© 2024
NPR for Northern Colorado
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Colorado Edition: Police reform in Aurora; a new kind of nuclear plant; abandoned oil and gas wells

A worker hangs from a workover rig in Adams County.
Matt Bloom
A worker hangs from a drill rig during an orphan well plugging job in Adams County.

The indictment of the police officers and paramedics involved in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain has led Aurora, Colorado to rethink its system of policing. Now, the city is set to approve a new plan to reform its police and fire departments. KUNC’s Michael de Yoanna tells us about the investigation that led up to this moment.

A coal-powered plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming is shutting down, but a new kind of nuclear plant is rising from its ashes. Mountain West News Bureau’s Judy Fahys tells us about the new Bill Gates-backed experiment to run a nuclear plant on Natrium technology.

What happens when oil and gas companies go bankrupt and can’t afford to properly shut down their wells? The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is trying to decide. Andrew Forkes-Gudmundson, deputy director of the League of Oil and Gas Impacted Coloradans, tells us about the lasting effects of orphan wells.

Today's episode of Colorado Edition was hosted by Henry Zimmerman (@kombuchacowboy) and edited by Tess Novotny (@tess_novotny). Our production team includes Alana Schreiber (@ayyschreib) and Rae Solomon (@raedear1). KUNC news director Brian Larson is our executive producer. Web was edited by digital editor Jackie Hai. 

The mission of Colorado Edition is to deepen understanding of life in Northern Colorado through authentic conversation and storytelling. It's available as a podcast on iTunesSpotifyGoogle PlayStitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.

You can hear the show on KUNC, Monday through Friday at 2:30 and at 6:30 p.m.

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.

KUNC's Colorado Edition is a daily look at the stories, news, people and issues important to you. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains.