Today on Colorado Edition: how fears of the Coronavirus could affect Colorado’s oil and gas industry. Plus, a look at extra-long trains in Fort Collins. We'll also explore the difference between a town and a city, and visit a fictional town where young people learn useful life skills.
Coronavirus and Oil and Gas
Officials across the United States have been addressing the coronavirus, or COVID-19 this week. There have only been a handful of confirmed cases of the virus in the country, and no confirmed cases here in Colorado.
But as the virus, and fear of it, spread around the world, we have seen economic impacts of the outbreak.
Here in Colorado, oil and gas producers are watching the situation closely.
KUNC’s Matt Bloom joined us to explain what’s going on.
Fort Collins Trains
If you’ve been stuck at a train in Fort Collins at all over the last few months and thought to yourself that blockages seem to be getting worse, you'd be right.
Going back a few months, the number of extra-long trains passing through the northern Colorado community has risen, from 16 in November, to 47 in January. Trains have been causing traffic headaches in Fort Collins for years, but as The Coloradoan reports, there isn’t a perfect solution to the problem.
Kevin Duggan, a senior reporter with The Coloradoan, joined us with more.
Snowshoe Championship
The U.S. Snowshoe National Championships are taking place in Leadville this weekend. We spoke with Mark Elmore, the sports director for the United States Snowshoe Association about what we can expect from the event, and what snowshoe racing is.
Town Versus City
How do places in Colorado decide whether they are a “town” or a “city?”
The answer is not as simple as we originally thought. Our new rural and small communities reporter, Adam Rayes, joined us to explain the distinction.
Visiting Young AmeriTowne
Colorado has a unique opportunity for fifth graders in our state. They can visit a “town,” called “Young AmeriTowne,” where they get to learn firsthand about what it’s like to run a town and a business.
KUNC’s Stephanie Daniel visited the town and reported back about what she found.
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.
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.