Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 16h

The Hopi Tribe received a multimillion-dollar federal grant to install solar panels and battery storage systems for hundreds of homes. But the Trump administration has canceled the funding.

A tribe in Arizona planned to connect 600 homes to electricity. Then the funding was cut

The Hopi Tribe received a multimillion-dollar federal grant to install solar panels and battery storage systems for hundreds of homes. But the Trump administration has canceled the funding.

www.ksut.org

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 16h

According to the National Park Service, most roads and trails in parks are open, but most buildings are closed. Some visitors are confused about what they’ll find when they arrive at any given park site.

Many parks are open during the shutdown, but not all. Here's what to know when visiting

The National Park Service said most roads and trails are open, but most buildings are closed. Some are confused about what they’ll find when they arrive at any given park site.

www.ksut.org

1

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 17h

History Colorado will host listening sessions for survivors of federal Indian boarding schools and descendants across the state. Two sessions will take place in Durango in October and November.

History Colorado to host community listening sessions in Durango

History Colorado will host listening sessions for survivors of federal Indian boarding schools and descendants across the state. Two sessions will take place in Durango in October and November.

www.ksut.org

1

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 6d

The Navajo Nation and Ute Mountain Ute Tribe recently hosted the 2025 Southwest Uranium Convention in White Mesa, Utah.

It focused on the impact of the uranium industry on Native communities. Tribal advocates urged for stronger protections against contamination and fairer compensation for victims.

Tribal leaders, advocates discuss abandoned and operational uranium mines at Utah conference

The conference in White Mesa, Utah, focused on abandoned uranium mines on the Navajo Nation and the operating uranium mill near the Ute Mountain Ute community in White Mesa.

www.ksut.org

1 4

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 6d

In this KSUT Conversation, Tami Graham talks with comedian Paula Poundstone.

Among the topics: Paula's kindergarten performance review and how she's fared since then.

Paula plays the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College in Durango on Thursday, October 2, at 7:30 p.m.

KSUT Conversation: Paula Poundstone

www.ksut.org

1

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 7d

With food insecurity skyrocketing in Colorado, Congress is rolling back funding for SNAP, or food stamps.

Two statewide ballot measures coming up in November would let the state step in to try to fill the gap.

Colorado voters to decide if state counters federal cuts to food aid

With food insecurity skyrocketing in Colorado, Congress is rolling back funding for SNAP, or food stamps. Two statewide ballot measures coming up in November would let the state step in to try to fill...

www.ksut.org

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 7d

The federal government wound to a halt Tuesday night, but it mostly kept national parks open.

Park road and trails will mostly be open to visitors, but buildings and sites that can lock during non-business hours will stay inaccessible.

More from our partner the Mountain West News Bureau:

National parks to stay largely open as government winds down

Park road and trails will mostly be open to visitors, but buildings and sites that can lock during non-business hours will stay inaccessible.

www.ksut.org

2

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 23d

Join Tom and Darrin on this week’s Garden Guys as they travel to a mystery site in La Plata County to visit a local home-based grower.

Discover the mystery of the San Marzano tomato and many other great gardening tips.

What’s your pleasure (besides two cases of tomato sauce)?

Garden Guys: Site Visit with Local Tomato Aficionado

www.ksut.org

1

Reposted by KSUT Public Radio

Source New Mexico @sourcenm.com · 23d

New Mexico tribal leaders will head to Washington DC later this week to push members of Congress to extend protections from oil and gas development around Chaco Canyon.

New Mexico tribal leaders push to protect Chaco • Source New Mexico

A flight over Chaco Culture National Historical Park kicks off a week of advocacy for Pueblo officials seeking to protect the cultural site.

buff.ly

1 17 37

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 23d

🙏

Kyle Clark @kylec.bsky.social · 23d

Just got the final totals. Your Word of Thanks microgiving campaign to support rural public radio stations in Colorado raised $98,381. That will be split between KRZA in the San Luis Valley and KSUT in the Four Corners as both stations face a loss of federal funding. Thank you.

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · 23d

Each year, male brown tarantulas trek across part of Colorado to look for ladies.

From mid-September to mid-October, they leave the safety of their burrows to go on journeys that will take interesting turns as they face rejection, predators and fatigue.

🕷️

Male tarantulas are moving and wooing their way across Colorado

These hairy spiders spend almost all of their lives underground. But when it's time to mate, they must brave the great outdoors before they perish.

www.ksut.org

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Sep 3

The 109th anniversary of the National Park Service comes at a turbulent time for the agency.

It's facing proposed budget cuts of up to $1 billion, as well as staffing shortages.

Public lands advocates are hoping to draw attention to proposed cuts by visiting gateway towns in the West.

109th anniversary of National Park Service comes amid proposed cuts, uncertainty about the future

Public lands advocates are hoping to draw attention to proposed cuts to the National Parks Service and other land management agencies by visiting gateway towns in the West.

www.ksut.org

1

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Sep 2

Fort Collins-based RLY ORY is a sister/sister/dad trio that plays originals and punk covers influenced by Green Day, The Ramones, and The Clash.

Sisters Ophelia Youngberg, 11, and Mona Youngberg, 13, make up the band along with their father, Aaron.

Listen to their recent KSUT Session:

KSUT Session: Daughter/dad punk band RLY ORY

www.ksut.org

2

Reposted by KSUT Public Radio

The Colorado Sun ☀️ @coloradosun.com · Sep 2

Why are suicide rates among the oldest Coloradans three times higher than teenagers?

Physical decline is a common lead-up to depression among older Coloradans, especially for those who were active on the ski slopes, rivers and hiking trails.

coloradosun.com

7 4 10

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Sep 2

Garden Guys is back!

After a pause for the drought, Tom and Darrin return to the airwaves to see how everyone’s garden has fared with the recent rains.

They also talk bears, racoons, wind and weeds.

Catch Garden Guys Saturdays at noon and on the KSUT website.

Garden Guys: Hey, We're Back!

www.ksut.org

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Aug 22

Advocacy groups are urging Colorado to launch a phased-in ban of lead-based hunting ammo.

Lead bullets shatter upon impact, leaving tiny fragments in animal carcasses that scavengers feed on. Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death for critically endangered California condors.

Advocates push for phasing out lead ammo as states advance voluntary approaches

The groups are asking Colorado Parks and Wildlife launch a phased ban of lead ammunition and fishing tackle on state lands to address animal and human health concerns.

www.ksut.org

2

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Aug 21

As human-driven climate change makes winters shorter, ticks are spending less time hibernating and have more active months when they can hitch rides on animals and people. Sometimes the ticks carry themselves — and diseases — to new parts of the country.

Ticks are migrating, but scant surveillance may leave doctors in the dark on patient treatment

Health departments struggle to adequately survey for ticks to warn doctors about new species and the diseases they carry.

www.ksut.org

1

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Aug 21

KSUT lost a beloved member of its family this week with the passing of Susan Banes, known to listeners throughout the Four Corners as Susie B.

Susie joined us in 2015 and hosted the Friday Afternoon Blend and Women Be Wise.

We’ll be doing a series of on-air tributes to Susie in the coming days.

In Memorium: KSUT DJ Susie B

KSUT's Susan Banes, known on-air as Susie B, passed away on August 19. Susie joined KSUT’s on-air staff in 2015 and hosted the Friday Afternoon Blend and, more recently, Women Be Wise on Sunday aftern...

www.ksut.org

1 1

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Aug 15

A new fire has broken out on the northeast end of the Forest Lakes subdivision north of Bayfield.

The Blue Ridge Fire is 3-5 acres. Multiple structures are threatened and evacuation orders have been issued. Aerial support is responding.

Evacuation info: experience.arcgis.com/experience/9...

A map showing the location of the Blue Ridge Fire between Bayfield and Vallecito.

Reposted by KSUT Public Radio

Erik Hoffner @erikhoffner.bsky.social · Aug 15

On Indigenous lands in remote regions where cell service is spotty & highways are nonexistent, radio is a vital community lifeline

But after the trumps canceled $9.4 billion in *previously allocated* funding, the future of tribal public media is up in the air

“Stations are trying to figure it out”

How tribal radio stations are preparing for a future without the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

“These stations are not just media outlets, they are cultural infrastructure.”

www.niemanlab.org

1 41 58

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Aug 15

Officials and experts monitoring a gasoline spill in southwestern Colorado say they are certain — almost — that the nearby Animas River is not at risk. Residents have their doubts.

The Colorado Sun reports.

A gasoline spill raised alarms about Animas River impacts. The risk is small, not gone, experts say

A pipeline leaked 23,000 gallons of gasoline half a mile away from the river in December. About half of the contaminants have been removed.

www.ksut.org

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Aug 5

The Gold King mine spill happened ten years ago today.

It wasn’t the first big, unexpected release of acidic drainage from mines near Silverton. Nor was it the last.

Gold King spotlighted mine pollution in Colorado. Ten years later, locals still wait for solutions

The Gold King mine spill wasn’t the first big, unexpected release of acidic drainage from the mines near Silverton. Nor was it the last.

www.ksut.org

Reposted by KSUT Public Radio

NPR @npr.org · Aug 1

Over a career that spanned 70 years, Jimenez' playing came to define the Tex-Mex music and carried the tradition-drenched conjuto sound all over the world and across genres.

Accordion master Flaco Jimenez has died at 86

Over a career that spanned 70 years, Jimenez' playing came to define the Tex-Mex music and carried the tradition-drenched conjuto sound all over the world and across genres.

n.pr

12 59 250

Reposted by KSUT Public Radio

NPR @npr.org · Aug 1

The mandolin virtuoso captivates with her deep storytelling and incredibly fast fingerpicking.

Sierra Hull: Tiny Desk Concert

The mandolin virtuoso captivates with her deep storytelling and incredibly fast fingerpicking.

n.pr

6 35 200

KSUT Public Radio @ksutpublicradio.bsky.social · Aug 1

The Elkhorn Fire north of Durango continues to burn slowly, while the Rim Road Fire on Southern Ute lands is nearing containment.

Here’s the latest update on our website:

Updates: Elkhorn and Rim Road fires

Both fires started on July 26. The Elkhorn Fire is burning in the San Juan National Forest north of Durango, and the Rim Road Fire is on Southern Ute land west of Ignacio.

www.ksut.org