Local Motion

A new program called "A Little Help" was launched in the North Fork Valley this summer. Elder members of the community are connected with their neighbors who provide a little help with work around the house and yard, transportation, caregiver respite and social engagement.   Here, local volunteers and members talk about the organization.

Board members and residents of Abraham Connection Homeless Shelter in Delta talk about the organization.   Abraham Connection provides emergency overnight shelter,  winter housing and meals to homeless families and individuals in Delta County.

In this brief special episode of West Obsessed, Managing Editor Brian Calvert speaks with investigative reporter and HCN Associate Editor Tay Wiles about the situation on the ground at Standing Rock.

As the U.S. transitions from a labor- to a knowledge-based economy, rural communities face a huge challenge. In this episode of West Obsessed, the writers and editors of High Country News discuss how rural schools will be at the forefront of that challenge. 

The election of Donald Trump to the presidency took a lot of people by surprise. And given the nature of the election, it's hard to tell what a Trump administration will actually look like. In this episode of West Obsessed, the writers and editors of High Country News discuss some of the ramifications of a Trump presidency, from coal and other extractives to public land management and climate change.

KVNF's Felix Belmont and Commissioner Bruce Hovde discuss the BLM's Draft Resource Management Plan and recap Hovde's 8 years as district 2 commissioner for the county.

KVNF's Felix Belmont and Commissioner Doug Atchley discuss how the county maintains its debt- free status and look into a new program that finances energy improvements called "C-Pace."

In southern Utah, a coalition of tribes is pushing for nearly 2 million acres of land to be designated a national monument. That's raising huge questions about homelands, public land management, and Western history. In this episode of West Obsessed, the editors and writers of High Country News discuss the complexities of the Bears Ears national monument proposal.

The North Fork Storytellers gathered at the Wisehart Springs Inn this September to tell true stories about "falling down."

Locals share their thoughts on the BLM's Draft Resource Management Plan.   The BLM is seeking public comment on the plan until November 1st.

KVNF's Cynthia Hines speaks with the American humanities scholar, author and host of the Thomas Jefferson Hour, Clay Jenkinson.     Jenkinson will be portraying Theodore Roosevelt at the Montrose Pavilion on Saturday October 15th.   The event and fundraiser celebrates 100 years of the National Park Service.

Donald Trump’s unlikely run for the presidency has upset America's political apple cart. Trump’s ridicule of Republican Party leaders, his calls for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and for a ban on Muslim immigration, and the vitriol and violence evident at his rallies raise major questions about our nation and our democracy. But how are they playing out in the West? In this episode of West Obsessed, the writers and editors of High Country News discuss Trump's run for president and the impact its having in the region.

KVNF looks at the recent Draft Resource Management Plan (called an RMP) released by the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office in June.  Alex Johnson, Director of the Western Slope Conservation Center,  Dana Wilson, Acting Field Manager at the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office and Bill Day of Western Colorado Congress, break it down. 

As part of KVNF’s 2016 election coverage,  we bring to you 5 minute speeches from all the Delta County Commissioner candidates  and District 61 State Representative candidates. In Delta County’s district 2, Republican Don Suppes, Independent Mark Eckhart and Democrat Travis Mills.  In Delta County’s district 3 race,   Republican Incumbent Mark Roeber and Democrat Jere Lowe. We also hear speeches from District 61 House of Representative candidates,  Incumbent Democrat Millie Hamner and Republican Bob Schutt.

For something as important as food, many communities in the West struggle. That's because agricultural systems aren't really geared for the communities that harvest the food. In this episode of West Obsessed, the writers and editors of High Country News discuss some of the most interesting challenges--and solutions--to rural food supply.

Across the West, rural communities struggle with access to good health care. In this episode of West Obsessed, the writers and editors of High Country News discuss how some towns are finding innovative solutions to fill in the gaps.

The National Parks have been called America's best idea. But 100 years into that idea, the edges are starting to fray. The National Parks face myriad challenges if they are going to make it to their next centennial, ranging from climate change, funding woes and even a lack of diversity in park visitation. In this episode of West Obsessed, the writers and editors of High Country News discuss those challenges and possible solutions.

How will Delta County move forward now that one of its main economic drivers is gone?  A new alliance of local organizations is working to strengthen and diversify Delta County’s economy.   Pete Kolbenschlog of the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance, Marla Korpar from Solar Energy International and Trish Thibodo of Delta County Economic Development talk about opportunities they see to move the local economy forward.   

In the Southwestern United States, thing seem to be looking up for a population of Mexican wolves. After years of struggle, their population has rebounded, reaching more than 100 for the first time in 2015. But trouble lurks for the wolves. They are dangerously inbred and in desperate need of new blood to recovery. In this episode of West Obsessed, the writers and editors of High County News discuss the future for these endangered wolves... and how mismanagement and turf wars isn't helping them.

An in-depth look at the issues explored in a blog titled “What It’s Like to be a Student with a Brain in the Delta County School District."   The blog, written by Grand Junction resident Ann Landman of the Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers, chronicles Cidney Fisk’s senior year at Delta High School, where Cidney says she was punished for speaking out about what she felt were violations of Separation of Church and State at the school and their decision to spend money on a new gym floor instead of books.

Shavano Valley outside of Montrose, Colorado contains petroglyphs drawn by hunters and gatherers, Ute Indians and other indigenous people. Archaeologist Carol Patterson has studied these drawings for over a decade. Through the Ute Indian Museum in Montrose she leads guided tours of the rock art site. This week on Local Motion, we'll go on that tour with Patterson. 

The public lands are one of the West's most precious resources. But an ongoing investigation by High Country News reveals that sexual harassment, discrimination and abuse are widespread through the agencies we rely on to protect the public land. In the latest episode of West Obsessed, the magazine's editors and writers discuss what is--and isn't--being done to protect women employees in public lands agencies.

KVNF's Felix Belmont speaks with district 2 commissioner Bruce Hovde.

The Grand Junction non-profit Operation Revamp is one of just a handful of organizations in the U.S. that provide healing arts for war veterans.  KVNF's Ali Lightfoot visited their Veterans Art Center to speak with the founder of the organization, Wendy Hoffman and talk to several veterans participating in the program.

Montrose-based Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans is marking several milestones including its 25th anniversary and 50th home built.

Ali Lightfoot speaks with Elizabeth Marro, author of a new novel called “Casualties,”   which explores life after war.   The author will be signing books at a fundraiser for  Operation Revamp,  an organization in Grand Junction dedicated to helping veterans heal through art.  

Curtis Martin, author of the book Ephemeral Bounty talks about wickiups and the final years of the Autonomous Ute.    Recent archeological studies by the Colorado Wickiup Project have discovered that many native peoples remained on their traditional homelands in Western Colorado long after originally thought. 

Knowledge of the land can help us plan a road or know where to plant an orchard, but the rocks also tell a story of this place - a story millions of years in the making.

Thirty-five years ago this month, an explosion at the Dutch Creek No. 1 Mine outside of Redstone, Colo. killed 15 coal miners. Rob Mulford worked at the mine. He wasn't there that day, but the weight of the tragedy is still with him. Mulford now lives in Alaska, but he recently came back Colorado, to honor his friends and fellow miners who died. He joined KVNF's Laura Palmisano in the studio to talk about the tragedy and a book he's writing.

Students from Mrs. Simpson's 2nd grade class at Paonia Elementary share stories about the things they love to do in their community.