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October 16th, 2020

Shannon Lastowski Monahan

Listen to the full show here.

Alleged Harassment In Wapiti Raises Questions About LGBTQ Protections

Last weekend, a gay couple living about 20 miles west of Cody towards Yellowstone National Park were told by neighbors that they are not welcome in the community and should leave. Wyoming Public Radio's Kamila Kudelska takes a look to see if there's anything the couple can do about it.

"We Have To Be The Peaceful Ones:" Riverton's Evolving Activism Tradition

The City of Riverton is proud of its tradition of peacefully protesting against acts of racism. But a new generation of activists is taking the lead, and they have a different idea of what those protests should look like. Wyoming Public Radio's Savannah Maher reports.

Wyoming: First In Women's Suffrage, Last In Female Representation

In Wyoming history, women have won only 133 legislative races. Since about half the state is made up of women, it means they seriously lack representation. Wyoming Public Radio's Bob Beck says the problem has been talked about for years.

As Wilderness Areas Attract More People, Volunteer Rangers Hit The Trail

The U.S. Forest Service has faced budget cuts, and underfunding for years. So, with the agency's blessing, around 200 conservation groups around the country have created volunteer wilderness ranger programs to help patrol the backcountry. But are volunteers a good substitute for funding full-time staff? The Mountain West News Bureau's Amanda Peacher reports.

In Yellowstone, America's "First Water Park," Decades-Old Blaze Marked Start Of Megafire Era

In the summer of 1988 Yellowstone National Park was engulfed in flames. TV coverage of the fires captivated the nation for months. After the fire was extinguished, plenty of thorny questions remained: What did those fires mean for the park's near-pristine rivers and lakes? And what is their legacy? Today we start a series taking a closer look at where water and fire intersect across the West. From KHOL, Robyn Vincent reports from Jackson, Wyoming.

Homeowners Who Avoid Wildfire Damage Can Find Themselves In New Flood Zone

Major wildfires have burned through the Western U.S. this year. Fires can have immediate effects on air quality and nearby homes. But now, people are coming to grips with the lingering danger of wildfires, long after the flames are gone. Today, we continue our in depth look at where water and fire intersect in the West. As Aspen Public Radio's Alex Hager reports, people who live near burn scars can find themselves in a brand new flood zone.

For The West's Drinking Water, Wildfire Concerns Linger Long After Smoke Clears

For many western communities, their water supplies originate from melting snow, high up in the mountains. But this summer's record-breaking wildfires have reduced some headwater forests to burnt trees and heaps of ash. Today, we continue our in-depth look at where water and fire intersect in the West. As Luke Runyon from KUNC reports, wildfires can cause problems for municipal drinking water systems for years to come.

In Grasslands Plagued By Invasives And Drought, Wildfires Fuel Calls For New Solutions

Wildfires and drought are hitting the Mountain West especially hard this year. And fires don't just burn in forests. Grasslands starved of moisture and chock full of invasive plants can burn just as big. Our in depth look at where water and fire intersect in the region continues today in Wyoming. Catherine Wheeler of Wyoming Public Radio reports on how researchers are looking at solutions to keep grassland fires in check.

As Western Fires Burn, Focus Narrows On Forest Management. But It's Easier Said Than Done

After decades of trying to get ahead of the problem of the West's big fires, it seems we're still behind. The massive fires that have burned this year don't just alter forests, they impact water supplies for people and the environment. But a record-breaking wildfire season could refocus efforts to better manage forests. In the final story in our series looking at where water and fire meet in the West, Ron Dungan from KJZZ in Phoenix reports.

Bob Beck retired from Wyoming Public Media after serving as News Director of Wyoming Public Radio for 34 years. During his time as News Director WPR has won over 100 national, regional and state news awards.
Catherine Wheeler comes to Wyoming from Kansas City, Missouri. She has worked at public media stations in Missouri and on the Vox podcast "Today, Explained." Catherine graduated from Fort Lewis College with a BA in English. She recently received her master in journalism from the University of Missouri. Catherine enjoys cooking, looming, reading and the outdoors.
Leave a tip: kkudelsk@uwyo.edu
Kamila has worked for public radio stations in California, New York, France and Poland. Originally from New York City, she loves exploring new places. Kamila received her master in journalism from Columbia University. She has won a regional Murrow award for her reporting on mental health and firearm owners. During her time leading the Wyoming Public Media newsroom, reporters have won multiple PMJA, Murrow and Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism Awards. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the surrounding areas with her two pups and husband.
As KUNC’s reporter covering the Colorado River Basin, I dig into stories that show how water issues can both unite and divide communities throughout the Western U.S. I produce feature stories for KUNC and a network of public media stations in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada.
Savannah comes to Wyoming Public Media from NPR’s midday show Here & Now, where her work explored everything from Native peoples’ fraught relationship with American elections to the erosion of press freedoms for tribal media outlets. A proud citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, she’s excited to get to know the people of the Wind River reservation and dig into the stories that matter to them.