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Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens says he has a plan to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Pickens is traveling the country to promote that plan, and recently stopped in Lamar, Colorado. KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin was there and has this report.
Telluride hosted its 32nd annual Jazz Celebration this past weekend, which also kicked off the town’s summer festival season. Over twenty-five acts played on several stages over the course of four days, including the spectacularly set outdoor stage… with its panoramic views of the high mountain canyon. KRCC’s Michelle Mercer was there and brought back this snapshot…
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The Day of the Dead, or Dia de Los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday when the spirits of ancestors are invited to come back and celebrate with the living. Traditionally the holiday is observed every year around Halloween, on the Christian holy days of All Saints Day, November 1st, and All Souls Day, November 2nd. Pueblo got a head start on its Day of The Dead festivities with a parade this past Friday, Oct. 26th. KRCC’s Michelle Mercer was there and brings us this report.
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On Friday, Oct. 26, the Air Force Reserve unit based at Peterson Field flew members of the local media to California to see their air and ground crews in action fighting fires.
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In the Wet Mountain Valley, about an hour west of Pueblo, haying season is winding down and ranchers are hauling in the last bales from the fields. Like other high altitude mountain valleys, the area around Westcliffe is known for producing excellent grass hay that is popular with horse owners along the Front Range. Hay is a crucial crop because it feeds the ranchers own livestock and brings in much needed income when they sell the surplus. But even during a year with good moisture like this one, farmers are in a constant struggle to get the best crop they can. KRCC’s Shanna Lewis has the story.
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Recently, KRCC News had the chance to talk to a couple of Colorado Springs residents serving in the military in Iraq. We asked them for their assessments of how the Iraqi military and police are progressing towards being able to operate without U.S. help, and for their impressions of life in the combat zone in general. We’ll have an interview with a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve later this week.
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Earlier this year, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that soldiers deploying to Iraq can expect to be there up to 15 months. That’s three months longer than the 12 month combat tours that have become standard since the war began. Army policy has been to give soldiers two years at home for every one they spend overseas, but since the war began, that so-called “dwell time” has been cut in half to one year.
KRCC’s Charlotte Perea.
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Repeated deployments are hard on military families. Charlotte Perea talked with some military wives last week, as they were getting some pampering at a special “spa day” for them at the Southeast Armed Services YMCA.
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In America, there are generally more families that want to adopt children than there are newborns available. But, the opposite is true for foster children. The government estimates that there about 115,000 kids in foster care in the country ready and waiting to be adopted. Evangelical leaders say that’s a big motivation for the three-day Orphan Care and Adoption Summit wrapping up today at Focus on the Family. This is the third year they’ve held such a conference. The last two drew about a hundred people combined. This year, it’s significantly bigger.
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from the event.
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Listen to this story at NPR’s website, as well. [NPR LINK]
The seven people arrested at the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Colorado Springs appeared in court for the first time Tuesday and chose to plead their cases before a jury.
Charged with failure to disperse when arrested, the city attorney is now charging them with “obstructing passage or assembly” instead. The arrestees have said their actions did not obstruct the parade. They believe the city violated their free speech rights and used excessive force in removing them from the parade. Their trials are scheduled to begin May 7.
All nine at-large candidates for Colorado Springs city council have agreed to participate in a candidate forum in two weeks. The event will be held at the Penrose Library downtown on Tuesday, March 13th, starting at 6pm.
Most of the candidate forum will be devoted to taking questions from the audience, but reporters from KRCC and the Colorado Springs Independent will ask questions, too, as will representatives of the Citizens Project and the Black/Latino Leadership Coalition.
All nine at large candidates for Colorado Springs city council will have a chance to speak their piece, and take an equal number of questions during the 3 hour event. It happens Tuesday, March 13th at Penrose Library downtown. For more information, visit KRCC.org.
Ballots for the Springs city council election will be mailed starting on March ninth, they must be returned by April third.
The stories and colors of the San Luis Valley, portrayed in stitches, are on display at UCCS. The show of “colchas,” New Mexico-style embroidery, opens tonight and runs until the end of the month. Noel Black talked to the show’s curator, and featured aritist Josephine Lobato.
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