Colorado child care crisis, Boulder vacancy tax proposal, No Kings rally and water restrictions

Colorado child care crisis, Boulder vacancy tax proposal, No Kings rally and water restrictionsApril 1, 2026This podcast is made possible by listeners and local businesses. You can sponsor an episode of The Frequency.Reach our growing audience of highly engaged listeners. Email [email protected] tax proposed for empty homes, businesseshuduser.gov/portal/publications/pdf/CMARtables_BoulderCO_24.pdfbouldervacancytax.org/BoCo towns eye water restrictions amid droughtErie: Mandatory no outdoor watering until early April Boulder: No restrictions yet; could be implemented “on or around May 1” Front Range roundup from Denver 7BVSD info + engagement sessions on enrollment declines, school closuresLinks, RSVP + more info: bvsd.org/current-topics/declining-enrollment/connect-with-us-on-this-important-topicMain StoryColorado’s Child Care Crisis, from Boulder’s Point of View“Childcare to me is a collective benefit… it’s an essential infrastructure.” That’s Karen Manahan of Boulder Day Nursery, and it’s the framing for this week’s main story.Colorado’s child care system is under enormous strain: Families struggle to find care at all  Licensed care in Boulder County costs about $19,000 per child annually, the highest in the state  Child care workers remain underpaid  Providers are financially fragile  Federal funding that helps families afford care is under threat This week, Shay introduces a new four-part reporting series on child care in Colorado, produced with journalist Andrea Steffes Tuttle and funded by Gary Community Ventures..As Andrew puts it:“I don’t notice it because it’s super awesome. I notice it because it’s a broken system.”Andrea and Shay also hope to turn the reporting series into a print zine that can reach community spaces beyond traditional newspaper audiences. If you’d like to help fund that project, they’d love to hear from you.Bonus contentListen to the extended interview with Andrew Hyde at Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod.Listen to the full interview with Karen + Mary of Boulder Day Nursery at Patreon.com/BoulderFrequencyPod.Next WeekShay looks at a CU artificial intelligence deal that critics say could seriously threaten the privacy of students and faculty across campus.---------------------------Produced by BVHz in partnership with The Mountain EarIndependent, local journalism for Boulder CountyOur teamJournalist + producer: Shay CastleAudio producer + music: Kelly GarryAdditional support provided by Jeff Rozic*Find bonus content and s