Adam Rayes
Reporter, Rural and Small CommunitiesEmail: adam.rayes@kunc.org
As KUNC鈥檚 rural and small communities reporter, I help further the newsroom鈥檚 efforts to ensure that all of Northern Colorado鈥檚 communities are heard. These communities have so much to tell us about themselves and Colorado as a whole. They鈥檙e all unique and simultaneously a crucial part of a bigger picture. Many of these communities exist in a news desert; their stories aren鈥檛 being told and they鈥檙e disconnected from each other and the rest of the region. I hope to bring more stories and voices from these places to elevate the conversation.
Before coming to KUNC, I worked at Michigan Radio where I was a production assistant for the statewide newsmagazine, Stateside. I graduated after just three years at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which is where I fell in love with journalism.
I love cooking my dad鈥檚 traditional Syrian recipes, even though my attempts are never up to his standards. I enjoy gaming, running, tasting new beers, watching anything Sam Esmail makes and I hope to gain new hobbies here in Colorado, like skiing.
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A new draft of Colorado鈥檚 congressional district map was released late Friday. Unlike the previous preliminary map, this one uses official population data from the 2020 census count instead of estimates. That, along with public comments from 36 meetings in July and August, has led to some major changes in the map鈥檚 proposed districts, particularly the new eighth district Colorado gained due to a population increase counted in the 2020 census. -
After months of waiting, Colorado finally got the local Census population counts needed to draw congressional and state general assembly electoral districts on Thursday. The massive delay has caused a lot of unexpected problems for the state鈥檚 brand new independent redistricting commissions. This new set of local data show the ways Colorado鈥檚 population has really changed over the last decade. -
During these two months of public comment hearings, KUNC will detail some of the preliminary districts and the general redistricting process to help meeting attendees know what they're talking about. Check out the district breakdown and FAQ in this story for more information. -
Rough drafts of Colorado鈥檚 new state General Assembly district maps were revealed during the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission鈥檚 meeting on Tuesday. This map is not final. It鈥檚 a starting point for the commission to hit the road and receive feedback from residents in about 32 public comment meetings held across the state starting July 9. -
A rough draft of Colorado鈥檚 new congressional district map was revealed during the Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission鈥檚 meeting on Wednesday. This map is not final. It鈥檚 a starting point for the commission to hit the road and receive feedback from residents in about 32 public comment meetings held across the state starting July 9. -
Erie is a town of 27,003 people, according to 2019 Census estimates, that sits partially in both Boulder and Weld Counties. Their town board issued their first proclamation recognizing Juneteenth last year. The town 鈥� with a population that is 87% non-Hispanic white and 0.2% Black 鈥� will hold its inaugural Juneteenth celebration on Saturday. -
Corrections officers were among the second group to get early access to coronavirus vaccines late last year. Experts are mixed on how well monetary vaccine incentives actually work. In the two months since CDOC鈥檚 bonus was introduced, vaccinations for staff who regularly work in the correctional facilities only increased about 15%, remaining just over half in total. -
Senate Bill 247, which has bipartisan support, was meant to head off potentially map-killing lawsuits later. In a 5-2 decision, justices say the bill would be legislative overreach. The constitution, they argue, leaves this kind of decision-making in the commissions鈥� hands and already allows them to use estimated data. -
You may be familiar with the TV show 鈥淲ho Wants To Be A Millionaire?鈥� Colorado has launched its own version, and all residents who are vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to win. The state announced it will give away $1 million weekly between June 4 and July 7, using federal CARES Act money that would have gone to vaccine advertising. But how well vaccine incentives actually work remains a bit of an open question. -
The flowers have all wilted and dried at the fence along Table Mesa Drive, where a temporary memorial stands for the 10 victims of the South Boulder King Soopers shooting. Last week, Kroger announced their decision to reopen the store by the fall, after a complete remodel. The company has pledged to listen to community input on what that redesign and reopening will look like.
