THE MEDIA DOGFIGHT OVER GAYS IN COLORADO SPRINGS
Last month the Denver-based Gill Foundation launched a media campaign featuring a cute puppy named Norman who moos like a cow. The message is that some animals, including people, are simply born different, some are gay, for instance. Now, Focus on the Family is countering with canine themed ads of their own. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

ROADLESS TASK FORCE GETS DOWN TO BRASS TACKS
After nine months and more than a dozen meetings across the state, Colorado’s roadless areas task force is putting the finishing touches on its recommendations to Governor Owens. The task force got together in Denver yesterday, Bente Birkeland has more from Denver. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY: IDEAS THAT DIDN’T MAKE THE CUT AT ASPEN’S “IDEAS FESTIVAL”
In the last week or two you may have been hearing a lot about political bigwigs in Aspen for that town’s annual ideas festival, people like Karl Rove, Colin Powell and Bill Clinton. Well, Aspen resident Barry Smith says he’s full of ideas, but he never gets invited, despite not needing a plane ticket to attend. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

BACKPACKING, CAMPING DECLINE IN POPULARITY
The outdoor retail industry recently classified backpacking and tent camping as “heritage activites,” and, in the Pacific northwest at least, the U.S. Forest Service is planning to close dozens of campsites that just plain don’t get used much anymore. From the Northwest News Network, Tom Banse reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

UNITING FOR THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL
Last weekend more than 500 people came to Buena Vista to experience and support the completion of the Continental Divide Trail, which stretches 3,100 miles from Canada to Mexico. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

ANALYSIS: WHICH PARTY STANDS TO GAIN THE MOST FROM THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE?
The results of a poll for the Denver Post released Sunday say that immigration is the state’s top issue, surpassing the war, economics and the environment. A lot of that probably had to do with the state legislature’s special session on immigration, which wrapped up the week before the poll was taken. So what does that mean for the state’s political parties, who are working hard to win as many seats as possible in elections this fall? KRCC capitol bureau reporter Bente Birkeland talked with a veteran political science professor to get some perspective. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

WAR EFFORT MEANS BELT TIGHTENING AT FT. CARSON
Since September 11 of 2001, Congress has approved $432 billion for military operations and other costs related to the war on terror. And now, all that spending is starting to have impacts on U.S. Army bases around the world, including Ft. Carson. About ten percent of civilian jobs on base are going unfilled, and more cuts are expected in the future. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY: E-MAIL STINKS
Andy Lyon is a professional communicator with years of experience. He remembers the days before e-mail, and has had time to learn about its positives and negatives, and evaluate it as a communications tool. Here’s what he thinks. And here’s how to reach him: Andy-s-lyon@msn.com [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

AFTER THE FIRES, FLOODS – MASON GULCH ONE YEAR LATER
Four years after Colorado’s largest wildfire, soils are still too fragile to hold much rainfall. Runoff from the Hayman burn area washed out a state highway last week. We visit the scene of last year’s biggest wildfire in Colorado, Mason Gulch in Pueblo county, which is also suffering from flash floods. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

LATINO EDITOR COMMENTS ON COLORADO’S NEW IMMIGRATION LAWS
Denver Editor Francisco Miraval runs a Spanish language news service for more than 40 newspapers. He says the new laws have immigrants confused, regardless of their legal status. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]