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 #150–
September 28, 2006
THE 65% SOLUTION? COLORADO'S SCHOOL FUNDING BALLOT MEASURES COMPARED
Two ballot measures this fall would require school districts to spend most
of their operating budgets on classroom costs in an attempt to improve K
- 12 education. But critics say the measures won't help teachers or students
and could have a devastating effect on schools. Bente Birkeland reports
from Denver. [LISTEN]
RURAL SCHOOL DISTRICT RAISES TAXES TO BYPASS "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND"
Schools in the Kit Carson district, which is out on the plains in Cheyenne
County about a hundred miles east of Colorado Springs aren't adhering to
the federal “No Child Left Behind” law. That means they're giving up some
federal funding. The conservative, tax averse community decided they'd rather
raise local taxes than comply with the law. [LISTEN]
POLITICAL ANALYSIS WITH JASON BAIN
Fundamental to any election is accurately counting votes. Last week a state
judge ruled that Colorado's new electronic voting machines were not properly
certified, but he said that they can be used in this fall's election. The
ruling has the potential to depress voter turnout - people may be less likely
to vote if they don't trust the new voting machines. KGNU's Sam Fuqua talked
how the ruling might affect the election with Jason Bain, political writer
for 5280 Magazine in Denver: [LISTEN]
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: KAREN CHAMBERLAIN ... DESERT OF THE HEART, SOUJURN IN A COMMUNITY OF SOLITUDE
Ever just want to get away from it all? Writer Karen Chamberlain did. In
her late 40s she had a successful career in Aspen, working, in her words,
two more than full time jobs and living in comfort. But when a friend who
owned a remote ranch in the desert of southeast Utah offered her a caretaking
job at near poverty level wages, she dropped everything and took it. Chamberlain
spent almost five years at Horsethief ranch and published a memoir - Desert
of the Heart, Sojourn in a Community of Solitude. [LISTEN]
COMMENTARY: WELCOME BACK RECESS
Ask any elementary school student what their favorite subject in school
is, and you'll likely get consensus that it's recess. Commentator Caroline
Vulgamore worries that the time honored tradition of running around on the
playground appears to be threatened. [LISTEN]
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Skies 9-28-06.mp3 (7 MB)
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