January leak preceded recent hydrocarbon spill near Parachute Creek

Nearly a month after a hydrocarbon plume was discovered near a gas plant owned by the company Williams Midstream about four miles north of the town of Parachute, it's source has not been identified. The plume continues leaking toxic compounds like the carcinogen benzene into groundwater near Parachute Creek.

At a public forum Thursday night Williams officials revealed that there was another leak a few months ago at the same spot thought to be the source of the current plume. That leak was apparently not reported to state officials.

KDNK's Nelson Harvey reports on that news, and the public's response.

GarCo has its own plan for Sage Grouse protection

Garfield County commissioners are upset about a federal plan to protect the greater sage grouse, and earlier this week, they met with the Bureau of Land Management to share their thoughts.

For this week's news brief, KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to reporter Amy Hadden Marsh about Garfield County's own plan to protect the bird.

Marble's Yule Quarry

The Crystal Valley and the mountains south of Carbondale have always been coveted for their natural resources: Redstone was founded as a coal mining camp, and today companies are gearing up to drill for natural gas in the Thompson Divide. But one lesser-known industry has been there through it all, and continues today: marble mining.

Ever since an Italian partnership took over the Yule Quarry near Marble in 2010, production has been strong. But the quarry's remote location, harsh weather and huge production costs have challenged miners there for more than a century, and those obstacles remain.

KDNK's Nelson Harvey visited the quarry recently, and filed this report.

(CLICK ON THE HEADLINE FOR PART 2 OF THE STORY)

The Valley's Geological Secrets

Have you even wondered how the Roaring Fork Valley was formed? Or pondered as you soaked in Penny Hot Springs how that water got so hot? Have you debated why that back road between Carbondale and Glenwood is such a bumpy drive? The answers to these questions may surprise you. KDNK's Riley Skinner spoke to Kayo Ogilby, local geologist and teacher at Colorado Rocky Mountain School, to find out more about the fascinating landscape we live in.

News: Shedding light on the Valley's high suicide rate

The victim found dead in the parking lot of the Crystal River Elementary School yesterday was Nino Santiago, an officer with the Carbondale Police Department.

The possibility of suicide in the case brings to light a disturbing trend: the high number of suicides throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. KDNK's Mathew Katz reports on why it may be a problem -- and why there's a stigma surrounding the topic.

News: Former NPR fundraiser's comments hit home in the Valley

The impacts of controversial comments made by the former top fundraiser for NPR are rippling throughout the nation. Here in the Roaring Fork Valley there are two NPR stations that could also see some consequences from the controversy. KDNK’s Conrad Wilson has more.

Interview: Of Mountain Fairs of old

Tomorrow marks the beginning of Carbondale's 39th annual Mountain Fair...and the fair has come a long way since its humble beginnings. So let's take a look back at some of the first few Mountain Fairs from the 70's.

We've also got a gallery of photos from those Mountain Fairs.

News: Being an undocumented immigrant in the Valley

Today we'll continue our series on the history of immigration into the valley by looking at one of the most controversial aspects of it: illegal immigration. The valley is home to an many undocumented immigrants that entered this country illegally. Some of them entered as children - largely brought here by their parents. KDNK's Mathew Katz has the story of one man who wants to stay in the only home he's ever known.

News: When the Klan ruled Colorado

Yesterday we began our series on the history of immigration by hearing about Italian immigration into Colorado at the turn of the century. That huge wave of immigrants led to a pushback from the native-born population, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in Colorado. For much of the twenties, the Klan had control over communities from Denver to Grand Junction -- and here in the valley.

Bob Goldberg is a professor of history at the University of Utah, and author of Hooded Empire: The Ku Klux Klan in Colorado. KDNK's Mathew Katz had a chance to speak with Professor Goldberg, who says that the clan had an ingenious way of infiltrating the state.

News: Over a century ago, Italy came to Colorado

From the mid-nineteenth century to the early twentieth century, hundreds of thousands of Italians came from their home in Europe to Colorado - and many of those families remained here to this day. Alisa Zahller works at the Colorado Historical Society, and runs a program that documents the history of Italians in Colorado, and has written a book called Italy in Colorado. KDNK's Mathew Katz had a chance to speak with her, and she said that Italians have been immigrating to Colorado for over a century -- since before Colorado was even a state.

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