RYAN SAINT ONGE PROFILE
Ryan St. Onge is one of several Coloradans who was officially named to the U.S. Olympic Ski Team on Wednesday. The Connecticut native moved to Winter Park and later Steamboat Springs in the 1990s and spent his formative years clomping around in ski boots more often than shoes. KUNC’s Nancy Greenleese reports talked to St. Onge and has this report. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

JAPANESE BEEF EMBARGO RETURNS
In this second and final part of our coverage of the beef industry, we take a look at an ongoing trade dispute with Japan. The Japanese embargo on U.S. beef that was lifted several weeks ago is back, due to problems with U.S. meat inspection. Stephen Raher reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CAPITOL COVERAGE
In our regular legislative coverage, Dan Costello and Eric Whitney report on a quartet of education bills. And legislation to deal with dangerous dogs. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

STORMWATER ENTERPRISE NOT ATTRACTING ATTENTION…YET
Many homeowners and businesses in Colorado Springs may have a rude awakening in store for later this year. The City will be charging them for the stormwater that runs off of their property. The idea is to fix the crumbling infrastructure that handles sudden surges of water during storms. Despite the fact that the new stormwater enterprise fee was authorized in November, many residents still haven’t heard of it. Stephen Raher reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

RODEO QUEEN INTERVIEW
Last month, 22-year old Tressie Knowlton of White Rock, Colorado (between Walsenburg and La Junta), was crowned Miss Rodeo America. She’ll spend the next year traveling a hundred thousand miles and prettying-up America’s pro rodeo circuit. Kara Luger had the chance to meet Tressie recently, and has this interview on what rodeo queenhood is all about. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

HIGH COUNTRY NEWS INTERVIEW – COAL PLANT SHUTDOWN
Earlier this month, one of the biggest and dirtiest coal burning electricity plants in the West shut down. That means the coal strip mine that supplies it had to shut down, too. Joining us to explain what it all means is Greg Hanscom, editor of High Country News, the bimonthly newspaper about the West, published in Paonia. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CAPITOL COVERAGE
The Colorado legislature has been dealing with risky business in recent days. Measures dealing with car insurance and exposure to germs when staying in a hospital have been on the agenda, as well as risks from secondhand smoke. Eric Whitney and Dan Costello have our coverage. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

PACKERS AND STOCKYARDS ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS
Cattle ranchers in Colorado received a double dose of bad news over the past few days. Japan announced a revival of its ban on US beef; and, federal investigators said last week that the Agriculture Department has been asleep at the switch when it comes to protecting ranchers. In the first of two reports, Stephen Raher examines how these events are impacting Colorado’s $3.3 billion cattle industry. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

PIKE CENTENNIAL KICK-OFF
On Saturday, the Pioneers Museum in Colorado Springs will kick off a year of events and exhibitions for the two-hundredth anniversary of Zeublon Pikes’ expedition up the Arkansas River and partially up the mountain that still bears his name. Eric Whitney reports on the museum’s plans. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

CAPITOL COVERAGE
Two legislators announced their intention to ask voters to approve same sex civil unions. And Sen. Ron Tupa once again tries to crack down on unregulated cash gifts to elected officials. Dan Costello reports from the capitol. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]