COOKIE MONSTER ON THE WAGON
Anita Miller checks in with some Sesame Street fans about the Cookie Monster’s recent conversion to an activist for healthy diets. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

2005 LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP
This week, Western Skies runs a special half-hour review of what happened (and didn’t happen) at the 2005 session of the Colorado General Assembly. High Country Community Radio Coalition’s David Wilson (who helped provide Western Skies’ capitol coverage during the session) hosts this in-depth report. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
EXPANDED CONTENT–> You can listen to Western Skies’ weekly legislative reports by visiting our archived shows for January 15 through May 14. You can also listen to an archive of HCCRC’s daily reports at capcov.org.

SCHOOL FITNESS CLASS IN PUEBLO
Childhood obesity is quickly becoming a high-profile crisis in public health. One school in Pueblo is working to get kids excited about fitness. Anita Miller has our report. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

JIM WHITE RETIRES
Eric Whitney talks to Rev. Jim White, who is retiring after sixteen active, and sometimes tumultuous, years as the pastor of First Congregational Church in Colorado Springs. White has been a leading voice for liberal-leaning Christians in Colorado Springs. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

WESTCLIFFE LIBRARY
Shanna Lewis reports from the opening of the new West Custer County Library in Westcliffe and tells the story of a tiny town that pulled together to build a new resource. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

TABOR AT HOME AND AWAY
At least seventeen states are considering adopting their own versions of Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. But Colorado is busy with its own debate about Referendum C, which asks voters to relax TABOR limits for five years. Stephen Raher reports on the TABOR debate which is likely to run through the November election. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
EXPANDED CONTENT–> Read the Stateline.org story about the other states that are considering TABOR-like amendments. Read the text of Referendum C. For a pro-TABOR perspective, visit Douglas Bruce’s website or the Independence Institute. For a critical view, visit the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute or the Bell Policy Center.

NEWSCAST
Stephen Raher has details on a recent Colorado Supreme Court decision concerning Miranda rights. Maeve Conran reports from the largest ever conference on wind energy, which took place in Denver last week. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: JULIE MARS
Sarah Jackson interviews New Mexico-based writer Julie Mars about her new book, A Month of Sundays: Searching for the Spirit and My Sister. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
EXPANDED CONTENT–> Browse books written by Julie Mars.

MEXICAN EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN PUEBLO
Anita Miller reports on a revived exchange program in Pueblo, that seeks to educate Southern Coloradans about their Mexican heritage. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CAPITOL COVERAGE
For the first time since legislative sessions were limited to 120 days, the General Assembly wrapped up its work early this year. Stephen Raher and David Wilson have our final report on activities under the dome. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

WOOD POWER
Eric Whitney reports on two Colorado projects to generate electricity from wood, thus reducing possible forest fires. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

AUTHOR INTERVIEW: JULIE MARS
[LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

ALLEGATIONS AT BRUSH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Western Skies’ Jon Wilson takes a visit to the first private prison in Colorado to house female inmates. He talks to the owner of the prison company, Gil Walker, about allegations of sexual misconduct at the facility. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CAPITOL COVERAGE
Friday marked the end of the last full week of this year’s legislative session. And Treasurer Mike Coffman shook things up by reenlisting in the Marines. Stephen Raher and David Wilson bring you up to date on the flurry of last minute activity. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

MOTHERS IN UNIFORM
Eric Whitney talks to military mothers who are deployed in Iraq. They tell us what it’s like to be serving their country far away from their children. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]