Today on Colorado Edition: The results are still trickling in after Election Day in our state. While Proposition CC appears safely defeated, the margin on Proposition DD is a lot smaller. We explore the measure and why it nearly split the state down the middle. Plus, we get a snapshot of the ski industry in Colorado, and meet with an artist who makes ski maps for slopes around the globe. We also venture into the growing survivors' network surrounding mass shootings in the U.S.
News Of The Day:
- Bennet Signs Up For New Hampshire Primary - Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet signed up for New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation presidential primary today, ahead of the Nov. 15 deadline. The Colorado senator says he's counting on voters there to once again "upset conventional wisdom." That's likely a reference to Gary Hart, the former Colorado senator who pulled off an upset win in 1984.
- Medicaid Enrollment Declines - Enrollment in Medicaid and Child Health Plus health services in Colorado declined between 2017 and 2019. According to an analysis from the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, both programs saw an 8% decline in enrollment. The nonprofit suggests several reasons for the decline, including federal changes to Medicaid qualifications, difficulty staying enrolled and fluctuating income levels throughout the year.
- Specialty Crop Funding - Farmers producing some of Colorado's most iconic specialty crops will be getting $745,000 in federal funding. That includes Rocky Ford melons and Palisade peaches. The money will help growers expand their markets and improve growing and distribution techniques. This was also the first year that local cider producers received some of the funding. Hard cider is a rapidly emerging market in Colorado.
Proposition DD
Colorado voters have soundly rejected Proposition CC, which would have let the state legislature keep money that would otherwise be refunded to taxpayers. But the other state-wide ballot measure, Proposition DD, which would set up a new regulated sports betting market in Colorado has narrowly passed. KUNC’s Luke Runyon joins us with the latest.
New Development At The Former Hughes Stadium Site
At a meeting last night, Fort Collins City Council narrowly approved new zoning for the land where the old Hughes Stadium once stood, paving the way for a big new development there. KUNC’s Matt Bloom went to the meeting and joined us to walk us through what happened.
Survivors' Network
After a mass shooting, people and resources pour in to help victims and survivors cope. As KUNC’s Leigh Paterson reports, as these incidents continue to happen — this grim infrastructure of people is growing larger and more sophisticated. You can go deeper into Leigh’s story here.
The State Of The Ski Industry
Breckenridge Ski Resort and Copper Mountain Resort both will open on Friday, Nov. 8, joining the growing list of ski mountains that are open for the season. And it’s no secret that the ski industry is big here in Colorado, in terms of what it means personally for thousands of skiers, and what it means economically for our state. To get an up-to-date snapshot of the ski industry and its economic impact to our state, we spoke with Lucas High, a reporter for BizWest.
The Man Behind The Ski Maps
When you look at a trail map at a Colorado ski resort like Breckenridge, Vail or Winter Park, chances are you’re looking at the work of James Niehues. He’s worked on hundreds of ski maps around the world and will soon be inducted into the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019. We visited him in his studio over the summer to talk about how he goes about designing maps and what the work has meant to him.
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 this week by Blue Dot Sessions:
- “Stale Case” by Darby
- "Inessential" by Bayou Birds
- "Sage the Hunter" by Landsman Duets
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 daily 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.