing his efforts on the New Hampshire primary, Bennet dropped out of the race after not placing anywhere near the top five.
To talk through Bennet’s campaign and his decision to end it, we spoke to Seth Masket, a professor of political science at the University of Denver.
Artificial Intelligence & Gender
We wrap up today’s show with another segment in our series on artificial intelligence. Over the last few days we’ve covered what the technology is, what it can and cannot do, and what it may mean for jobs in our area.
Today, we discuss one iteration of artificial intelligence that is becoming more common: facial recognition technology. You may use it when unlocking your phone, or tagging people in photos on social media. But the technology is deeply flawed in terms of how it represents gender, which is the subject of Morgan Klaus Scheuerman’s research. Morgan is a PhD student in Information Science at CU Boulder, and joined us to talk about the issue and their research.
Colorado Edition is made possible with support from our KUNC members. Thank you!
Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music in the show by Blue Dot Sessions:
- “When In The West” by Landsman Duets
- "Undying" by Banana Cream
- "Greylock" by Skittle
Colorado Edition is hosted by Erin O'Toole (@ErinOtoole1) and Henry Zimmerman (@HWZimmerman), and produced by Lily Tyson. The web was edited by digital editor Jackie Hai. Managing editor Brian Larson contributed to this episode.
KUNC's Colorado Edition is a news magazine taking an in-depth look at the issues and culture of Northern Colorado. It's available on our website, as well as on iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can hear the show on KUNC's air, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m.