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Colorado Edition: Who Will Pay?

Joshua Eckstein
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Unsplash

Today on Colorado Edition: we'll learn what an interim committee that focuses on substance use disorders will recommend to the state legislature. Plus, startups are aiming to help fill childcare deserts across the mountain west. We'll also explore what the governor's new state budget proposal holds for education, and learn about a musical that focuses on toxic masculinity. 

News of the day:

  • Arrest In "Baby Faith" Case - A woman has been arrested in connection with the 1996 death of a newborn girl whose body was found at Horsetooth Reservoir. 42-year-old Jennifer Katalinich, also known as Jennifer Tjornehoj, faces charges of first- and second-degree murder. Two boys playing at Horsetooth found the unidentified newborn, who was later named "Baby Faith." At a press conference on Tuesday, Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith reiterated the agency's commitment to solving other cold cases, including the unsolved murder of John Jacoby in Windsor, who was shot and killed in 2015 while riding his bicycle. 
     
  • Safe2Tell - Colorado's Safe2Tell reporting system continued to see a steady increase in tips during the 2018-2019 school year. The intervention and prevention program allows students to anonymously report threats. During the last school year, 22,332 reports were made. That's a 28% increase from the 2017-2018 school year. The highest volume of tips came via the mobile app. A legislative committee recently advanced five bills to address school safety, one of which included enhancements to the Safe2Tell program. 
     
  • State Fair - A state auditor report says the annual Colorado State Fair in Pueblo has operated at a loss for the last 21 years, and it has lacked strategic management. The report found the fair's losses have averaged $4 million each year from 2014 to 2018. Additionally, the audit found that the more than $1 million spent on marketing does not appear to be cost-effective, and that the Fair's Authority lacks a comprehensive marketing plan. Fair leaders agreed to most of the audit's recommendations for improvement. 
     
  • Poet Laureate - Former Denver Poet Laureate and author Chris Ransick has died. The Denver Post reports Ransick was a faculty member at Denver's literary arts center, Lighthouse Writers Workshop. In 2006, former Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper appointed him as the City's Poet Laureate. He passed away Monday at his home in Oregon after a battle with cancer. 

Opioid And Other Substance Use Disorders Committee

Credit Stephanie Daniel / KUNC
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KUNC

Last week, the Opioid and Other Substance Use Disorders Study Committee approved five bills for consideration in Colorado's next legislative session, which begins in January.

State Sen. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat from Jefferson County and chair of that committee, joined us to explain what the committee recommended and why. 

Day Care Deserts

Tricia Shields organizes toys at the in-home child care center she just started in Parker, Colo.
Credit Rae Ellen Bichell / Mountain West News Bureau

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According to the Center for American Progress, about half of Coloradans live in a childcare desert. That's when there are a lot more kids than there are openings in licensed childcare centers. 

Now, several startups are entering our region that think they can help. KUNC's Rae Ellen Bichell reports

School Funding In Colorado's Budget

Gov. Jared Polis talks to reporters Friday about his 2020-21 budget proposal.
Credit Scott Franz/Capitol Coverage

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Last Friday, the governor's office released its budget proposal for the 2020 fiscal year. And while state law requires the sitting governor to propose a budget on the first of November, it's really just a conversation starter.

Erica Meltzer, Bureau Chief of Chalkbeat Colorado, joins us to explain. 

Man Up: A Musical

Credit Henry Zimmerman/KUNC
Playwright Cordelia Zars.

A new musical Man Up, explores themes of gender and toxic masculinity. Cordelia Zars wrote the play, and joined us to tell us more about the inspiration behind the musical.

Man Up: A Musical will be performed at Theater O in Boulder through Sunday, November 10.   

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:

  • "Bling Bong" by Ronnie Reverb 
  • "Greylock" by Skittle
  • "Wingspan" by Bayou Birds

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.