Regan Mertz
Arts & Culture ReporterRegan is a journalist for Aspen Public Radio’s Arts & Culture Desk. Regan moved to the Roaring Fork Valley in July 2024 for a job as a reporter at The Aspen Times. While she had never been to Colorado before moving for the job, Regan has now lived in ten different states due to growing up an Army brat. She considers Missouri home, and before moving West, she lived there and worked at a TV station.
Regan graduated from the Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, earning a Master of Arts in Documentary and Photojournalism in December 2022. She received her Bachelor of Journalism in Radio and Convergence Journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in May 2021. Throughout college, Regan worked at every Missouri School of Journalism publication, including the local NPR station.
She spent her summers working as a fellow for the Reynolds Journalism Institute, where she worked on a podcast with The Oregonian and audio stories for South Dakota Public Radio. She has also worked in Washington, D.C., at the Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival and Symposium and at the Library of Congress as a research assistant.
Regan is a White House Correspondents’ Association scholarship recipient and has won awards from the Missouri Broadcasters Association and a Missouri Press Association, along with receiving an Edward R. Murrow in 2021.
When not reporting, she enjoys trying out new hikes with her dog and reading with her cat. Regan is also learning to ski for the first time this winter.
-
More children are surviving pediatric cancer, but the physical and emotional impacts still linger. The Shining Stars Foundation provides those patients with recreational programs in the Rocky Mountains. This story is part of our “On the Ground” radio series, which highlights solutions to local and global issues from Roaring Fork and Colorado River valley organizations. -
Carbondale Arts’s 15th annual fashion show brought attendees to a night at the carnival, complete with the usual aerial performers, dance numbers and model walks. But new leadership introduced different components to this year’s show. -
The town had the same number of candidates as it had open seats. Grady Hazelton, Brandy Copeland, Caitlin Carey and Emily Sampley will be appointed to council on April 21. -
This year’s lineup marks a departure from the first festival in 2025, which showcased more genres, including country and indie rock music. Festival producers say it is not a permanent change. -
Returning to Aspen for the second time, snowboarders competed in head-to-head halfpipe competitions, where an Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard alumnus made the podium in his debut to the league. -
As the Trump administration reverses environmental protections, Aspen-based nonprofit EcoFlight continues to promote conservation using small aircraft. This story is part of our “On the Ground” radio series that highlights solutions to local and global issues from Roaring Fork and Colorado River valley organizations. -
After claiming a bronze and silver medal in the past two Olympics, Ferreira successfully completed his collection in Italy. -
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s Folklórico program ended in December, following the retirement of its longtime Executive Director Francisco Nevarez-Burgueño. It brought students a strong sense of community, discipline and a connection to Mexican culture. -
Funding cuts from Garfield County are contributing to decreases in the summer and fall bus services. The Roaring Fork Transportation Authority is continuing to seek funding to keep the Hogback service fully operational. -
ACES’ annual Christmas Bird Count is wrapping up this month. ACES Naturalist Rebecca Weiss spoke about Aspen’s citizen science initiative and how the bird count helps conservation efforts. This story is part of our “On the Ground” radio series.
