What do we mean when we say “childcare,” and how did Pueblo arrive at the gaps families and providers navigate today?

In Episode One of this series, Molly Cotner and Gregory Howell sit down for a conversation that traces the long arc of childcare in Pueblo, beginning in 1926 with the opening of one of the city’s earliest childcare centers and moving through decades of informal care, shifting labor patterns, and fragile systems that existed long before the pandemic. The conversation examines how COVID-19 exposed those weaknesses, including the emergence of Fair Care as a temporary community response, and why this investigative series moved forward regardless of funding outcomes.

This episode sets the foundation for a six-part investigative reporting series focused on lived experience, access, labor, and accountability in Pueblo County’s childcare system.

Life Inside the Childcare Gap is a production of the Voices of Pueblo podcast, presented by the Pueblo Star Journal and Investigative Reporters and Editors.

This episode was produced and narrated by Molly Cotner and Gregory Howell.

To learn more and to support nonprofit local news in Pueblo, Colorado, visit pueblostarjournal.org.

If you would like to share your childcare story, reach out to Molly at childcare@pueblostarjournal.org. We want to hear from you.

Thank you for listening.

Tax season does not have to be overwhelming — or expensive.

In this episode of Bree on a Budget, host Bree Pappan is joined by Luanne Maes and Adrian Gomez to break down how the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program helps Pueblo residents file their taxes for free.

During the conversation, listeners also learn that United Way of Pueblo County is celebrating 20 years of the VITA program in Pueblo, marking two decades of free, trusted tax preparation for working individuals, families and seniors across the community.

Operated by United Way of Pueblo County, VITA provides free tax preparation and filing for individuals and families earning $69,000 or less with simple returns. The program helps ensure taxpayers receive all eligible credits and deductions, including expanded benefits for families with children and older adults.

Maes and Gomez explain who qualifies, how to schedule an appointment, what documents to bring and why working with IRS-certified volunteers can reduce stress and protect refunds. They also share how community members can get involved as VITA volunteers — no prior tax experience required.

If you are looking to file with confidence, stretch your refund or avoid costly tax preparation fees, this episode is a reminder that free, reliable help is available right here in Pueblo.

Appointments for VITA services run from late January through April 15 and are available by appointment only.

State of Art | January 2026: Art, Advocacy and What’s Ahead for Pueblo

In the first State of Art conversation of the new year, host Bree Pappan brings together three voices shaping Pueblo’s creative and civic landscape for a candid, forward-looking discussion. Artist and community advocate Tom Carrigan, artist Tia Monson, and Donielle Kitzman, vice president of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and Visit Pueblo, explore what 2026 holds for artists, small businesses, cultural organizations and the broader tourism economy.

Recorded Jan. 9, this episode looks at how art, advocacy and economic development intersect in Pueblo, and why collaboration across sectors matters now more than ever. The conversation spans grassroots creativity and big-picture strategy, highlighting how artists and institutions are working together to tell Pueblo’s story, attract visitors, and strengthen the community’s creative economy.

From what artists can expect in the year ahead to how local organizations are elevating art as a driver of tourism and identity, this episode offers insight, optimism and a call to stay engaged. It is a timely listen for anyone invested in Pueblo’s cultural future and the role art plays in shaping place, pride and possibility.

In this timely holiday episode of Bree on a Budget, Bree sits down with Luanne Maez of the United Way of Pueblo County and longtime Pueblo advocate Tom Carrigan for an honest, heartfelt conversation about navigating the festive season during economic uncertainty.

As holiday expectations collide with rising costs, shifting priorities, and real financial stress, this episode explores how individuals and families are finding balance, resilience, and support. Luanne brings deep insight from her work as Economic Mobility and Opportunity Manager at United Way, sharing how community resources, financial education, and compassion-driven systems can help people move forward, especially during emotionally and financially charged times of year. Tom adds a grounded, lived perspective shaped by his experience as a veteran, artist, and tireless supporter of Pueblo’s creative and civic life, reminding listeners that community connection matters just as much as financial planning.

The conversation is practical, reflective, and human. Listeners get to know Luanne beyond her professional role, learning about the experiences and values that shape her work and her belief that everything happens for a reason. Throughout the episode, Bree guides a thoughtful discussion centered on dignity, hope, and the importance of meeting people where they are.

This episode is a reminder that the holidays do not have to be perfect to be meaningful. With honesty and real talk about money, support systems, and community care, Bree on a Budget offers listeners reassurance, resources, and a sense that they are not alone as they navigate the season.

State of Art Podcast | Sweet Talk Paint Shapes

There are moments when a city’s creative pulse snaps into focus, and Sweet Talk Paint Shapes is one of them. Tucked into Mesa Junction, STPS is not just a studio or a gallery. It is a signal fire. A place where paint, ink, collage, tattoo culture, music, and lived experience collide and refuse to stay quiet. In this episode of State of Art, Bree Pappan steps inside Pueblo’s emerging art hot spot and captures the raw electricity of a space built by artists, for artists, with no apologies and no pretension.

Bree sits down with James Beck and Forest Archuleta Soto, two of the three creative forces behind STPS, alongside Joshua Soto, whose vision helped spark it all. Together, they talk about transforming a working studio into a gathering place where creativity is lived out loud. This is a conversation about trust, collaboration, and what happens when artists stop waiting for permission and start building the spaces they need. From DIY roots to curated chaos, STPS is proof that when artists control the narrative, culture follows.

If you are a painter, musician, photographer, filmmaker, tattoo artist, writer, or anyone who feels the pull to make something real, this episode is for you. This is about showing up, betting on yourself, and choosing Pueblo as the place where bold ideas take shape. Plug in, turn it up, and step into the moment. The future of Pueblo art is already happening.

Episode Focus: Art, Policy, and the Path to Youth Wellness

In this November episode of State of Art, host Bree Pappan explores how the arts are transforming the conversation around youth mental health and wellness in Pueblo and beyond.

Bree welcomes Emma Gilchrist, Deputy Director of the Farley Health Policy Center and Instructor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who shares insights on advancing behavioral health integration and the role of policy in shaping prevention and wellness initiatives.

Also joining the conversation are Kennedy Pugh, Executive Director of Colorado Arts and Artist Associates, and Roxanne Pignanelli, founder of The Arts Academy at Pueblo County High School and C.A.T.C.H. Youth. Together, they discuss how cross-sector partnerships are using creativity as a bridge to healing—empowering young people through fine art, music, theater, and community engagement.

This episode offers a powerful look at how Pueblo is leading a statewide movement that connects art, science, and compassion to build resilience and reimagine mental health support for the next generation.

Gimme Shelter, Gimmer Justice: Breaking the Silence After Epstein is a compelling episode of the Voices of Pueblo Podcast, hosted by Molly Cotner and co-host Gregory Howell, with returning guest Chantal Woodyard—PSJ board member, advocate, and survivor. Earlier in the year, Chantal sat down with Molly and Gregory to revisit her deeply personal journey featured in “Gimme Shelter: A Survivor’s Fight for Justice,” the March cover story of the Pueblo Star Journal. Together, they explore the intersection of power, secrecy, and justice at the heart of the Epstein case.​​

Listeners will hear unfiltered stories of survival, the long shadow of sealed files, and the urgent need for transparency, all set against the broader landscape of systemic abuse, including harm to children and vulnerable populations. Chantal brings firsthand insight into living with the consequences of institutional failures and misinformation, while the hosts foster a conversation that connects global headlines to local realities in Pueblo, Colorado.

Trigger Warning: This podcast contains discussions of sexual exploitation, abuse—including the abuse of children and vulnerable populations—as well as institutional failures that may be distressing or triggering for some listeners. Please take care of yourself while listening, and feel free to skip or step away if needed. The episode addresses survivors' experiences and sensitive topics surrounding the Epstein case, including issues of accountability and healing. If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or abuse, support is available through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or RAINN.org.​

This episode is a testament to truth-telling, advocacy, and the power of community journalism to spark change.​​

See links below more information about Gimme Shelter and SeriesFest:

Gimme Shelter Article

Gimme Shelter Podcast

SeriesFest Season 11 2025

On Nov. 7, as Pueblo entered the 38th day of the government shutdown, Bree sat down with three community leaders who are on the front lines of the city’s growing food insecurity crisis. Evans Auden Gonzalez Garcia, owner of Super Market Gonzalez, joined Diego Rivera and Luanne Maes of United Way of Pueblo County to talk about how families can access food and essential resources during what many are calling a manmade disaster.

With more than 40,000 Pueblo residents relying on federal nutrition benefits, the impacts of the shutdown are immediate and widespread. Two federal judges initially blocked cuts to SNAP funding, and the Trump administration signaled it would draw from contingency funds. But while the courts deliberate, children, seniors, veterans and people with disabilities are being left hungry.

This episode dives into what local organizations are doing right now, how residents can get support, and why community partnerships matter more than ever. Bree’s guests offer practical guidance, compassionate insight and a clear message: Pueblo has your back.