Grace Hood

Reporter

I’ve been a listener of NPR for as long as I can remember. I grew up listening to Iowa Public Radio in Davenport, Iowa, and then tuned in to WHYY when I attended Bryn Mawr College outside of Philadelphia.

I began my career as a journalist in the print medium. As a general assignment reporter at the Boulder Weekly, I covered politics, the environment, agriculture, and sports. I won multiple Society for Professional Journalism awards, including first place honors for Best Political Feature Writing and Best Science/Agricultural Feature.

I began experimenting with sound and radio at my local Boulder community radio station, KGNU. I still remember the first story that I did for the station—about a “weed management” program by the city of Boulder in which it hired goat herders to graze their animals in weed-infested fields. The sounds I recorded brought the story alive in a way I had never experienced before. At that point—the summer of 2007—I was hooked. I had to do more stories for radio.

During my tenure at KUNC, I've been recognized by the Colorado Broadcaster's Association, Associated Press and RTDNA for my radio feature stories. I've received three national Edward R. Murrow awards, in 2010, 2011, and 2012 for feature and investigative reporting. In 2012 I received the Daniel Schorr Journalism Prize.

As a reporter at KUNC, my goal is to bring the voices of ordinary people to the airwaves—not just those of spokespeople or individuals in positions of power.  I look forward to serving the region of Northern Colorado and meeting many of you in my journalistic travels. I also welcome feedback and story ideas, so don’t hesitate to drop me a line via e-mail.

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5:42pm

Wed March 23, 2011
Education

As Kids with Autism Mature, So Do Universities

Credit Grace Hood

As the number of people with autism and Asperger’s Syndrome grows, more are heading off to college. The influx is creating a demand for services to help students with the neurological disorder graduate, and find work. Colorado State University is one of the latest schools to adopt a transition program. And the school is wrapping up a two-day symposium on the topic today.

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8:44pm

Tue March 22, 2011
Local

Loveland Medical Marijuana Dispensaries to Remain Closed, For Now

Credit Grace Hood

A judge in Colorado’s 8th Judicial District decided not to allow three Loveland medical marijuana dispensaries to remain open after the city’s March 1 ban. But a case challenging the ban will continue through the court.

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11:38am

Mon March 21, 2011
Agriculture

Agritourism Takes Center Stage in Fairplay

Credit Grace Hood

Agritourism is becoming an increasingly popular way for farmers and ranchers looking to diversify their business and make extra money.

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8:50am

Fri March 18, 2011
Business

Auction Offers Opportunity for Northern Colorado Farmers, Municipalities

Credit Creative Commons

A water leasing auction will take place this afternoon in Northern Colorado. The extra availability of the resource is something water managers are calling “celebratory.”

The board of directors at Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District approved a plan to lease extra unused water six years ago. But drought prevented the district--which delivers water to parts of Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties--from following through on the plan until last year.

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3:54pm

Thu March 17, 2011
Business

Udall Amendment Would Increase Credit Union Lending

Credit Creative Commons

Democratic Senator Mark Udall introduced an amendment today that he says could create as many as 100,000 jobs. The goal is to increase how much credit unions can lend in Colorado—and nationwide.

Right now credit unions can only lend about 12 percent of their total assets. But Senator Udall thinks that number should be just above 27 percent. That’s because small businesses have struggled in recent years to gain access to capital despite a $30 billion dollar infusion of cash from the federal government to banks to help increase loans.

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