Colorado’s broken child care system; Air National Guard members in limbo; remembering a chile-growing legend

Denver homicides up; meatpackers locked out in Fort Morgan; a Colorado rover on the moon?

Homicides are way up in Denver this year so far, compared to last year, and that has community members asking whether the city is doing enough to prevent youth violence in particular. Then, the Cargill meatpacking plant in Fort Morgan is sitting idle, while workers picket outside. Plus, NASA has picked a Colorado-built rover as part of its future lunar base. Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org [coloradotoday@cpr.org]. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members [https://donate.cpr.org/give]. Read more on the stories in today’s show: * Check out CPR’s primary election voter guide [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/29/vg-2026-colorado-primary-election-voter-guide/] * Denverite’s Kyle Harris on the shooting inside the Montbello Rec Center [https://denverite.com/2026/05/26/montbello-rec-center-closed-indefinitely-after-a-shocking-youth-killing/] * Colorado Sun’s Tracy Ross on the situation at the Cargill meatpacking plant [https://coloradosun.com/2026/05/27/cargills-lockout-of-workers-sends-ripples-through-supply-chain/] * CPR’s Dan Boyce got a ride in Lunar Outpost’s earlier rover prototype [https://www.cpr.org/2025/08/24/lunar-outpost-new-terrain-vehicle-prototype-testing-colorado/] This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel and Madilyn Rose. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Madilyn Rose, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

Vice President in CO; ethics concerns at Cherry Creek Schools; seed money for future farmers

From a visiting V.P. to aquatic accusations, we hit some of the top stories from around the state. Then, former leaders of the Cherry Creek School District are accused of some ethically dubious conduct, in a situation that reveals the limits of school district oversight. And, young aspiring farmers and ranchers get the chance to learn some tough financial and physical lessons through a new government loan program. Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org [coloradotoday@cpr.org]. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members [https://donate.cpr.org/give]. Read more on the stories in today’s show: * Denverite’s guide to Fan Expo 2026 [https://denverite.com/2026/05/27/2026-fan-expo-denver-cosplay-convention/]. * Report Denver watering violations here [https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/d2df442fe20349ccbbbc4f363c8ae9c5] * The Denver Post’s Jessica Seaman on the ethical concerns at Cherry Creek Schools [https://www.denverpost.com/author/jessica-seaman/] * CPR’s Haylee May on the USDA loans for young farmers [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/27/usda-youth-loans/] This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Madilyn Rose and Mateo Schimpf. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Madilyn Rose, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

An alternative to the DIA trains; using wastewater to heat and cool buildings; Denver’s (goose) poopy parks

Denver International Airport’s infamously dysfunctional baggage tunnels will finally see use under a new proposal. The airport plans to use them to create walkable connections between the various terminals, offering an alternative when the trains go down. Then, the city of Denver has an ambitious plan for a more climate-friendly approach to heating and cooling downtown buildings — and it hinges on wastewater. Plus, Denver’s parks are full of geese, and their poop. We look at how the city tries to manage both. Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org [coloradotoday@cpr.org]. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members [https://donate.cpr.org/give]. Read more on the stories in today’s show: * Denver Zoo and Conservation Alliance remembers Rudy, the black rhino [https://denverzoo.org/zootales/remembering-rudy/] * Denverite’s Andrew Kenney on DIA’s plan to connect the terminals with tunnels [https://denverite.com/2026/05/26/denver-airport-walkways-tunnels-train/] * CPR’s Ishan Thakore on Denver’s plans to use sewage for energy [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/20/denver-using-sewage-for-energy/] * CPR’s Haylee May on how Denver deals with goose poop [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/19/goose-poop-denver-parks/]

The good and the bad in new homelessness numbers; municipal drama in Mountain View; a Tiny Desk finalist from Colorado

The number of people experiencing homelessness last year held steady, but digging into the numbers reveals a potentially concerning trend, when it comes to youth living on the streets. Then, on Denver’s western border, officials in the tiny town of Mountain View have been filing complaints against each other at a furious clip. And we meet Lauren Frihauf, a Colorado musician who caught the judges’ ears during NPR’s annual Tiny Desk contest. Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org [coloradotoday@cpr.org]. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members [https://donate.cpr.org/give]. Read more on the stories in today’s show: * Information about Documents That Forged A Nation at History Colorado [https://www.historycolorado.org/exhibit/freedom-plane]. * Denverite’s Kyle Harris on what new numbers tell us about homelessness in Colorado [https://denverite.com/2026/05/19/colorado-homelessness-2025-statistics/]. * Denverite’s Kiara DeMare on political conflicts in the town of Mountain View [https://denverite.com/2026/05/22/mountain-view-denver-politics/]. * 2026 Tiny Desk Finalist Lauren Frihauf [https://www.laurenfrihauf.com/]. This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Madilyn Rose, Stephanie Wolf, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

Colorado’s broken child care system; Air National Guard members in limbo; remembering a chile-growing legend

We look into childcare, why it’s becoming unaffordable for a growing number of Coloradans, and how it could get worse. Then, Colorado’s Congressional delegation wants answers about hundreds of Colorado Air National Guard members' jobs. Plus, we celebrate and remember the life of an essential part of Pueblo's spicy history.  A Correction: The original audio of this show included an incorrect number for how many Air National Guard members have lost their positions in Colorado; the total is 393, not 339. The show has been updated. Email us at coloradotoday@cpr.org [coloradotoday@cpr.org]. Colorado Today is supported by CPR’s members [https://donate.cpr.org/give]. Read more on the stories in today’s show: * CPR’s Jenny Brundin’s series on Colorado’s child care system, Raising Colorado [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/20/colorado-childcare-system-broken/] * CPR’s Caitlyn Kim on Colorado’s congressional delegation pushing for answers on 100s of state Air National Guard jobs [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/19/lost-colorado-air-national-guard-jobs/]. * CPR’s Bente Birkeland’s story on the chile-growing Pueblo family [https://www.cpr.org/2021/09/24/pueblo-chile-season-musso-farms/] This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Madilyn Rose, Stephanie Wolf, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.