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A proposed diversion to carry water out of the San Luis Valley and into Douglas County is drawing opposition from farmers, environmentalists, and politicians like U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper. If approved, it would transfer over 20,000 acre feet per year of groundwater from underneath Great Sand Dunes National Park and Baca National Wildlife Refuge to the Front Range. Plus, last week in Delta 20 members of local law enforcement joined staffers from the nonprofit Center for Mental Health, to participate in Crisis Intervention Training. Retired sergeant Jeff Santelli and his coaches wrapped up week-long sessions with role-playing scenarios to give participants practice handling crisis situations. Gavin Dahl reports.

The search for water on distant planets

Region 10 in Montrose builds community by providing senior services and regional development support across our listening area. Now they are joining forces with Habitat for Humanity, not for new home building, but for home maintenance and repair for people over 55. Kate Redmond speaks with their community coordinator. Plus, students at Fort Lewis College are learning about climate change and how to transition away from using fossil fuels. KDUR’s Sarah Flower reports.

A new online driver's ed company has set out to update the dull training manuals for new drivers. Kate Redmond reports. Plus, coal-producing Emery County is one of the only regions in Utah to see a drop in population in the last decade. Those who remain have lost good paying jobs as the state transitions away from coal. A new research facility would bring back revenue and jobs by experimenting with a number of new technologies. For our Rocky Mountain Community Radio reporting collaboration on fossil fuel transition, Justin Higginbottom looks at a type of nuclear reactor some think could be the future of power.

As the Colorado River shrinks, there’s a lot on the line: water that supplies 40 million people throughout the southwest, plus farms, wildlife, and hydropower at the nation’s largest reservoirs. The federal agency that deals the most with the Colorado River is the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. David Arend is the new deputy regional director for the lower basin. He’s worked for the agency for 20 years, most recently overseeing hydropower. He spoke with Alex Hager about some of the biggest issues going forward.

Weekly live call-in gardening advice

Gavin Dahl speaks to Meg Franko, who authored a report in partnership with the Bell Policy Center in Denver called “Quality Child Care in Colorado: A Cost Study.” The research series illuminates the challenges and opportunities in one particularly dire area of critical infrastructure. KGNU’s Rossana Longo-Better reports for Rocky Mountain Community Radio on an effort to provide access to solar energy for mobile home residents in the City of Boulder with a unique solution: a Solar Garden.

You are vaccinated against COVID, but what if you lose your vaccine card? Laura Palmisano reports on what Colorado residents can do in this situation and also some options for proving vaccination status. Also, as the US transitions away from coal, many communities are looking to tourism to fill the economic gap left behind by a shuttered industry. Many other communities began that transition decades ago, and now are facing new challenges. KBUT’s Christopher Biddle reports there’s a new initiative in the Colorado Legislature to rewrite some of the rules of the post-coal economy.

This week on Local Motion we get updates from Indian Country thanks to our Rocky Mountain Community Radio partners at KSUT Tribal Radio in the Four Corners. Poet Laureate and musician Joy Harjo speaks with host Crystal Ashike and reporter Sarah Flower interviews Dr. Loretta Christensen, chief medical officer of the Indian Health Service, about the impacts of coronavirus on Native families, and how tribal nations prepared for the omicron surge.

Paonia trustees are zeroing in on the water system for the town and surrounding mesas. Kate Redmond brings us a report from the town meeting earlier this week. Plus, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is determining whether companies need to commit more money upfront. Financial assurance - commonly known as a bond - guarantees the state can afford to clean up a well site if a company goes bankrupt or walks away. KVNF’s Chad Reich reports for the Rocky Mountain Community Radio collaboration on fossil fuel transitions.