Alex Hager

Radio Journalist

Fort Collins, CO

I report on the Colorado River and water in the West for KUNC in Colorado. Before that, I was a reporter and host at Aspen Public Radio, and worked as a "fisheries reporter" for KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska. In my four years at Elon University in North Carolina, I had extensive reporting experience with Elon News Network.

Alex Hager

Radio Journalist

Fort Collins, CO

The 'power of aridity' is bringing a Colorado River dam to its knees
Throughout the history of the American West, water issues have shown their ability to both unite and divide communities. As an imbalance between water supplies and demands grows in the region, KUNC is committed to covering the stories that emerge. Deep in
KUNC
The Colorado River Misses Its Snow
This segment is part of The State of Science, a series featuring science stories from public radio stations across the United States. This story, by Alex Hager, originally appeared on KUNC, an NPR station in Northern Colorado. High in the Rocky Mountains,
Science Friday
Why heavy winter rain and snow won't be enough to pull the West out of a megadrought
This winter, the West has been slammed by wet weather. Heavy rains have pummeled California, and the Rocky Mountains are getting buried with snow. That's good news for the Colorado River, where that moisture hints at a possible springtime boost for massiv
NPR
The Southwest is running out of fresh water. Could the ocean provide a cure?
Throughout the history of the American West, water issues have shown their ability to both unite and divide communities. As an imbalance between water supplies and demands grows in the region, KUNC is committed to covering the stories that emerge. It's a
KUNC
Many tribal homes don't have clean water, and the road to getting it is lined with hurdles
The road leading out of Albuquerque, New Mexico turns from city to desert in the blink of an eye. One minute, office parks give way to houses and apartments. The next, those homes give way to scrubby desert bushes and dusty, beige plains that melt into low mountains on the horizon.
KUNC
Even Colorado's Largest Wildfire Was No Match For Beavers
Deep in the Cameron Peak burn scar, nestled among charred hills, there’s an oasis of green — an idyllic patch of trickling streams that wind through a lush grass field. Apart from a few scorched branches on the periphery, it’s hard to tell that this parti
KUNC
Chignik Bay 'hanging by a thread' in second year of scant fishing
While some parts of Bristol Bay have had record-breaking years, one South Peninsula village hasn't been as lucky. After a year and a half of bad runs, Chignik Bay is worried about the survival of the community. In the village of Chignik Bay, it’s all about salmon. It’s a tiny South Peninsula outpost with a population of about 200 during the summer and about 70 during the winter, and the economy has been built on fishing for over a century.
KDLG
Audio
A Lack Of J-1 Visa Workers Sends Local Businesses Scrambling For Seasonal Help
This winter in Aspen will look a lot less international. Every year, more than 800 seasonal workers come to the Roaring Fork Valley as part of the J-1 visa program. After the Trump administration put a hold on the cultural exchange program in June, local businesses are scrambling to hire enough people for peak season, and hopeful workers are left stuck abroad.
Aspen Public Radio
Audio
Rocky Mountain Why?: Is Aspen Mountain Full Of Old Mining Tunnels?
Imagine you’re at the top of Aspen Mountain. The powder is deep, the sky is blue, and there are are snowy peaks as far as the eye can see. But under your feet, there’s over a century of mining history. It’s been decades since people pulled silver out of Ajax on an industrial scale, but the mountain still holds plenty of reminders from Aspen’s mining heyday. To find them, you don’t have to look too far.
Aspen Public Radio
Audio
As crisis at home intensifies, Venezuelan students watch from afar
Thousands of miles from Elon, a nation is in crisis. Millions of Venezuelans have left their country in a mass exodus, fleeing a plummeting quality of life. While thousands hike across land borders every day, seeking refuge from food and medicine shortages and street violence, others have departed for the United States, and some of them have ended up here in Elon University.
Elon News Network
Audio Writing
Biden And Trump Leading In Donations From Roaring Fork Valley Residents
On Tuesday, voters in fourteen states will pick their preferred democratic candidate to face off against likely GOP nominee President Donald Trump in November’s general election. Colorado is among the states holding a primary on Super Tuesday. Aspen Public Radio analyzed a year of individual contribution data from the Federal Election Commission, a government agency that keeps track of campaign finance information.
Aspen Public Radio
Data
En Español: La tradición se jubila
El acogedor interior de Casa Eme es un hervidero de energía tan potente como el olor a ajo que flota en el aire. Los clientes se arremolinan alrededor de la barra, charlando y riendo mientras la cerveza Cruzcampo fluye del tirador. El clamor solo queda roto cuando una voz profunda canta que un pedido está preparado.
Mas+Menos
Spanish

About

Alex Hager

I currently report on the Colorado River and water in the west for KUNC in Colorado.

Before that, I worked at Aspen Public Radio, where I covered everything from the tourism economy and the environment to pandemic response and the X Games. I was also the substitute host for Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Previously, I worked as a "fisheries reporter" at KDLG in Dillingham, Alaska. At KDLG, I produced a daily show about the salmon fishing industry and reported stories for the Alaska News Nightly statewide broadcast.

In college, I spent four years working with Elon News Network, a converged news organization that publishes a newspaper, multiple live television shows, and digital content.

While at Elon, I also worked as a sports correspondent for the Burlington Times-News, a local newspaper with a 20,000+ circulation.