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Colorado Edition: Tears For Gears

Shyn Darkly / CC By 2.0

Today on Colorado Edition: we'll discuss the growing cost of higher education. And, a look at illegal pot grows and law enforcement in the rural areas of our state. We'll also discuss a school designed for children with dyslexia. And, we'll talk about Halloween costume trends, and visit an extreme haunted house. 

News Of The Day:

  • Winter Weather - A cold front has been producing lots of snow across the Front Range and in the mountains. The winter storm caused hundreds of flight cancellations and delays at Denver International Airport today and this evening. Meteorologist Greg Hanson, with the National Weather Service in Boulder, says the amount of snow isn't unusual for this time of year, what is unusual is the intense cold. Hanson says they expect another two to five inches along the Front Range tonight and in the mountains.
     
  • Criminal Sentences - The Colorado Attorney General's office is working to determine how many criminal sentences could be invalidated by a recent ruling from the state Supreme Court. At issue is a decision in which the court found defendants can't be sentenced to prison followed by court-supervised probation, as opposed to prison-supervised parole. A request has been made to the court for more time to explain the ruling, and to determine how many defendants could be eligible for early release.
     
  • State Licenses - State lawmakers are considering a measure to change the state license plate back to an older design with green mountains and white letters. But it's not because they feel nostalgic. Supporters say switching the design will get more drivers to properly register their cars and trucks. They also say the current plates start losing their reflective properties after five years and are harder for police to read. Lawmakers who serve on a transportation committee advanced the proposal this week, but it still needs approval from the full legislature. 

Cost Of Higher Education

Graduation
Credit University of Colorado Colorado Springs
/
University of Colorado Colorado Springs

The cost of public two and four-year colleges is up across the country. That's according to a new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which breaks down funding and tuition by state over the past decade.

KUNC's Stephanie Daniel joins us to break down the findings from the report.

Illegal Marijuana

Credit Douglas County Sheriff's Office

Ever since Colorado legalized marijuana, charges for illegal manufacturing have gone up, not down. As KUNC's Esther Honig reports, efforts to stamp out the black market are straining law enforcement, especially in rural areas of the state where resources are limited. 

School For Students With Dyslexia

Credit Stephanie Paige Ogburn / KUNC
/
KUNC

For students with dyslexia in a conventional school setting, it can be easy to fall behind in classes. But one school in Colorado Springs is designed specifically to help students with the common learning disability.

Ann Schimke, senior reporter for Chalkbeat Colorado, recently reported on that school and how dyslexia is handled around the state, and joins us to tell us about what's going on.

Halloween Costume Trends

Halloween is fast approaching, and with every new year comes a whole new set of costumes.

Kevin Pohle, the co-owner of the Wizard's Chest Costume Shop, which is located in Denver, joined us to give us a behind the scenes look at the costume industry. 

Extreme Horror

Credit Nate Hegyi/Mountain West Bureau

It's that time of year when many of us head out to corn mazes, pumpkin patches or haunted houses... but some people want more. How about getting waterboarded, electrocuted or even force-fed maggots? That's the world of extreme haunted houses. Nate Hegyi of the Mountain West News Bureau visited one in Tooele, Utah

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:

  • “Even Dreams of Becahes” by Resolute
  • “Lancashire” by Confectionary
  • “Longtime Rye” by Sunday at Slims 
  • “Roadside Bunkhouse” by Truck Stop

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 iTunesGoogle PlayStitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can hear the show on KUNC's air, Monday through Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Stories written by KUNC newsroom staff.