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A Veneto Journey to Farm and Table in One
I went looking for a slice of ancient Italy and somehow landed in Iowa.
Past the town of Treviso, in the hills far above the canals of Venice, we had left that morning, is a little dairy farm where the Gallina family is in its fourth generation of making cheese. I don’t know what I expected a fourth-generation Italian artisanal cheese maker to look like, but when Luca Gallina welcomed us sporting a plaid shirt, baseball cap and faded jeans, he looked more Cedar Rapids farmer than keeper of ancient Italian culinary rites. read more…
Bennet Strategy Provided Blueprint for Obama
An Obama supporter at a Nov. 1 rally in Boulder, Colo., wears a cowboy hat signed by the First Lady and festooned with Democratic campaign stickers.
President Barack Obama’s winning strategy in Colorado relied on an army of campaign workers on the ground and appeals that targeted key groups like suburban women, Latinos and young voters. The Obama team borrowed heavily from Senator Michael Bennet, the Democrat who won in Colorado two years ago using the same model against similar odds. From Washington, DC, David Frey reports.
Listen to the story here: Bennet Blueprint read more…
Will Fiscal Cliff Break Gridlock?
Congress resumes today for the first time after the elections. On top of the agenda: dealing with the “fiscal cliff” that would hamstring Washington and could bring on another recession. The election didn’t change the balance of power in Washington. But after years of gridlock in Congress, Colorado’s Senators say legislators needs to find bipartisan solutions, and with the fiscal cliff looming, they can’t afford to wait until the next session. David Frey reports from Washington, D.C.
Listen here: Fiscal Cliff and Gridlock
Dream Act Faces Battle in Maryland
Participants gather for the Salvadorisimo festival in Gaithersburg, Md. David Frey photo.
For years, immigrant activists in Colorado have tried unsuccessfully to pass a statewide “Dream Act” to allow in-state tuition to students who arrived in this country illegally as children. A dozen states have passed similar laws. One of them is Maryland, where a referendum on the November ballot is asking voters if the law should stay in place. From Gaithersburg, Maryland, David Frey reports.
Listen here: Maryland Dream Act read more…
For Both Candidates, Colorado is Key
Brian Olsen of Art in Action creates art foreshadowing the presidential debate at the University of Denver. Photo courtesy University of Denver.
Tonight’s presidential debate brings both President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney to Denver. But it’s hardly the first time the two candidates have made the rounds of the Centennial State. With poll numbers tight between the two candidates, Colorado has emerged as a key battleground state. Obama seems to be leading here, but strategists say the state may be even more important for Romney. From Washington DC, David Frey reports.
Listen to the story here: Colorado Battleground read more…
Udall a Windbag for Wind Power
It’s become an unexpected political issue. Governor Mitt Romney says he opposes the wind production tax credit, which offers incentives for energy companies to produce wind power. President Obama, on the other hand, says he supports them. It’s one of many issues for voters in swing states, like Colorado, where wind power is in action. The tax credits are set to expire this year, and supporters, like Colorado Senator Mark Udall, say Congress must act fast to extend them. David Frey reports from Washington.
Listen to the story here: Udall Windbag read more…
Conservation Canines
Ranger is just four months old, but his owner already has big plans for the golden retriever puppy. His job: to help save the planet. read more…
The Fragile Future of Murano’s Glass Tradition
A modern glass sculpture is aglow at night in Murano. Tradition has dominated the craft for a millennium, but some fear it will die if craftsmen don’t innovate. David Frey photo. David Frey photo.
Gino Mazzuccato’s shop was a tsotchke menagerie, the sort of shop that would have been jammed with cruise tourists earlier in the day. It was evening when I arrived, and I had its shelves of glass animals all to myself, for a few minutes at least. read more…
Protest Brings New Attention to ‘Fracking’
Listen to the story here: Frack Attack
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