Aspen Public Radio | NPR News for Aspen and the Valley

Grizzly Creek Fire UPDATES: Fire At Mile Marker 120 Closes I-70 In Both Directions

7:15 P.M. Evacuations from Coulter Creek in the Cottonwood Pass area have been ordered. Evacuees can go to the Glenwood Springs Community Center. Cottonwood Pass remains closed on both sides in Garfield and Eagle counties. 7 P.M. The Grizzly Creek Fire is now burning 3,200 acres on both the north and south sides of of the Colorado River in Glenwood Canyon near Mile Marker 32. Tomorrow at 6 a.m. the Rocky Mountain Type 2 Incident Management Blue Team will take over the fire response. Incident Command said that hot, dry and windy conditions have created extreme fire conditions. Residents of No Name and Lookout Mountain have been evacuated, and Bair Ranch is under pre-evacuation orders. Cottonwood Pass Road and I-70 remain closed with no estimate for reopening. The blaze is 0% contained.

UPDATES: Roaring Fork Valley Coronavirus August 9-16

On The Anniversary Of “Valley Curtain,” A Look Back At The Artist Christo

NPR's Nation & World

Morning Newscast: Friday, July 31, 2020

By Molly Dove • Jul 31, 2020

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3:24

Run-Ins With Yellowstone Grizzlies Reach New Highs. The Pandemic May Play A Part.

By Maggie Mullen • Jul 31, 2020

In 2019, there wasn't a single human injury caused by a grizzly bear throughout the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. But the number of injuries has already reached eight in 2020 - a new record for the first half of the year, as the Jackson Hole News&Guide reported last week.

Aspen School District Plans For Some In-Person, Some Virtual Learning This Fall

By Molly Dove • Jul 31, 2020

The Aspen School District is planning for a hybrid learning model for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. At a virtual town hall Thursday, district officials said they expect elementary students to return to the classroom on August 26, while middle and high school students learn virtually from home.

Broadway's Carolee Carmello Returns To Stage For Theatre Aspen's Celebrity Concert Series

By Kirsten Dobroth • Jul 31, 2020

Courtesy Julieta Cervantes/Theatre Aspen

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3:58

Carolee Carmello is a Broadway star and a three-time Tony Award nominee. Monday evening (August 3), she headlines Theatre Aspen’s Celebrity Concert Series. It’s her first time back in front of a live audience since COVID-19 shut down performances around the country, including her tour of “Hello, Dolly!” She spoke to Aspen Public Radio about Monday's show.

Interview With Pianist Conrad Tao: American Rage

By Chris Mohr • Jul 30, 2020

Last fall, pianist Conrad Tao released his highly political album, American Rage. Its themes of social justice and compassion resonate more strongly than ever today. The four tracks: Which Side Are You On?; Copland Piano Sonata; Compassion; and Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues, all speak of the plight of workers and others who have been treated unjustly in America.

Conrad talks with Chris Mohr about his music, racism, and his new relationship with his audience in the world of virtual performances.

Census Door Knocking Cut A Month Short Amid Pressure To Finish Count

By Hansi Lo Wang • Jul 30, 2020

Updated at 2:32 a.m. ET Friday

The Census Bureau is cutting short critical door-knocking efforts for the 2020 census amid growing concerns among Democrats in Congress that the White House is pressuring the bureau to wrap up counting soon for political gain, NPR has learned.

Morning Newscast: Thursday, July 30, 2020

By Molly Dove • Jul 30, 2020

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3:04

Doctor Tells Montanans to 'Cowboy Up, Mask Up'

By Nate Hegyi • Jul 30, 2020

This story was powered by America Amplified, a public radio initiative.

A physician based in Missoula, Mont., has a message for libertarian-minded skeptics of the pandemic – cowboy up and mask up.

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How Do You Plan For A Ski Season In The Middle Of A Pandemic?

By Alex Hager • Jul 30, 2020

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4:16

For a ski rental shop at the base of Aspen Mountain, winter means big business when the resort opens. But right now, it’s pretty hard to say exactly what challenges will come with a mid-pandemic ski season.

High Notes: Behzod Abduraimov And Beethoven

By Chris Mohr • Jul 29, 2020

Both Aspen Public Radio and the Aspen Music Festival and School are celebrating Beethoven's 250th birthday with a vengeance. That's a challenge these days, but this Sunday at 3:00 p.m., pianist Behzod Abduraimov will be playing on the livestream for the Aspen Music Festival's virtual concert series. Among other favorites, he'll be playing Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata.