Colorado Today

Xcel can't quit coal plant, Cargill lockout drags on, relocating cremains, Juneteenth celebrations

Rising demand and troubles with other power plants have Xcel asking regulators to keep the Comanche II plant open in Pueblo longer, and to approve other fossil fuel projects, all of which could end up on customers' bills. Then, it's been more than a month since Cargill locked workers out of its plant in Fort Morgan, and the picketers are losing patience. And, when a congregation in Denver sold its church building, it ran into an unusual dilemma: what to do with the cremains in its columbarium. Plus, Juneteenth celebrations around the state this weekend.  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 birth announcement for its as-yet unnamed baby orangutan [https://denverzoo.org/zootales/baby-bulletin-hestys-baby-is-here/]. * CPR’s Ishan Thakore on Xcel Energy asking Colorado regulators to extend an aging coal plant [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/17/xcel-aging-coal-plant/]. * Denverite’s Kiara DeMare [https://denverite.com/about/kiara-demare/] on what’s happening with the cremains from St. Paul Lutheran Church. (coming) * Denverite’s Kyle Harris on Juneteenth in Denver [https://denverite.com/2026/06/11/denver-juneteenth-music-festival-expands-in-five-points/]. * Plus Juneteenth events in Colorado Springs [https://www.visitcos.com/events/annual/juneteenth-colorado-springs/] and Grand Junction [https://www.visitgrandjunction.com/event/juneteenth-celebration/2133/]. This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Hazel Feldstein, Arlo Pérez Esquivel, Stephanie Wolf, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

New rules when cities 'buy and dry'; clinic serves female genital cutting survivors; quirky store thrives in Del Norte

When Colorado’s growing cities look to farms along the Arkansas River to meet their thirst, they'll now have to leave that in better shape for the future. Then, we learn about a clinic that’s trying to help women from East Africa and parts of Asia with a taboo health topic: female genital mutilation and cutting. Plus, in the tiny San Luis Valley town of Del Norte, a quirky store offers everything from vinyl records, to tinned fish, to touring musical acts. 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: * Colorado Matters goes inside the Yuan Wonton kitchen [https://www.cpr.org/show-segment/inside-the-yuan-wonton-prep-kitchen-with-penelope-wong-at-the-start-of-mile-high-asian-food-week/], with chef Penelope Wong * KRCC’s Shanna Lewis on “Buy and Dry” in the Arkansas River Basin [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/09/new-water-rights-transfer-law-arkansas-river-basin/]. * CPR’s Elaine Tassy on the clinic supporting female genital cutting survivors. [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/17/denver-female-genital-multilation-cutting-clinic/]  * CPR's Dan Boyce with the story behind Trade & Post in Del Norte [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/14/del-norte-record-tinned-fish-store-marks-three-years/]. This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Madilyn Rose, Hazel Feldstein, Stephanie Wolf, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

Colorado to import drugs from Canada; school cell phone bans; predicting hurricanes from CSU

The federal government has given Colorado permission to import certain pharmaceutical drugs directly from Canada; what that could mean for prices. Then, as school districts around the state start implementing cell phone policies, we look at what’s changed for districts that have completely banned devices. Then, why some of the top hurricane forecasters in the country do their work a mile above sea level. 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 Kyle Harris on Denver’s auditor soliciting ideas for future audits [https://denverite.com/2026/06/09/denvers-auditor-wants-ideas/] * CPR’s John Daley on the new pharmaceutical partnership between Canada and Colorado [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/15/colorado-import-prescription-drugs-canada/] * CPR’s Jenny Brundin on school cell phone policies [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/12/colorado-school-districts-after-cellphone-bans/] * CPR’s Haylee May on the hurricane forecasters in Colorado [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/13/colorado-hurricane-forecasters/] This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel. It’s edited and produced by Madilyn Rose, Hazel Feldstein, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

A heated primary in Colorado’s sole Congressional swing district; go inside DIA’s tunnels; new Da Vinci museum

The latest on the Democratic primary in Colorado’s hotly-contested 8th Congressional district. Then, the underground tunnels at Denver International Airport are for moving baggage, but, in a few more years, travelers will be able to walk through them too. Plus, there’s a new art museum in Pueblo dedicated to Leonardo Da Vinci, and his works that few have ever seen.  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 Rae Solomon reports on how voters in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District are feeling about their choices ahead of this month’s primary [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/05/8th-district-voters-feelings/].  * Denverite’s Paolo Zialcita and Colorado Matters’ Ryan Warner take you inside DIA’s tunnels [https://denverite.com/2026/06/12/inside-denver-airport-tunnels-walkway-plan-train/], and get a preview of plans to repurpose them. * KRCC’s Shanna Lewis on Pueblo’s new da Vinci Museum. [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/11/davinci-museum-pueblo/] * Read up on Colorado’s primary races this election season with CPR News’ voter guide [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/29/vg-2026-colorado-primary-election-voter-guide/]. This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Arlo Pérez Esquivel and Bazi Kanani. It’s edited and produced by Mateo Schimpf, Madilyn Rose, Hazel Feldstein, Stephanie Wolf, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.

The three-way primary race to represent Denver; Xcel rate hike sees resistance; Colorado horror author wins a Nebula

Denver’s longtime representative in Congress faces two primary challengers arguing it’s time for a change. Then, Xcel Energy wants to bump up their rates, but that proposal is getting a cold reception from consumers. Plus, a Colorado Author wins a prestigious award shared by some of the greatest fiction writers of all time. 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: * Find out more about the opening ceremony for the Poudre River Trail [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/connecting-communities-a-poudre-river-trail-celebration-tickets-1987100535192] * Read Denverite’s Kiara DeMare’s coverage of the CD-1 Democratic Primary:   * Rep. Diana DeGette [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/18/cd-1-race-diana-degette-democrat-interview/] *   * Wanda James [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/18/cd-1-race-wanda-james-democrat-interview/] *   * Melat Kiros [https://www.cpr.org/2026/05/18/cd-1-race-melat-kiros-democrat-interview/] *   * CPR’s Ishan Thakore on the proposed rate increase for Xcel customers. [https://www.cpr.org/2026/06/11/xcel-big-rate-hike-opposition/] * Listen to Denverite’s Kyle Harris’s 2025 interview with Stephen Graham Jones. [https://www.cpr.org/show-episode/oct-31-2025-denverfright-terrifies-at-the-bug-theatre/] This episode of Colorado Today is hosted by Madilyn Rose. It’s edited and produced by Madilyn Rose, Stephanie Wolf, Hazel Feldstein, Corey H. Jones, Megan Verlee and Tyler Bender. The executive producer is Megan Verlee. Theme music by Pedro Lumbraño.