STATE PROPOSES STRICTER AIR QUALITY RULES FOR OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
The state estimates that Colorado has more than 25,000 active oil and gas wells. As the number of new permits is rising, so are concerns about air quality and ozone emissions. Bente Birkeland reports from Denver. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

DEM CONTROL WORRIES GAS INDUSTRY
Energy industry officials say they’re worried that big gains by Democrats in state elections this fall could put a damper on Colorado’s booming oil and gas development. Kirk Siegler of Aspen Public Radio has this story [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY – DOING NOTHING, BY BARRY SMITH
Got all your Christmas shopping done yet? Neither does our commentator, Barry Smith. Barry is an accomplished master of doing nothing, and now he shares some of his secrets with us. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

X-TREE-M CLIMBING
Tree climbing, it’s not just for kids anymore. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

PINON CANYON EXPANSION FOES ARGUE WITH GENERAL MIXON
Wednesday’s meeting to talk over growth in the number of soldiers at Ft. Carson included a chance for foes of growth in the number of acres the base controls to speak their piece. Ft. Carson commander Major General Robert Mixon had a chance to talk to them, too. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

REMEMBERING THREE FT. CARSON SOLDIERS KILLED ON THEIR FINAL MISSION IN IRAQ
On what was to be their last mission before returning home from a year’s tour in Iraq, a three-man sniper team was killed by an IED. Members of their brigade say good-bye to Staff Sergeant Ryan Haupt, Sergeant Norman Tayler and Specialist Nathan Frigo. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

“TOWN HALL MEETING” ON GROWTH AT FT. CARSON
Ft. Carson is planning to bring 10,000 additional soldiers to the base by 2009. With their families, that means 25,000 new people in Colorado Springs. Civic and military officials met with the public Wednesday to talk about the challenges and opportunities the expansion will bring. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY – THE PLEASURES OF FALL
Time now for a commentary, this one from teacher Eva Syrovy, who sometimes has trouble enjoying the advent of autumn. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

FREE MEDICAL CARE, COME AND GET IT
It’s estimated that some 46 million Americans have no health insurance, including close to half a million people in Colorado. Community medical clinics can help the uninsured get medical care before it becomes a crisis, but many of the uninsured don’t know they exist. Shelly Schlender has this story about one clinic’s efforts to get the word out. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

’06 ELECTION’S IMPACT ON THE WEST: AN INTERVIEW WITH HIGH COUNTRY NEWS
Environmentalists are cheering the unseating of California’s Richard Pombo from the House, and Montana’s Conrad Burns from the Senate. High Country News Associate Editor Jonathan Thompson analyzes these and other regional election results. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]