Today on Colorado Edition: we'll learn about what's next for school safety in the state. Plus, for the first time in 40 years, the city of Steamboat Springs will ask voters about whether to increase property taxes in order to help pay for emergency services. We'll also discuss teacher strikes in Colorado, and listen to a profile of a neighborhood in Colorado Springs where an officer-involved shooting recently occured.
News Of The Day:
- STEM Hearing - One of the two suspects accused of opening fire at the STEM School Highlands Ranch is in court Tuesday for a preliminary hearing. The suspect faces 48 charges including murder, weapons possession and arson related to the May incident. One student was killed and eight were injured. During the hearing, the judge is expected to decide whether prosecutors have enough evidence to move forward with the charges.
- Impeachment - A survey by The New York Times shows most of Colorado's Democrats in the U.S. House support an impeachment inquiry into President Trump. Diana DeGette, Joe Neguese and Jason Crow are in favor, while Congressman Ed Perlmutter fell into the "not now or undecided category of the survey. Both Perlmutter and Crow voted to table an effort to impeach Trump in July. Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Tuesday that the House is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry of the President.
- Crestone Peak - A district court judge has dismissed a lawsuit against oil and gas company Crestone Peak Resources. The suit filed by Boulder County claimed the company didn't own mineral rights north of the town of Erie, where it wants to drill 140 new wells. A spokesman for the company says what's next is unclear given Boulder County's ongoing moratorium on new oil and gas projects. The moratorium is set to expire in February of next year.
School Safety
State lawmakers have been spending the last three months talking about ways of making schools safer in the wake of the deadly shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch. They also want to address a recent audit that found several gaps in the state's existing school safety programs, which received about $75 million in the last two years.
KUNC's Scott Franz has been attending the legislative hearings at the state Capitol, and joins us to tell us about what's going on.
Property Taxes In Steamboat Springs
Like most fire departments, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue serves an ever-growing population. And that means there are more 911 calls to answer. But there's a shortage of staff there, and the city hopes voters will do something they haven't done in more than 40 years.
KUNC's Matt Bloom has more in our ongoing series, "Growing Pains."
Teacher's Strike
Last week, we brought you the story of a potential Kaiser Permanente strike. Today, we're talking about a different potential strike, this time in Park County, where earlier this month teachers authorized a strike over salary concerns.
Erica Meltzer, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Colorado, joins us to talk about teacher strikes in Colorado.
Colorado Springs Shooting
Family and supporters of De'Von Bailey want an independent investigation into what happened after the 19-year-old was shot in the back while running from the police in Colorado Springs. KUNC's Leigh Paterson brings us a profile from the neighborhood where it happened.
Our theme music was composed by Colorado musicians Briana Harris and Johnny Burroughs. Other music this week by Blue Dot Sessions:
- "Peacoat" by Studio J
- "Bling Blong" by Robbie Reverb
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, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m.