Graduation for students marks one of the most important moments of their lives. Colorado State University is changing up its graduation ceremony to mixed reactions from students and other invested parties. In today’s coverage of campus news, Audrey Donow delivers a story on the new plans for commencement at CSU. This year’s commencement ceremony will have many changes coming to it with some parents of CSU students being left with a bad taste about the decisions. There will now be a university-wide commencement rather than ceremonies for each major and college. The university hopes it will allow for better connections among peers at graduation.
Local news starts with news of the purchase of a northern Fort Collins motel. Weatherwax goes into detail about the motel and the issues surrounding it and the area, such as drug use and assault. The area is hoping to be turned around by the Fort Collins Urban Renewal Authority. More local news includes the removal of an illegal encampment near Old Town Fort Collins. After repeated warnings since September, Fort Collins Police Services discontinued the illegal encampment. After multiple attempts by the Homeless Outreach and Proactive Engagement department to help Fort Collins police finally cleared the area out instead. Multiple stolen bikes were found as well as needles, propane tanks, and more. To wrap up local news one of the most discussed topics seen online in Fort Collins and Colorado is the presence of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and well as Immigration Customs Enforcement. Multiple social media posts claiming their presence have been made. Some were proven as false and others true by local authorities. In the city of Aurora, a planned mass deportation operation was planned to take place today but was delayed due to the well-known fact it was indeed happening.
Donow has laid out weekend plans for today’s life and events segment. The theater performance “39 Steps” is coming to the Lincoln Center for multiple nights. For music fans, Nether Hour is hosting their album release event at the Aggie Theater. The band incorporates elements of country music but is not limited by that sound. Get your music report with news on the Grammy Awards taking place soon, and exciting new music released from The Weekend, Toress, and Julien Baker. All that and more from Donow and Gus Arnold.
In national news with Weatherwax, an elephant in one of South Africa’s best-known National Parks has crushed a tourist. Questions surrounding the tourist’s death remain as well as an open investigation. In technology, the Chinese artificial intelligence DeepSeek hit U.S. devices on Monday. The powerful AI rivals even Chat-GPT and other leading AI technologies. American lawmakers, cybersecurity officials, and the Trump administration are all concerned about the application’s data collection and its threat to U.S. security. Finally in a breaking news story from last evening out of the nation’s capital, an aircraft collision has caused a large loss of life. With confusion surrounding air traffic control and communication, the two aircraft collided. The Army Blackhawk Helicopter, while on a training exercise, as well as a jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew are expected to have lost all life aboard the two aircraft. President Donald Trump addressed the nation this morning alongside the launch of an investigation and rescue mission.
In sports, Donow gives a recap of the men’s basketball game from Tuesday’s game against the Air Force Falcons. Then, get a look at their next opponents traveling to New Mexico to play the Lobos. As for the women’s team, they have a chance to take on the Air Force Falcons as well this weekend at home. Other events taking place this week in sports include women’s swimming and diving which kicked off their season. Then a quick preview of track and field meets in Boulder. Finally, to end today’s episode, get Fort Collins’s weekend forecast starting with windy conditions tonight with winds reaching 15 miles per hour. Friday will see temperatures hit a high of 53 degrees along with partly sunny conditions for the day. Saturday hits a high of 56 degrees with a slight decrease on Sunday with highs hitting near 53 degrees but could be warmer. To start next week, Fort Collins residents can expect temperatures to be near 50 degrees on Monday
About the Rocky Mountain Review: KCSU’s News Directors bring you news coverage. Coverage includes northern Colorado and national news, straight from the KCSU Fort Collins news desk. Topics range from crime to cryptocurrency to local art galleries. KCSU news is also on Spotify (and most podcast streaming platforms), and listeners can find it by clicking here or searching KCSU News. Original air date: January 28, 2025
Original air date: January 30, 2025