Lucas Brady Woods
News DirectorOriginally from Southern California, Lucas spent the last decade living in New York City, which is where he started his journalism career. He's been an audio journalism junkie for as long as he can remember, but really fell in love with reporting radio news at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he received his master's degree. After moving to Montezuma County in early 2021, he's reported on a variety of issues here in the Four Corners, including healthcare, housing, and the megadrought. Before he moved here, he covered healthcare in New York City, including at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic there. Regardless of the topic he's covering, Lucas' work focuses on serving the public with responsible, factual reporting.
Before he became a journalist, Lucas produced indie movies, documentaries, and commercials. He's also had a lifelong fascination with history and, despite living in the city for so long, with nature as well. He's been spending his free time exploring all that the Four Corners region has to offer - especially the ancient sites and natural beauty - and loving every minute of it.
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The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to climb in Colorado, with a vast majority of patients unvaccinated; The Navajo Nation Council’s fall legislative session has adjourned, but not before it passed the Air Is Life Act this week. -
Election season is in full swing in Colorado and some key deadlines are fast approaching; Colorado Governor Jared Polis has activated a small national guard unit to help protect the cyber security of the upcoming election.
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Law enforcement in Southwest Colorado is facing an alarming rise in calls related to situations like overdoses, domestic violence, and mental health crises. For example, there was an almost 75% increase in overdose calls and an almost 22% increase in calls regarding suicide threats between 2019 and 2020. That's according to a group of local law enforcement leaders and mental health professionals that are spearheading a Community Intervention Program to address the issue. One of those law enforcement leaders is chief of the Cortez Police Department, Vernon Knuckles. KSJD's Lucas Brady Woods sat down with Chief Knuckles to learn more about this new program.
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The nation’s top authority on drought has released its operating plan for the next five years; Southwest Colorado is experiencing a surge of COVID-19 infections, according to Southwest Health System’s Director of Infection Control, Marc Meyer.
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Only about 12 percent of energy production in the US comes from renewable sources like wind and solar. Many people hope increasing that number will help the world avoid the most serious effects of climate change. But a new University of Utah study says it can’t be the only solution.
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Ballots for the November election will start hitting Colorado mailboxes this weekend; Mesa Verde National Park has begun operations to relocate trespass livestock from the park.
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October marks the start of a new calendar for those who measure and manage water in the Western US, and much of the region remains in drought at the beginning of the new “water year"; Friday is the deadline to apply for the Cortez Community Grants Program.
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Classes at Kemper Elementary School in Cortez are being moved online due to an outbreak of COVID-19 throughout the school; The U.S. Senate’s energy subcommittee on water and power held a hearing in Washington DC on Wednesday about ongoing drought conditions.
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The Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc held an event on Thursday to mark the first six weeks of the school’s inaugural academic year; Southwest Health System in Cortez held a clinic on Thursday offering booster shots of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer.
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Colorado is one big step closer to having new congressional districts after a politically diverse committee agreed on a new district map late Tuesday night; The Montezuma-Cortez RE-1 School District has rescheduled its open house event for the public to meet the candidates running for school board.
