Purplish

Purplish hit the road for a 1,600-mile-plus trip around the state, from Lamar to Greeley and Grand Junction, to rural areas and city centers. Voters shared what they’re worried about and what’s motivating them to head to the polls this November with especially high stakes because control of Congress hangs in the balance. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim hear from voters in the most competitive, or arguably competitive in some cases, congressional districts in the state. They also discuss the Republican and Democratic candidates vying for those votes, and where there’s the greatest chance of a potential upset. Catch up on our latest coverage: Can a Democrat flip the state’s reddest seat? Eileen Laubacher is trying Rep. Jeff Crank’s resolution condemning socialism passes House Beef tariffs are on pause for 90 days. How will that affect Colorado agriculture? Can independent candidates gain traction? Maybe not, but it’s not stopping them from trying Colorado Rep. Manny Rutinel resigns to focus on Congressional race Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd tries to distance himself from Trump in eyes of voters Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . Story editing from Nicole Vap . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Editor’s note: A previous version of this audio misstated Republican congressional votes on Argentine imported beef. That has been updated.

For years, Buc-ee’s has been eyeing a parcel of land off Interstate 25 at Monument Hill to build its second Colorado location. The travel plaza chain, in late August, made a significant step toward realizing that ambition. Following a packed and, at times, heated public hearing, county commissioners helped set the stage for Buc-ee’s to build on that parcel of land. The story of Buc-ee’s, Monument Hill and Palmer Lake has been through many twists and turns. The Purplish team updates you on where things stand now and revisits its documentary from last fall: “ How a possible Buc-ee’s travel plaza has divided one Colorado town .” Catch up on our latest coverage: KRCC: New proposed Buc-ee’s location in El Paso County will move forward without public hearings after appeal passes KRCC: Buc-ee’s hits a hurdle with the El Paso County planning department KRCC: State approves two well permits at the site of a potential new Buc-ee’s Travel Center in northern El Paso County Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . Story editing from Nicole Vap . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

A state lawmaker shared her harrowing account of an alleged sexual assault during a Lyft ride. Her personal experience inspired legislation in 2025 to further regulate ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber in the state. Other survivors came to the State Capitol to share their stories and support the legislation. That bill did not become law after the governor’s veto. But lawmakers tried again the following year, and parts of the pared-down version take effect this month. Uber has publicly said the vast majority, 99.9%, of its rides happen without incident. But when taking scale into account, and how many rides occur each day, that fraction of a percent can add up. Emily Steel , an investigative reporter for the business desk of The New York Times, has covered this issue extensively. Her reporting into Uber revealed that, between 2017 and 2022, the ride-hailing company received a report of sexual assault or misconduct nearly every eight minutes on average. She joins CPR’s Bente Birkeland to share her reporting, including a recent investigation about how Uber’s legal team is approaching the mounting number of civil suits against the large company. Dig deeper into the scope of this issue here in Colorado and across the country: CPR News: Colorado lawmaker trying again for rideshare safety policy after original bill vetoed CCNA: New Colorado rideshare safety provisions go into effect this month The New York Times: Uber’s Festering Sexual Assault Problem The New York Times: Uber’s Strategy for Fighting Sexual Assault Suits: ‘What Were You Wearing?’ The New York Times: Uber Enacts Stricter Background Checks for Drivers The New York Times: Second Jury Finds Uber Responsible for Sexual Assault by a Driver Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . Story editing from Nicole Vap . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

Since it became a state 150 years ago, Colorado’s political identity has always been hard to pin down. It’s been a lot of things at once, a place of contradictions that, at times, puts the state at the forefront of change including women’s suffrage and civil rights. At other times, political power rested with those interested in turning back the clock. As the state marks its 150th statehood anniversary, CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Arlo Pérez Esquivel examine two significant chapters in Colorado’s political history that exemplify this push and pull, while also asking what those periods tell us about the present political moment. Live Event: Do you want to watch an episode of Purplish get made? Join us for a live event, “The Great Colorado Ballot-O-Rama.” Get answers to your burning questions about the proposals and issues you’ll see on your ballot this fall from reporters from across the CCNA network, who will sit down in our hot seat, with CPR's Bente Birkeland and Jesse Paul from The Colorado Sun hosting. Look for tickets here . Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . Story editing from Nicole Vap . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Additional reporting from Colorado Matters' Hayley Sanchez and CPR’s Stephanie Wolf. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

Progressives sailed through Colorado’s primary elections in late June, including a once-in-a-generation upset for a Democratic Socialist who ousted a longtime incumbent in Denver in a race that grabbed national headlines. There was an upset of a different kind in the Democratic race for governor with a U.S. Senator losing to the state’s Attorney General, while the GOP race was too close to call on primary night. In a big election year, with all of the top statewide elected offices up for grabs, and control of Congress on the line, there is a lot to dissect about what this primary means for the November midterms and the future of Colorado politics. CPR’s Bente Birkeland , The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul and CPR’s Caitlyn Kim discuss what the shakeups illustrate about the state of politics in Colorado. Catch up on our latest primary election coverage: CPR News: Is the GOP governor’s primary headed to a recount? CPR News: What is the DSA and who is Melat Kiros? CPR News: What just happened to Diana DeGette? The Colorado Sun: Why Melat Kiros was able to tap into the anti-establishment wave and Julie Gonzales was not The Colorado Sun: Phil Weiser overcomes big spending, name ID to beat Michael Bennet in Colorado’s Democratic primary for governor Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . Story editing from Nicole Vap . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Additional reporting for this episode from Sandy Battulga, Ishan Thakore, John Daley, Allison Sherry, Kiara DeMare, Ben Markus, Molly Cruse and many others in the CPR newsroom. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

The Colorado State Capitol Building opened its doors in November 1894 . A grand neo-classical monument in the West, it used local materials to capture some of the feel of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Over the decades it’s become, like many statehouses across the country, a trove of artwork, history and curiosities. The building is also the frequent site of protests, rallies, celebrations and a variety of other public events, a “People’s House,” if you will. In this repeat episode of Purplish, which first published last fall, we shift the conversation from the consequential laws and debates that happen in the state’s seat of power to the building itself. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Stephanie Wolf travel from top to bottom to explore what’s on its walls and in its halls — and phone a friend for a rare look into what’s down below the basement. Their reporting reveals that the building, and its many collections, open up bigger conversations, not just about history but about the state right now. Read more of our reporting: CPR News: Portrait donated by White House will hang temporarily in capitol where painting Trump despised used to be CPR News: Should Colorado Display A Rediscovered Portrait Of Its KKK Governor? Rocky Mountain Community Radio: How a wonky radiator helped uncover the Capitol’s bygone glory Denverite: Meet the ‘Bloody Espinosas’ and other Colorado Capitol legends on these free ghost tours Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

Congressional races across the state are heating up: with the gloves coming off in the Democratic primary for Colorado’s newest, and swingiest, district; other longtime Colorado Democrats facing challenges from more progressive candidates; and a Republican freshman trying to defend his seat from his right flank. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim , along with Kiara DeMare and Rae Solomon , discuss who’s on the ballot, as well as the dynamics of these races and what it says about politics right now. Catch up with our latest coverage: CPR News: 2026 Colorado Primary Election Voter Guide CPR News: A new season of the Who’s Gonna Govern podcast CPR News: Melat Kiros says she’ll bring change, lower costs in bid for Congressional District 1 seat CPR News: Rep. Diana DeGette is focused on healthcare in bid for 30th year in Congress CPR News: Wanda James brings military experience to Congressional District 1 campaign as war in Iran rages Denverite: Denver congressional candidate Wanda James sues other CU Regents over censure CPR News: What voters in Colorado’s newest and most competitive congressional district are thinking about right now Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

Colorado released former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters on parole June 1 from a women’s state correctional facility in Pueblo. She was less than two years into a nearly nine-year sentence for her role in tampering with county voting machines months after the 2020 presidential election, part of an effort to search for election rigging. Peters, who has become a hero among some MAGA voters, wasted no time repeating claims that Democrats are using technology to steal elections. The decision to free Peters early has potentially upended Gov. Jared Polis’ final months in office, enraging his political allies and disheartening defenders of the election system. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Tom Hesse dig into this long and complicated tale, from the original plot to access Mesa County’s election equipment, to the pressure campaign President Donald Trump launched to free her and Polis’ recent clemency decision. They also discuss what her early release could mean for elections and politics in the state, and elsewhere, going forward. Catch up on our latest coverage: Colorado Matters: ‘It brainwashes people:’ Head of Colorado’s county clerks is concerned Tina Peters’ disinformation against elections will continue CPR News: Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters released from prison CPR News: Colorado Democrats censure Gov. Jared Polis over Tina Peters commutation CPR News: Trump hails Peters’ commutation as state Democrats call it ‘a sad day’ CPR News: The Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ election security controversy, explained (2022) Colorado in Depth: The Colorado clerk on trial for the big lie, and what it means for the 2024 election Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Additional reporting from CPR’s Kevin Beaty , Sam Brasch , Anthony Cotton and Ryan Warner . Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

Colorado’s primary elections are just around the corner. And there’s a lot riding on them — all of the statewide constitutional offices are on the ballot — and thanks to term limits, all of those races are wide open, including Colorado’s top office: governor. The fields include a who’s who of Colorado politics, and one newcomer who may have the potential to shake things up. CPR’s Bente Birkeland talks with The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul and CPR’s Ben Markus about who’s on the Democratic and Republican tickets and the dynamics at play as they vie for votes. The five hopefuls on the ballot are running at a time when both parties are doing a bit of soul searching, and Coloradans on both sides of the aisle seem frustrated with the status quo. Catch up on our latest coverage: CPR News: 2026 Colorado Primary Election Voter Guide CPR News: Bottoms, Kirkmeyer make their cases to primary voters in CPR News gubernatorial candidates debate CPR News: Democratic gubernatorial candidates Bennet and Weiser make their pitches to voters in live debate The Colorado Sun: A third of Colorado voters have still never heard of Phil Weiser, poll shows CPR News: Colorado GOP governor primary pits MAGA candidates against establishment favorite The Colorado Sun: Tina Peters isn’t the first Colorado convict to become a central figure in a governor’s race Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer.

From speed cameras to vaccine policy to ketchup packets, which of the laws passed by the 2026 legislature will actually be affecting people’s daily lives, five or ten years from now. That’s the question that launches our session wrap up conversation. But in a year when new policies often took a backseat to painful budget realities, there were also lots of politics to keep things interesting. Catch up on our latest coverage: CPR News: Lawmakers pass dozens of bills as 2026 session wraps up CCNA: 101 bills that passed and failed in Colorado’s legislature this year that you need to know about CPR News: Colorado lawmakers ask voters to consider giving up TABOR refunds to fund schools CPR News: Polis says he will sign pared down AI bill that passed overnight Colorado Sun: Colorado lawmakers reject bill that would have required legislative caucuses to report their donors KUNC: Colorado legislature passes bill to allow lawsuits against ICE agents, other immigration officers Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer.

Many of Colorado’s Democratic lawmakers came into this legislative session determined to push back against the Trump administration, especially on the president’s aggressive immigration enforcement tactics. They introduced proposals to ban state and local law enforcement from concealing their identity in most situations and to allow Coloradans to sue federal agents who violate their rights. But not all Democrats are on board with these ideas — worried they may harm legitimate law enforcement efforts and fail to keep the community safer. And the legislation raises big questions about the limits of state authority when it comes to how federal immigration agents behave within Colorado’s borders. CPR’s Bente Birkeland , The Colorado Sun’s Taylor Dolven and The Denver Post’s Seth Klamann discuss the different bills, the potential legal challenges and the politics surrounding this issue, at a time when the stakes feel like they couldn’t be higher. Catch up on the latest coverage: The Denver Post: Judge again blocks Gov. Jared Polis from directing state officials to comply with an ICE subpoena The Denver Post: Federal judge criticizes ICE agents at Denver hearing for not knowing about earlier order limiting arrests The Colorado Sun: Colorado lawmakers reject bill that would have required police to intervene when ICE agents use excessive force The Denver Post: Thousands of immigrants in Colorado were arrested and deported during Trump’s first year The Colorado Sun: As some Democratic governors lead on ICE pushback, Jared Polis is taking a hands-off approach The Colorado Sun: Democratic lawmakers plan package of bills to further regulate federal immigration enforcement in Colorado Denverite: What we saw from inside ICE’s raid at Aurora’s Edge apartments Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Additionally reporting for this episode from Denverite’s Kevin Beaty .

Colorado has a part-time, citizen legislature, driven by the notion that it’s important to have people from all kinds of professional backgrounds bringing their experience to lawmaking. So for four months every year, state legislators pause their regular lives to be at the Capitol. But the flexibility to do that can be hard to come by, and some say the pay — currently around $47,000 a year — makes things even harder. Now, an approach lawmakers hoped would take the politics out of the pay raise process could end up boosting their wages at the worst possible time. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods lean into the ongoing debate and tension around how much state lawmakers earn, what it means for the legislative process and the variety of fixes, from the financial to the fundamental, some have proposed. Catch up on our latest coverage: CPR News: How much are Colorado’s state legislators paid? CPR News: Amid budget cuts, legislators and statewide office holders set for pay increases next year The Independent Elected State Official Pay Commission’s 2025 Pay Report Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Additional reporting for this episode from Rae Solomon .

Primary ballots will land in Coloradans’ mailbox in a few weeks, and now, voters know which candidates will be on them. Many got there by winning over party activists at the recent Democratic and Republican state assemblies in Pueblo. These were high-stakes gatherings in a high-stakes election year, as hopefuls lined up for all of Colorado’s top offices: U.S senator, governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer. CPR’s Bente Birkeland , The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul and CPR’s Caitlyn Kim break down which candidates rallied enough delegate support, what kinds of competitions it sets up for the primary in June, and what this method of selecting candidates means in the big picture. Catch up on our latest coverage: CPR News/KRCC: Gubernatorial candidates Scott Bottoms, Victor Marx win slots on GOP primary ballot at state assembly CPR News: Democrats gather in Pueblo to select candidates for primary ballot CPR News: Kirkmeyer, Marx, Bennet file petitions to get on ballot for gubernatorial primaries The Colorado Sun: Colorado’s unaffiliated voters say they’re intentionally not joining a political party. Here’s why. The Colorado Sun: Republicans who want to opt out of Colorado’s primaries get major boost from federal judge’s ruling The Colorado Sun: State senator defeats two Democratic rivals, securing lone spot on primary ballot for Colorado treasurer The Colorado Sun: Diana DeGette narrowly made the primary ballot. Here’s why you maybe shouldn’t read too much into it. Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Additional reporting for this episode from KRCC’s Briana Heaney .

A bill advancing through Colorado's statehouse would require law enforcement officers to ask a set of 11 questions — 11 very specific questions, meant to measure someone’s risk of dying at the hands of their abuser. Backers say the change is especially urgent now, because even though homicides in Colorado have gone down in recent years, domestic violence killings have gone up. CPR’s Bente Birkeland , KUNC’s Kyle McKinnon and CPR’s Ava Kian discuss efforts to try to improve how law enforcement across Colorado responds to domestic violence calls, and the unique challenges of addressing domestic violence. Catch up on our latest coverage: CPR News: Advocates push for a statewide protocol for domestic violence victims KUNC: Colorado lawmakers want police to take new steps when responding to domestic violence calls KUNC: Colorado faces domestic violence crisis as survivor danger escalates CPR News: Colorado domestic violence deaths rise even as statewide homicides fall Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer.

Decades ago, Colorado lawmakers set statewide limits on noise for different types of areas — lower limits near homes, louder away from them. But a recent court case has upended the status quo around which venues are allowed to be extra loud and how much say local governments have, and that has state lawmakers this year stirring up a noisy debate over noise. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Dan Boyce delve into the complexity of noise and how people experience it, the debate over state limits versus local control, and why the Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs is at the center of this debate. Catch up on our coverage: CPR News: Local noise permit bill passes Senate after contentious committee hearing KRCC: Statehouse proposal would allow cities to issue noise permits for properties like the Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs KRCC: Ford Amphitheater opponents hope Colorado Supreme Court ruling will bring the noise down KRCC: Colorado Springs mayor, city staff will meet with operators of Ford Amphitheater after widespread noise complaints And check out two past Purplish topics that are back in the news: Colorado banned conversion therapy for minors. A U.S. Supreme Court case could upend that Tina Peters is headed to trial – how did we get here? Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer.

The six lawmakers tasked with writing Colorado’s budget have an excruciating job this year — they must find about $1.5 billion in savings to keep the budget in balance, and understand that many of their cuts will have direct, human consequences. That’s because the state's Medicaid program, which provides health coverage to low-income Coloradans, accounts for a significant part of Colorado’s budget, and costs have ballooned in recent years. CPR’s Bente Birkeland , The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul and The Denver Post’s Seth Klamann discuss what’s driving rising Medicaid costs for the state, where lawmakers are looking for savings and what this all means for Colorado residents. Catch up on the latest coverage: The Colorado Sun: Colorado’s state budget shortfall grows to more than $1.5 billion, forcing legislature to make much deeper cuts CPR News: Impact of state budget cuts gets real as lawmakers start trimming Medicaid programs The Colorado Sun: Providing health care to immigrants who are children or pregnant is costing Colorado 611% more than expected The Denver Post: As Medicaid costs rise, should Colorado charge fees on large employers that don’t insure all workers? The Denver Post: Flawed analysis caused Colorado Medicaid program’s costs to surge and made it ‘attractive’ to fraud CPR News: Medicaid recipients, advocates furious over state mistake that’s costing tens of millions of dollars The Colorado Sun: Legislature mulls ballot measure that would ask voters to raise TABOR cap by billions primarily to fund Colorado’s schools Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Additional reporting for this episode from CPR’s John Daley and The Colorado Sun’s John Ingold and Erica Breunlin .

Colorado’s prisons have been filled nearly to capacity for months. And when the state has too many people in its prisons, difficult living conditions can quickly become intolerable. That’s got Colorado Department of Corrections officials, staff and some lawmakers worried. DOC says it needs more money to fund hundreds of additional beds for male inmates. But state lawmakers in both parties say DOC has failed to come up with a plan to address systemic issues. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and KUNC’s Kyle McKinnon dig into how the state got to the point of such high occupancy in its prisons, the ripple effect of crowding in prisons and how conversations on solutions are playing out at the State Capitol. Catch up on our coverage: KUNC News: Colorado’s prisons and jails are overflowing. What’s being done? CPR News: State budget committee rejects request for more prison beds until DOC provides more complete plan KUNC News: Colorado lawmakers reverse course, approve funding for new prison beds Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer.

Flock cameras, and other license plate reader systems, are installed all over Colorado. The technology gives law enforcement access to a new level of tracking, a reach they say has helped them solve all kinds of terrible crimes and made the state safer. But community fears that law enforcement could misuse the data and invade people’s privacy, and share it with federal immigration authorities, are mounting — and getting the attention of state lawmakers. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Denverite’s Andrew Kenney dig into how this kind of surveillance tech has changed in recent years, the arguments for and against it and how some Colorado lawmakers hope to restrict how law enforcement can access this data. Catch up on our latest coverage: New restrictions on police surveillance advance in state Senate Denver fires Flock, prepares to switch to new roadway surveillance system Officer faces discipline after using Flock cameras to falsely accuse Denver woman of package theft Police used Flock cameras to accuse a Denver woman of package theft. She had her own evidence Out-of-state cops had access to Denver license plate data for immigration cases for months Denver is at the center of a viral national fight over surveillance Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Hazel Feldstein assistant produced this episode. Additional reporting from Denverite’s Kiara DeMare and Kyle Harris . Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner.

For a lot of farmers in Colorado, and across the country, insecticides known as neonicotinoids, or neonics, have been a game changer. But what’s been a breakthrough for some has been a nightmare for others. Neonics are being blamed for die-offs in domestic bees and native pollinators, and there’s growing concern over their potential impacts on human health as well. This year, some Democratic lawmakers proposed a bold step to reduce the chemicals’ use in Colorado; they wanted farmers to get something like a prescription to be allowed to use neonic-treated seeds. CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Rae Solomon discuss what those lawmakers tried to do, and why they faced such fierce opposition from the get go. Read our coverage: Farmers bristle as state lawmakers weigh the future of a ubiquitous pesticide Democrats’ bill to control pesticides that threaten pollinators dies at statehouse Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer.

Data centers, the infrastructure underpinning the artificial intelligence boom, are popping up in communities all across the country, including in Colorado. And with each new build, come more questions from residents about what these structures mean for their utility bills and quality of life. At the State Capitol, lawmakers are choosing between two competing visions of how Colorado should approach data centers — with incentives plus some guardrails, or strictly with regulations. CPR’s Sam Brasch , The Colorado Sun’s Taylor Dolven and KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods dig into the competing data center bills, one that offers tax breaks to lure centers here and another that requires them to mitigate their impacts. They also discuss the local backlash against these buildings when they start going up in communities, and the politics of it all. Catch up on our latest coverage: CPR News: Colorado bill would require renewable energy for new data centers to guard against rising energy bills CPR News: Colorado lawmakers brace for their biggest battle yet over AI data centers The Colorado Sun & KUNC: Tax breaks vs. renewable energy offsets: Democrats plan to duel over conflicting Colorado data center bills CPR News: Does the AI boom threaten local air quality? A north Denver neighborhood is about to find out Mountain West News Bureau: Wired, Wired West: What happens with AI data centers move in Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf . Megan Verlee is the executive producer. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey . The theme music is by Brad Turner. Additional editorial support on this episode provided by Tegan Wendland . Editor’s Note: A previous version of this episode misstated the square footage of the CoreSite data center under construction in Denver. The facility is 180,000 square feet. The audio has been updated.