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Colorado Edition: Too Much, Too Fast

Canyon Creek, part of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire burn area, has recovered in the last couple of decades.
Ron Dungan/KJZZ
Canyon Creek, part of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire burn area, has recovered in the last couple of decades.

Today on Colorado Edition: we get an update on some of the wildfire activity in our state. We also look at where water and fire meet in the West, learn about a new state eviction moratorium, and hear about a political survey of Colorado.

Fire Update

As the Colorado wildfires continue to grow and cause evacuations, KUNC’s Matt Bloom brings us some of the latest information.

Jeff Stahla, public information officer for Northern Water, also joined us to explain how the fire has impacted the Colorado-Big Thompson project, which provides water from the Western Slope to the Front Range.

You can find the latest updates from KUNC about the fires here.

If you would like to help those impacted by the wildfires:

Where Water And Fire Meet

After decades of trying to get ahead of big fires in the West, it seems we’re still behind. This year’s massive fires don’t just alter forests, they impact water supplies for people and the environment. But a record-breaking wildfire season could refocus efforts to better manage forests. In the final part of our series looking at where water and fire meet in the West, Ron Dungan from KJZZ in Phoenix has more.

New Statewide Eviction Order

On Wednesday, Gov. Jared Polis signed a new executive order pausing evictions in the state for 30 days. This statewide order mimics a similar, federal eviction moratorium issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which remains in effect through the end of this year.

Zach Neumann, the founder of the COVID-19 eviction defense project, a legal project aimed at helping Coloradans who are struggling to pay their rent at this time, joined us to explain the impact of this order.

Colorado Political Climate Survey

This week, the American Politics Research Lab at CU Boulder released the latest Colorado Political Climate Survey, which helps us begin to understand where Colorado is at in terms of politics.

Anand Sohkey, an associate professor of political science at CU Boulder, and director of the American Politics Research Lab, joined us to go through the survey results.

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:

  • “Mineral Still" by Cholate

Colorado Edition is hosted by Erin O'Toole (@ErinOtoole1) and Henry Zimmerman, and produced by Lily Tyson. The web was edited by digital editor Jackie Hai. KUNC news director Brian Larson is our executive producer. 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., with a rebroadcast of the previous evening's show Tuesday through Friday at 8:30 a.m.

Related Content
  • Today on Colorado Edition: We learn about the state’s plan to distribute a COVID-19 vaccine as it becomes available. We’ll also travel to Wyoming to learn about invasive plants and how they play into the threat of wildfires. Plus, we’ll take an investigative look at why the state is paying journalists to write stories about tourism, and we’ll get a better understanding of how the state used tax incentives to lure businesses to Colorado.
  • Today on Colorado Edition: we get the perspective of a climate scientist on the fire season we’re having, and learn about the impact of the Cameron Peak Fire on Fort Collins’ water supply. We’ll also hear about how Jeffco Public School’s reading curriculum holds up, and get tips for how to talk with friends and family about conspiracy theories.
  • Today on Colorado Edition: We get the latest on Larimer County’s COVID-19 numbers and what the county is doing to slow the spread of the virus. We’ll also get a look at the kind of danger homeowners face when it comes to wildfires. Plus, we’ll hear about the latest campaign finance numbers for several of Colorado’s most-watched races, and we learn more about youth voting in Colorado.