By Rachel Colchete The mining towns of the North Fork Valley have had a long and reliant relationship with coal, so as America pulls away from the controversial industry, their population feels the direct aftermath. The West Elk Mine, which stands just east of Paonia in the small mining community of Somerset, is the last…
By Rachel Colchete Officially designated the wildflower capital of Colorado, the small ski town of Crested Butte serves as a prime location to enjoy outdoor activities and charming natural scenery, but concerns about climate change affecting the area’s natural landscapes and wildlife are making local environmental advocates ill at ease. Sue Navy, board president of…
By Rachel Colchete The mountains near Salida, Colorado have never been a stranger to the occasional wildfire, but as the climate grows increasingly arid and people move closer to forest boundaries, these formerly inconsequential and easily-contained burns are becoming a threat to residents. Hundreds were forced to evacuate during the recent Decker Fire, spanning 8,959…
By Rachel Colchete To farmers in Colorado’s San Luis Valley, potato farming is more than a way to sustain their lives, it is their way of life. But as a growing water crisis tightens its grasp around the valley, workers in the agriculture industry wrestle with how to stop the draining of their aquifers while…
By Rachel Colchete In a conference room inside Colorado Springs’ coal-burning Martin Drake power plant, five utility workers sat across from a group of Colorado College students clutching notebooks—barriers that seemed to separate the students from the workers who feel misunderstood by the public. The Drake plant has become a hot topic within Colorado Springs.…
