KUNC's In The NOCO 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. The show explores the big stories of the day, bringing context and insight to issues that matter. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we explore the lighter side of news, highlighting what makes this state such an incredible place to live.
…
continue reading
1
Want a more drought-tolerant yard? Take these small steps first
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
There’s no getting around it: it’s really, really hot on Colorado’s Front Range right now. According to the National Weather Service, the Denver metro area typically sees about 45 days each summer when the temperature hits 90 degrees or hotter. And that’s when many homeowners wish for a more resilient lawn. Allisa Linfield is a horticulturist with …
…
continue reading
1
The newest climbing route on Boulder’s Flatirons is the first to be installed by women
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
There are dozens of climbing routes on the famous Flatirons in Boulder. Until recently, all of the routes on those monumental rock formations were installed, or mapped out, by men. That changed recently when two female climbers collaborated to install a new route on a section of the Flatirons known as The Maiden formation. Lynn Hill and Sasha DiGiu…
…
continue reading
1
Why one Colorado town might allow some LLCs to vote alongside residents
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Who is allowed to vote in a resort town’s election when a large chunk of the town’s homeowners are not full-time residents? And how does it change the equation if many of the town’s homes are owned by private companies, rather than individuals? These are questions that periodically come up in resort areas like Aspen or Vail. And leaders in Mountain…
…
continue reading
1
Using 3D printing to build homes could transform the housing business. A Greeley company wants to lead the way
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
You’ve probably seen 3D printing used to create objects out of plastic – things like toys or chess pieces. A company that recently moved its headquarters to Greeley thinks that one day your new home might be created with 3D printing. And they want Greeley to be a major global hub for this approach to construction. Alquist 3D was founded by Zack Man…
…
continue reading
1
Denver PrideFest celebrates a milestone this weekend. Here’s a look back at 50 years of the celebration
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Fifty years ago in June, a small group of friends and activists from the gay and lesbian community gathered in Denver's Cheesman Park to be together and celebrate their identity. It was the first iteration of what's now known as Denver PrideFest. The event has evolved over the years, growing during good times but also during times of adversity and …
…
continue reading
1
Boulder Comedy Festival organizer brings together comics from different backgrounds
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
When she’s onstage, comedian Zoe Rogers talks about what she knows best: her kids. Her standup centers around her identity as a mom. She jokes about the difference between the proper mom etiquette she carefully displays to her children, and her internal monologue. Offstage, Zoe appreciates a standup routine that’s a genuine reflection of the comedi…
…
continue reading
1
How a Boulder museum exhibit celebrates overlooked Black Coloradans
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
An exhibit at the Museum of Boulder illuminates the stories of Black Coloradans, highlighting their influence on the region's history and their impact on the future. Proclaiming Colorado's Black History centers on places like the once-bustling farming community of Dearfield; and notable people like businessman Barney Ford and philanthropist Julia G…
…
continue reading
1
How new technology could give rescuers an edge when searching for missing hikers
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
In Colorado, about 3,000 people go missing each year, according to the state's Search and Rescue Association. And when someone goes missing in the backcountry, every hour counts. Cold, dehydration and exposure to the elements make a person's survival less likely as time ticks by. Rescuers also deal with rugged mountains, steep canyons, dense tree c…
…
continue reading
1
A CSU professor’s Juneteenth bike ride offers a unique historic perspective
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the last of the enslaved people in our country learned of their freedom. It has been a federal holiday since 2021 – and a state holiday since 2022 – observed on June 19. People celebrate Juneteenth in different ways. Some head to music festivals – like this long-running celebration in Denver’s Five Point…
…
continue reading
1
How an unusual program helps military veterans process their trauma by making films
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
The Patton Veterans Project is a three-day film workshop designed to give veterans, who may be suffering from PTSD or depression, a communal space to process their trauma. Vets who participate learn a “narrative therapy” approach to dealing with emotional trauma. At the end of three days, these vets walk away having made a short film about their pe…
…
continue reading
1
Women hold a fraction of music industry jobs. A new program seeks to change that
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
If you listen to music at all in 2024 it’s clear that female artists are a dominant force. From Taylor Swift to Beyonce, Dolly Parton to Billie Eilish, women are some of the top-selling artists in the business. But behind the scenes? It’s a different story. Statistics show only a small fraction of people in the music industry are women – not on the…
…
continue reading
1
Some key Colorado River decision makers got together in Boulder last week. There was plenty of disagreement
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
The future of the Colorado River is in the hands of seven people who represent the states that use its water. And right now, they can’t agree on a set of new rules to share the shrinking supply - despite a quickly approaching deadline. Those negotiations typically happen behind closed doors, rather than in a public setting. But last week, represent…
…
continue reading
1
How pets and their owners are getting extra help from Colorado animal shelters
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Pets give us companionship and keep us healthier. They can give us a reason just to get out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately, some people have had a difficult time being able to keep their pets in recent years. The cost of housing is up. Inflation makes it harder to afford veterinary care, pet food and other supplies. Eviction moratoriums and f…
…
continue reading
1
Why an artist is celebrating the memory of six Chicano activists killed 50 years ago in Boulder
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Fifty years ago, in 1974, a pair of car bombings in Boulder killed six people. Five of the six were University of Colorado students and alumni who had been part of a Chicano student activist group on campus called UMAS. Their names were Una Jaakola,Reyes Martínez, Neva Romero, Florencio Granado, Heriberto Terán and Francisco Dougherty. They were kn…
…
continue reading
1
He wanted to create a community of foragers. Now he teaches others how to find wild food
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
When we see weeds start to pop up in the yard or the garden, the first instinct for many of us is to figure out how to get rid of them. But here's the thing: Many plants we might regard as ugly or invasive are, in fact, edible. Orion Aon learned this in his early years growing up in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He would go on camping trips with family and…
…
continue reading
1
A CU researcher finds a troubling link between youth diabetes and Alzheimer’s
8:53
8:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:53
There is a deeper link between diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease than doctors may have previously understood. New research at the University of Colorado could point the way to changing how, and when, doctors screen for Alzheimers. Dr Allison Shapiro, assistant professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at CU’s Anschutz Medical Campus, led a study that loo…
…
continue reading
1
The sugar beet workers who helped shape Colorado
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
The sugar beet industry began in Colorado right around 1900. Today it's only a small part of the state's economy, but through the early part of the 20th century, beets were the most significant agricultural product grown here. They were so important to the economy that people referred to sugar beets as 'white gold.' During this time, thousands of H…
…
continue reading
1
A tribute to baseball legend Jackie Robinson was destroyed. A Loveland foundry is recreating it
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
It was a shocking crime. In January, thieves in Wichita, Kansas allegedly stole and destroyed a bronze statue of Jackie Robinson, the trailblazing baseball player and civil rights hero. Only the statue's bronze shoes were left behind. The statue had stood near ballfields used by League 42 – a youth baseball league named after the number on Robinson…
…
continue reading
1
Can a CU insect expert warn the U.S. about a honeybee crisis before it’s too late?
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
A tiny parasite is an emerging threat to honeybees globally. And a scientist at the University of Colorado is sounding the alarm. Dr. Samuel Ramsey is an entomologist, someone who studies insects. Dr. Sammy, as he is also known, is assistant professor of entomology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado Boulder and talks about scien…
…
continue reading
1
Miller moths fascinate and frighten us each spring. We asked an expert why
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Each spring, the Front Range endures miller moth season. Even in relatively mild years like this one, the tiny winged visitors enter our homes, annoy us and even frighten us. But they’re also fascinating. So we asked Karim Gharbi – an insect expert and horticulture specialist with Colorado State University Extension – to help us unpack the mysterie…
…
continue reading
1
Craving less meat on Memorial Day? Try some of these meatless suggestions
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
For many of us, Memorial Day is the first day of the year we get to fire up the grill. We make hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks - all foods that taste good with a bit of a char and that added smoky flavor. They’re also all meats. So what if you want a plant-based Memorial Day cookout, but you don’t want that frozen veggie patty from the grocery store? …
…
continue reading
1
New to gardening? Find your green thumb by starting small
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
The phrase "gardening season" may bring a few images to mind: large beds of colorful wildflowers… rows of neatly staked tomato plants… big bags of mulch stacked up against the side of the house. Or perhaps your mental image of gardening looks a little more modest. As in, potted herbs growing on a windowsill. That's the case for KUNC digital produce…
…
continue reading
1
Why are Dark Sky communities spreading across Colorado?
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Adjusting street lamps and other exterior lights to allow the stars to shine more brilliantly – that's part of the process for becoming a certified Dark Sky community. More than 200 places in 22 countries around the world have this designation. Advocates say limiting light pollution helps preserve expansive views of the night sky, and helps nocturn…
…
continue reading
1
Artist Danielle SeeWalker on her canceled Vail residency
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Danielle SeeWalker is a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta artist living and working in Denver. Her work incorporates traditional Native American materials and themes. This past January, SeeWalker was approached and offered a residency by the town of Vail. The residency would have included SeeWalker creating a public mural. However, on May 9, town officials backed …
…
continue reading
1
To mow or not to mow? What science says about early season lawn care
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
One of the most definitive signs that spring has arrived is the sound of lawnmowers filling the neighborhood. But this month, that rumble may be a little quieter than usual. That's because of a recent trend in yard care called "No Mow May." The idea is simple: wait until June to mow to allow flowers like dandelions and clover to grow and support be…
…
continue reading
1
Why the historic Black community of Dearfield continues to fascinate
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Just off Highway 34 outside of Greeley sits a ghost town dotted with a couple of deteriorating buildings and a sign. In the early 1900s, this area was home to Dearfield. The thriving agricultural community founded by O.T. Jackson was Colorado’s largest Black homesteading site. At its peak there were around 300 residents, and Dearfield boasted a num…
…
continue reading
1
Can UNC’s future medical school help fix Colorado’s doctor shortage?
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Patients in Colorado feel the brunt of a growing healthcare crisis every day. Most Colorado counties have a shortage of primary care doctors and other healthcare workers – and that has an outsized impact on low-income and rural communities. And that shortage is projected to get even worse as physicians near retirement age. About a third of doctors …
…
continue reading
1
How education funding defined the recent legislative session for Colorado lawmakers
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Access to a great education – and finding a way to pay for it – was a common thread running through some of the most notable bills Colorado lawmakers introduced at the state capitol in recent months. The 2024 legislative session wrapped up last week with lots of new laws on the books, including one that offers two years of free community college to…
…
continue reading
1
Take a trip through the hidden history of the Fort Collins Trolley
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Springtime in Northern Colorado means the return of a quintessential summer pastime. The Fort Collins Trolley resumed service last weekend. This season marks 40 years since the restored trolley began once again to take passengers on a leisurely journey along Mountain Avenue into Old Town. The electric streetcars were once a common sight in the stre…
…
continue reading
1
An affordable housing complex built just for educators takes shape in Eagle County
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
A shortage of affordable housing – and a shortage of teachers – recently forced leaders in Eagle County to try an ambitious new project. They’ve taken the unusual step of becoming a builder and landlord for some of the school staff on their payroll. Miller Flats is a 37 unit housing complex built exclusively for school staff in Edwards. Last year r…
…
continue reading
1
Colorado River users face a big deadline to come up with new rules. Here’s where things stand
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Last summer was brutal for the Colorado River - low water levels underscored the rising threats from a changing climate. Now, we're waiting on next moves from state and federal governments ahead of a quickly approaching 2026 deadline. Several states have proposed new ways to divvy up water from the river, which serves about 40 million people in the…
…
continue reading
1
The new president of Colorado Mountain College looks to the future
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Colorado Mountain College isn't your typical higher education institution. Ski and snowboard repair, avalanche technician, ski area operator, and fly fishing guide are among the many career pathways that CMC offers. The school serves roughly 12,000 students across 11 campuses in mountain communities like Breckenridge, Steamboat Springs and Leadvill…
…
continue reading
1
With May the Fourth approaching, this Colorado science fiction author is a Force in her own right
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
The Force is strong with Colorado. For starters, there's Gov. Jared Polis, who regularly invokes Star Wars and other sci-fi stories in press conferences and state of the state addresses. Then there's the fact that the first-ever Star Wars Celebration - the largest gathering for fans of the franchise - was held in Denver in 1999. And a recent survey…
…
continue reading
1
Colorado’s first incarcerated professor is now a free man. He still plans to teach students in prison
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Back in January we learned about a man whose life took a huge turn. David Carillo had been serving a life sentence for his involvement in a murder that happened in 1993. While incarcerated, he began taking classes, and earned a degree. He continued studying, until he became one of the first professors in the country to teach from behind prison wall…
…
continue reading
1
What's on the minds of younger voters ahead of the 2024 election?
8:38
8:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
8:38
It’s a presidential election year. And in the months leading up to November 5, 2024, we’re focusing our coverage around the issues people in our community, including younger voters, say they care about most. To better understand what's most important to college students and other young voters, we're working with student reporters at Front Range Com…
…
continue reading
1
First came the wolves. Is wolf tourism next for Colorado?
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Tourists choose to take vacations in Colorado for numerous reasons – like our breathtaking mountains and the chance to hurtle down them on skis or snowboards. There's lots of hiking, fishing, whitewater rafting – even cannabis tourism. But what about wolf-watching? Since ten wolves from Oregon were released on the Western Slope last December, there…
…
continue reading
1
"Something people are innately drawn to:" Celebrating National Poetry Month with Wolverine Farm
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
We're closing out this week by commemorating National Poetry Month. And who better to celebrate with than Todd Simmons, founder and director of Wolverine Farm Publishing in Fort Collins? In 2002, Simmons left his job in the field of social science to focus full-time on literature and poetry. "I think creative expression, and the ability to communic…
…
continue reading
1
“Knowledge alone is really not enough:” Fostering ‘climate hope’ as a way toward climate action
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
As human interaction with our planet has evolved over time, so has the human emotional experience of living on Earth. Perhaps it’s no surprise that, as we become more aware of the climate crisis affecting the planet, our emotions tend toward cynicism and sadness. Charlotte Lin, the sustainability coordinator for the mountain town of Avon, thinks ho…
…
continue reading
1
‘My life, my future, my community:’ Boulder Valley students on taking climate action
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Anxiety about climate change is hitting the youngest of us hard. And if you’re too young to vote, it may feel like there’s nothing you can do to change what your future looks like. But students in the Boulder Valley School District proved otherwise this past school year. A group of high school students successfully campaigned for the school board t…
…
continue reading
1
Climate adaptation is essential for our future - but we can't ignore lessons from the past
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Longmont author and journalist Stephen Robert Miller is fascinated by climate disaster stories. He says they’re often teachable moments. “There’s so much to be learned from looking in the past — environmental histories and histories of instances of when people have tried to control nature and ultimately it's failed,” Miller said. In his new book, “…
…
continue reading
1
Fancy drinks in fun spaces: How mocktails are changing NoCo’s nightlife
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
While Colorado is known for having breweries on every corner, there's a new trend in town: cocktails - without the alcohol. The popularity of non-alcoholic drinks is soaring – especially among young adults – and more bars and restaurants are starting to feature creative mocktails on their menus. Currently, Colorado has only a few completely sober s…
…
continue reading
1
The ‘paradise paradox’ affecting Colorado’s mountain residents
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Colorado is one of the healthiest states in the nation when it comes to physical fitness. Perhaps that’s no surprise given how much there is to do in the outdoors. But when it comes to mental health, Colorado ranks in the bottom half of states, according to a 2023 report by Mental Health America. While there are a few reasons for this poor ranking,…
…
continue reading
1
'Chicken pimping' helps at-risk youth grow sustainable career prospects
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Today we’re listening back to a conversation with aquaponic chicken farmer Sean Short of Blooming Health Farms, located in Greeley, Colorado. And just what is aquaponic chicken farming? Short says the farm uses aquaponics, “a fancy way of saying that we have some fish, and we use the fish water to grow plants.” In other words, aquaponics combines f…
…
continue reading
1
'The stories are there, and they're worth telling:' NPR's Lori Lizarraga on her journalism journey
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
A career in journalism wasn’t the plan for NPR’s Lori Lizarraga – at least, not until the day she found herself in the wrong classroom at Southern Methodist University. Lizarraga says she “stepped into Narnia” when she walked into the studio where journalism students were broadcasting the school’s daily newscast. The Latina journalist has been tell…
…
continue reading
1
'Colorado Proud' isn't just a food label. It's a way of life
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
It's spring… and a handful of Northern Colorado farmers markets are opening up for what's likely to be a busy season – at least, if the last few years are any indication. We've come to expect throngs of eager shoppers waiting in long lines to buy western slope peaches by the crate, boxes of Olathe sweet corn, Pueblo chiles, and other locally grown …
…
continue reading
1
Wildfire risk part of new reality for Northern Colorado homeowners
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
The risk of wildfire is a reality that is beginning to define life in Northern Colorado. This last weekend, tens of thousands of people in Boulder County were left suddenly without power for days when Xcel shut it off in anticipation of high winds and potential loose lines. Today we’re listening back to an interview covering a 2023 report from the …
…
continue reading
1
From 'ramshackle' beginnings to true community journalism: CU professor traces NPR's roots in new book
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Have you ever wondered how NPR came to be? It certainly didn’t happen overnight. The history of National Public Radio is long and convoluted, starting in the early twentieth century with university-housed stations scattered across rural areas. These stations broadcast things like cooking lessons, and how to use indoor plumbing. But with the Communi…
…
continue reading
1
Science says these are the best tomatoes to grow in Northern Colorado
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Northern Colorado’s unique weather patterns can be a challenge for backyard gardeners. The climate is dry; the growing season is hot and short. And of course, we’re no strangers to wind and hail events. But new research out of Colorado State University can help gardeners choose crop varieties that thrive in those conditions. KUNC's rural and small …
…
continue reading
1
How an 1878 eclipse over the Rockies set the stage for modern-day celestial tourism
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
On Monday, April 8 a total solar eclipse will darken the skies over 13 states, from Texas up to Maine. While Colorado is not in the path of totality, in which the moon completely covers the sun, our region will experience a partial solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse over the U.S. is relatively rare – the last one occurred in August 2017. And citi…
…
continue reading
1
‘Mountain Dreamers’ gives immigrants a voice in Summit County
9:20
9:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
9:20
Immigrants are the backbone of a lot of mountain communities in Colorado. That’s because many work in service industry jobs that keep these towns thriving. But for immigrants in these places, certain disparities are more pronounced, like access to transportation. In one part of Summit County, this particular issue had become dangerous in the snowy …
…
continue reading