March 12, 2026: Amache survivors worry; Renee Good remembered; How special actors are helping doctors

Summary

Colorado Matters — March 12, 2026: Amache Survivors Worry; Renee Good Remembered; How Special Actors Are Helping Doctors

Episode Overview

On this episode, hosts Andrea Dukakis and Chandra Thomas Whitfield explore themes of memory, justice, and human connection. The show features interviews with survivors of the Amache Japanese internment camp, a heartfelt remembrance of Colorado native Renee Good—recently killed by an ICE agent—, a look at the rising trend of home oxygenation in Colorado’s mountains, innovative training using actors as simulated patients for doctors, new state legislation to protect kids from AI chatbots, and a behind-the-scenes visit with USA’s Paralympic sled hockey team and a singing telegram artist who spreads joy across Denver.

---

Survivors of the Amache Internment Camp: “Let's Not Repeat History”

[00:04–08:51]

Key Discussion Points

• Personal Testimony:

  • Carol Furutta and Ruth Kawamura, now living at Holly Creek Retirement Community, share firsthand experiences of being forcibly removed to multiple internment camps during WWII.
  • Furutta recounts:
    • Being only 5 years old and transferred through Wallerga, Tule Lake, then Amache, Colorado.
    • Stark descriptions of the camp: “Extremely hot, extremely cold and windy. We lived in barracks… our living quarters were very bare… everything was communal.” [03:19]
    • “We were prisoners, basically… being surrounded by barbed wire.” [04:00]
    • Allowed to leave only on controlled bus trips for shopping.
  • Kawamura, just 2 at the time, speaks to childhood trauma and post-war silence in her family.

• Parallels with Present Day:

  • Furutta draws direct parallels to contemporary immigration policies, seeing “echoes of her past in the Trump administration's current immigration policy.” [01:23, 06:49]
  • Furutta’s warning: “Let's not repeat history. Let's pay attention and not judge people because they may look different from you.” [01:15]

• Cultural Impact and Silence:

  • Both survivors describe a “code of silence” about their experiences:
    • “I had no idea why we were there… My parents never spoke about it… I think a lot of the Japanese culture, there was a lot of shame. Although the shame wasn't theirs, it was our government's.” — Furutta [06:08]

• Message for the Future:

  • “I want to… appeal to fellow [Americans to] know what's going on and speak up.” — Furutta [08:44]
  • “Our parents and grandparents, the older people, just really suffered, and we were all just put away just because of the way we looked.” — Kawamura [08:06]

---

Remembering Renee Good: Poet, Singer, Mother, Friend

[08:51–15:54]

Key Discussion Points

• Backstory:

  • Renee Good, Colorado native, was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, sparking national outrage and grief.
  • Known as Renee Ganger in high school; described as gifted, warm, and passionate about the arts.

• Notable Quotes & Memories:

  • “She was always stuck in the back row… But this did not dim Renee's light.” — Ruth Schubach, choir pianist [10:10]
  • “I just always remember her as such a caring person without a mean bone in her body.” — Paul Goggin, friend/classmate [10:32]
  • From her yearbook: “Oh my Lindsay, I feel so blessed to have you in my life. I know for sure I wouldn't have made it through stats or choir without you.” — Lindsey Skirto reading Renee’s note [11:31]

• Life and Tragedy:

  • After earning a poetry prize, Good moved through Colorado, Virginia, and eventually Minnesota.
  • Close-knit but complex family, mixed through marriages and children.
  • “On January 7… Renee Good paused in a driveway. She put the car in reverse, told the agent, 'I'm not mad at you,' and pulled out. An ICE agent fired into her car, shooting to kill.” — Ruth Schubach, at Renee’s memorial [14:11]
  • Loved ones struggle to grieve due to public/political attention.

• Broader Impact:

  • Family retains legal counsel; $1.5 million raised on GoFundMe.
  • Statement from partner: Renee was “made of sunshine.” U2 releases a song in her honor.

---

Home Oxygenation: Ski Towns’ High-Altitude Fix

[16:34–22:13]

Key Discussion Points

• Trendy Health Investment:

  • Tom Hess (Western Slope Producer) explores why wealthy homeowners and hotels are installing home oxygenation systems in Colorado’s mountain towns.
  • “You don't see a lot of retirement homes in the mountains, primarily because it's really difficult on the human body.” — Matt Formato, founder of Mile High Training [20:29]

• Industry Growth:

  • Installations have jumped from “a few dozen a year” to “hundreds.”
  • Four Seasons Hotel in Telluride will be fully oxygenated—a marketing draw for affluent clients.
  • Many inquiries come late at night: “People that are up late at night in the mountains and, like, can't sleep in the mountains.” — Kyle Bassett, COO, Altitude Control Technologies [18:20]

• Medical and Aging Implications:

  • Older residents are seeking ways to remain in high altitude homes.
  • “Blood oxygen levels decrease with age… the altitude is starting to affect them to a greater degree.” — Formato [20:56]

• Cost and Safety:

  • Installations range from $20,000 to $200,000.
  • Safety regulated; “not really increasing O2 levels by that much,” per fire authorities.

---

Simulated Patients: How Special Actors Are Helping Doctors

[22:14–27:50]

Key Discussion Points

• Medical Training Innovation:

  • At the University of Colorado Anschutz’s Center for Advancing Professional Excellence (CAPE), actors portray patients in high-stress medical scenarios.
  • Simulated “patients” help physicians and students practice procedural and communication skills under realistic pressure.

• Realism and Reflection:

  • “The mannequin can be programmed to simulate a seizure. It can mimic human pulses and breathing and it bleeds and sweats.” [24:44]
  • Actors also give direct feedback after mock exams.

• Teaching Compassion:

  • “A lot of what the CAPE teaches you is… how to empathize with the patient and let them know… that you want to help them.” — Tia Miller, PA student [27:24]
  • Importance of learning sensitive medical communication with real people.

---

Safeguarding Kids from AI Chatbots

[29:04–33:03]

Key Discussion Points

• Catalyst:

  • Family sues Google and Character.AI after daughter’s suicide following months of talking to a chatbot—escalating public and legislative concern about kids, AI, and mental health.

• Proposed Legislation:

  • Jesse Paul (Colorado Sun) breaks down proposed Colorado bill:
    • AI chatbots must declare themselves as bots to minors.
    • Bans incentives/rewards for engaging kids; prohibits romantic/sexual roleplay.
    • Mandates crisis response protocols and parental controls.
    • Requires reporting of flagged self-harm/suicidal statements.

• National and Industry Context:

  • Similar laws are proposed or enacted in California, Maine, Utah, New York.
  • Unclear support from tech industry; some participation in drafting process.
  • Enforcement would be under state consumer protection laws, with fines.

---

USA Paralympic Sled Hockey: The Drive for Five

[34:06–43:05]

Key Discussion Points

• Domination and Team Culture:

  • Team USA heads to its fifth consecutive Paralympic gold; has held residency camp in Superior, Colorado.
  • Focus is on upper body strength and relentless practice.

• Veteran Perspective:

  • “We want to win and we won. Like, that's all that matters.” — Josh Pauls, team captain and four-time gold medalist [35:34]
  • “We're so competitive and we're so, so much like a family… I think that's truly what's led to our success.” — Pauls [36:42]

• High Standards for Young Players:

  • “We need [the younger players] to be contributors and we're going to need him to in Milan.” — Declan Farmer [39:09]
  • Farmer recently broke the all-time Paralympic points record.
  • “There's no pressure greater than like the pressure we put on ourselves.” — Farmer [38:24]

---

Spreading Joy: Denver’s Singing Telegram Tradition

[43:26–48:45]

Key Discussion Points

• Profile: Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz):

  • Performer with over 20 years of experience delivering singing telegrams—often for workplace milestones.
  • Uses costumed character and music to create memorable, emotionally resonant moments.

• Unique Position:

  • “That sweet spot between embarrassment and joy is something that Orange Peel likes to find with every gig.” — Sandy Batulga [45:00]
  • “I get to be a part of all these incredible memories and milestone birthdays… end of life. On occasion.” — Orange Peel [47:48]

• Emphasizing Community Experience:

  • “We're collectively creating these memories that are going to live with these people forever.” — Orange Peel [48:45]
  • Music and connection highlighted as antidotes for times of loss.

---

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• “Let's not repeat history. Let's pay attention and not judge people because they may look different from you.” — Carol Furutta [01:15]
• “We were prisoners, basically. And I remember being surrounded by barbed wire.” — Carol Furutta [04:00]
• “Our parents and grandparents… just really suffered. And we were all just put away just because of the way we looked.” — Ruth Kawamura [08:06]
• “She was a lovely person, so kind and calm and patient and thoughtful. Just like a poet in every sense of the way you would think of it.” — Lindsey Skirto, about Renee Good [15:06]
• “I can't tell you how many people contact us between like, 10pm and 3am [about home oxygenation].” — Kyle Bassett [18:20]
• “You don't see a lot of retirement homes in the mountains, primarily because it's really difficult on the human body.” — Matt Formato [20:29]
• “A lot of what the CAPE teaches you is like how to empathize with the patient and let them know, know that you want to help them.” — Tia Miller [27:24]
• “We're going to work our tails off while we can… we're so much like a family… that's truly what's led to our success.” — Josh Pauls [36:42]
• “We're collectively creating these memories that are going to live with these people forever.” — Orange Peel Moses [48:45]

---

Key Timestamps for Segments

• Amache Survivors: 00:04–08:51
• Renee Good Remembrance: 08:51–15:54
• Home Oxygenation Trend: 16:34–22:13
• Simulated Patients, Medical Training: 22:14–27:50
• AI Chatbots, Teen Safety: 29:04–33:03
• USA Sled Hockey: 34:06–43:05
• Singing Telegrams: 43:26–48:45

---

Conclusion

This episode of Colorado Matters weaves together powerful historical remembrance, responses to contemporary injustices, innovations in medicine and technology, and a celebration of human resilience and joy. Whether reflecting on unjust chapters or uplifting communities through music or sports, the guests and stories remind listeners to speak up, connect, and support one another.

Transcript

[Andrea Dukakis]

Survivors of the Amache Internment Camp in southeastern Colorado worry history could repeat itself.

[Carol Furutta]

It's very difficult to think that my family went through that. How could that have happened? But I see it happening now somewhat.

[Andrea Dukakis]

It's why they want to tell their stories, especially now. Then the high altitude can be a deterrent for older people who want to live in the mountains.

[Matt Formato]

You don't see a lot of retirement homes in the mountains, primarily because it's really difficult on the human body.

[Andrea Dukakis]

That's why some are buying up an essential element. Plus, we check out a program where special actors play patients to train doctors.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

I've got a headache. It's pounding. Why can't you people do something for me?

[Andrea Dukakis]

This is Colorado Matters from CPR News and krcc. I'm Andrea Dukakis. A Japanese American survivor of the Amache internment camp in southeastern Colorado has a message for the US Government.

[Carol Furutta]

Let's not repeat history. Let's pay attention and not judge people because they may look different from you.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Carol Faruta was featured recently on the In House radio station at the Holly Creek Retirement Community where she lives, and then on Denver 7 News. She sees echoes of her past in the Trump administration's current immigration policy. I sat down with her and fellow Holly Creek resident Ruth Kawamura, who was also confined at Amache.

[Ruth Kawamura]

My name is Ruth Kawamura. I live at Ohala Creek and Centennial, Colorado, and I am 86.

[Carol Furutta]

My name is Carol Furutta. I'm 88 years old.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Like many Japanese Americans who were forcibly apprehended and imprisoned During World War II, both Furuta and Kawamura and their families were housed in multiple internment camps. Faruda's family lived in three.

[Carol Furutta]

I was five when we went into camp. I was from Sacramento. We started out in a place called Wallerga. We rode trucks to Wallerga, which was our first camp. From Wallerga, we went to Tule Lake, which was also California. Both those camps are California. Tule Lake was a huge camp, and we stayed there until, I think it was being decided where were we going to send these people? And my family was sent to Amache, Colorado, and we rode there on a train from California to Amache. And my sister tells me that the shades were drawn. I don't know what the purpose was for that.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Faruta says her memories of Amache are spotty.

[Carol Furutta]

I don't remember too much except it was extremely hot, extremely cold and windy. We lived in barracks and our living quarters were very bare. Every camp was divided into blocks, and all the meals and the bathrooms were Communal. We had no restrooms or running water in our quarters. It was just communal life in unpleasant quarters.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Veruta says sometimes she finds it hard to believe that chapter in her life and in American history.

[Carol Furutta]

We were not able to leave. We were enclosed. We were prisoners, basically. And I remember being surrounded by barbed wire. And I believe There were about 10 watchtowers with a soldier up there and a rifle. And I do remember an occasional trip we would get on a bus, it had to be, and we could go to the closest town and we could do a little shopping. I mean, that was the only time we were ever permitted to leave.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Ruth Kawamura was 2 years old when her family was taken from their home in Los Angeles.

[Ruth Kawamura]

I really don't remember because I was so young, but we did go to first the Santa Anita racetracks, and that's where we lived with thousands, I guess. And it was just a horse dog. I hear that the smell was just hard, and you had no privacy, you know, and it was just a small little space. I had a little brother, two years younger, who was a babe, and he, of course, wasn't walking or anything. We stayed there for several months, and then we were sent to Amache, Colorado, by train.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Kawamura says even after they left Amache, she didn't talk with her family about their time there.

[Ruth Kawamura]

I never did ask my parents about camp or, you know, what they went through, and I really regret that. But they didn't talk about it. I think it was so hard on them, just leaving everything in just a few days to leave their home and carry a suitcase or two with all the belongings and board a train, not knowing where they were going.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Carol Faruta's family lived with that same code of silence.

[Carol Furutta]

I had no idea why we were there, and I didn't ask my parents. I don't have memories of questioning them. My parents never spoke about it. I don't know what the reason was. I think a lot of the Japanese culture, there was a lot of shame. Although the shame wasn't theirs, it was our government's.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Furuta sees glimmers of the Japanese American experience during World War II in the often indiscriminate efforts by the US government to round up immigrants.

[Carol Furutta]

Today, when I think about it, it's very difficult to think that my family went through that. How could that have happened? But I see it happening now somewhat. I don't know how you can just walk in and arrest somebody. And of course, there's no war. And the Japanese were. We were seen as the enemy because we were different and because we were at war with Japan and they thought that we would. I think they questioned our loyalty. And we were all American citizens. We were all American citizens except for our parents, which is what my situation was. The immigrants were not allowed to get their citizenship. It was against the law. When I look back on it now, I think how difficult it must have been for my parents. And I just feel so badly for my parents who were immigrants and did not speak English well. And the whole history during that time to me is painful.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Ruth Kawamura shares those feelings.

[Ruth Kawamura]

I think it was a terrible experience and injustice. Our parents and grandparents, the older people, just really suffered, and we were all just put away just because of the way we looked. They felt we were enemies.

[Andrea Dukakis]

After they were released from Amache, Kawamura and Furuta's family settled in what's now the LoDo section of Denver. It's where many Japanese Americans who'd been at Amache lived at the time. Carol Furuta hopes that by sharing her pain and reminding people about what happened to families like hers, she can also

[Carol Furutta]

appeal to fellow know what's going on and speak up.

[Andrea Dukakis]

That's Carol Faruta, who is 88 years old, and Ruth Kawamura, who is 86. They were both forcibly taken from their homes and sent to Camp Amache in southeastern Colorado. It's where many Japanese American families were confined during World War II. Furuda and Kawamura live at the Holly Creek Retirement Community in Centennial. In January, Renee Good was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, prompting a nationwide outcry. Good grew up in Colorado singing in the school choir. Those who were close to her remember a poet, singer, mother and friend. CPR's Elaine Tassi has the story.

[Elaine Tassi]

Renee Goode was known as Renee Ganger when she was a student at Coronado High School in Colorado Springs. She was in choir and musical theater and got his senior year solo in 2006.

[Ruth Schubach]

Her singing voice was beautiful, but she was always stuck in the back row. But this did not dim Renee's light. She still auditioned for every solo and was finally given the opportunity to share her voice.

[Elaine Tassi]

That's Ruth Schubach, the school choir pianist. Renee also performed in school plays with classmate Paul Goggin.

[Paul Goggin]

We were both in A West side Story. I just always remember her as just such a caring person without a mean bone in her body.

[Elaine Tassi]

And she will never get to perform again. On January 7, at age 37, Renee Nicole Macklin Good was the first of two people with roots in Colorado to be killed by ICE during a raid in Minneapolis. The other person is ICU nurse Alex Preddy, whose roots are in Arvada. The killing filled Renee's family and friends with grief and recollections of her as a kind, artistic person pursuing her dreams. High school friend Lindsey Skirto said. They took AP Statistics together, so she

[Lindsey Skirto]

and another friend of mine would kind of sit in the back together. She was a very passionate musician and really into the arts. We just like sit in the car if it was like a lunch period and she would like teach me about indie bands and things like that.

[Elaine Tassi]

Lindsay grabs the yearbook and reads what Renee wrote.

[Lindsey Skirto]

Oh my Lindsay, I feel so blessed to have you in my life. I know for sure I wouldn't have made it through stats or choir without you. I'm hoping one of these days we can go watch the clouds go by on a beach beach in Northern Ireland.

[Elaine Tassi]

Renee fell in love with a classmate, recalls Paul Goggin.

[Paul Goggin]

Her first marriage was to a guy that we were all in choir with in high school.

[Elaine Tassi]

His name was Justin. They married soon after graduation at the governor's residence at Boettcher Mansion in Denver at the request of Renee, or Nene, as some family called her. Ruth Schubach played at the wedding.

[Ruth Schubach]

She descended those center stairs to her family and friends gathered around at the base of the stairs.

[Elaine Tassi]

The newlyweds were too young to drink, recalls Justin's sister Megan, who served as a bridesmaid soon after he joined the Air Force. They spent some time apart when he deployed. Then Justin was stationed at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs. Soon they had a daughter, a few years later, a son, Justin's sister Megan.

[Megan Shepherd]

So Renee was there all the time, watching movies, playing video games. We had Thanksgiving and Christmases with them.

[Elaine Tassi]

The marriage between Renee and Justin lasted for about 10 years. Renee then went to Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Her kids stayed behind with their dad in Colorado. Renee studied creative writing and worked several jobs, her fiction professor, Kent Wascom, told Minnesota Public Radio. She uplifted her classmates.

[Tom Hess]

She was incredibly warm with her peers, generous with their work, and was just a bright and engaging presence that made folks feel good.

[Elaine Tassi]

Renee married Tim Macklin and had a son. During school breaks, they visited family in Colorado.

[Megan Shepherd]

We were able to be a big mixed family, even though Renee had moved away and my niece and nephew would still go over during holiday breaks in summertime. They did their best to make it all work.

[Elaine Tassi]

But that relationship didn't last. Renee and Tim separated soon after Tim died. He was just 36. Under her married name, Renee Macklin. She began publishing poetry.

[Carol Furutta]

Solipsis, sunsets and coastal jungles that are tercets from cicadas and pentameter from the hairy.

[Elaine Tassi]

That's from her poem on learning to dissect fetal pigs. It won the 2020 Academy of American Poets Prize. After college, Renee left Virginia and went to Missouri, Canada and then Minnesota, where she was in a domestic partnership with Becca Good, whose name Renee took. They hadn't been there long when she was shot and killed. At a memorial held a few days later, Ruth spoke.

[Ruth Schubach]

I played the piano for the choir program at Coronado when Renee was in high school. On January 7th, just four days ago, Renee Good paused in a driveway. She put the car in reverse, told the agent, I'm not mad at you, and pulled out. An ICE agent fired into her car, shooting to kill.

[Elaine Tassi]

Now her loved ones in Colorado are coping with the loss again. Former sister in law Megan Shepherd.

[Megan Shepherd]

My mom called me because she saw it on the news, which is a really crazy way to find out. And I don't know if I fully even grieved it because it's been so public and political, but it does come in ways and it's absolutely horrible. It never should have happened.

[Elaine Tassi]

Her high school friend Lindsey says she can't shake the sadness.

[Lindsey Skirto]

We still messaged each other pretty recently. Social media, I think, like within the last six months. It's really tragic what happened. She was a lovely person, so kind and calm and patient and thoughtful. Just like a poet in every sense of the way you would think of it.

[Elaine Tassi]

Her family is represented by the same Chicago law firm working on behalf of some of the victims in the Club Q shooting. Attorney Sarah Raiche is focusing on the government and the ICE agent who fired the fatal shots.

[Sarah Raiche]

We're looking at every possible means to

[Andrea Dukakis]

pursue accountability against both the government and Jonathan Ross and any other entity that took part in allowing this tragedy to take place. And we are still determining what the monetary relief sought will be.

[Elaine Tassi]

A GoFundMe for her loved ones has surpassed $1.5 million. Becca Good declined to be interviewed. She released a statement describing Renee as being made of sunshine and said the community they'd begun building in Minnesot, Minnesota, has been taken from her forever. Last month, the band U2 released the song American Obituary in Renee's honor. I'm elaine tassi, cpr news.

[Andrea Dukakis]

America will rise. And I'm Andrea Dukakis. This is Colorado Matters from CPR News and krcc. This is Colorado Matters from CPR News and krcc. I'm Andrea Dukakis. In some of Colorado's toniest alpine neighborhoods, you can get anything. One thing more ski town homeowners are seeking out a way to beat altitude sickness. Colorado Matters Western Slope producer Tom Hess has been looking into the growing trend of home oxygenation and. Hi, Tom.

[Tom Hess]

Hello.

[Andrea Dukakis]

We're talking about residents in ski towns who are adding these systems to increase oxygen flow inside their homes. Is this a growth industry?

[Tom Hess]

Well, certainly the people who install these systems say so. This technology has been around for a bit, but it's really starting to show up in more places. You may recall seeing that Four Seasons Hotel that's going in at Mountain Village, right at the base of Telluride. It's this billion dollar project. One of the things they're marketing is that it's going to be a fully oxygenated hotel. That's sort of what made me wonder how prolific this was getting.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Wow, a hotel doing this. How many people are using this kind of technology?

[Tom Hess]

Kyle Bassett is the coo, the chief operating officer of Altitude Control Technologies. They're actually the ones doing that Mountain Village hotel project. And he says that these projects have just kind of skyrocketed since they took over the company about five years ago. When they started, it was a few dozen installations a year, and now it's hundreds. And Bassett told me a lot of these requests come at night.

[Matt Formato]

I would tell you the majority of our interest comes from people who can't sleep. I can't tell you how many people contact us between like, 10pm and 3am half of our inquiries are people that are up late at night in the mountains and, like, can't sleep in the mountains. And. And we know that happens, and we've optimized around that, and they find us.

[Tom Hess]

And that's really what this technology is for. Bassett says they're not really conquering altitude sickness entirely, but people do tell them they sleep better if they've got more oxygen in their room at night. So they may still have a tough time on the ski slopes, but maybe they're not so tired when they get there.

[Andrea Dukakis]

So how did this become a trend?

[Tom Hess]

So Bassett told me you can actually trace the roots back to endurance sports. Decades ago, people like competitive cyclists or runners that lived at sea level, were at a disadvantage if they had to go to a high altitude race. Suddenly you're racing the French Alps. It's not quite like training at San Diego. So they started finding ways to even things out. Cyclists were like, sleeping in specialty tents to simulate high elevation, taking the oxygen out of their room. And Bassett Tells the story of a guy in Florida who set up a room to simulate high altitude training. And his neighbor had a home in Aspen, and they sort of started wondering if it could be done in reverse. And so this is basically done by pumping more oxygen into a room, like, say, a bedroom. And it's seeking to simulate an elevation that is closer to like 2,000ft then 10,000ft.

[Andrea Dukakis]

And I also think this is used in medical situations in terms of hyperbaric therapy as well. But I assume this is for people who have some extra cash.

[Tom Hess]

It is reconfiguring a house to have oxygen flowing into the bedrooms can. I mean, the prices are all over the map, but you hear numbers as low as 20 grand to as high as $200,000. And it varies depending on the project. I spoke with one installer who did like a six bedroom home with two oxygen bars in Summit County. But Bassett says the clientele is growing beyond tourists. That includes ski town residents who are getting older.

[Matt Formato]

They call us and tell us that, hey, I've lived here for 50 years and my doctor tells me to, you know, wear oxygen on my face or move to Florida. Being able to help those people is very rewarding. You know, myself included. I want to retire in the mountains. You don't see a lot of retirement homes in the mountains, primarily because it's really difficult on the human body.

[Tom Hess]

Matt Formato is the founder of Mile High Training, and he says that the research shows that blood oxygen levels decrease with age.

[Matt Formato]

And so for those people who maybe felt okay at 55, by the time they hit 60 or 65, the altitude is starting to affect them to a greater degree.

[Tom Hess]

Now. It's obviously an expensive proposition still. And it's also, it's not the same as like being on that compressed bottled oxygen that you sometimes see in hospitals. But Bassett says he is seeing some interest growing.

[Andrea Dukakis]

You also looked into the safety implications of all of this. What did you find?

[Tom Hess]

Yeah, I was just kind of curious about that, because increasing oxygen in a building, it sounds like, is there a fire hazard there? And in a way, it's technically true that more oxygen there means something will burn a little better. But again, this isn't compressed bottled oxygen. Like, you see the warning labels on these are like concentrators that then pipe oxygen into a room. There are some fire codes and some regulations around, and you can add more protections on these bigger projects, like, say, that full hotel. Those are treated a little bit more like how you treat oxygen in a hospital. But I did check with, like, Summit County Fire. And they said it's not a huge concern because it's not really increasing O2 levels by that much.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Tom, thanks so much. This is all very interesting.

[Tom Hess]

Thank you.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Tom Hess is our Western Slope producer in Grand Junction. A friend told me something in passing recently that I had never heard about. She said part of her daughter's training in med school involved simulated medical scenarios. Special actors called standardized patients would play out scenes while medical providers and students would test their skills. I wondered if it's anything like the TV show the Pit. Forceps.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

Full suction.

[Carol Furutta]

Med student down.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

Welcome to the pit.

[Tom Hess]

Let's go save some lives.

[Andrea Dukakis]

So I went to the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus to a place called the Cape, short for the center for Advancing Professional Excellence. And while it wasn't exactly the Pit, it gave me some insight into the rigors of medicine. I walked into a room set up to look like an operating room where a mannequin lay on a bed meant to be a woman in labor. In a few minutes, a real OBGYN would walk in and face a series of scenarios with actors playing different roles. Dennis Vanderhaoen explained his role.

[Tom Hess]

I'm actually going to be playing the

[Declan Farmer]

father for each of the scenarios that he does with the mannequins. So I'll be talking to the mannequin as if she was my spouse partner.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Van Der Howen was in the delivery room when the doctor was called in. A CAPE staff member playing the nurse gives an update to the doctor on the patient's status. Now, this is Michelle. She is 38 weeks. I checked her an hour ago and her dilation was up to 8. Devrakeys who heads up the program sat in an adjacent control room with a one way glass window facing facing the delivery room. She spoke through a microphone, acting out the voice of the mannequin. In other words, the patient.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

I am starting to feel pressure though. I think this baby is coming.

[Andrea Dukakis]

The OBGYN here today was required by a medical board to undergo an evaluation to get his license renewed. No one at the training knows the circumstances and you won't hear the doctor's voice due to privacy reasons.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

I think it is time. Oh boy. I really feel like I need to push, Doc. Should I push?

[Andrea Dukakis]

The mannequin can be programmed to simulate a seizure. It can mimic human pulses and breathing and it bleeds and sweats. The doctor undergoes four scenarios with different patients, each one more intense than the last. His next patient, Gabriela, again played by Keys, gets upset when he tells her she'll have to have a C section.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

Oh, no, no, no, no. I don't want a C section. No. They said I couldn't have it natural. I don't want one.

[Andrea Dukakis]

In this scenario, there's no real life C section. But the doctors evaluated on his communication with the patient and his clinical decisions. The patient in the next scenario poses more challenges for the doctor. He asks her if she has a headache.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

Yes, I've been saying that since I got here. I've got a headache. It's a pounding. Why can't you people do something for me? I can't. The lights are killing me right now.

[Andrea Dukakis]

The OB presses on the mannequin's abdominal area.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

Ow. Ow.

[Carol Furutta]

Stop it.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Later, a video of all the scenarios will be evaluated by physicians and the results will determine next steps. First year physician assistants are also training at the cape. Today they go in and out of mock exam rooms, seeing patient actors with problems like abdominal pain and trouble breathing.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

Alrighty.

[Ruth Schubach]

So I'm just gonna go ahead and

[Andrea Dukakis]

sort of repeat back what you said

[Tom Hess]

to me just to make sure I'm getting everything correct.

[Actor/Simulated Patient]

Okay.

[Andrea Dukakis]

And let me know if I'm missing any.

[Mother of 13-year-old girl]

Alright.

[Ruth Schubach]

Alright.

[Andrea Dukakis]

So looks like your job unfortunately changed insurances after they get feedback from the patient on their interaction.

[Medical Evaluator]

I did notice at the end you asked me if I had any questions and then you continued to tell me what was going to happen next. So I thought that that would have been a really great open ended question followed by a pause to let me answer. So yes.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Tia Miller is a second year PA student. She says her training at the CAPE has helped her come out of her shell. And one particular encounter taught her why connecting with patients is so important.

[Tia Miller]

I had a patient that was having some like an asthma exacerbation or something and the patient was saying just how much it had affected their activities of daily living. And I was feeling like, oh my God, I want to get to the bottom of this so that you know, this isn't happening. But I didn't vocalize that I wasn't, you know, I'm so sorry that you're going through that. That is a lot of what the CAPE teaches you is like how to empathize with the patient and let them know, know that you want to help them.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Miller says students also practice doing sensitive medical exams with CAPE staff acting as patients.

[Tia Miller]

So we had a simulation where we did a prostate exam on a real person. And so I think that there was some discomfort on both ends and being able to talk through that and have someone who can say use sensitive language. Don't say these words when you're doing this with a patient.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Dennis Vanderhaoen, who played the father in the delivery room, appreciates that the medical professionals and the students who come to the CAPE want to learn, and he hopes his work helps them not just with clinical skills, but with the less tangible parts of the job. This is colorado matters from cpr news and krcc. This is Colorado Matters from CPR News and krcc. I'm Andrea Dukakis. When it comes to the Internet, one reality for parents is having to keep an eye on who their kids talk to online. And the rise of AI chatbots has created a new risk. You're going to hear more about that now and a note that this story does talk about self harm. Last fall, a family in Thornton sued Google and the company character AI. That's after they learned their 13 year old daughter had spent months exchanging messages with the chatbot she named Hero. Before taking her own life.

[Mother of 13-year-old girl]

She would mention, I can't do this anymore. I want to die. I just can't keep going. And Hero would give her a pep talk. It was no different than her telling the wall or telling the plant that she was going to take her life. There was nobody there to help.

[Andrea Dukakis]

That was the girl's mother. In an interview with CBS News Colorado,

[Mother of 13-year-old girl]

what was sadness over suicide turned definitely to anger on my part.

[Andrea Dukakis]

The company's recently settled and now state lawmakers have taken up the issue of teens and chatbots. Jesse Paul with the Colorado sun has been covering the bill, which is scheduled to get its first hearing today. He spoke with CPR's Haley May.

[Jesse Paul]

So what would this bill do?

[Paul Goggin]

A few big things starting next year would require that AI chatbots make it clear to younger users that they are interacting with AI and not a real person. It would also ban tech companies from using incentives to try to keep kids using their chatbots. And then the bill would also ban chatbots from offering rewards to increase engagement with kids. And it would also prohibit platforms from engaging in romantic role play with teens.

[Jesse Paul]

And what about the mental health risks associated with chatbots? Does the bill require companies to do more to protect younger users? Mental health?

[Paul Goggin]

Yeah, that's definitely another big aim of this legislation, if not like the reason it was introduced. The bill would require tech companies to come up with protocols for how to handle chatbot users who say things that suggest they're considering suicide or self harm. That would have to include offering suicide prevention resources. Right on the chatbot companies would also have to develop Parental controls for younger chatbot users. And chatbot companies would have to file reports with the state about how often their chatbots are flagging suicidal or self harm behavior. Because right now it's kind of a wild west like you read it in news reports. But I don't think anyone has a good accounting of how often this kind of troubling stuff is happening.

[Jesse Paul]

Right. Okay. How's the state planning to enforce this?

[Paul Goggin]

So violations under the bill would be treated as a Colorado Consumer Protection act infraction, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 per occurrence. You could definitely see how like, that would add up very quickly if a company wasn't complying. State Representative Sean Camacho, a Denver Democrat and main sponsor of the bill, said he and his colleagues actually worked with tech companies to draft the bill, and they hope to draft it in a way that tech companies could reasonably implement and enforce.

[Jesse Paul]

Okay. Can Colorado really set rules though, for companies that aren't actually based here?

[Paul Goggin]

It's a good question, and this comes up all the time with legislation. But in this case, similar things are already happening in other states. So it wouldn't be a huge leap for Colorado to pass this bill and have these regulations. So states like California, Maine, Utah, New York have enacted laws regulating AI chatbots. California, for instance, has the required disclosure for minors interacting with AI chatbots. New York put guardrails around AI companies and started its own suicide prevention fund. Representative Camacho said his bill for Colorado incorporates parts of those other states bills. And so he feels like it wouldn't be a huge leap for these tech companies to implement it here.

[Jesse Paul]

Okay, and on the other side, what are tech companies and industry groups saying about the bill?

[Paul Goggin]

That's a good question. And to be honest, we don't really know. I did reach out to these companies, Microsoft, Google, OpenAI, and they didn't respond when I asked about how they felt about this policy. But I think it's fair to assume that they're not going to like more regulations. Representative Camacho said he worked with tech on the bill, but I didn't get the sense from him that they were like, embracing this with huge open arms. They're not super excited about it.

[Jesse Paul]

Okay, Jesse, we know that Governor Jared Polis has been pretty unfriendly towards laws that try to regulate online companies, even when it's in the name of protecting kids. If we look back to the last session, for example, he vetoed a bill that would have made social media companies do more about illegal activity on their platforms. So Is there any sense of where he is on this bill?

[Paul Goggin]

In late February, he told me he was unfamiliar with the legislation. I think you should take that with a grain of salt because sometimes that's the governor's excuse when he doesn't want to comment on a bill. He said, quote, as a value, I think access to artificial intelligence can and does play a constructive role for people who use it the right way, Unquote. So take that as you will.

[Andrea Dukakis]

That was Jesse Paul of the Colorado sun speaking with CPR's Haley Mae. The bill he talked about is scheduled for its first reading today in the state legislature. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you can reach out for help by calling or texting. 9, 8, 8. This is Colorado Matters from CPR News and KRCC. You're with Colorado Matters from CPR News and KRCCC. I'm Andrea Dukakis. The drive to five, that's the theme for the USA Sled Hockey Team at the Winter Paralympics in Milano, Cortina in Italy. The team has won four straight Paralympic gold medals since 2010 and is seeking a fifth. Team USA cruised through the preliminary round and plays the Czech Republic in the semifinals tomorrow morning. The team held its training camp in Superior. CPR's Tony Gorman visited them to see what makes them one of the most dominant teams in the world.

[Sandy Batulga]

Yeah, back towards your hips.

[Tony Gorman]

The US Paralympics led hockey team is going through a morning workout.

[Sandy Batulga]

Not 1, 1, 2, just single 1 1,000, 2 1,000.

[Tony Gorman]

Most of their focus is on upper body strength. Declan Farmer, a three time gold medalist and a veteran on the team, says it's all part of the regimen.

[Declan Farmer]

We use a lot of back muscles in sled hockey because we're pulling ourselves. Really. You know, it looks like we're kind of pushing ourselves across the ice, but it's really a pulling motion. So you have to have a really strong back. Gotta have a strong core. It's a contact sport.

[Tom Hess]

Two, three on each side.

[Tony Gorman]

Those sounds of that medicine ball beating against the wall are similar to the team beating the competition on the international level.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Have a good practice, boys.

[Tom Hess]

The one that little warm up y.

[Tony Gorman]

Team USA has won the last four Paralympic gold medals in sled hockey. The pressure is on to win their fifth in a row. But if you ask captain Josh Pauls

[Josh Pauls]

about pressure, I don't know that there's necessarily pressure. I mean, obviously it seem, it probably seems like that from the outside he would know.

[Tony Gorman]

He's the only one on the team who has been along for the ride. Since the streak started at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, he's also been there for the lows, like losing a shutout streak in Sochi in 2014.

[Josh Pauls]

Jen gave up a goal in one of our first games. Gen Lee, our goalie now, and he was like, hey, guys, I'm sorry I broke the streak. And we were all like, who cares, man? Like, we want to win and we won. Like, that's all that matters.

[Tony Gorman]

And grinding out a comeback win against Canada in 2018 in Pyeongchang, being down

[Josh Pauls]

for most of the game, one nothing. Having the Canadians hit the post on the empty net when we pulled Steve because we needed the extra attacker then to go down and have Declan farmer score with 37 seconds left to tie the game.

[Tony Gorman]

After winning another gold medal In Beijing in 2022, USA is looking at winning five in a row in Milano. Cortina. Paul stinks. The team's drive for five is cool, but that's not his focus, nor is it the focus of his head coach, David Hoffman. He says if the team focuses on the streak, they may not get their best performance.

[David Hoffman]

I think sometimes in sports you get caught up, you know, focusing on the end result and then. And you don't get the. You don't get the performance you want. So I think for us, you know, I mean, we're trying to really focus on the performance and if we can play as well as we can, you know, we believe we've got a chance.

[Tony Gorman]

Paul's describes this year's team as special because he knows they will outwork anyone on the ice.

[Josh Pauls]

We're going to work our tails off while we can. We're going to taper at the right moments. We're going to take it easy when we need to take it easy. But we're also, we're so competitive and we're so, so much like a family that. Like that. I think that's truly what's led to our success so far.

[Tony Gorman]

Family definitely defines this year's Paralympic team. They held their residency camp in Superior, Colorado, just outside of Boulder. Over the last two months, some players like Farmer have made the move to Colorado full time to build a stronger bond with each other. Malik Jones didn't have to go far. Born and raised in Aurora, he was one of the team's brightest stars. At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, he had four goals and an assist in his Paralympic debut.

[Malik Jones]

We're the top dogs of the Paralympics, top dogs internationally as well. So I think that puts a lot of pressure on us. As you know, human beings as a team. But, but knowing who these guys are, knowing who I am, who everyone else is, I think everyone is ready to step up to the plate and take on the challenge. I don't think anyone here on this team shies away from any challenge.

[Tony Gorman]

Having a target on your back comes with the territory of being the top dog. Winning their fifth gold medal in a row has an even bigger meaning for the country in sport. The team must follow thrilling performances from USA's men's and women's hockey teams who reach the top of the podium at the Winter Olympics. If the sled hockey team could duplicate that success, the United States would be the first country to sweep the sport of hockey at both Winter Games. They have a great shot in accomplishing that feat. Farmer says their expectations are still the same as their able bodied counterparts.

[Declan Farmer]

USA Hockey expects a lot from us. I think they've, they've supported us. We've kind of been the team that's been most consistently winning for them for their marketing and philanthropy efforts. There's no pressure greater than like the pressure we put on ourselves. That pressure isn't necessarily just to like win gold. It's to be the best team we can be. We worked really hard. I don't think we have any regrets in like how we've approached our preparation. So it really just comes down to executing and the tiny amount of time you get to show your stuff on the ice.

[Tony Gorman]

The team has a mix of older and younger players. As one of the veterans on the team, Farmer's message to the younger players. Milano Katina isn't a vacation.

[Declan Farmer]

They can't just come in and be like, okay, like you know, I'm the youngest guy on a team that's won four straight gold medals at the Paralympics. Like I'm just kind of here for fun. But you know, we need him to be contributors and we're going to need him to in Milan. Like we need them to be the difference makers.

[Tony Gorman]

One of those young players is Landon Utke. The Albert Lee Minnesota native was one of the last selections to make the team. The 18 year old defenseman has been learning a lot from the veterans at camp.

[Landon Utke]

Yeah, there's definitely a lot of pressure even just here at like, even here at our like camp. Like I'm like the young guy, I'm the rookie. It's just like I, I know that like all these guys are just that much better than me. It's just, it's hard to like get it like out of my head. But once like I can like do that. I feel like I'll be like a lot better.

[Tony Gorman]

The team had a good season leading up to the Winter Paralympics, but that doesn't mean they haven't been tested. Last year they won the International Para Hockey cup in Czechia. Jones says they struggled in some areas.

[Malik Jones]

You know, we did start off a little sluggish, you know, had trouble finishing some games and stuff like that but, but we did come out, end up winning those games but like, you know, just not being able to put it all together and finish how we normally do. But I think towards the end of the tournament we got that together. We were able to finish those games how we want and good start to the season and hopefully we can, you know, elevate and peak at the right moments.

[Tony Gorman]

During the seven week residency camp, the team was able to refine and focus on several areas. Hoff believed they could be better defensively and in the neutral ice zones.

[David Hoffman]

We're a team that possesses the puck a lot, but we worked really, really hard throughout this camp on being better when we don't have the puck and how can we be harder to play against. And so, you know, it's trying to refine all of those things.

[Tom Hess]

You can follow a guy in five on three still, but you can't commit as much as five on four because if you get beat now we're in trouble down there. Now it's a four on two, right? Questions on that? Okay, let's go five on three down here. Do we need to go through it slow or.

[Tony Gorman]

Practices at camp were intense and competitive. Paul's wouldn't have it any other way.

[Josh Pauls]

You want to be your best for them and they want to be their best for you. And so like I, I told the guys a little bit earlier, like our residency program because it's seven weeks long, it's an exercise in frustration. Like we're going to get way more reps, we're going to get way more screw scrutiny because we have the coaches here and you're, there's just naturally going to be more pressure because you want to perform like that's our job, right, is to perform on the ice playing hockey. But then Declan gave up a puck and then we just let him go and he got it right back in the neutral zone and we let him skate in like when your job isn't done just because he got rid of the puck. We gotta stay on those guys.

[Tony Gorman]

In the midst of all the chaos. Paul's knows his team isn't perfect. He wants them to have the mindset of a goldfish when it comes to mistakes on the ice. Be the happiest animal in the world and don't remember what happened 10 seconds ago. It's something that Utke had to learn during camp.

[Landon Utke]

There's a lot of stuff that like, I like. I'm like, kind of like scared to like try like in practice because, like, you know, you don't want to mess up in front of everybody. But we have like these skill pad skates. It's just, it's really good for like getting out of my comfort zone. Using my left hand is like one of my biggest things. But yeah, they've just been telling me to get off of my comfort zone, do all that.

[Tony Gorman]

And so far that has worked for the team. Emilano Cortina, Team USA beat Italy, Germany and China during the preliminary round. They outscored their opponents 34. 2. Farmer is the team's leading scorer with 11 goals and seven assists. He also hit a career milestone after he finished their game against China with a hat trick and two assists. He now has 58 career points at the Paralympics, which is an all time record. They hope to extend that record during Friday's semifinal against Czechia and if they make it the gold medal game on Sunday. I'm Tony Gorman. CPR News.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Singing telegrams incite all kinds of emotions. Not always predictable. That's something that performer Orange Peel Moses of Denver knows well. He's been delivering singing telegrams for more than 20 years. CPR's Sandy Batulga accompanied him to one of his deliveries.

[Sandy Batulga]

I'm guessing they might be in a meeting.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

Orange Peel Moses, legal name George Swartz, has been delivering singing telegrams for 21 years. On this day, he busted out his hippie outfit, a long wig, tie, dye shirt and denim cutoffs to play a gig at Barefoot Public Relations in Denver.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Did you guys know that Tara's been here for five years?

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

He's delivered her four telegrams to the firm over the past nine years. This time it was for Tara Risley, a senior design specialist at the firm. She blushed while Orange Peel serenaded her. Sarah Hogan and Corey Streetman are barefoot PR's co founders. It's a company tradition to have Orange Peel sing to their employees on their five year workaversaries.

[Tia Miller]

Every five years.

[Andrea Dukakis]

It's so fun and so it's something to look forward to. So this is our fourth employee we've done it with. Yeah.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

Risley knew the day was coming for her.

[Lindsey Skirto]

We all said this day.

[Sandy Batulga]

Did you know it was gonna be Today.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

But she appreciated the gesture, even if it made her a bit uncomfortable.

[Sarah Raiche]

I shy away from the spotlight, and so having you sing to me on my five year anniversary. Yeah, no, it brought a lot of joy. And it also shows me how appreciative my team is of the work that we do here and our contributions.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

That sweet spot between embarrassment and joy is something that Orange Peel likes to find with every gig.

[Sandy Batulga]

It feels a little uncomfortable to be embarrassed sometimes. Right? But you also deserve to be celebrated. Sometimes Someone that cares about you wants you to be celebrated. Maybe you feel a little uncomfortable, but people that care about you want to celebrate you.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

Spreading joy is part of the reason why Orange Peel Moses chose that stage name for himself.

[Sandy Batulga]

I was a freshman in college, and it was in between my freshman and sophomore year when I read this magazine article about growing miniature orange trees. And at the end of the article, it went into a little bit of color psychology and it said that orange was the color of eternal youth. And then it was an appetite stimulator and it was a mood enhancer. And I just instantly resonated with all those things. And I decided that that was the point of no return. That was my. My sign to keep going.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

For Wriothesley at Barefoot pr, he sang multiple songs, including thank you for Being a Friend by Andrew Gold. Getting people to sing together is one of Orange Peel's goals in this job. He still has fun, even when he has to sing Happy Birthday over and over again.

[Sandy Batulga]

So that's one of the reasons why I'll even sing the traditional Happy Birthday song every time, because I want people to be able to sing Happy Birthday together.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

The last song Orange Peel sang for Wriothesley was Ripple by the Grateful Dead. Wrisley hugged her boss, Corey Streetman, and they both cried while listening. Her five year workaversary took place just a few days after Alex Preddy was shot and killed by federal immigration agents on the streets of Minneapolis. It was weighing on her mind throughout her singing telegram delivery.

[Sarah Raiche]

You know, I think more than ever, we need music in schools, in life, and, yeah, public radio, you know, just all the things, music.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

Orange Peel says that, yes, delivering singing telegrams is a job that pays the bills.

[Sandy Batulga]

You know, it pays well for the time that's involved generally as well, but

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

it's also a tangible way to spread joy.

[Sandy Batulga]

Why would I ever stop? I get to be a part of all these incredible memories and milestone birthdays and, you know, anniversaries and Valentine's Day promotions and retirements and even end of life. On occasion. It's just I'm incredibly honored to be continually asked to participate in all of these occasions and enhance them as much as I can. We're collectively it's not just me because, you know, the customers are helping me fine tune what I'm going to do. And then sometimes the audience is singing along and or interacting. We're collectively creating these memories that are going to live with these people forever.

[Orange Peel Moses (George Swartz)]

Sandy putulga, cpr news.

[Andrea Dukakis]

Many thanks for joining us today and to the colorado matters team.

[Tony Gorman]

Sandy batulga, tyler bender, carl bielek, anthony

[Tom Hess]

cotton, pete kramer, zan huckpechony, matt herz, tom hess, michael hughes, pedro lumbrano, shane

[Andrea Dukakis]

rumsey, haley sanchez, chandra thomas whitfield, ryan warner. And I'm andrea dukakis. This is cpr news and kr.