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The 10th annual Western Colorado Food and Farm Forum takes place at the Montrose Pavilion this coming Friday and Saturday. As the microbiome health of soil is becoming better understood, Kate Redmond speaks leading soil scientist Kris Nichols, one of the presenters this weekend.

It has taken less than a week of their new legislative session for Colorado lawmakers to start shouting matches. Capitol Coverage reporter Scott Franz explains. Plus, fire mitigation efforts such as forest thinning are becoming more important, but a lot of wood ends up in landfills. KSUT’s Sarah Flower visited the facility of a Durango company, working to change that, for our Rocky Mountain Community Radio collaboration on fossil fuel transitions.

Town councils not only represent citizens, they have significant influence in shaping the direction of municipalities. Board of trustees elections are coming up on April 5th in towns within KVNF’s listening area, including Paonia, Hotchkiss, Crawford, Cedaredge, and Norwood. Kate Redmond reports. Plus, as the Biden Administration speeds up the transition away from fossil fuels to combat climate change, many battles between conservationists and business interests are being waged over federal lands. For our Rocky Mountain Community Radio collaboration, Will Walkey reports from KHOL in Wyoming, where millions of acres and thousands of livelihoods are at stake.

Extractive industries often leave behind environmental degradation that area residents and taxpayers have to take care of. Colorado’s Oil and Gas Conservation Commission is working on a new draft of their Financial Assurance rules this week shaped in part by public comment. Kate Redmond reports. Plus, state lawmakers have introduced more than 160 bills already this session. Capitol Coverage reporter Scott Franz outlines the measures that will likely spark debate.

Plans are kicking into high gear to move the Delta Library branch out of the historic Carnegie building, and into a much larger facility, the soon-to-be-renovated former City Market building. But predictably, costs to keep going up. Kate Redmond reports. Plus, mining has been an economic driver in Southwest Colorado since the late 1800s. But when a local mine and power plant closed in 2017, a number of communities were forced to reimagine. KOTO’s Julia Caulfield has more on the region’s effort to create a new economic future, as part of the Rocky Mountain Community Radio collaboration on fossil fuel transitions.

Hinsdale County purchased a peninsula and island on Lake San Cristobal just over a year ago. As KVNF’s Laura Palmisano reports, the county now plans to move ahead with renovations at the property. Coal Basin, near Redstone, was the site of mining disasters last century. Now, a privately-owned parcel surrounded by National Forest land provides public access to custom mountain bike trails. As KDNK’s Morgan Neely reports, the trails offer recreation, while mitigating the environmental destruction left behind by the mine's operators.

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.

John Hickenlooper reflected on his first year as the oldest Junior Senator in Washington at a virtual event on Monday. The former geologist, Mayor of Denver, and Governor of Colorado spoke to The Colorado Sun and Kate Redmond has a recap. Plus, credible threats of violence from a man who allegedly sent out a manifesto full of violent fantasies involving schools and universities prompted an hours-long standoff on Boulder's University Hill yesterday and led to the evacuation of an elementary school. KGNU's Shannon Young reports.

Host Jill Spears welcomes back Lance this week and they discuss winter tool care, pruning tips, choke cherries, weed suppression tactics and more. Email questions anytime to worm@kvnf.org, or call during the program at 1-866-KVNF-NOW.

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.