Chandra Thomas Whitfield

In Colorado, many families spend more than 20% of their income on child care, if they can find it all. A new documentary from Rocky Mountain PBS, "Careless: Colorado's Child Care Struggles," shares the stories of parents working to navigate the challenges of child care, and those coming up with creative solutions. Then, it's one of the darkest moments in Colorado history: the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864, but Captain Silas Soule refused to take part. What the letters he wrote say about moral courage and conviction.

An off-duty employee at the ICE detention center in Aurora faces charges after police say he shot toward a demonstrator who was struck in the foot amid heightened tension about immigration enforcement. Then, homeowners try to cope after losing everything in the Aspen Acres fire. Plus, the Denver Sports Commission celebrates 25 years of bringing big sports events and sports history to Colorado. Also, journalist and author Linda Stasi's historic novel, "The Descendent" receives a big honor as it becomes a best seller. And the effort to save an endangered fish on the Western Slope brings together the federal government, high school students, and baseball players.

The Denver-based US Center for SafeSport is supposed to protect Olympians and Paralympians from sexual, physical and emotional abuse. Its new CEO, Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, a gold medal Olympian herself, acknowledges it's had its share of challenges. Now, it's striving to repair its relationships with athletes and the public. Then, Durango author Heather Hansman is back on the shelves with “Fierce Country: The Untold Story of Three Women Who Ignited America’s Love For The Wild,” a new book that profiles three women who are legends of the outdoor world.

She escaped Vietnam with the hope of reuniting with her mother in the United States, and ultimately, in Colorado. It led Sister Sen Nguyen to a life of service and a love of learning. For Portraits in Aging, her story about never giving up. Then, multiple award-winning photojournalist Kevin Hartfield reflects on his career milestones and the state of journalism today as he retires as chief photographer from CBS Colorado. And we speak with rising Colorado Rapids soccer star Lucas Herrington, just back from the World Cup playing for his home team of Australia.

For more than 40 years, Kevin Hartfield has been behind the camera telling Colorado’s stories, from breaking news to in-depth investigations. The longtime chief photographer at CBS Colorado recently retired, leaving behind a legacy of award-winning journalism and mentorship. He joined Chandra Thomas Whitfield to reflect on his career, the state of journalism, and what comes next.

Dr. Reiland Rabaka, founder and director of the Center for African and African American Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, known widely as "The Cause," joined Colorado Matters host Chandra Thomas Whitfield to discuss the Center's fifth anniversary and his work as a scholar and author. The author of the books, The Funk Movement and Black Feminist Funk, Dr. Rabaka shared his reflections (and playlist) that he says trace the cultural and political power of Black music and its role in shaping history.

Since it became a state 150 years ago, Colorado's political identity has always been hard to pin down. You might say... it's purplish! But it's also been a leader in things like women's suffrage and civil rights. We explore some of that history today with Purplish. Then, the Colorado River makes life possible for some 40 million people from here to Southern California, but making sure there's enough water to go around is getting harder. Plus, new efforts to preserve the state's wetlands. And, "Poetry in the Parks" is part scavenger hunt, part performance.

Research finds that kids are exposed to online pornography more often, and at younger ages, than ever before, thanks to technology and social media. The effects are often damaging, negatively shaping how they understand relationships, consent, and even their own bodies. We speak with Craig Knippenberg, a licensed clinical social worker, family therapist and author about the trend and what parents need to know.

The San Luis Valley grows many of Colorado’s potatoes, barley and wheat. But there's another crop that could help farmers weather the drought. We'll explore the Rye Resurgence Project. Then, Rideshare companies have new rules they have to follow in Colorado to keep riders safe. We get context from Purplish. Plus, answering a Colorado Wonders question about what drew Nicola Tesla to the state in 1899.

A new state law took effect this month to protect older Coloradans from fraud. Older Coloradans are especially at risk for scams. Plus, it's one of the toughest decisions we face: when to stop driving.