Shanna Lewis

Agriculture Grants Spice Up A Pueblo Sriracha Maker And Six Other Businesses

A Pueblo County sriracha maker is one of seven companies getting a boost from recent Colorado Department of Agriculture “Move the Needle” grants.More at KRCC.org

The Colorado State Fair Is Ready To Return In 2021 After The Pandemic Closed Down Most Activities Last Year

A more traditional Colorado State Fair — complete with concerts, cows, corn dogs, crazy competitions and carousels — is back on tap in Pueblo this summer, as long as the COVID-19 situation in the state continues to improve.More at KRCC.org

The 1921 Flood Changed Pueblo Forever. What Has Recovery Looked Like?

A century ago the Arkansas River flowed through Pueblo in the channel that is now the HARP, or the Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo. In 1921, swollen by rain and snowmelt, the river overtopped its levees and roared through the low-lying areas of downtown Pueblo, taking the lives of hundreds of people, leaving a 300 square mile swath of destruction and changing the course of the city’s…

100 Years Ago, A Devastating Flood Changed The Course Of Pueblo’s Future

One hundred years ago raging waters unleashed by torrential rains and snowmelt broke through Pueblo’s Arkansas River levees, causing one of the deadliest and most destructive floods in Colorado’s history.Hear the story and see photos from the flood at krcc.org

$1.1 Million In EPA Grants Target Contaminants At Trinidad’s Fox West Theatre And Other Historic Las Animas County Buildings

The Environmental Protection Agency isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the performing arts. But the EPA recently awarded $500,000 in Brownfields grant funds to help clean up toxic building materials at Trinidad’s historic Fox West Theatre. More at KRCC.org

As The Pueblo Region Plans For The Future, Solving Housing Issues And Supporting Diverse Communities Are Among The Priorities

A new comprehensive regional plan is in the works for Pueblo County. The process, dubbed “Your Plan, Your Pueblo,” brings together community members, local governments and agencies to create a vision for the area’s future. It’s based on demographic projections, economic data and community input. The plan aims to address topics including infrastructure, growth and development, the economy,…

New Green Mountain Falls Art Installation To Use Light and Space to Explore Human Perception

A new immersive art installation is coming to Green Mountain Falls about 10 miles west of Colorado Springs. Construction began recently for artist James Turrell’s first Skyspace in Colorado. Once open, visitors will follow a third-of-a-mile-long trail through the forest to reach what’s described as a “creative observatory,” which will combine architecture featuring a ceiling aperture open to the…

Powerful Pedal Pushers To Pump It Out At This Weekend’s Pueblo Classic Bike Race

The Pueblo Classic bicycle race this weekend is expected to draw some 600 collegiate and pro competitors. The long-distance Steel City Road Race is on Saturday just outside of town. On Sunday, competitors will zoom around the historic Union Avenue district during the Pueblo Chilly Criterium.Read more at krcc.org

Pueblo Got $36 Million In Federal COVID Aid. City Residents Can Tell The Mayor Their Ideas For Spending It

More than $2 billion in federal funds will soon flow into the coffers of Colorado’s cities and counties thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act. It’s aimed at economic recovery and stabilization from the COVID-19 pandemic. The city of Pueblo is expected to get more than $36 million. The city is hosting five town hall meetings this week to get suggestions on how to use the money. Read more and…

A Connection Between The Amtrak Southwest Chief And The Proposed Front Range Rail Chugs Closer To Reality

There’s money for Amtrak in the federal infrastructure bill, and Colorado’s proposed Front Range Passenger Rail System might benefit from those funds. A state commission is considering the viability of linking the proposed service to Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, a long-distance passenger rail line that runs from Los Angeles to Chicago with stops in southeastern Colorado and northern New Mexico.More…

Pueblo School District 60 Breaks Ground On Two New High Schools As Part Of Major Upgrade Project

Pueblo School District 60 held groundbreakings for two new high schools this week. It’s part of a project to upgrade nearly half of the district’s schools. Some $700 million in repairs and improvements are needed at 14 D60 schools. The district determined it was more cost-effective to replace the two high schools, two elementary schools and a K-8 school and make renovations at the other…

From Backyards To Balconies It’s Time To Think About Your Garden

Listen to Frontline Farms Fatuma Emmad answer listener questions about gardening on Colorado Matters.

EPA Grant Will Bring Gardens To Pueblo Homes Impacted By The Colorado Smelter Superfund Site

New gardens will sprout soon in south Pueblo’s Colorado Smelter Superfund site. It’s an area where toxic lead- and arsenic-contaminated soil is being removed from hundreds of properties. A $50,000 grant from the Environmental Protection Agency is funding a project to help people grow their own food by building 25 raised bed gardens at area homes and giving residents the knowledge, tools and…

Pueblo’s Old Steel Mill Headquarters Becomes Colorado’s 26th National Historic Landmark

The former headquarters of the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company is now the state’s 26th National Historic Landmark, joining locations such as Bent’s Old Fort, the Cripple Creek Historic District and the Ludlow Tent Colony Site. The designation recognizes the role CF&I played in American economic and labor history. CF&I’s 2.6-acre administrative complex lies on the west side of Interstate 25 on…

Pueblo Wants More Pedestrians On Union Avenue And Main Street

Plans are in the works to improve sections of Pueblo’s historic Union Avenue and Main Street districts. The project aims to improve parking, pedestrian access and streetscapes by creating more space for outdoor restaurant seating, adding new lighting and other functional and aesthetic upgrades.For photos and more visit KRCC.org

Colorado Is Cracking Down On Illegal Ponds In The Arkansas River Basin

The state is evaluating more than 10,000 ponds in the Arkansas River basin to determine if they’re legal. According to the Colorado Division of Water Resources, many were constructed without water rights or permits. Read more at krcc.org

Amtrak CEO’s Priorities Could Be Good News For Train Travel In Colorado

Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn recently sent a letter to Congress outlining his priorities for the national passenger rail system, which includes the Southwest Chief that runs through Southern Colorado as well as northern Colorado’s California Zephyr. Read more at krcc.org