Today on Colorado Edition: we'll go to Paonia to learn about how businesses are changing now that high speed internet is in town. Plus, now that the city of Fort Collins has lifted its topless ban for women, we'll look back at the legal battle. And, we'll discuss how state lands are managed in Colorado. We'll also visit the annual tarantula migration in Southern Colorado.
News Of The Day:
- Horsetooth Fire - The Poudre Fire Authority is on the scene of a fire burning at the northeast end of Horsetooth Reservoir. Crews have been working the fire since around noon on Thursday. A section of County Road 23 is closed, and the fire authority is asking people to avoid the area.
- Tunnel - The eastbound lanes near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel on Interstate 70 will be closed on Thursday night. The Colorado Department of Transportation is testing the fire suppression system. A first round of testing took place over the summer. This test will wrap up that process. Motorists will be directed to use Loveland pass to get back on I-70. Westbound lanes will not be affected. The tunnel will be closed from 11:00 p.m. Thursday until 6:00 a.m. Friday.
- Empower Field - Mile High stadium has a new name: Empower Field at Mile High. The Denver Broncos announced the agreement with metro Denver-based company Empower Retirement. The 21-year deal is pending approval by the Metropolitan Football Stadium District.
Border Funding
Another $3.6 billion has been found for President Trump's wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. It will come from the Pentagon's military construction budget, and one project in Colorado will be impacted. KUNC's Michael de Yoanna has been digging into that today, and joins us to discuss what he's found.
Curious Colorado: Senate Bill 181
We had a question come in earlier this week via our project, Curious Colorado, asking for clarification on whether Senate Bill 181 allows local governments to prohibit drilling on privately owned land. KUNC's Matt Bloom joins us to answer the question.
Read more answers to your questions about Senate Bill 181 here.
Broadband Comes To Paonia
What does high-speed internet mean to you? Streaming movies and other entertainment from Netflix? Online banking? Connecting with family and friends in faraway places? For some living in more remote parts of the state, it means creating new business opportunities. KUNC's Scott Franz wraps up our rural broadband series with a visit to Paonia.
Topless Ban
The Fort Collins city council earlier this week removed language from its city code that banned women from going topless in public. That policy has been in the court sysrtem for the last three years, and the legal battle over it has cost the city more than $300,000. Jacy Marmaduke has been covering the story for The Coloradoan and joins us to explain.
Tarantula Migration
Each year, as summer comes to a close and the nights cool, tarantulas in southeastern Colorado emerge for a few short hours at dusk to search for a mate.
KUNC's Esther Honig traveled south hoping to catch a glimpse of the spiders in their annual migration.
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
- "Molly Molly 1" by Barstool
- "Take A Tiny Train" by Rye Catcher
- "Bling Bong" by Robbie Reverb
- "A Path Among the Woods" by Forest Robots
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. News director Catherine Welch and 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, beginning Sept. 2, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m.