Jackson Unpacked

Congresspeople from Wyoming and Utah and the Trump administration have announced goals to dismantle the 25-year-old National Forest “Roadless Rule.” That protects some 3 million acres around Wyoming from additional road-building. Any one of three threats could open up nearly 60 million acres across the nation to timber extraction and other degradation, according to the Wyoming Wilderness Association’s Peggie dePasquale. The administration says the regulations prevent adequate wildfire response and limit resource extraction potential. State of Jackson cohost Frederick Reimers sits down with the former national forest ranger to hear how local advocates are parsing and opposing the push to dismantle the Roadless Rule. https://www.facebook.com/frederick.reimers.5https://www.instagram.com/writereimers/

Volunteers at a Hoback ranch pull up the remnants from decades of cattle ranching. This July 4th marks the 45th anniversary of an event that has helped spur tourism and a sense of wonder west of the Tetons. As the United States of America approaches its 250th anniversary, we ask Jackson residents about what this milestone means to them. And we hear from residents at a mobile home park in Colorado who are competing with another bidder to buy the land under their homes. Featuring the song “Best Wishes” from artist Duane Betts. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Sundays, Mondays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Hundreds of public comments from Grand Teton and Yellowstone reflect tension over how federal public spaces tell history. We get to know the challenging candidates in Jackson Hole’s election. As hardline immigration policies get adopted in the state, some immigrants are choosing to leave. And a western Wyoming conference taps into the momentum and the money of the budding birding movement. Featuring the song “Mellow Funk” off My Model Airplane’s debut alternative rock album “The Loft” from Bryan Piironen and Alex Wells.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Sundays, Mondays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

A KHOL data analysis finds the majority of Teton County’s ICE holds were arrested for driving-related charges. Across the state, during a single week in mid-April, the Laramie County Sheriff Office says it had the highest number of immigration arrests of any local or state enforcement agency in the country. We get up close and personal to some critters helping prevent fires with new technology. And Wyoming’s plan for $205 million federal dollars to transform rural healthcare and what held it up. Featured music "Chasin' Homesteader Blues" from Screen Door Porch.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Sundays, Mondays and Fridays at 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Businesses in Jackson could benefit from public money for homeschooled students. A study of trails near Snow King shows bikers and bears can coexist. We talk with Jackson filmmaker and pro skier Vanessa Chavarriaga Posada about her own ambivalences with a majority-white sport. And we get inside the mental, emotional calculations for an age-old Jackson question: Do I deserve to live here? Featured music: “Here Comes the Rain” by Henry Pepin and the Moguls.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

 When folks in employee housing change or lose their jobs, their housing goes, too. How is Jackson Hole grappling with that tradeoff? There’s regional controversy around the same surveillance cameras that towns like Jackson use to fight crime. And Republicans of all stripes reflect on the future of the state's Freedom Caucus. Featuring song “Pale Moonlight" from Oregon-based band dadweed.  Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

 Infighting in Teton Valley over wastewater management goes back 20 years but has reached a tipping point. Tim Sandlin fans remember the late Jackson-based novelist who helped the valley understand itself. A Colorado housing expert talks solutions from other mountain towns. And we hear what it was like in the courtroom for the sentencing of the man who brought a live, injured wolf into a bar two years ago.Featured music from Bea Jones.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

The hidden homes of the super-wealthy help and strain the Jackson Hole workforce. How plow drivers and Teton Pass patrollers hold up a culture of collaboration and safety. The airport shuttle might end with a whimper, but begs bigger questions about transit goals. And how abortion bans impact a state’s workforce and economy. Featured music from Michael Batdorf and Michelle Dickson. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Strict limits on abortion access have prompted questions for the state’s few providers. We hear from a staunch immigrant advocate in east Idaho and west Wyoming who has voted for President Trump three times. And Mark Engel brings us original tunes and creativity wisdom. He’s an Olympic skier-turned-full-time Jackson Hole musician. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Scientists and citizens search together for some mangy mammals that have struggled in recent years. What a particularly warm winter means for the regional ski economy. What we can learn from a few of the Wyoming women featured in a new book from Jackson-based photographer Lindsay Linton Buk. And why, every two years, states such as Wyoming put on the pressure to balance a massive budget. Featured music from Hilary Camino and Leif Routman. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Where to turn as cancer and autoimmune treatments dwindle in east Idaho. On the open slopes of Grand Targhee Resort, Jaelin Kauf remembers skiing the same run over and over with her family to create bumps like the ones she’s now shredding at the Olympics.  Why a bar in Lithuania keeps tight tabs on Jackson Hole’s downtown webcam. And in a Colorado ski resort town, what began as a labor dispute has since reshaped local politics with the resignation of two local officials.Featured music by church bats.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

With recent Teton protests mirroring national frustration with immigration enforcement, we ask advocates about what’s effective. We get on the slopes with Teton Village Olympian Anna Gibson, whose meteoric rise in the debut sport of ski mountaineering has been a long time in the making. And what Wyomingites are asking their lawmakers before a hotly anticipated legislative session. Featured music by VaMoose.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

We remember Max Martin, a Jackson native turned professional skier and trainer, whom friends say never let a day go to waste. Mental health professionals share the network of resources that understand grief in a mountain town. Why Wyoming lawmakers are considering doing away with all taxation on land used for housing. And how Wyoming’s coal performed in 2025 after the Trump administration threw its weight behind the coal industry. Featured music by Tori Lund and Alec McKee, members of the band Float Trip.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.Resources mentioned in today's episode include: Mental Health and Recovery Services of Jackson HoleTeton Interagency Peer SupportSurvivors of Outdoor Adventures and RecoveryClimbing Grief Fund988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

A cowboy suddenly finds himself at-odds with Grand Teton National Park. Ski patrollers across the Mountain West fight for better pay. And why Wyoming’s Supreme Court upheld abortion access. Music from The Buckskin Boys, recorded at KHOL. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

A theater educator checks her new healthcare premium estimates for the first time. With Affordable Care Act price hikes around the corner, Jacksonites and their healthcare providers wonder what to do. Ski and music legend Bill Briggs shares some wisdom learned over 93 years. And the United States Forest Service is building affordable workforce rentals on public land on Jackson’s eastern edge. Town councilors and county commissioners may buy in. The debate now is how much to pay. Plus, how one billionaire Jackson couple is investing in Wyoming press, philanthropy and politics.  Music from Bill Briggs. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

In the midst of war, Ukrainian civilians are redefining the meaning of van life. After his death, a Cody-based country star lives on through newly-released music and the mental health work of his family, including Jackson’s former mayor. A leading state lawmaker takes us to church, a place that inspires his political vision and that of many fellow Freedom Caucus members. Music is “The King is Back” by Luke Bell, released by music label Thirty Tigers. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

One Jackson woman shares the aftermath of her husband's detention and three-month stay in ICE custody. A group of men over 57 talk about friends and how to find them. We remember former Vice President Dick Cheney, who lived in Teton County for over 30 years, with an archived interview from 1989. Two friends reflect on how they came to run a 45-year-old balloon rally in Teton Valley. StoryCorps conversation produced by Emily Cohen. Music from Clay Humphrey @yourhumphrey.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

We learn about the work of a mental health therapist in town supporting community members struggling with the increased presence of ICE in town. A public record request shows voter complaints about the state’s election laws. The longest land-based migration route in the lower-48 is at odds with the state’s energy goals. And we hear another conversation from our collaboration with Storycorps between two neighbors reflecting on their families' multi-generational ranches.StoryCorps conversation produced by Emily Cohen. And we share the local music teacher Missy Joe’s latest single, Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Dual-seasonal workers are among those facing diminishing healthcare options and potentially triple-digit price increases. We talk to a climbing and ski guide wondering what to do and seek some practical advice from experts. As Israel and Hamas take steps toward ending a two-year war, we hear from people in Jackson who are celebrating, mourning and wondering what's next. Novelist Tea Obrecht and poet Matt Daly share their thoughts on writing in the age of AI and autogeneration. And we hear a conversation between Priscilla Marden and Cara Galleni about a Teton County program using horses to build leadership skills. StoryCorps conversation produced by Emily Cohen. Featuring music from VaMoose. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

A novel workforce housing project just outside Jackson is slated for construction next spring on leased land within the Bridger-Teton National Forest. We hear from one of the project’s leaders at a time when public land and housing are at the forefront of national land use debates. A local legend, Jay Pistono, recently died at 67. We remember the man who preserved skiing on Teton Pass. Plus, we get a taste of how Jackson’s Center for the Arts is becoming more accessible to Spanish-first speakers. And we listen to a conversation between Jackson theatre professional Andy Munz and writer Claudia Mauro on being queer in Wyoming. Featuring music from Aaron Davis @aarondavisongs.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

When the state cut property taxes this year, it hit organizations doing some pretty gritty work. We head to the banks of the Snake River to meet up with a team that’s still sniffing out weeds… literally. No shade on wildlife art, but we hear from artists working to bring work to Jackson Hole that’s a little weirder. Jaelin Kauf is the region’s top hope for Olympic gold in Italy this winter. We hear from her parents as the freestyle skier waves goodbye to her home mountain, Grand Targhee. And from the StoryCorps archives, we bring you to a conversation with Irene Beardsley. She and her climbing partner became the first women to summit one of the world’s tallest mountains, Annapurna, in 1978. StoryCorps conversation produced by Emily Cohen. Music this week is from Casper the duo Pleasure People. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

The hottest party invite in Jackson this summer is a quinceañera; we have the last in a series following one 15-year-old on her journey to this coming-of-age milestone. In Rock Springs, a community reckons with the memory of a 19th-century massacre of Chinese immigrant workers. We also share a snippet of a StoryCorps conversation with Jackson resident Curt Parker about resilience after tragedy. Lastly, we visit a new locals-only housing complex that tests what trade-offs some people are willing to make to live here. Featuring music from Jackson band Cache Funk @cachefunkmusic. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

This week we have another bonus episode from “The Modern West,” a production of PRX and our friends over at Wyoming Public Media. In the podcast’s 10th season, “The Gray in Between,” reporters tackle stories from a wolf incident in Sublette County last year that gained worldwide attention, to creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis, to the inevitable death of elk in the Jackson Herd, right here, in our backyard.Today’s episode is titled “I Am What I Choose To Become” reported and produced by KHOL’s Chris Clements. Five years ago, a Northern Arapaho judge was sent to prison. Now, she helps keep Wind River residents from going back into custody. 

Some would box sailing in, say there’s no way the sport could exist in landlocked Wyoming. We travel to Fremont Lake south of town and find that’s not the case at all. Also, the evolution of a town-wide group chat that shows Jackson’s good, bad and at times, downright ugly. We take a tour of a Jackson nonprofit lab working on brain disease research and we check in on the state of journalism in the Cowboy State after being dealt some recent blows. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

This week we have another bonus episode from “The Modern West,” a production of PRX and our friends over at Wyoming Public Media. In the podcast’s 10th season, “The Gray in Between,” reporters tackle stories from a wolf incident in Sublette County last year that gained worldwide attention, to creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis, to the inevitable death of elk in the Jackson Herd, right here, in our backyard.Today’s episode is titled “Home Again,” reported and produced by Wyoming Public Radio’s Hannah Habermann. Back in the 1930s, a trading post swapped Northern Arapaho artifacts for food and other basic necessities. Decades later, a descendant opened boxes in a storage room of the Episcopal Church in Laramie, Wyoming. 80 years later, the church has finally returned the artifacts to the tribe. We attend the ceremony.

We head to an archaeological dig in Rock Springs that’s leading to discoveries about the town's former Chinatown and a massacre that took place there over a century ago. Then, we get inside the concert halls in Teton Village where the Grand Teton Music Festival is trying to prove its music isn’t just for the highbrow listener. We hear about how a photo camp on the Wind River reservation is becoming a mental health solution for men, and sit down with economist and Jackson Town Councilor Jonathan Schechter to hear why he’s holding on to hope for shrinking Jackson’s wealth gap following the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Mid-episode music this week is “Fountains of Rome,” a tone poem from 20th century composer Ottorino Respighi and performed by the Grand Teton Music Festival orchestra.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

This week, we have a bonus episode from “The Modern West,” a production of PRX and our friends over at Wyoming Public Media. In the podcasts’ 10th season, “The Gray in Between,” reporters tackle stories from a wolf incident in Sublette County last year that gained worldwide attention, to creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis, to the inevitable death of elk in the Jackson Herd, right here, in our backyard.Join Wyoming Public Radio’s Melodie Edwards as she heads down to Pinedale to hear what it was like for a newspaper editor to cover the infamous wolf incident by herself after her entire staff was laid off by her corporate publisher.

After federal workers were fired in February, many warned it would be much harder to keep the over 3 million acres in the Bridger-Teton National Forest clean, accessible and safe this summer. We check in. Also, what the passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” may mean for rural hospitals like St. John’s here in Jackson, a chat with a four-member bluegrass band from Victor and a high alpine lake in the southern end of the Wind River Range is the nation's poopiest.Mid-episode music this week is from the Balsamroots, a four-member band based in Victor, Idaho, that has been playing in and around the Tetons since forming in 2018.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

This week, we have a BONUS episode from “The Modern West,” a production of PRX and our friends over at Wyoming Public Media. In the podcast's 10th season, “The Gray in Between,” reporters tackle stories from a wolf incident in Sublette County last year that gained worldwide attention, to creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis, to the inevitable death of elk in the Jackson Herd, right here, in our backyard.Join Wyoming Public Radio’s Caitlin Tan as she takes us to Sublette County, where it’s been over a year since a man brought an injured wolf into a bar.

We learn how more immigrants in Teton County are being transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. A new state law could continue the trend. We’ll hear more about how parents are talking with t heir kids about antisemitism, a look at Teton Science School’s efforts to keep students around after some tough years for enrollment. And, there’s lots of talk right now about selling off federal land. What might it look like if states take over management?Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

This is a bonus episode from “The Modern West,” a production of PRX and our friends over at Wyoming Public Media. In the podcast's 10th season, “The Gray in Between,” reporters tackle stories from a wolf incident in Sublette County last year that gained worldwide attention, to creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis, to the inevitable death of elk in the Jackson Herd, right here, in our backyard.This week: People are solving the affordable housing shortage in the American West by building unusual homes like straw bale or modular.

Take a trip to Grand Teton National Park’s most popular trail where an adaptive athlete from Jackson is advising Grand Teton National Park on how to make it more accessible. We remember a beloved mother, photographer and Jacksonite that died in a tragic accident earlier this month. We unpack a threat to public media, including KHOL, being considered by federal lawmakers and we have a conversation with the founder of the Targhee Music camp, a bluegrass sanctuary of sorts.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

This week, we have a bonus episode from “The Modern West,” a production of PRX and our friends over at Wyoming Public Media. In the podcasts 10th season, “The Gray in Between,” reporters tackle stories from a wolf incident in Sublette County last year that gained worldwide attention, to creative solutions to the affordable housing crisis, to the inevitable death of elk in the Jackson Herd, right here, in our backyard.Reported and produced by KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney, hop in a pickup as we head out into the National Elk Refuge just outside Jackson, to hear all about the debate over whether to wean elk off winter feeding before chronic wasting disease strikes.

On this week’s episode: The print news scene in Pinedale is a one-woman show. We journey 80 miles to the Western outpost to see how a start-up radio station is trying to parch the news desert, and all the political challenges that come with the territory. In Teton County’s schools, we hear how educator Piper Worthington is trying to integrate students in their first year from another country. The Mexican-born, European-trained chef Oscar Ortega is a top-five finalist for the James Beard Award in the category of outstanding bakery. He shares what keeps him innovating in his Jackson shops. And, with selling federal land for housing or energy development back on the table in Congress, we learn how some conservatives in our region advocate for the idea on a much larger scale.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

The Jackson Hole Rodeo sits in the middle of town and sells out almost every summer night. We hear what’s on the minds of those in the stands and the chutes as its organizers consider if its popularity has a cap. Author and editor at The New Yorker, Michael Luo, joins us to talk about Wyoming’s hidden history of anti-Chinese violence and immigration. A Jackson musical about a woman’s rise to power in a frontier town returns to the stage. And Salt Lake City band Huertado shares how the Utah landscape inspires their reverb-drenched sound.

When people think about leaving an abusive relationship, the biggest barrier in their way is often housing. But what happens if there’s nowhere to go? We hear how an organization across the pass is dealing with a surge in need after the murder of a Victor mother. With the Trump admnistration expressing interest in converting public lands to private housing, a new study looks at the potential challenges and consequences. And Jackson native Melissa Elliott, AKA Missy Jo, is not only a music teacher but establishes herself as an emotional guru on her new EP. Her her converstaion with KHOL’s Evan Ballew and learn why she’s singing about being banned from the Wilson Post Office. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: As newsrooms around the country assess the first 100 days of President Trump’s  second administration, we bring you the view from Jackson Hole. In the foreground for county electeds is public land, where workers who manage the vast majority of our county have been fired, rehired and grappled with resignations. Advocates say the impacts have only just begun. In town, we hear from workers laid off prematurely from the county’s health department who helped people get vaccinated and navigate complex paperwork. And we hear from a team that mapped miles of fence on public lands east of Yellowstone near Cody to help wildlife while balancing the needs of working cattle lands. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Looming beneath the surface on North Cache is a plume of a carcinogen called benzene from an old gas station, about to be unearthed to build a mega-hotel. Is the development leading to remediation, risk, or both? In a novel effort to protect both cattle and elk from disease, the Greater Yellowstone Coalition has started a new program to share costs with ranchers moving cattle in  winter, with the majority of work now in Teton County. And Chris Archuleta, frontman and guitarist of Jackson Hole band Box Elder, came into the KHOL studios to debut the band’s brand new single, “Origami Bats,” exploring how friendships change with age. Send your farewells to our outgoing music director Jack Catlin a.k.a DJ KnewJack. Tell him what five years of Heavy Warmup morning show, DJ creation, and overall vibes curation meant to you @891KHOL. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

An inside look at one family paying down debts and saving for a home with Habitat for Humanity. We’ll hear how the fashion of Gaper Day at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort helps your favorite ski bum break from the typical beanie and base layer. As federal employees grapple with layoffs, we catch up with a postal worker union representative to hear how the United States Postal Service has been living with staffing shortages for years. And as this year’s ski season comes to an end, we hear from a man keeping track of all the slang words for snow.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

In this week’s episode, U.S. Representative Harriet Hageman is touring the southern part of the state. In Afton, her defense of billionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency caused an uproar. And several bills this legislative session took aim at Jackson and Teton County’s strategy for affordable and workforce housing. We talk with two local electeds to test their confidence in the program. And amid ongoing debate about the future of grizzly bears, we talk with an expert about all things Endangered Species Act. Lastly, the gateway town of Cody gets a huge boost in tourism every summer but this year, there’s a lot of uncertainty on public lands due to federal cuts.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: ICE visited Jackson early last month. The news spread quickly across social media but even now, many still have questions. A conversation with Ira Glass, host and creator of the popular public radio program “This American Life,” ahead of a recently announced August show in Jackson. And confirmed cases of Chronic Wasting Disease south of town has one wildlife biologist with Wyoming Game and Fish concerned.Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: federal workers are being laid off across the country, including in Teton County. One recently fired US Forest Service trail worker with the Jackson Ranger District, speaks up. We’ll hear more from one co-author of a book tackling the limits of growth in the West, with chapters tackling conservation and the cost of living in Jackson Hole. Also, a conversation from KHOL’s public affairs show the State of Jackson about one local printmaker's new art exhibit. Lastly, we hear the state capitol, where emerging patterns between the Trump administration and the Wyoming Freedom Caucus are giving some in Wyoming political whiplash.  Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

The Wyoming Senate narrowly passed a resolution recently that would ask Congress to turn over nearly all federal land in the state. That’s 30 million acres — about half of Wyoming’s total area. We hear from Aaron Weiss, the Deputy Director at the Center for Western Priorities, a conservation advocacy group, who says the resolution was is likely to change policy. The first few weeks of Trump’s presidency have been a whirlwind. A deluge of executive orders, memos and proclamations aiming to crack down on immigration, slash the federal workforce and control international trade. We talk to Jacksonites to hear what’s on the top of their minds. A new exhibition in Jackson shines the spotlight on female photographers and painters in the American West at the turn of the 20th century. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hannah Habermann heard about some of these trailblazing artists – and their work – from the women who brought the show to life. After years of anticipation, the federal government recently announced a plan for grizzly bears to remain listed as “threatened” on the endangered species list in the Northern Rockies. The move is the latest in a decades-long battle between the feds, environmentalists and western states over to what extent grizzlies have recovered and how they should be managed.  Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Between the legislative session in Cheyenne and President Donald Trump’s first week back in the White House, immigration policies in Wyoming are on the fast track for an overhaul.   When the roads are too snowy to drive on – why not plane? As in snow plane. In Tetonia, there’s a festival celebrating the invention that bridged the technological divide between the horse-drawn sleigh and snowmobile.    What’s the financial value of a wolf in Wyoming? That’s the question behind a new article in the travel magazine Matador. An interview with reporter from the publication who wrote the article “Are wolves worth the cost? The American West’s new wildlife dilemma.”   A beloved fishing lake near Pinedale now has no fish and the entire lake has turned red. Land managers and biologists don’t know why but they think it might have to do with toxic algae blooms of cyanobacteria, a growing problem in Wyoming’s waters.    Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

Despite a $100 million done deal, questions linger for some, like environmentalists Susan Marsh and Jared Baecker, about how the Kelly Parcel will be managed. Park superintendent Chip Jenkins says the process of deciding exactly that begins now. And a future of the money from the sale may further oil and gas development according to Governor Mark Gordon and the State Board of Land Commissioners. The process makes some in Jackson Hole itchy.    Jackson Hole Fire/EMS is trying to move on from stress with new leadership like assistant Fire Chief Brian Coe. This, even as a former boss, Stephen Jellie, has filed a lawsuit against some firefighter’s spouses, like Coe’s. Firefighter Natty Hagood is raising money for their defense though his own personal capacity.   And for all those who look up to their parents, renowned DJ Matthew Dear dishes inspiration in an interview with KHOL’s Jack Catlin.    Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Jenna McMurtry reports on the controversy surrounding a potential charter school south of town, in Alpine. Heather Goodrich and Jeff Daugherty agree the town needs a new school, but exactly what that school should be, not so much. Matt Erickson, the area superintendent is not sure any school can be built before the start of the next school year. KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney talks to Jackson Hole’s Vosmus and Armitage families at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort about new safety measures being implemented this year. Ned Wonson, who works at the resort, touts them as proof of JHMR’s continued improvements, while some wonder if and how they will work. KHOL’s Evan Ballew talks with Jackson-based artists Hilary Camino and Leif Routman about their latest single “Release your Grip” which recently premiered at KHOL. Wyoming Public Radio’s Caitlin Tan met up with Sublette County outfitter and mountain man Bill Webb at his house in Pinedale for a unique Christmas tree hunt, for a juniper. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney chats with Dem. Senator Mike Gierau of Jackson about the Regulatory Reduction Task Force and four potential bills some feel target Teton County. KHOL’s Rachel Stevens talked with Baylee Drewry AKA Miss Wyoming 2024 about her platform: supporting women in sports. Wyoming Public Radio’s Hanna Merzbach tells us some employers around Jackson are turning to modular homes, built by engineers like Loren Woodin and architects like Greg Mason, to house their employees. Clark and Danielle Johnson are the recipients of one. Like legos, entire sections of the house are assembled on permanent foundations. And KGNU’s Shelley Schlender spoke with Neuro-psychologist June Gruber about a course she teaches on happiness at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Following the election, immigrant advocacy organizations say more deportations are looking likely and a slew of legal challenges could also get in the way. KHOL’s Jenna McMurtry talks with Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr, Lincoln County Sheriff Matt Johnson and Jackson immigration lawyer Elisabeth Trefonas about that reality. It’s been about a year since Teton County Search and Rescue was able to add a multi-million-dollar helicopter to the organization. KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney reports a chopper is a rare addition to a volunteer search and rescue group in the West. For most, it’s too expensive. The costly addition is helping Cody Lockhart, Steve Wilson and the entire TCSAR team with rescues in the county and in communities throughout the region. Also, nearly 30% of Teton County residents identify as Latino. KHOL’s Rachel Stevens talked to KHOL DJ Valeria Abad about occasional isolation, being from a Latin country that isn’t Mexico, but also, how being in-between cultures opens doors.  And lastly, republicans often don’t see tackling climate change as a top priority… but  conservative environmentalist Benji Backer is trying to change that. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Hanna Merzbach spoke with him, Jessica Burley and Andrew Mentzner in Jackson. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney and Jenna McMurtry hit the polls to talk to voters in both Wilson and Jackson about what was on their minds as they cast their ballots. Those voters include: Marge Glick, Alex Coosaia, Anne Jones, Karyn Chin, Rachel Miller, Keith Cozzens, Milli Dawson, Margaret Gordon and Annette Robertson. KHOL’s Emily Cohen attended two election watch parties in Jackson. At the Teton County Democratic Party’s event at the Wort Hotel we hear from Maggie Hunt, Clare Stumpf and commissioner elects Natalia Macker and Len Carlman. At the Teton County Republican Party’s event at Sidewinders we hear from Cornelius Kinsey, Ray Espinoza and John Farrell. Wyoming Public Radio’s Nicky Ouellet reports some Wyomingites, especially those with the political action committee Wyoming Election Integrity, have been pushing for ballots to be hand counted. She spoke with Campbell County Clerk Cindy Lovelace who hosted the group for a test trial to estimate the time, cost and manpower. Lastly, emotions tend to run high during election season spanning political lines and into each and every home. Those emotions, often more than reason, determine our decision-making, including how we vote. KGNU’s Susan Moran spoke with University of Colorado Boulder psychology professor Leaf Van Boven about exactly that. Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.

On this week’s episode: Grizzly 399’s death has made national headlines and triggered memorials and gatherings from the Snake River Canyon to Grand Teton National Park. KHOL’s Dante Filpula Ankney reports both wildlife advocates like Kristin Combs and wildlife managers like Chris Servheen and Dan Thompson say the bear had a positive impact throughout it’s life but posed some unique management challenges.   Former Jackson Hole Fire Chief Stephen Jellie resigned under much scrutiny last year with a substantial severance. KHOL’s Sophia Boyd-Fliegel talks with Mat-Su Sentinel reporter Amy Bushatz about a similar situation, this time in Palmer, Alaska.   Many who can’t vote in Tuesday’s election are still anxious about the results. A group of Jacksonites and immigrant service providers met last month in the Teton County Library to recap recent immigration policy changes and outline potentials for under a Trump OR Harris administration. KHOL’s Rachel Stevens attended and talked Alin Yukiro Badillo Carillo — the leader of an immigration group in town who fears her complicated legal status could change.    Over the past few months KHOL and StoryCorps have connected Teton County residents with candidates running for local office through one-on-one conversations. In the final installment of our election edition of One Small Step produced by Alyson Spery, we hear from two candidates: Devon Viehman who’s running for town council and Jerry Bosch who’s running for the school board.    Jackson Unpacked airs locally at 89.1 FM or via live-stream Mondays at 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and Fridays and Sundays at 12:30 p.m. Support Jackson’s only nonprofit newsroom by becoming a member of KHOL today.