How are horses being monitored after the equine herpes outbreak?

Headlines and local news for Friday, January 2, 2026. Hosted by KGNU’s Juanita Hurtado Huerfano.

First we review the equine herpes outbreak across the western and southwestern United States. KGNU’s Jack Armstrong sat down with a veterinary virology expert from Colorado State University to learn what was so worrying about the outbreak and how horses are being monitored before one of the nation’s biggest rodeos, the National Western Stock Show touches down in Denver.

Then, Shelley Schlender brings us January’s Nature Almanac. Boulder naturalists look into this unseasonably warm holiday season and some of the waterfowl that are hanging around on the unfrozen ponds.

And to wrap up the show, the latest episode of Dot-org, our biweekly spotlight of local non-profits.

The Morning Magazine is KGNU’s weekday morning show featuring in-depth discussions on local news issues. Click here to listen to other episodes of the Morning Magazine.