Erin O'Toole

4 days ago | kunc.org | Erin O'Toole |Brad Turner

Last year, Colorado lawmakers passed an unusual law. It directed every county in the state to set up in-person voting for incarcerated people in jails, many of whom are awaiting trial and haven’t been convicted of a crime. The new law is the first of its kind in the nation. It's an effort to support voting rights for a population that is often considered out of sight, out of mind. Alex Burness writes for Bolts, a publication that covers issues of criminal justice and elections.

5 days ago | kunc.org | Erin O'Toole |Brad Turner

In 1895, Leadville city leaders faced a dilemma. The silver mining industry had made the town quite wealthy. But then the silver market crashed, and the city's fortunes cratered right along with it. Residents were leaving in droves to seek better opportunities. So, city leaders came up with an unusual idea to draw tourists to Leadville, entice people to live there, and give the remaining residents a sense of pride:They decided to build a giant palace of ice.

1 week ago | kunc.org | Brad Turner |Erin O'Toole

Many students in Colorado schools don’t have much of a chance to act onstage, play an instrument or hone their craft at painting. Arts programs in most public schools have been cut severely due to tight budgets and to make room for classes that help schools get higher scores on standardized tests. So a team of KUNC reporters recently wondered: What does this look like in Colorado schools? And where are kids learning about the arts?

1 week ago | kunc.org | Ariel Lavery |Erin O'Toole |Brad Turner

More than three decades ago Colorado was known as the Hate State. In 1992 Colorado voters passed Amendment 2, which banned anti-discrimination laws meant to protect gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. But the Amendment never went into effect because there was immediate backlash. It was challenged again and again for being unconstitutional, bringing it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

1 week ago | kunc.org | Ariel Lavery |Erin O'Toole |Brad Turner

Hattie McDaniel was the first African American to win an Oscar. The actor won for her role as Mammy in the film “Gone with the Wind.”And McDaniel spent much of her childhood in Colorado: A plaque marks her family’s former home in Fort Collins. Growing up, she attended public schools in Denver. McDaniel was in her 40s when she won the best supporting actress Oscar. And she used her platform to become a champion for civil rights. Today, in honor of Juneteenth, we’re exploring Hattie McDaniel’s story.