COMMENTARY – THE JOYS OF HOLIDAY FAMILY TRAVELS
The holidays – a joyous time to be together with our families. Sometimes that means traveling, with our families, and sometimes, the joyousness somehow evaporates. Commentator Sandra Knauf finds that that might be a multi-generational experience. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

2006 IN REVIEW, PART ONE
We begin our look back at 2006 as heard on Western Skies. This time: dark skies, a Ft. Carson soldier is convicted of killing an Iraqi general and we meet Tressie Knowlton, aka Miss Rodeo USA 2006 – she’s from Pueblo County.

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GOV. LAWMAKERS STATE GOALS FOR 2007 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Health care, transportation and the economy – Democrats and Republicans agree those will be top priorities in 2007, but the parties differ on how they’ll choose to address them. Bente Birkeland reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY -VALUING THE DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED
Last week on Western Skies, we aired a story by reporter Lindsay Patterson about efforts to make Colorado Springs more aware of local people with developmental disabilities. Much of the story was about how difficult it is to find public funding for services for the developmentally disabled. It prompted this response from Debbie Swanson, development director at The Resource Exchange, a local non-profit that coordinates services for the disabled. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

TOP DWI REDUCTION PROGRAM TAKES ON METH
San Juan County, New Mexico’s DWI reduction program is about twice as effective as any treatment center in the nation when it comes to reducing the number of repeat offenders. The county is hoping its new methamphetamine treatment program will show great results as well. Joan Zwisler of Four Corners Public Radio reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

PETE DOMENICI FLIP-FLOPS ON PROTECTION FOR NEW MEXICO NATURAL AREA
In our twice-monthly interview with editors at High Country News, we hear about NM senior Senator Pete Domenici, who mysteriously dropped his opposition to federal protection for the Valle Vidal. Valle Vidal is a 100,000 acre parcel of public land between Raton and Taos that environmentalists have long sought to protect from energy development. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

AUDIT: PRISON OFFICIAL MOONLIGHTED FOR PRIVATE PRISON COMPANY
An audit report made public Tuesday says a top state prison official was on the payroll of a private prison company while the company was doing business with the state. He could reap $1 million for his efforts. Meanwhile, the company he worked for says it won’t fulfill a contract unless the state guarantees it a certain amount of business. Bente Birkeland reports. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

IMMIGRATION RAID Q AND A
On Tuesday federal immigration agents raided meatpacking plants in six states run by Greeley-based Swift and Company, arresting about 1,300 employees for alleged identity theft-related crimes. Swift’s facility in Greeley was included in the raids. We talk with Brian Larson of KUNC in Greeley, who was on the scene. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

COMMENTARY: SCHOOL CHOICE, BY D-11 SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE JAN TANNER
This Tuesday is the deadline by which voters in Colorado Springs School District 11 must return ballots in the school board recall election. Jan Tanner is a candidate for one of the seats that could be open if voters oust Eric Christen or Sandy Shakes. Earlier this week, Jan Tanner got in touch with us and asked to record a commentary for Western Skies. Our policy is to give anyone with an opinion 3 minutes of airtime, and here is Jan Tanner’s commentary. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]

EMPTY STOCKING FUND
Charities in the Pikes Peak Region are hoping to receive some $850,000 from the Gazette-El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund. But first, the Fund has to raise it. Reporting on a couple of events this Saturday designed to make donating fun is Colorado College student Matthias Barker. [LISTEN] [TRANSCRIPT]