Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Friday January 8th, and we’re lucky to start the day with you.

Today - Colorado’s coronavirus vaccine rollout is confusing, and frustrating, but according to state leaders - it’s also working.

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we’re going back to January 8th, 1976 when Elvis Presley was in Eagle County celebrating his 41st birthday. There, he indulged in his favorite winter pastime - snowmobiling and while doing so he raised the hackles of a resident who complained to the Vail authorities. The caller happened to be Susan Ford, daughter of the president of the United States.

Now our feature story.

Months ago, Gov. Jared Polis, medical experts and state public health officials mapped out an orderly plan prioritizing when different groups of Coloradans can get the vaccine. But as that plan -- now twice revised -- has been put to use, the on-the-ground reality so far has been much less orderly.

Colorado Sun reporters John Ingold  and Erica Breunlin are here today to talk more about the rollout, and how disparities have emerged as counties, schools, and hospitals all chart their own paths.

For those in the general public who are 70 and older, finding the vaccine right now will take persistence and patience.

Right now, there’s not a central place for everyone to sign up. As John mentioned, people who have a regular doctor or health clinic they go to are encouraged to call those places for more information. 

The state is planning to organize more information on its vaccine website -- covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine.

But, for at least the foreseeable future, state health leaders expect the process to be a little bumpy, with different timelines for different counties.

Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

Rio Grande Pacific Corp. inks lease for the long-dormant rail line through Colorado high country - floating the possibility of oil cars in Browns Canyon. An Eastern Colorado billionaire landowner fights the lease plan.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has approved, for a second time, two drilling projects in Colorado after considering a court-ordered greenhouse gas assessment of the development’s environmental impacts.

Colorado lawmakers are considering a new fee on a gallon of gas to boost money for road improvements. 

Colorado will make up to a million rapid COVID-19 tests a month available to school districts, charter schools, and private schools as part of its effort to get students back to the classroom and keep them there. Gov. Jared Polis announced the initiative Wednesday. 

Back in the spring, doctors hoped that antibodies from coronavirus survivors’ blood could save the sickest patients from succumbing to the virus. But, now 10 months in the pandemic, demand for convalescent plasma is low in Colorado. 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Friday January 8th, and we&rsquo;re lucky to start the day with you.
Today - Colorado&rsquo;s coronavirus vaccine rollout is confusing, and frustrating, but according to state leaders - it&rsquo;s also working.
But before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we&rsquo;re going back to January 8th, 1976 when Elvis Presley was in Eagle County celebrating his 41st birthday. There, he indulged in his favorite winter pastime - snowmobiling and while doing so he raised the hackles of a resident who complained to the Vail authorities. The caller happened to be Susan Ford, daughter of the president of the United States.
Now our feature story.
Months ago, Gov. Jared Polis, medical experts and state public health officials mapped out an orderly plan prioritizing when different groups of Coloradans can get the vaccine. But as that plan -- now twice revised -- has been put to use, the on-the-ground reality so far has been much less orderly.
Colorado Sun reporters <a href="mailto:johningold@coloradosun.com">John Ingold</a>&nbsp; and <a href="mailto:erica@coloradosun.com">Erica Breunlin</a> are here today to talk more about the rollout, and how disparities have emerged as counties, schools, and hospitals all chart their own paths.
For those in the general public who are 70 and older, finding the vaccine right now will take persistence and patience.
Right now, there&rsquo;s not a central place for everyone to sign up. As John mentioned, people who have a regular doctor or health clinic they go to are encouraged to call those places for more information.&nbsp;
The state is planning to organize more information on its vaccine website --<a href="https://covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine"> covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine</a>.
But, for at least the foreseeable future, state health leaders expect the process to be a little bumpy, with different timelines for different counties.
Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
Rio Grande Pacific Corp. inks lease for the long-dormant rail line through Colorado high country - floating the possibility of oil cars in Browns Canyon. An Eastern Colorado billionaire landowner fights the lease plan.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has approved, for a second time, two drilling projects in Colorado after considering a court-ordered greenhouse gas assessment of the development&rsquo;s environmental impacts.
Colorado lawmakers are considering a new fee on a gallon of gas to boost money for road improvements.&nbsp;
Colorado will make up to a million rapid COVID-19 tests a month available to school districts, charter schools, and private schools as part of its effort to get students back to the classroom and keep them there. Gov. Jared Polis announced the initiative Wednesday.&nbsp;
Back in the spring, doctors hoped that antibodies from coronavirus survivors&rsquo; blood could save the sickest patients from succumbing to the virus. But, now 10 months in the pandemic, demand for convalescent plasma is low in Colorado.&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. Now, a quick message from our editor.See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

Advertisement