ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY IN LA JUNTA AND LAMAR
Eric Whitney visits the once-thriving farm towns of La Junta and Lamar in the Lower Arkansas Valley. Both towns were recently hit with the loss of major employers, but leaders refuse to give up hope. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
ROAD TRIP: LOCAL KIDS HELP WITH HURRICANE RELIEF
In October, several students from The Classical Academy, in northern Colorado Springs, traveled to Louisiana to participate in the post-Katrina clean up effort. Western Skies gave them a digital recorder to document their experience. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
EXPANDED CONTENT–> Click here to see pictures of the Classical Academy trip to Louisiana.
PUBLIC RADIO UPDATE
Eric Whitney talks to attendees of the High Country Community Radio Coalition conference in Durango about new developments in the world of community broadcasting. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
NEBRASKA FARMERS FEED THE WORLD
Eric Whitney visits with Nebraskans who are organizing an effort for farmers to donate part of their crops to help hungry people in developing countries. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
FORT CARSON SOLDIERS WORK TO BUILD UP IRAQI DEFENSE FORCES
Americans are hearing a lot about the importance of training Iraqi security forces. Many soldiers with Fort Carson’s Third Armored Cavalry Regiment are currently working on this task. Eric Whitney talks to Captain Wallace about what’s happening in Tall Afar. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
OPERATION JUST ONE SOLDIER
Operation Just One Soldier is a national effort to encourage mental health professionals to help soldiers returning from overseas. Organizers were particularly interested in focusing on Colorado Springs. But officials at Fort Carson, and the city’s mayor, have been less than enthusiastic. Eric Whitney reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
EXPANDED CONTENT–> You can read the proclamation that Operation Just One Soldier asked Mayor Rivera to sign.
REBUILDING TALL AFAR: FORT CARSON SOLDIERS IN IRAQ
Eric Whitney talks to soldiers with Fort Carson’s Third Armored Cavalry Regiment about their mission of rebuilding the city of Tall Afar, Iraq. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
DEMOCRAT ANNOUNCES IN 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
No Democrat has ever been elected to Congress from Colorado’s Fifth Congressional District. In fact, most Democratic candidates for the seat have offered only token campaigns. But as Eric Whitney reports, this week Jay Fawcett announced that he’s running for real in 2006. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
DE DONDE ERES?
Eric Whitney reports on the local oral history project De D?nde Eres, sponsored by the Pikes Peak Library District. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
POST-COMBAT MENTAL HEALTH
Combat veterans returning to the U.S. are facing significant mental health challenges. Eric Whitney talks to medical officers at Fort Carson about the Army’s plans to address post traumatic stress disorder and depression among returning troops. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
USFS FIRE POLICY
Eric Whitney reports on the U.S. Forest Service’s plans to reduce forest fires in Colorado. As USFS employees tell it, they have some helpful tools to work with, but they can’t use some others they’d like to. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
EXPANDED CONTENT–> Read the Forest Service’s letter asking for permission to enact a Wildland Fire Use Policy.
SPRINGS SEWAGE SPILL
Eric Whitney reports on the June sewage spill that released 300,000 gallons of raw sewage into Sand and Fountain Creeks, much to the dismay of downstream Puebloans. [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]
STATE OF THE ROCKIES, PART 2 (ENERGY POLICY)
Eric Whitney reports from the State of the Rockies Conference on how the West could be a leader in U.S. energy policy during the coming decades. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]
EXPANDED CONTENT–> AmoryLovins’ latest book, Winning the Oil Endgame: Innovation for Profits, Jobs and Security, is available for free at www.oilendgame.org.
PALMER HIGH SCHOOL PROTEST
PALMER HIGH SCHOOL PROTEST
Members of the Westboro Baptist Church (known for its “God hates fags” campaign) visited Palmer High School this week to protest student efforts to start a gay-straight alliance. Western Skies was there to talk to the protesters and the counter-protesters. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]