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Colorado Edition: Breaking Their Own Barriers

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Bill Baum
/
U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs.

Today on Colorado Edition: We get an update on a new investigation into the death of Elijah McClain. We also check in on the oil and gas industry, and we hear about a new Olympics and Paralympics museum opening this week in Colorado Springs. Plus, we hear a discussion about the Americans with Disabilities Act and the arts community.

A New Investigation Into The Death Of Elijah McClain

Yet another investigation has been launched in the circumstances surrounding the death of Elijah McClain, the 23-year-old Black man that died after an encounter with police in Aurora last year. This time the focus is on the actions of medical workers – likely a single medic — who gave McClain a dose of ketamine, a powerful anesthetic that was meant to calm him after police wrestled him to the ground.

This new probe comes a week after KUNC’s investigation into how medics around the state are using ketamine in situations involving police. KUNC’s Michael de Yoanna joined us for an update.

New Olympics And Paralympics Museum In Colorado Springs

On Thursday, The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum will open in Colorado Springs. It’s a place meant to document and celebrate the history and achievements of U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes. To learn more about the museum, we spoke with Michelle Dusserre Farrell, vice president of athlete engagement for the museum. Michelle is also a 1984 Olympic silver medalist in gymnastics.

The Latest On Oil And Gas

A political group that supports Colorado’s oil and gas industry announced last week that it was withdrawing two ballot initiatives that would have tried to block new energy regulations. It came shortly after Gov. Jared Polis said he is urging state lawmakers to avoid pursuing any new energy regulations until the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has a chance to come up with new rules after the passage of Senate Bill 181.

Dan Mika from BizWest has been reporting on this, as well as other developments in the oil and gas industry, and joined us to discuss the latest news.

ADA And The Arts

This week in 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, providing the disabled with greater access to public spaces, including arts venues. But the year before that, a group of five young Denver actors, including Kathleen Traylor, had broken their own barriers, starting the Phamaly Theatre Company, a troupe specifically dedicated to actors with disabilities. As the ADA celebrates its 30th anniversary, KUNC arts reporter Stacy Nick spoke with Traylor about what the arts community was like at that time and how it's changed since.

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:

  • "Take A Tiny Train" by Ray Catcher

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. We get production help from Rae Solomon.

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.

Stories written by KUNC newsroom staff.
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