NOTE: Due to staff
and budget limitations, beginning December 2005 we will no longer be making
transcripts of Western Skies available. Transcripts of previous
editions remain available online.
Show Summary – Western Skies #143–
August 31, 2006
CONGRESSIONAL IMMIGRATION HEARINGS IN COLORADO
Earlier this year, both the U.S. House and Senate passed immigration reform
bills. They vary widely in their approach to solving immigration problems,
and Congress didn't even try to work up a compromise to send to the President
before going on recess. Now, members of the house and senate are holding
field hearings about immigration across the country, Colorado is no exception.
Bente Birkeland went to the first of two such hearings to be held here this
week, and has this report. [LISTEN]
COLORADO TOLL ROADS PART 1: RETURN OF "SUPER SLAB"
Activists have been fighting a proposed 210-mile long, private toll road
stretching from Ft. Collins to Pueblo for at least the last two legislative
sessions, and have won significant victories. But backers of the private
toll road haven't gone away. On Monday they mailed notices to properties
owners along the route in seven counties stretching from Pueblo to north
of Ft. Collins. KGNU's Sam Fuqua talks with an activist based in Elbert
County. [LISTEN]
COLORADO TOLL ROADS PART 2: TROUBLED NORTHWEST PARKWAY
A toll road built in 2003 is in financial trouble. The 11-mile long Northwest
Parkway linking Broomfield and E-470 north of Denver collected less than
half of projected revenues from drivers last year. That means that the authority
in the built the road is in danger of defaulting on its debt obligations.
Private investors are now coming forward with offers to buy the toll road.
KGNU's Karen Hammer spoke with one state lawmaker who is an outspoken critic
of the road, and worries that it might be sold to foreign investors. [LISTEN]
COLORADO CLIMATE CHANGE EFFORTS
California made news yesterday when it announced it will become the first
state in the nation to require industries to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
In Colorado, momentum is building to more comprehensively address our state's
contribution to global warming. One of the earliest efforts started in Aspen,
Aspen Public Radio's Kirk Siegler reports. [LISTEN]
"GREEN ROOFS" SOLUTION TO STORMWATER RUNOFF?
One of the most contentious issues between Colorado Springs and Pueblo is
what happens when it rains in the Springs. That's because the Springs doesn't
have a citywide storm water drainage system adequate to handle the challenges
of big storms. Water cascading off of roofs, parking lots and other hard
surfaces picks up all kinds off gunk before dumping into Fountain Creek,
which carries it south the Pueblo. In this report from a youth radio group
in Seattle, we get a look at an alternative idea designed to keep pollution
from roofs out of Puget Sound. [LISTEN]
COMMENTARY: BIRDS DO IT, BEES DO IT, NORMAN THE MOOING DOG DOES IT
If you live in Colorado Springs, chances are by now you've met the dueling
dogs that are trying to convince us, through competing ad campaigns, that
homosexuality is either normal and natural, or a disorder reversible by
therapy. Perhaps you've even tried to explain the different points of view
to your young children. Confronted by her five year old, Commentator Sandra
Knauf hit the books. [LISTEN]
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