Eleanor Bennett
Morning Edition Anchor and ReporterEleanor is an award-winning radio journalist who currently serves as “the voice” of Aspen Public Radio during Morning Edition. Eleanor has reported on a wide range of topics in her community, including the impacts of federal immigration policies on local DACA recipients, the Valley’s COVID-19 eviction and housing crisis, and hungry goats fighting climate change across the West through targeted grazing. Connecting with people from all walks of life and creating empathic spaces for them to tell their stories fuels her work.
Eleanor's story, The Christmas Bird Count helps to understand impacts of climate change on birds in Roaring Fork Valley, won the Colorado Broadcasters Association 2021 Award for “Best News Feature” by a small or mid-market radio station. Eleanor also pioneered the station’s Outdoor Report, which highlights local flora and fauna, recreation and environmental causes in the Valley, as well as the station’s Local Newscast, a weekday podcast for Aspenites on-the-go.
Growing up in the Valley listening to KAJX in her parents’ car on the way to school, Eleanor learned the power and urgency of community storytelling. She was further captivated by the medium while interning at Aspen Public Radio after graduating from Middlebury College in 2015. From there, she covered issues of climate justice and women's empowerment for SiriusXM Radio in New York City. Eleanor also had the opportunity to work with French photographer and muralist JR to record the dreams, hopes and fears of 1,500 New Yorkers for a major interactive audio-visual exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum.
In 2019, Eleanor served as producer of Aspen Public Radio’s teen-focused podcast, Gen Z Tea. She became a full-time reporter and Morning Edition anchor for the station in August 2020. Eleanor is delighted to be home in the Rocky Mountains working with the Aspen Public Radio team to shine a light on the critical issues and community voices that shape our Valley.
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In this election, voters narrowed the field in the Pitkin County Sheriff race and selected Democratic challengers to Republican incumbents in Colorado's 3rd Congressional District and state House of Representatives' District 57. -
Bob Braudis passed away of natural causes at his home Friday. He was 77. Braudis helped reshape the way law enforcement operates in Pitkin County. For many, he was a larger-than-life symbol of Aspen itself.
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Beavers are an integral part of our local ecosystem and some say they could even help us solve the human-caused climate crisis, but there are far fewer of them than there used to be. Aspen Public Radio talked with two self-proclaimed “beaver believers” who have been researching ways to restore more beavers — and manage existing populations — in places such as the Roaring Fork Valley.
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Despite a decent ski season this winter, the snow that feeds our local rivers is melting faster than usual and spring runoff could peak earlier than the historical average this year. Aspen Public Radio talked with Aspen Times reporter Scott Condon and weekly columnist Ted Mahon who say strong winds, dust and a persistent drought driven by human-caused climate change are likely to blame.
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Local resident and avid backcountry skier Murray Cunningham has been leading Powder Tours off the backside of Aspen Mountain for more than three decades. He turned 70 this spring and is retiring as director of the tours at the Aspen Skiing Company this month.
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Fire crews contained two small wildfires that broke out this afternoon in the Roaring Fork watershed – one about 6.5 miles up Castle Creek Road from the Aspen roundabout and another near Ruedi Reservoir.
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Carbondale-based nonprofit Ascendigo Autism Services is developing a new community safety program and training for law enforcement and first responders who interact with people on the autism spectrum. The organization says knowing how to recognize the signs of autism can help de-escalate situations and even prevent violence.
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In the time since industrialist Walter Paepcke co-founded the Aspen Skiing Corporation in 1946, the slopes have drawn ski bums and billionaires from around the world, and the face of Aspen has changed several times over.
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Aspen Public Radio is speaking with the candidates for the Colorado House of Representatives’ District 57 ahead of the June 28 primary, including Democratic candidate Elizabeth Velasco of Glenwood Springs. She’s one of two local Democrats hoping to challenge Republican incumbent Perry Will in the November election.
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Desde el comienzo de la pandemia, los residentes del Valle llevaban dos años sin una fiesta de clausura adecuada en Aspen Highlands. El domingo volvió la fiesta.
