Today on Colorado Edition: We examine the school-to-prison pipeline, and get the latest on the Poudre School District’s upcoming vote on its contract with local law enforcement agencies. We also learn about summer jobs for younger Coloradans, and we hear about where the state is at with COVID-19 cases.
Poudre School District To Vote On SRO Contract
On Tuesday evening, the Poudre School District will vote on whether or not to renew its contract with local police departments. This comes as Denver Public Schools recently ended their contract with the Denver Police Department. KUNC’s Stephanie Daniel joined us to break down the debate surrounding the issue ahead of the vote.
The School-To-Prison Pipeline
In the debate about whether or not to keep police officers in schools, a phrase often comes up — the "school-to-prison pipeline." We spoke to Ray Black, assistant professor of African American studies at Colorado State University, about what that means, and how this pipeline impacts students of color.
Jobs For The Youth
Cities all over the country run programs that connect low-income kids to summer jobs. Denver’s youth employment program is a key component of the city’s strategy to reduce gun violence. But this summer, in the midst of the pandemic, summer jobs look a little different. KUNC’s Leigh Paterson has more on a plan, heading to city council members in Denver, that would pay hundreds of teens for online work.
Mobility And COVID-19
Bars and even a few museums have reopened in our state — the latest in a long list of reopenings, including restaurants, swimming pools and places of worship. Now that Coloradans are able to go back to public places, will they? And how does that play into the spread of COVID-19? John Ingold has been reporting on this for the Colorado Sun and he joined us to discuss. You can read his article here.
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:
- “San Diego Sunday” by Holyoke
- "The Consulate" 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., with a rebroadcast of the previous evening's show Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 a.m.