Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Tuesday August 24th.

 

Today - Homelessness has long been an issue in downtown Denver, but now there’s a growing number of homeless living in the state’s national forests.

 

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 taking you back to August 24th, 1873 when Photographer William H. Jackson went out in hopes of capturing the Mount of Holy Cross - a natural cross of snow that lay high in the mountains. Lucky for him, and a brief break in the clouds allowed him to make eight negatives of the peak and its snow-formed icon. It’s since been reproduced widely - offering religious inspiration to some and proof of the nation’s manifest destiny to others.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Homelessness has been a visible issue in downtown Denver, but during the pandemic, an increased number of homeless camps have been popping up in Colorado’s national forests. 

 

Sun reporter Jennifer Brown followed a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer recently as he went to clear out illegal campers. That gave her the chance to speak with people who have been living in Pike National Forest for weeks, or longer, and to learn how forest rangers try to help when people must move on.

 

The Sun’s Daniel Ducassi talks with Brown about the growing number of homeless living in the state’s national forests.

 

To read more of Jennifer Brown’s reporting on homelessness in Colorado, go to coloradosun.com

 

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

 

A family-owned oil and gas company has been slapped with $1.6 million in fines for a string of violations ranging from improper storage of waste to failing to report and address spills. The fine against KP Kauffman is one of the largest ever handed down by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. The company faces another hearing in September to determine whether it will be allowed to continue doing business in Colorado, where it runs 1,200 low-producing oil and gas wells on the Front Range. Earlier this year K.P.K. was ordered to close 87 wells and clean up 29 sites.

 

The 2020 Paralympic Games open today in Tokyo with 32 Colorado athletes competing. They include Robert Tanaka, who has been working toward competing in judo in the Paralympic games since he was 5 years old. Now 21, the legally blind athlete who trains at dojos in Colorado Springs and Denver, will compete in the 60 kilogram bracket starting on Friday.

 

Two weeks into the school year in Grand Junction, thirty classrooms already have reports of exposure to COVID-positive students and three others were quarantined because at least three students in them tested positive. But masks are not universally required in schools. This has set off debate in Mesa County Valley School District 51 about masks and vaccination that is so fierce that school board members needed a police escort to their cars after their meeting last week.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

 

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 Tuesday August 24th.
&nbsp;
Today - Homelessness has long been an issue in downtown Denver, but now there&rsquo;s a growing number of homeless living in the state&rsquo;s national forests.
&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&rsquo;re taking you back to August 24th, 1873 when Photographer William H. Jackson went out in hopes of capturing the Mount of Holy Cross - a natural cross of snow that lay high in the mountains. Lucky for him, and a brief break in the clouds allowed him to make eight negatives of the peak and its snow-formed icon. It&rsquo;s since been reproduced widely - offering religious inspiration to some and proof of the nation&rsquo;s manifest destiny to others.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.
&nbsp;
Homelessness has been a visible issue in downtown Denver, but during the pandemic, an increased number of homeless camps have been popping up in Colorado&rsquo;s national forests.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Sun reporter Jennifer Brown followed a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer recently as he went to clear out illegal campers. That gave her the chance to speak with people who have been living in Pike National Forest for weeks, or longer, and to learn how forest rangers try to help when people must move on.
&nbsp;
The Sun&rsquo;s Daniel Ducassi talks with Brown about the growing number of homeless living in the state&rsquo;s national forests.
&nbsp;
To read more of Jennifer Brown&rsquo;s reporting on homelessness in Colorado, go to coloradosun.com
&nbsp;
And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
&nbsp;
A family-owned oil and gas company has been slapped with $1.6 million in fines for a string of violations ranging from improper storage of waste to failing to report and address spills. The fine against KP Kauffman is one of the largest ever handed down by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. The company faces another hearing in September to determine whether it will be allowed to continue doing business in Colorado, where it runs 1,200 low-producing oil and gas wells on the Front Range. Earlier this year K.P.K. was ordered to close 87 wells and clean up 29 sites.
&nbsp;
The 2020 Paralympic Games open today in Tokyo with 32 Colorado athletes competing. They include Robert Tanaka, who has been working toward competing in judo in the Paralympic games since he was 5 years old. Now 21, the legally blind athlete who trains at dojos in Colorado Springs and Denver, will compete in the 60 kilogram bracket starting on Friday.
&nbsp;
Two weeks into the school year in Grand Junction, thirty classrooms already have reports of exposure to COVID-positive students and three others were quarantined because at least three students in them tested positive. But masks are not universally required in schools. This has set off debate in Mesa County Valley School District 51 about masks and vaccination that is so fierce that school board members needed a police escort to their cars after their meeting last week.
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.
&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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