Q & A: Speaker of the House Mark Ferrandino

On January 3, 2013 By

Democratic state lawmaker Mark Ferrandino will make history next legislative session by becoming Colorado’s first openly gay Speaker of the House. Capitol reporter Bente Birkeland sat down with him to discuss his priorities for the session and his new role.

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Q & A: State Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman

On January 2, 2013 By

Colorado’s Senate minority leader Bill Cadman will be the only legislative leader returning to the same post when the session convenes January 9th. Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland talked to him about how he sees the session playing out and what’s on his agenda.

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Q & A: State Senate President John Morse

On December 31, 2012 By

Democratic state senator John Morse will take over as the next senate president in January. He previously served as the majority leader. Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland sat down with him to talk about how he sees his new role and his hopes for the legislative session.

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Healthy Conversations: Dietary Supplements

On December 14, 2012 By

A lot of people take dietary supplements, everything from a multivitamin to herbs. For this month’s Healthy Conversation, KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin is joined by sports dietician Major Trisha Brooke Stavinoha to talk about how these supplements have the potential to create unintended consequences. We start by talking about what a dietary supplement is.

For [...]

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Governor Hickenlooper Q & A: Marijuana, Child Welfare, and Drought

On December 6, 2012 By

In our semi-regular sit down with Governor John Hickenlooper, he gives his take on statewide marijuana regulations, and explains why he doesn’t think the industry will be booming in the coming months. He also tells statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland why he’s not sold on a major overhaul to the state’s child welfare system in [...]

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Western Skies: December 2012, “Retrospective”

On December 2, 2012 By

We covered a lot of ground this past year with Western Skies, and this month we’re spending some time revisiting those stories and conversations.

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Capitol Conversation: Election Analysis, Legislative Predictions

On November 15, 2012 By

Democrats will control both state legislative chambers when the session convenes in January. Lawmakers will be dealing with several controversial issues, including crafting regulations for recreational marijuana. Bente Birkeland talks to fellow statehouse reporters about what to expect and how the dynamics are likely to change.

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Healthy Conversations: Hospice and Palliative Care

On November 9, 2012 By

End of life issues are often challenging, but hospice can help provide assistance to both the patient and his or her family. For this month’s Healthy Conversation, KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin is joined by Doni Grebenstein from Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson to talk about hospice and palliative care. She starts by explaining [...]

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Western Skies: November 2012, “Innovation”

On November 4, 2012 By

It was Thomas Edison who said, “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Edison, of course, is one of the great American inventors. This month, we’re delving into that equation with a look at innovation.

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Capitol Conversation: Election Roundtable

On October 31, 2012 By

Not only is Colorado a key swing state in the presidential election, this fall voters will also be deciding on a host of other races and issues. For instance, down ticket candidates will determine the makeup of the state legislature, and voters will also decide whether or not to legalize marijuana. Bente Birkeland talks [...]

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5th Congressional District Q & A: Dave Anderson

On October 29, 2012 By

Dave Anderson is running for Congress in the 5th Congressional District. He’s running unaffiliated, challenging Republican incumbent Doug Lamborn. KRCC invited both candidates for an interview. Lamborn would not commit to a date.

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Remembering George McGovern

On October 21, 2012 By

Former Senator from South Dakota and 1972 presidential nominee George McGovern has died. In 2009, McGovern visited Colorado College to talk about a book he’d recently published on Abraham Lincoln and to talk about other topics in politics. KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin sat down with him for an interview, which you can listen to here.

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Healthy Conversations: Breast Cancer

On October 10, 2012 By

October is breast cancer awareness month. Joining us for this month’s Healthy Conversation is Colonel Mike Woll, Chief of Surgery at Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson. We begin by talking about why it’s so important to bring awareness to breast cancer every October.

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Western Skies: October 2012, “Politics & Elections”

On October 7, 2012 By

This month we’re talking about politics and elections. The El Paso County ballot this year is quite large, with national, state, and county races and issues to consider, and even some special district measures. By comparison, the Pueblo County ballot is smaller, but still with national, state and local measures to consider.

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Healthy Conversations: Fruits and Veggies, More Matters

On September 12, 2012 By

September is Fruit and Veggies, More Matters month. Joining us for our Healthy Conversation is Lieutenant Colonel Elizabeth North, a registered dietician at Evans Army Community Hospital. We begin by talking about just how many servings of fruit and vegetables we’re supposed to get in a day.

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¡Todos A Votar!, or Let’s Vote! Comes to Colorado

On September 7, 2012 By

As the national conventions come to a close and the race to the White House heats up, a national campaign to register Latino voters comes to Pueblo and Denver today. It’s a non-partisan campaign called ¡Todos A Votar!, or Let’s Vote! Eliseo Medina is the Secretary Treasurer of the Service Employees International [...]

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Covering the RNC and DNC

On September 5, 2012 By

Democrats are convening in Charlotte, North Carolina this week for their party’s convention, and Governor John Hickenlooper will be among a half dozen Coloradans speaking. Durango Herald reporter Joe Hanel is there and also covered the Republican National Convention last week. Bente Birkeland caught up with him to get his take on both gatherings.

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Western Skies: September 2012, “Arts”

On September 2, 2012 By

This month we’re bringing a special fall arts show to the airwaves, highlighting all kinds of creativity in the region.

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Previewing the USA Pro Challenge with CEO Shawn Hunter

On August 17, 2012 By

Communities across the state are gearing up for the second annual USA Pro Challenge cycling race next week. The race will bring some of the biggest names in cycling to compete in Colorado. Bente Birkeland sat down with Shawn Hunter, the CEO of the Pro Challenge to talk about this year’s race.

The race [...]

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Save the,… er, Remember the Barn!

On August 16, 2012 By

Interview with Chuck Snow about the Taylor Barn

If you’ve ever driven through the intersection at Templeton Gap and Fillmore in Colorado Springs, then you probably remember the inspirational murals and mules that lived at the Taylor Barn. Today on the Big Something Radio Program, Noel Black interviews local musician and self-described curmudgeon [...]

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Q & A with Governor Hickenlooper: Political Aspirations, Oil and Gas, and More

On August 14, 2012 By

In our semi-regular conversation with Governor John Hickenlooper, statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland gets his take on oil and gas regulations, his concerns about legalizing marijuana, and why he isn’t planning a future political career in the national spotlight.

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Q & A with New Director of Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission

On August 13, 2012 By

The agency that regulates oil and gas development has hired a new director. Matt Lepore is the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission’s former attorney and takes the helm during a tumultuous time. Statehouse reporter Bente Birkeland sat down with him to talk about the future of energy development in Colorado.

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Healthy Conversations: National Breastfeeding Month

On August 3, 2012 By

August is designated as National Breastfeeding Month, drawing attention to the natural, physical way in which mothers nourish their children. For this month’s Healthy Conversation, KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin is joined by nurse and board certified lactation consultant Lori Yoshimiya from Evans Army Community Hospital to talk about the process, challenges, and very personal nature [...]

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News

Syrian Troops Target Key Rebel-Held Town
May 19, 2013 | NPR · Qusair is a strategically important town that lies between Homs, where the Syrian uprising began two years ago, and the Lebanese border. If President Bashar Assad’s troops – reportedly backed by Hezbollah fighters — regain the town, they would control an important route from the coast to the capital, Damascus.
 

Young Kenyans Build Mobile Apps For Local Use
May 19, 2013 | NPR · College students and recent graduates crammed the top floor of a tech hub in Nairobi for a competition built around the theme “Solutions for the Next Billion Mobile Users.” Africa has more than 600 million mobile phone users (approximately 11 percent of the global total) – and the number is growing.
 

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Two Excerpts You Should Read From Obama’s Morehouse Speech
May 19, 2013 | NPR · President Obama delivered a rare, very personal speech during the commencement ceremony at the historically black college.
 

Arts & Life

Decades Later And Across An Ocean, A Novel Gets Its Due
May 19, 2013 | NPR · John Williams’ Stoner sold just 2,000 copies when it was originally published in 1965. It’s now acknowledged as a classic work, is a best-seller across Europe and the No. 1 novel in the Netherlands.
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The Movie Katie Aselton Has ‘Seen A Million Times’
May 19, 2013 | NPR · Actor-director Katie Aselton could watch Kathryn Bigelow’s Point Break a million times. “It totally scoops you up and takes you for a ride,” she says.
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Unacceptable Anger From ‘The Woman Upstairs’
May 19, 2013 | NPR · “Women’s anger is very scary to people,” author Claire Messud says. Her new novel, The Woman Upstairs, features a seething main character, a young woman whose anger is unsettling.
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Music

Courtesy of the artist
Deke Sharon Makes A Cappella Cool Again
May 19, 2013 | NPR · The movie Pitch Perfect has plans for a sequel in 2015; NBC’s reality show The Sing-Off is coming back for its fourth season after being cancelled, and Pentatonix has millions of hits on YouTube for making awesome videos like “The Evolution of Music.” The father of contemporary a cappella explains the genre’s appeal.
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Courtesy of the artist
Laura Mvula: A Soulful Voice That Once Answered Phones
May 19, 2013 | NPR · Less than two years ago, she was a receptionist honing her phone-answering skills at a music organization in Birmingham, England. Now, she’s got a record deal and critical acclaim, and she’s touring the U.S.
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Courtesy of the artist
Marques Toliver: An R&B Crooner With Strings Attached
May 19, 2013 | NPR · Toliver’s music is anchored by the violin, on which he is classically trained. He says he discovered the instrument in fifth grade — and that in a way, it chose him.
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