Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Wednesday August 18th.

 

The chaotic end to the 20-year war is being felt here in Colorado. The state is home to thousands of soldiers and airmen, and as of April 40 troops from Colorado had been killed in Afghanistan. 

 

Today - We hear from local veteran and Democratic state representative David Ortiz.

 

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 take you back to August 18th, 1989 when The Fort St. Vrain Power Station shut down. Conceived of in 1965, the nuclear power plant went online in 1976 and was plagued by issues and repairs for most of its life. Leaks, small fires, and other woes kept the station from meeting its potential and other nuclear disasters at three mile island and chernobyl resulted in the public’s support for nuclear power to decline. Four years later, the power plant would reopen… this time using natural gas.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

As the Taliban takes control of Afghanistan after President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military withdrawal from the country, the chaotic end to the 20-year war is being felt close to home. Colorado is home to thousands of soldiers and airmen, many of whom were deployed to the South Asian country in the past two decades. As of April, nearly 2,500 American troops were killed in Afghanistan, including 40 from Colorado and 95 who were stationed at Fort Carson. There are mixed feelings among those who fought for freedom and now are learning of the Taliban rule. Colorado Sun political reporter Jesse Paul interviewed local veterans, including Democratic state representative David Ortiz, who crash-landed in eastern Afghanistan in June 2012. 

 

To read Jesse’s story about the Colorado veterans who served in Afghanistan, visit coloradosun.com

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

A new report by the conservation nonprofit American Forests found that trees are causing a shady divide in Denver. Wealthier, white communities had a fuller tree canopy, while lower-income communities and those with more people of color had fewer trees and hotter neighborhood temperatures, which can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other health issues. Planting more trees creates a more equitable living environment and improves public health, the report says. 

 

Gov. Jared Polis has asked the state’s Board of Health to require that certain state health care workers get vaccinated against the coronavirus. This includes those who work in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, hospitals and surgical centers. The mandate is a shift from Polis’ previously hands-off approach where he left vaccination requirements up to employers and local governments. If the Board of Health agrees, a vaccination will become a condition of employment. 

 

Money spent to persuade Colorado’s elected officials hit a record high in fiscal year 2021. According to data from the Secretary of State’s Office, nearly $44 million was spent by lobbyists to influence legislation, particularly health care and energy bills. That’s up 32% from 2018 before Democrat Gov. Jared Polis took office and Democrats took control of the state legislature, and the party pursued an agenda often at odds with business interests.

 

Two 157-year-old proclamations that led to the Sand Creek Massacre and death of 230 members of the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes were officially rescinded by Gov. Polis on Tuesday. Gov. Polis called it “an ongoing process to make amends with the sins of the past.”

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you&rsquo;re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It&rsquo;s Wednesday August 18th.
&nbsp;
The chaotic end to the 20-year war is being felt here in Colorado. The state is home to thousands of soldiers and airmen, and as of April 40 troops from Colorado had been killed in Afghanistan.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Today - We hear from local veteran and Democratic state representative David Ortiz.
&nbsp;
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;:
&nbsp;
Today, we take you back to August 18th, 1989 when The Fort St. Vrain Power Station shut down. Conceived of in 1965, the nuclear power plant went online in 1976 and was plagued by issues and repairs for most of its life. Leaks, small fires, and other woes kept the station from meeting its potential and other nuclear disasters at three mile island and chernobyl resulted in the public&rsquo;s support for nuclear power to decline. Four years later, the power plant would reopen&hellip; this time using natural gas.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.
&nbsp;
As the Taliban takes control of Afghanistan after President Joe Biden ordered the U.S. military withdrawal from the country, the chaotic end to the 20-year war is being felt close to home. Colorado is home to thousands of soldiers and airmen, many of whom were deployed to the South Asian country in the past two decades. As of April, nearly 2,500 American troops were killed in Afghanistan, including 40 from Colorado and 95 who were stationed at Fort Carson. There are mixed feelings among those who fought for freedom and now are learning of the Taliban rule. Colorado Sun political reporter Jesse Paul interviewed local veterans, including Democratic state representative David Ortiz, who crash-landed in eastern Afghanistan in June 2012.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To read Jesse&rsquo;s story about the Colorado veterans who served in Afghanistan, visit coloradosun.com
&nbsp;
And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
&nbsp;
A new report by the conservation nonprofit American Forests found that trees are causing a shady divide in Denver. Wealthier, white communities had a fuller tree canopy, while lower-income communities and those with more people of color had fewer trees and hotter neighborhood temperatures, which can lead to heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other health issues. Planting more trees creates a more equitable living environment and improves public health, the report says.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Gov. Jared Polis has asked the state&rsquo;s Board of Health to require that certain state health care workers get vaccinated against the coronavirus. This includes those who work in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, hospitals and surgical centers. The mandate is a shift from Polis&rsquo; previously hands-off approach where he left vaccination requirements up to employers and local governments. If the Board of Health agrees, a vaccination will become a condition of employment.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Money spent to persuade Colorado&rsquo;s elected officials hit a record high in fiscal year 2021. According to data from the Secretary of State&rsquo;s Office, nearly $44 million was spent by lobbyists to influence legislation, particularly health care and energy bills. That&rsquo;s up 32% from 2018 before Democrat Gov. Jared Polis took office and Democrats took control of the state legislature, and the party pursued an agenda often at odds with business interests.
&nbsp;
Two 157-year-old proclamations that led to the Sand Creek Massacre and death of 230 members of the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes were officially rescinded by Gov. Polis on Tuesday. Gov. Polis called it &ldquo;an ongoing process to make amends with the sins of the past.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. And don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.
&nbsp;
The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
&nbsp;
Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.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/.

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