In The NOCO

KUNC
  • 4.7 (39)
  • DAILY NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

KUNC's In The NOCO is a daily look at the stories, news, people and issues important to you. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show explores the big stories of the day, bringing context and insight to issues that matter. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we explore the lighter side of news, highlighting what makes this state such an incredible place to live.

  1. 7H AGO

    How a childcare shortage forces parents with babies to make tough choices in parts of rural Colorado

    Colorado has a childcare shortage. Many childcare centers see more applications from families who need care than there are spaces available.    And for parents of infants, it’s worse: Ten rural Colorado counties don't have a single licensed childcare provider for babies under the age of 18 months.    That lack of licensed care options for infants in places like Leadville and Salida has forced some tough decisions for families. Some find neighbors or family members to watch their young kids. Some cut back on work hours or even drop out of the workforce entirely. Other parents rely on unlicensed, in-home providers to care for their babies.    So, what's causing the shortage – and how does that add to the housing and food costs that make life unaffordable for many rural and mountain town residents?   Colorado Sun reporter Jennifer Brown recently wrote about Colorado’s infant-care deserts. She joined Erin O’Toole to talk about what’s causing it, and what it might take to fix the problem.   * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min

  2. 1D AGO

    Why a Colorado author set out to retell 'The Great Gatsby' from a different perspective

    The Great Gatsby is classic American literature. F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel about wealth and longing has generally been celebrated ever since it was published in 1925.   But a Colorado author’s latest book asks you to consider the story from a different vantage point.  Writer Allyson Reedy recently published Mrs. Wilson’s Affair. It's told from the perspective of Myrtle Wilson – a tragic character who appears in just a handful of scenes in The Great Gatsby, and whom Fitzgerald presents in an unflattering light.   Reedy says she loves the original Gatsby – she's read it numerous times -- but she thought Myrtle deserved more of a backstory and a little more empathy.   Reedy, who lives in Broomfield and also serves as restaurant critic for 5280, spoke with Erin O’Toole in November about the novel. We’re listening back to that conversation today. Check out an excerpt from Mrs. Wilson’s Affair.    * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min

  3. 2D AGO

    Allergy season started early this year. Here’s why – and how to find relief

    Runny noses. Red eyes. Sneezing and itching and grogginess. If it feels like your seasonal allergies have flared up earlier than usual, it's not your imagination.   This year’s warm, dry winter means some plants and trees are flowering – and producing pollen – even earlier than usual.  That’s happening on top of what allergy experts say is a larger trend in which pollen season starts earlier and lasts longer each year than it did two or three decades ago.   So, how is allergy season evolving? And what are the best ways to find relief from the annoyance of watering eyes, itchy throat, or constant sneezing?   Dr. Levi Keller is an assistant professor in allergy and clinical immunology with the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He spoke with Erin O’Toole about what’s uniquely difficult for allergy sufferers this year.  * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min

  4. 3D AGO

    This CU researcher says there can be positive side benefits to mood disorders. Here’s what she found

    A diagnosis of chronic depression or bipolar disorder can be daunting. These conditions can come with feelings of sadness or despair, or intense mood swings.   But a researcher at the University of Colorado says we might be thinking too simplistically about these disorders.    June Gruber  is a professor of psychology and neuroscience who runs the Positive Emotion and Psychopathology Lab at CU Boulder. She specializes in research around happiness.   She recently looked into silver linings — or side benefits — of some common mood disorders. And what she found is encouraging — both for folks with these conditions, and those close to them.   June and her research team found those potential advantages can include a greater ability to cope with life's stresses, a tendency toward creativity and a richer social life.   June joined Erin O’Toole in December to talk about her research, which was partly inspired by watching her father deal with life with bipolar disorder. We’re listening back to that conversation today.  If you enjoyed this conversation, check out this previous interview with June on her tips for living a happier life.  * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min

  5. MAR 6

    Can’t install solar panels on your roof? Smaller ‘balcony’ solar devices may be coming to Colorado

    Colorado could soon see a new wave of home solar power — but not in the form of the large solar panels you may see on rooftops around your neighborhood. Instead: Imagine slim, portable panels that you can attach to a porch or balcony and then plug into your wall.    Small-scale solar units like these are already popular in Europe. But they’re almost unheard of in the U.S., partly because of regulatory restrictions by power utilities but also because there aren’t many of these plug-in solar products on the market.  Not yet, at least.   A bill at the Colorado statehouse could clear the way for renters, condo owners and people who can’t afford a full rooftop system to buy these plug-in panels.    State lawmakers hope to see these systems available by the end of this year.   Reporter Michael Booth covers the environment for The Colorado Sun. He spoke with Erin O’Toole about how these tiny solar power units work, and how this might look in Colorado.    * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min

  6. MAR 5

    Why a proposed Colorado law may ban the practice of garnishing patients’ paychecks to repay medical debt

    In most states, if someone repeatedly hasn't paid a medical bill, collectors can eventually go to that person's employer and garnish their paycheck – which means that they withhold a portion of that person's earnings to pay off the debt.    Critics of wage garnishment say the practice disproportionately affects lower income patients.    Now a bill under consideration at the state capitol would effectively prevent debt collectors from doing this – and would make Colorado one of the few states in the U.S. to ban wage garnishment for medical debt.    But some opponents say that would ultimately drive up the cost of healthcare for everyone.   Rae Ellen Bichell is Colorado correspondent for KFF Health News, which covers healthcare policy. She spoke with Erin O'Toole about why the practice is controversial, and how this proposal might affect it.    * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min

  7. MAR 4

    Why is the lesser prairie-chicken in decline – and why were its federal protections removed?

    A bit of regional science news may have slipped past you last week. You could be forgiven if you missed the Trump administration's announcement that it's removing federal protections from a bird species known as the lesser prairie-chicken.  It roams the southern Great Plains, including southeast Colorado. It makes a sound known as “booming” when it dances as part of its distinctive mating ritual.   The U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s decision to remove threatened and endangered species protections for the bird comes after farming and oil and gas trade groups complained about those restrictions.   Sometimes it can feel a little abstract when you hear about a threatened species having its protections downgraded. But today, we thought we'd offer a primer on what’s special about this unusual bird, and why its numbers have declined in recent decades.  David Pavlacky is a senior research scientist with Bird Conservancy of the Rockies who studies and works to preserve lesser prairie-chicken populations. He joined Erin O'Toole to talk about the bird, and why many find it fascinating.  This episode includes lesser prairie-chicken audio by Andrew Spencer, courtesy of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Macaulay Library.  * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min

  8. MAR 3

    What pushback against an ambitious Greeley development project says about growth along the Front Range

    Greeley has been one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country in recent years, according to U.S. Census data. Since 2000, the city has grown from around 76,000 residents to nearly 114,000.    An ambitious, nearly billion-dollar plan to develop 800 acres on the west side of the city would have continued that growth streak.   The project, known as Catalyst, would include homes, a luxury hotel, an indoor water park, and a new arena for the Colorado Eagles hockey team.  City leaders pointed to new jobs and sales tax revenue the development would create  – and also promised it would not raise taxes.  But a group called Greeley Demands Better opposed the project and collected enough signatures to put it before voters. In a special election on Feb. 24, Greeley voters repealed the zoning for Catalyst. That stalled the project – and calls into question the city’s reputation for being friendly to developers.  Reporter Dan England has covered the ups and downs of the project for the Colorado Sun. He joined Erin O’Toole to talk about how Greeley got to this point – and what it might say about growth along the northern Front Range.   * * * * * Sign up for the In The NoCo newsletter: Visit KUNC.org Questions? Feedback? Story ideas? Email us: NOCO@KUNC.org Like what you're hearing? Help more people discover In The NoCo by rating the show on your favorite podcast app. Thanks!  Host and Producer: Erin O'Toole Executive Producer: Brad Turner  Theme music by Robbie Reverb Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions In The NoCo is a production of KUNC News and Community Radio for Northern Colorado.

    9 min
See All (863)

Trailer

4.7
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

KUNC's In The NOCO is a daily look at the stories, news, people and issues important to you. It's a window to the communities along the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The show explores the big stories of the day, bringing context and insight to issues that matter. And because life in Northern Colorado is a balance of work and play, we explore the lighter side of news, highlighting what makes this state such an incredible place to live.

Information

  • Creator
    KUNC
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    863
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 KUNC
  • Show Website
    In The NOCO

You Might Also Like