This year KUNC connected in meaningful and impactful ways with our Northern Colorado audience. In 2024, we shared another season of The Colorado Dream and saw it become a top podcast with national notice. We launched our Reflecting Colorado Photo Desk and embarked on one of our most comprehensive efforts to listen to voters and talk about the big issues and concerns they had this election year. We collaborated with students at CU Boulder and Front Range Community College. We also celebrated what will be the Colorado Capitol 暗黑爆料 Alliance as the Corporation for Public Broadcasting awarded a large grant to KUNC to collaborate with Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun on that project in 2025. It was a momentous year with lots to celebrate.
The Challenges Unhoused Students Face
More than 16,000 Colorado students were homeless during the 2021-2022 academic year, according to state data. These young people crashed on couches and stayed in motels. Some slept on the streets, and many made their way alone, without a guardian. These students drop out of school more than twice as often as their peers. Older youth struggle to find a path forward as they age out of support systems. In our new series, Unseen but Everywhere, KUNC visited with young people across Northern Colorado to hear about their lives and academic experiences.
Nearly half of all college students nationwide said they struggle to pay utilities or rent while also managing medical, grocery and transportation bills. Thousands of college students succumb to these challenges every semester.
"This story reminded me why I love what I do and the importance behind it. From the moment I walked into LuMin, Oscar's energy and smile lit up the room. His kind, lighthearted demeanor made it hard for anyone to see that he that he heavily relied on student food pantries and public bathrooms to take care of himself when he was unhoused. When his story hit the airwaves, it resonated with audiences, too. LuMin received more than $55,000 from listeners from Colorado and beyond to help get more unhoused students into subsidized housing. This is why journalism matters 鈥� it connects the community and changes lives."Emma VandenEinde
Other stories in Unseen but Everywhere series
How migrants navigate the complicated journey from Venezuela to Colorado schools
Tens of thousands of migrant families have arrived in Denver from the U.S.-Mexico border over the last year. Some of their kids have joined the school system, but many others haven鈥檛. In the final installment of KUNC鈥檚 new series, 鈥楿nseen but Everywhere,鈥� Lucas Brady Woods reports on the slew of barriers standing in the way of an education for local migrant children.
Unhoused kids in Colorado's rural eastern plains have few resources, no shelters
Youth homelessness is a big problem in Colorado. But in rural areas, where resources are scarce, social stigma heightened and transportation limited, kids struggle more to get help.
Unseen but Everywhere: A three-part look at housing insecurity and education among Colorado youth
More than 16,000 Colorado students were homeless during the 2021-2022 academic year, according to state data. These young people crashed on couches and stayed in motels. Some slept on the streets, and many made their way alone, without a guardian. These students dropout more than twice as often as their peers. Older youth struggle to find a path forward as they age out of support systems. In our new series, Unseen but Everywhere, KUNC visits with young people across Northern Colorado to hear about their lives and academic experiences.
暗黑爆料cast Editor Beau Baker says some of his favorite radio and web stories this year were pieces that were locally focused and full of community voices. "Lucas took a Gov. Polis story and sort of turned it on its head, catching a personal moment with the conductor and then really getting at the issues." He also tipped his hat to a sober walk through the Great American Beer Festival and a Veteran's Day feature that left many feeling verklempt.
Locally focused and on the air
Gabe Allen
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KUNC
The Great American Beer Festival in Denver drew tens of thousands of people to try more than 2,500 types of beers. But the industry has recently struggled with production and sales.
Emma VandenEinde
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KUNC
Lucas Brady Woods
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KUNC
Ending the Hate State
Colorado is considered one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly states in the country, but it wasn鈥檛 always as accepting. In 1992, Colorado voters approved Amendment 2 which prohibited protections for queer people in the state. Four years later, the Supreme Court overturned the amendment. In the nearly three decades since, Colorado has done a 180 and is now known for its progressive stance on LGBTQ+ rights and laws.This series investigates this dark time in the state鈥檚 history and uncovers the activism and legislation that followed. We鈥檒l share the stories of LGBTQ+ people and the allies who want to make the Centennial State a welcoming place for all.
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Rocky Mountain 暗黑爆料 Photograph Collection. Denver Public Library CollectionsColorado is known as one of the most LGBTQ+ friendly states in the country. But it wasn't always that way. In 1992, voters passed an amendment to the state constitution that labeled Colorado "The Hate State" and sparked a landmark legal battle for gay rights. -
Sonya Doctorian/KUNCThe number of Pride celebrations are growing across Northern Colorado but in some communities it's still a struggle to hold these events. This includes in Weld County where a local librarian - and their friends - took over organizing Greeley Pride after it was cancelled. We also hear from the organizer of another local Pride event. She was harassed and received death threats online after photos of her - and her kids - at a family friendly drag show were posted on a far-right social media account. -
Jennifer Coombes/KUNCSince the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Amendment 2 in 1996, Colorado has emerged as a leader for LGBTQ+ rights and laws this includes ensuring transgender and non-binary people have access to the health care they need. Plus a Northern Colorado medical recsidency program is normalizing HIV care in a primary care clinic. -
Leigh Paterson/KUNCOnce known as the Hate State, Colorado has become more accepting of LGBTQ+ people. Now, heated exchanges over gender identity are playing out in school districts across the state. Some are adopting gender inclusive guidelines, outlining how to support transgender and non-binary students. How and when to involve parents is up for debate.
"When I started reporting this season of The Colorado Dream podcast, I talked with an expert about the pressing issues facing LGBTQ+ people. She ended our chat by highlighting the importance of joy. During the series, we reported on these difficult - and sometimes controversial - topics and as well as the resolve and determination to persevere. But amidst all this we sprinkled in moments of joy, which I think made this season particularly special."Stephanie Daniel, Senior Managing Editor
Election Coverage
Lucas Brady Woods
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KUNC
With the election less than two months away, political rifts in Grand County mirror those across Colorado and the rest of the country. Changing demographics are exacerbating political differences and making it hard to focus on the issues that matter, even when Republicans and Democrats agree on them.
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Thomas Peipert/AP/APKUNC 暗黑爆料 looked at responses from more than 5,000 Colorado voters and found the vast majority have serious concerns about the state of democracy and distrust in the election system. In collaboration with student reporters from Front Range Community College, KUNC talked to those voters as well as Coloradans who are considering sitting out this election cycle. -
Lucas Brady Woods/KUNCKUNC 暗黑爆料 looked at responses from more than 5,000 Colorado voters, and many of them listed climate change as their most pressing concern. Meanwhile, unlike other issues, the environment concerns are not as partisan as they once were.
The Colorado River
Colorado State University Libraries
Negotiations over the water supply for 40 million people are hinged on how you interpret the words "will not cause," written into the century-old Colorado River Compact.
Ted Wood
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The Water Desk
Ted Wood
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The Water Desk
Photos From 2024
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Head Girl of the Corn Festival Joslyn Running Wolf performs during the Third Annual Corn Festival Powwow on Sept. 28 in Longmont, Colo.
Manuel Aragon
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Bruce Over of Erie, Colo. plays "Away In A Manger" in his ninth annual Tuba Christmas. Performers gathered at teh Oak Street Plaza in Fort Collins to perform the free concert.
Sonya Doctorian
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— Denver Pride Parade
Wearing a samba headdress, Madisson Bednark (CQ) marched in the Pride Parade with the Bella Diva World Dance Studio of south Denver. The group has performed at Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.
Sonya Doctorian / KUNC
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— Dia de Muertos in Fort Collins, Novemeber 2024 for KUNC
Fort Collins Square came alive for D铆a de Muertos, with vibrant ofrendas, traditional dancers, face paint, music, and marigolds filling the plaza. Organized by The BIPOC Alliance, Fuerza Latina, and ISAAC of NoCo, the event featured a powerful performance of Quetzalcoatl Aztec Dance Fusion choreographed by Joaquin Jimenez. Families gathered to honor and celebrate loved ones who have passed, in a beautiful afternoon tribute to tradition and remembrance.
Jimena Peck
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During the Heritage of Mexico Rodeo at the Greeley Stampede, spectators enjoyed a variety of performances, including the rhythmic sound of folkloric dancing, the skillful art of the Spanish matador, and the excitement of bronc riding. They also witnessed Staci Diaz's stallion horse dancing and the Escaramuza display by charras dressed in their traditional Adelita attire, riding sidesaddle. The performances were specially choreographed by Jerry Diaz, a fourth-generation champion charro.
Jimena Peck Photographer
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Yasmine Emani Hunter watches as Vidya "Seven Love" Shaker and Reggie McNair rehearse a dance scene at the Lakewood Dance Academy for the production of the 5 Points Nutcracker.
Amanda Lopez
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Syah B, mother of Denver鈥檚 House of Felicity, battles a contestant in the Kiki Ball as the audience cheers her on. She won the category. The ballroom house competition was held June 29 at the Glenn Miller Ballroom at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Sonya Doctorian
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A dancer performs at the Viva Southwest Mariachi Conference at the Metropolitan State University Auraria Campus.
Armando Geneyro / KUNC
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Andromeda D鈥橝ngelo Stanfield, organizer of 2024 Greeley Pride at the Aims Community College Welcome Center in Greeley, Colo.
Sonya Doctorian
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Students from Bryant-Webster preparing to perform at the Viva Southwest Mariachi Conference.
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Halcyon Levi, a member of the Youth Ambassadors Program and descendant of the Sand Creek massacre survivors, poses for a portrait on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in Eads, Colorado.
Rachel Woolf / KUNC
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DENVER: Kami Boles of Olathe, Kan., wears her 2023 Colorado Gay Rodeo Association buckle with pride. She and her team placed fourth this year in the wild drag race. She鈥檚 competed five years in the Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo. 鈥淭his is just where we came together and made a family,鈥� she said. The CGRA held its 41st annual rodeo at the National Western Stock Show complex.
Photo for KUNC / Sonya Doctorian July 13, 2024
Sonya Doctorian / KUNC
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University of Northern Colorado students and staff dance the Electric Slide. janine weaver-douglas, director of UNC's Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, says the Electric Slide is "a very popular dance at most Black family or cultural gatherings."
University of Northern Colorado
Reflecting Colorado
KUNC, with support from the , introduced the "Reflecting Colorado" Photo Desk this year. The grant-funded initiative aimed to diversify KUNC's visual storytelling by showcasing the rich cultural tapestry of the Centennial State.
Jimena Peck
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KUNC
The "Reflecting Colorado" Photo Desk also provided a platform for BIPOC, women, and LGBTQ+ photographers in Colorado to share their perspectives. Throughout the year these stories were featured on KUNC's website, appeared in The Colorado Dream podcast and were shared with news organizations across the state.
"In an era where visuals play a significant role in storytelling, the 'Reflecting Colorado' Photo Desk allows us to enrich our content with diverse perspectives that truly capture the essence of our state," said Mike Arnold, KUNC鈥檚 Chief Audience and Content Officer, highlights the importance of this initiative in today's digital landscape.
"This year has been such a visually rich year at KUNC. It has been a pleasure to work with so many talented photographers in our area to share the visual story that goes with what so many of you hear on the radio. We have learned from our new partners in storytelling and we have shared stories that reflect many corners of our communities. We also lent support and developed relationships. It was a powerful project to be a part of and I am really proud of the work we shared."Jennifer Coombes, Managing Digital Editor
Rachel Cohen
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KUNC
According to a new policy in Colorado Springs, students need to put their phones away all day inside special pouches. Schools in Boise, Salt Lake City, and Las Vegas already have similar policies.
Leigh Paterson
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KUNC
In Colorado, law enforcement routinely take people to the hospital for court-ordered mental health evaluations. But now, in Boulder County, sheriff鈥檚 deputies have stopped putting their hands on people to force them to go.
"This story came from a listener tip, who described in an email to KUNC that law enforcement had recently become unwilling to help her adult brother who struggles with schizophrenia. The Boulder County Sheriff鈥檚 Department confirmed that they were no longer using force in these situations due to liability concerns. Ultimately, this story was about the unintended consequences of Colorado鈥檚 new police accountability law. But I think it resonated with so many listeners because our behavioral healthcare system doesn鈥檛 work for many residents. This is just the latest example of how families across Northern Colorado lack access to services for their loved ones."Leigh Paterson, Senior Editor & Reporter
Rachel Woolf
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KUNC
A new collaboration between the Sand Creek Massacre Foundation and the Amache Alliance is educating young people about their history on Colorado's southeastern plains.
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Rae Solomon/KUNCFront Range development is starting to spill onto the plains, threatening one of largest untouched expanses of prairie habitat. -
Rae Solomon/KUNCDescendants of the Sand Creek Massacre victims returned to southeast Colorado this fall to resume a tradition of healing.
"This year I had the privilege of reporting on a unique collaboration between the descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre survivors and the descendants of the prisoners at Colorado's World War II-Era Japanese internment camp. While none of the young people I spoke with live in Southeast Colorado, they all had historic family ties to the land and intergenerational trauma associated with it. The work they were involved in was both educational and, as I discovered, therapeutic. This story moved me more than any other I have had the opportunity to work on. I was so proud to share these voices with our audience."Rae Solomon, Reporter for Rural and Small Communities
Emma VandenEinde
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KUNC
Less than 1 percent of hands-on construction workers in Colorado are women. One group wants to encourage young girls about the variety of jobs in the industry through an interactive field day.
"I've never been anywhere that has had more hot pink hard hats in my life. The TCG Day really put into practice the idea that it's hard to see yourself doing something if you've never tried it before. It was also shocking to find out that there's only 4,000 women doing hands-on construction work. The Colorado Department of Labor gave me a higher statistic, but that was counting the number of jobs and not people. It also included other jobs that were not hands-on, like being an accountant. A good reminder that statistics can change in value depending on context."Emma VandenEinde, General Assignment Reporter and Back-up Host
Emma VandenEinde
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KUNC
Rocky Mountain National Park鈥檚 Artist-In-Residence program was reintroduced this summer after a seven-year hiatus. While the chosen artists create beautiful pieces, they also highlight conservation.
Gabe Allen
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KUNC
The festival is a celebration of Colorado鈥檚 Asian American, Hawaiian Native and Pacific Islander communities. The festival brought in 200,000 attendees last year.
Gabe Allen
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KUNC
Riders of all ages met at CU Boulder on Sunday morning and mounted everything from high-end road bikes to rickety single speeds. They rode to the site of White鈥檚 death and then back to campus, where his parents and lawmakers spoke.
"This year KUNC welcomed our first Neil Best Fellowship journalist, Gabe Allen, to the team. Gabe brought life to our social media and reported on everything from forever chemicals to wildfires, a dragon boat festival to politics. He was a tremendous addition to our newsroom and it was a pleasure sharing his hard work with our audience."Jennifer Coombes, Managing Digital Editor
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Stephanie Daniel/KUNCLast ski season, a record number of skiers and snowboarders visited resorts in the Rocky Mountain region, including Colorado. The vast majority of them were white. There鈥檚 an effort in Summit County to make these snowsports more accessible to everyone, and it鈥檚 being led by a longtime resident who understands the immigrant experience. -
David Zalubowski/APDemocratic state lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled the results of a survey they use to help decide the fate of dozens of bills competing against each other for state funding. Thanks to a recent lawsuit, there's something different about it this year. For the first time since the survey was introduced to the Capitol in 2019, lawmakers鈥� votes aren鈥檛 being kept secret.
Like hundreds of other ranchers in Colorado, the Stanko family is anxious about wolf packs being airlifted back to this state, where they were eradicated by the 1940s.
Gabe Allen
Enthusiasm for apple picking has never been bigger in Northern Colorado. But nabbing a spot at a pick-your-own orchard is not for the faint of heart.
Sonya Doctorian
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KUNC
The Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo is an event that challenges the hyper-masculinity associated with rodeos and Western ranching culture.
In The NoCo is KUNC's flagship podcast that highlights some of the more unusual and surprising stories in our area. Whether they are diving into conversations with local authors or a scientist on the brink of a breakthrough, the team is taking us on a journey that helps us learn more about the great people in Colorado.
Courtesy of Jeff Gipe / Half-Life of Memory
Workers at the Rocky Flats plant northwest of Denver helped build nuclear weapons during the Cold War. The plant is gone now, buried beneath land that鈥檚 now a wildlife refuge. A new documentary opening at the Denver Film Festival looks at the controversial history of Rocky Flats, and the memories of its employees. We hear from the director, on today's In The NoCo.
Some of our favorite In The NoCo episodes from 2024
After guilty verdicts 鈥� and 10 life sentences 鈥� in Boulder鈥檚 mass shooting trial, a victim鈥檚 daughter looks back
A jury on Monday found the man who killed ten people at a Boulder King Soopers guilty on all counts 鈥� including 10 counts of first-degree murder. And a judge sentenced the shooter to 10 consecutive life sentences. For the victim鈥檚 families, the decision was a milestone. We talk with one of those family members, on today鈥檚 In The NoCo.
The new film 鈥楾he Order鈥� looks at the white supremacist group that killed a Denver radio host
Four decades after a white supremacist group murdered a Denver talk show host, a new movie called "The Order" revisits the story. The movie is based on a book by longtime journalist Kevin Flynn, who covered the crime and the group that committed it. On today鈥檚 In the NoCo: why 鈥淭he Order鈥� is still an important story today.
This tiny, scorpion-like creature is only found in caves near Boulder. Here鈥檚 how a family discovered it
Earlier this year, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science announced the discovery of a tiny, scorpion-like species in a cave near Boulder. Today on In The NoCo, we hear from the man who identified it 鈥� and learn how he has discovered dozens of other cave-dwelling creatures. It鈥檚 part of In The NoCo鈥檚 year-end review of our favorite science stories.
An underground fire near Boulder has burned for more than a century. Here鈥檚 the plan to finally extinguish it
Crews near Boulder are preparing to extinguish an underground fire that has been burning for more than a century. It鈥檚 one of 38 underground fires burning in coal seams around the state. We鈥檒l hear how this unusual firefighting operation works.
Meet the man who gave Colorado its own signature chile pepper 鈥� and sparked a rivalry with New Mexico
Head to the farmers market this time of year, and the aroma of roasted Colorado-grown Pueblo chile peppers fills the crisp autumn air. So how did Colorado get its own signature chile variety? On today's In The NoCo, we meet the man who brought the Pueblo chile to life.
How artist R. Alan Brooks uses comics and graphic novels to dissect culture and politics
R. Alan Brooks is a Denver-based graphic novelist, whose work touches on modern-day politics and culture 鈥� including the award-winning comic he writes for The Colorado Sun. Ahead of his appearance at this weekend鈥檚 Fort Collins Comic-Con, he joins In The NoCo to talk about his life and work.
Cities across the Front Range have a secret weapon to prevent wildfires: A herd of 300 goats
Preventing wildfires seems like a never-ending battle in Colorado. Now cities across the Front Range have a secret weapon 鈥� herds of goats that graze on dense brush before it becomes fuel for fires. We hear more about this innovative approach on today鈥檚 episode of In The NoCo.
Using 3D printing to build homes could transform the housing business. A Greeley company wants to lead the way
Northern Colorado could become the epicenter of an innovative approach to home building. A new company headquartered in Greeley uses 3D concrete printing to create houses -- meaning they build each home one thin, concrete layer at a time. And soon they鈥檒l help teach students at Aims Community College how to do this work.
What makes a great shopping mall Santa? This Colorado school has trained thousands of them
If you鈥檝e taken your kid to see Santa at a local mall, or hosted a Santa at your office party... have you ever wondered where that Santa learned his magic? They may have attended Professional Santa Claus School, based here in Colorado. Today on ITN, we meet the founder of the school that has trained thousands of Santas over the past four decades.
A unique version of 'The Nutcracker' illuminates the history of Denver鈥檚 Five Points neighborhood
An unusual twist on the holiday classic 'The Nutcracker' is set to open this weekend. It uses Duke Ellington鈥檚 jazz version of the famous score to celebrate the history of Five Points, which was known in the 1930s and 鈥�40s as 鈥淭he Harlem of the West.鈥� A conversation with the show鈥檚 director, on today鈥檚 In The NoCo.
"I'm so proud of the creative, hard-working team that makes this show. We love introducing listeners to Coloradans with surprising stories and important perspectives. With every episode, we try to capture what makes Colorado a fascinating place."Brad Turner, Executive Producer for In the NoCo