Today on Colorado Edition: We check in on several Colorado industries to see how they're faring amid the coronavirus outbreak. We also hear about the people working to find medical supplies at a time when they're hard to come by.
Finding Medical Supplies During A Shortage
Stay at home orders are meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 still continues to rise. In fact, today the number of cases in Colorado surpassed a thousand. And as those numbers grow, the supplies needed to fight the epidemic are dwindling. KUNC’s Michael de Yoanna visited the state operations center that works to find supplies and decide where they should go.
Checking In On Colorado's Food Industry
It has been just over a week since Colorado Gov. Jared Polis suspended all dine-in operations at restaurants and bars. We’ve seen a surge of unemployment claims since then, but beyond employment numbers, what does this measure, and the spread of COVID-19 mean for the industry? And what can individuals do to help? To help us answer these questions, we spoke to Denise Mickelsen, food editor at 5280 Magazine.
Oil And Gas Industry Braces For Prolonged Bust
You’ve probably noticed a significant drop in gas prices lately. And while you may be celebrating as you fill up your tank, it doesn’t bode well for the oil and gas industry. Amid the coronavirus pandemic and disputes between the world’s biggest suppliers, the price per barrel has dropped to around $25 dollars – its lowest level in nearly two decades. And that price is important in Weld County, where most of the state’s active drill rigs are. As KUNC’s Matt Bloom reports, businesses that depend on the industry are bracing for a prolonged bust. You can go further with Matt’s story here.
How Colorado's Aerospace Industry Is Faring
The U.S. is seeing a considerable dip in air travel, due to social distancing measures and other efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Dan Mika from BizWest joined us to explore what this means for the industry in our state.
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 in the show by Blue Dot Sessions:
- “Color Country” by The Balloonist
- "San Diego Sunday" by Holyoke
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.