Rae Solomon

It's been such an extreme privilege to bring rural Colorado to life on the airways.

Oh, and, if you know of any interesting opportunities for a multi-talented creative journalist/audio producer, don't be shy. ✌

I'm experiencing all kinds of feelings right now. Grief. Anger. Pain. Confusion. Maybe even a little hope that there's something even better for me out there. Although today's climate, that's a little hard to see.

Working at KUNC has easily been the best 5 years of my professional life.

This job brought me so much joy, pride and growth. I'm devastated for myself and for the KUNC newsroom, which took the brunt of yesterday's deep layoffs.

Wow. I can't believe it's over. Yesterday I was told that my job as rural and small communities reporter at KUNC is being eliminated because of the federal government's cuts to the CPB.

USDA ends decades-long push to address discrimination. What that means for Colorado farmers The USDA abruptly ended policies to address the long history of discrimination against minority and women farmers last month.

Last month the USDA ended all efforts to level the playing field for minorities & women in agriculture, declaring they've already "sufficiently addressed" discrimination. Mission accomplished.

BIPOC farmers in Colorado might have a bone to pick. My latest for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-08...

Trump EPA cuts massive Solar For All program that had $156 million for clean energy in Colorado The Trump administration signaled its intention to terminate a major solar grant program last week.

The EPA under President Trump wants to scrap the $7 billion Solar For All program that makes solar accessible for moderate-to-low-income families. In Colorado, the $156 million grant would have expanded solar to 20K families in the next 5 years.

My latest for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-08...

We often think of extreme heat as a problem in our cities - seethe "urban heat island effect." But a new study points out the risks are just as relevant - maybe just a little different - in rural areas.

My latest story for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-08...

Wildfire burn scar mushrooms delight foragers... and elude scientists Burn morel mushrooms are coveted for their tastiness. They're enigmatic and finicky. And they love a good wildfire.

Burn scar mushrooms cause a craze among foragers in the mountains of the West. They're prolific. They're delicious. And they only pop up after wildfires burn through a forest.

My latest story for KUNC:
www.kunc.org/news/2025-07...

Boulder public radio station KGNU braces for loss in federal funds KGNU expects to lose 15.5% of its operating budget, after congress narrowly approved a measure that includes the total elimination of federal funding for public media for the next two years. For KG…

KGNU, Boulder’s flagship public radio station for more than 40 years, expects to lose 15.5% of its operating budget after Congressional Republicans eliminated federal funding for public media for the next two years // Story by @bamesjurky.bsky.social

Researchers scramble to find money for sustainable agriculture after cuts Billions in funding President Biden awarded to reduce the 10% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions that come from agriculture is being called a "slush fund," and clawed back by the Trump administration.

Public Media will thrive despite the rescission vote because we provide a unique, beloved and vital public service.

To wit:
My story about federal cuts to sustainable ag research airs on @npr.org this afternoon.

Take time to love on your local public media today!

www.npr.org/2025/07/21/n...

Federal climate spending cuts mean big losses for ag science and the future of farming in Colorado The federal government abruptly canceled funding for Climate Smart Agriculture in April. The move cut millions of dollars for important scientific research into how farmers can adapt to climate change...

Farmers and ranchers are feeling the cuts to federal climate spending. One of the most long-reaching impacts might be the cancelation of funding for ag science research into how producers can most effectively adapt to the changing climate.

My latest story for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-07...

'A spike in air pollution:' Galeton well cleanup continues but concerns linger More than two months after a blowout at a Chevron well in Galeton, questions remain about the public health implications of the accident and how regulators will hold the company accountable.

Almost 3 months since a major blowout at a Chevron well in Galeton, Colorado. The company has finished investigating the root cause of the accident. But questions linger about the public health impact and how the company will be held accountable. My latest for KUNC.

www.kunc.org/news/2025-06...

The best books you suggested for KUNC's 2025 summer reading list Our readers, librarians and bookstore experts have created the ultimate list of their favorite recent books that should take you on some adventures this summer, regardless of if you are escaping to a ...

Why are summer reading lists a thing? As if we don't read any other time?

But... since it is a thing, KUNC has one! Our lovingly hand-crafted Summer Reading List has all the non-AI generated book recs you'll need for, uh, reading season? (seriously, it's a great list)

www.kunc.org/news/summerr...

Rural water systems fear cuts to funding to remove 'forever chemicals' Rural water systems are struggling to meet the EPA's new limits on so-called forever chemicals in drinking water. Now, federal funds to help remove them are in jeopardy under the Trump administration.

My story on @npr.org Morning Edition today:

Rural water systems are scrambling to get PFAS out of the water supply. The Trump admin just softened some PFAS regs, but fed funding for decontamination is under threat. Rural water users could be left holding the bag.

www.npr.org/2025/06/17/n...

Why taking apart buildings piece by piece is a climate solution Deconstruction is a growing approach to taking down homes that diverts waste from landfills, cuts carbon emissions and creates a circular economy for construction materials.

Here it is! My #climatesolutionsweek story for @npr.org

Don’t touch that wrecking ball!

Dismantling buildings piece by piece and reusing the parts can shrink the bloated carbon footprint of the built environment

www.npr.org/2025/06/13/n...

'Unbuilding the building:' deconstruction is catching on as a climate solution in Colorado Deconstruction is a growing approach to building removal that diverts waste from landfills, cuts carbon emissions and creates a circular economy for construction materials.

My latest story for KUNC is part of @npr.org 's
#Climatesolutionsweek! It's about how taking buildings apart piece by piece is a climate solution that's happening here in Colorado.

Local version of this story here:
www.kunc.org/news/2025-06...

Trump administration energy policy sows chaos for rural solar development Rural businesses have been collateral damage in Trump’s war on renewable energy.

My latest story for @marketplace.org Morning Report is out - on the impact of Trump energy policies on the rural solar industry.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...

I co-hosted this episode of Knowledge Unbound with the inimitable @dewsbury.bsky.social

About an extraordinary educational collab btwn descendants of the Sand Creek Massacre & Amache, the Japanese incarceration camp in SE Colorado.

Thanks for letting me share the host seat, Bry!

We talk to Indigenous Studies teacher Greg Spottedbird Lamebull and Mariko Rooks. I cohosted this episode with Rae Solomon of KUNC, NPR's affiliate in Northern Colorado. You can catch all our episodes at knowledgeunbound.transistor.fm, youtube.com/@SEASProgam, and Spotify.

U.S. sheep industry cautiously optimistic over Trump's tariffs Many in agriculture are worried that Trump administration tariffs will be bad for their bottom lines. The American sheep industry, though, is cautiously optimistic.

🐑 My story on the sheep industry's optimistic, tentative embrace of tariffs aired on @npr.org yesterday morning. 🐑

Were you were too busy eating hot dogs to tune into public radio? Psshh I got you 😉:

www.npr.org/2025/05/26/n...

Rural entrepreneurship is the spectacle our economy needs right now Support for rural entrepreneurs is growing – and could be the key to thriving small-town economies.

My story on rural entrepreneurship aired on @marketplace.org yesterday.

Fun stuff! Definitely not one of those bummer stories.

www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...

KUNC News wins six regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalism in 2024 KUNC News wins six regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for journalism in 2024

Braggadocio alert!

The KUNC newsroom won 6 regional Murrows!

I got the nod for work on a youth homelessness series. My work was also part of our awards for continuing coverage (wildfires) and the biggie: overall newsroom excellence!

So damn proud of this newsroom!

www.kunc.org/station-news...

Got my steel-toed boots on this morning to go on location at a deconstruction site in Boulder

Mere steps from the capitol building.

Hannah Arendt’s papers in lieu of passport.

“I wish to use this document in lieu of passport, which I, a stateless person, cannot obtain at present”

Some of the highlights from that visit:

The Library of Congress reading room

President Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden President Donald Trump has abruptly fired Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden as the White House continues to purge the federal government of those perceived to oppose the president and his agenda.

I visited the Library of Congress recently. It is a cathedral to free thought and scholarship.

Incredibly moved that our country, at one point, valued those things so much that it built this incredible, beautiful, ornate monument to knowledge.

We are losing so much.

apnews.com/article/dona...

Pathetic how petty academics can be. This reads just like playground bullying.

Grow up boys!

And girl, keep stirring that pot 🥘

Me too!! Glad we’ll have Austin to visit more. There’s so, so much value in gathering in person!

@startupcolorado.org