2016 was a busy news year. From a raucous presidential election to environmental disasters, KUNC has reported throughout the year on the issues that matter in Colorado. As the year draws to a close, here is a look at some of the top stories from our website and social media this year.
Story: With Hick's Signature, Colorado's Rain Barrel Banditry Will Come To An End
In partnership with Harvest Public Media, KUNC’s Luke Runyon explored the push to legalize the use of water barrels in Colorado.
On quiet streets, in unsuspecting Colorado neighborhoods, among the retirees and young families, illegal activity runs rampant. Operating unchecked, rogue water bandits are the culprits. What’s worse, many of the scofflaws may not even know they’re breaking the law.
The theft takes place in an unlikely location: rain barrels found among backyard flower and vegetable gardens. The problem is so widespread it sparked a big debate at the state capitol.
Howie Movshovitz’s Movie Reviews
It was an interesting year in movies, and Howie has led the charge on providing insight into what might be worth the price of the ticket. Audience favorites this year include his reviews of ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ and ‘Marguerite,’ two films that tell the story of Jenkins, a singer who was legendary for being terrible, and of ‘Swiss Army Man,’ starring Paul Dano as the marooned Hank and Daniel Radcliffe as a farting, floppy, mostly-dead man.
Special: Loved To Death
With record-breaking visitors to Colorado’s parks and outdoor spaces, KUNC News took an in-depth look at how fragile ecosystems have been damaged, and what solutions could possibly exist.
Our audience felt strongly — in many different ways — about the issue, prompting a follow-up discussion between Morning Edition host Erin O’Toole and news director Michael de Yoanna.
Election 2016
One of the biggest — and ultimately, most surprising — stories of the year was the presidential election. In Colorado, we also followed several hotly contested amendments and propositions. One of the top shared stories on our website from 2016 was our guide to “ColoradoCare.” Many people also made use of our ballot guide, which included a breakdown of the statewide ballot initiatives.
Story: Cold Springs Fire Is Fully Contained
During the summer of 2016, an improperly extinguished campfire led to a 528-acre wildfire that burned two miles northeast of Nederland. Two campers were arrested and charged with arson. We kept up with the fire through ongoing coverage on-air and on our website, and followed up with Nederland mayor Kristopher Larsen afterward.
Larsen: We’ve all come across smoldering camp fires in the forest and put them out. Now to see the effect of one... It’s not going to change our worry, it just gives us a little more impetus. We’ll have to continue to work with state, local and county officials and hopefully the federal forest service to do a better job of patrolling the forests.
Special: Colorado Veterans' Voices
With partners from the Storycorps Military Voices Initiative and Harvest Public Media, KUNC lifted the voices of Colorado’s veterans through a 30-minute special. We heard from veterans and their families, looked at how military life turns to farm life and heard from one veteran fighting for medical marijuana as a treatment to PTSD.