In this episode we try to cover cell phones in schools and AI in schools, but we only get to cell phones. Cell phones in schools are causing a mental health crisis in our children. The research is clear—and conducted locally in Colorado—: cell phones should be no where near a child while in school. Test scores, attendance, bullying, and social interaction all improve when children don’t have access to their phones throughout their educational day.

So, what is to be done: take the phones away. We discuss what schools across Colorado are doing and what Aurora Public Schools should consider in its upcoming decision on a cell phone policy.

Show Notes

Article combining and citing many different studies on cell phones in schools and the effects on children and test scores.

https://digitalwellnesslab.org/articles/what-the-science-says-smartphones-in-schools/

Colorado School District 51’s cell phone ban policy and research by Dr. Brian Hill:

https://www.coloradoedinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/How-Colorados-District-51-Advanced-a-Unified-Cell-Phone-Policy-to-Enhance-Student-Learning-and-Wellbeing.pdf

Homestar Runner IMDB:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2349968/?ref_=fn_i_1

Contact Us:

Contact us with questions or ideas for other episodes at locallevelleftpod@gmail.com

This week's episode talks about Grifts, Grafts, and Gifts--the three G's in politics. We discuss our experience on how we avoid(ed) taking gifts while in elected office, how easily it is for others to do the same thing, and why it's inexcusable and bad for our Democracy to let these things get to the place they have gotten.

There are a couple of easy solutions that could be done all across the Country right now, but likely won't be until people start demanding it of their legislators.

If you have any questions or suggestions of topics you want to hear on future episodes, email us here: locallevelleftpod@gmail.com

This week we give a heartfelt goodbye to an amazing Senator Faith Winter and talk all things transit. Traffic accidents have become our norm all across the US, but they don't have to be. We discuss how we think we should change to make sure fewer people have to deal with the heartbreak of an injury or death on our roads and highways year over year--an area Senator Winter had a huge hand in pushing forward.

Show Notes:

(1) Article showing lifetime new cars now cost more than raising and sending two kids to college: https://www.investopedia.com/2025-american-dream-costs-more-than-usd5-million-11796727

(2) Recommended by Name advocacy group on transit issues:

https://www.strongtowns.org

In our opening episode we discuss the recent good news for local Aurora Colorado elections, Kentuckians trying to vote for or against Zohran Mamdani, questionable ethics among moderate Colorado Democrats, and progressives being primaried from the right, per the usual.

We propose that we make moderate Democrats as uncomfortable as possible as often as possible, make sure those with poor ethical standards face challengers at every turn, and push everyone to demand your representatives push for policies that give less incentive for big donors and lobbyists to corrupt our politicians.

Contact us:

Write to us with any questions, comments, concerns here: locallevelleftpod@gmail.com