Good Morning, Colorado, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Tuesday December 8th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we’re sharing a conversation we had with the mayor of Colorado springs after he visited a COVID ward. 

Before we begin, let’s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to December, 1908 when President Theodore Roosevelt declared Colorado’s first national monument, Wheeler, which is high in the San Juan Mountains. Wheeler National Monument was named for Lieutenant George M Wheeler who surveyed the area back in 1874.

Now, our feature story. 

John Suthers is the Republican mayor of Colorado Springs. On Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, he visited a COVID ward at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central to see just how bad the coronavirus situation really is in his city. We caught up with him a few days later about the experience and how it did -- and didn't -- change his views on the pandemic. Here’s Colorado Sun reporter Jesse Paul with Suthers.

Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:

Marlon Reis, the partner of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, remained hospitalized Monday with the coronavirus after spending the night receiving medical care. Reis was taken to the hospital by Polis on Sunday after suffering from shortness of breath and worsening cough, symptoms that developed eight days after testing positive for COVID-19. The governor, who also has coronavirus, has had only minor symptoms and is doing well, according to his office.

Xcel Energy and the Polis administration hashed out the shape of a $30 million electric vehicle rebate program, the most generous in the country, behind closed doors. And then in September state officials presented it to utility regulators as their own.

Colorado’s State Court Administrator’s Office lacks “culture of accountability,” according to audit.

The department spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on leave, contracts and buyouts over four years with little or no justification

A grandson of Forrest Fenn has confirmed that a medical school student from Michigan found an over $1 million treasure chest that the retired art and antiquities dealer stashed in the wilds of Wyoming over a decade ago.

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 Tuesday December 8th, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. Today, we&rsquo;re sharing a conversation we had with the mayor of Colorado springs after he visited a COVID ward.&nbsp;
Before we begin, let&rsquo;s take a look at what happened on this day in Colorado history - adapted from Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
Today, we take you back to December, 1908 when President Theodore Roosevelt declared Colorado&rsquo;s first national monument, Wheeler, which is high in the San Juan Mountains. Wheeler National Monument was named for Lieutenant George M Wheeler who surveyed the area back in 1874.
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
John Suthers is the Republican mayor of Colorado Springs. On Nov. 25, the day before Thanksgiving, he visited a COVID ward at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central to see just how bad the coronavirus situation really is in his city. We caught up with him a few days later about the experience and how it did -- and didn't -- change his views on the pandemic. Here&rsquo;s Colorado Sun reporter Jesse Paul with Suthers.
Thanks for listening. Before we go here are a few stories you should know about today:
Marlon Reis, the partner of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, remained hospitalized Monday with the coronavirus after spending the night receiving medical care. Reis was<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/12/06/marlon-reis-hospitalized-coronavirus/"> taken to the hospital</a> by Polis on Sunday after suffering from shortness of breath and worsening cough, symptoms that developed<a href="https://coloradosun.com/2020/11/28/jared-polis-coronavirus-colorado/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=The+Unaffiliated+%2F%2F+What+s+missing+from+the+special+session%2C+the+impact+of+Indivisible+on+Democrats%2C+and+details+on+COVID-19+outbreak+in+Polis++office&amp;utm_campaign=The+Unaffiliated+-+12%2F1%2F2020&amp;vgo_ee=y7pESMFrxnsTcN69Nu8O5gA3SuMkJhmkGexv49sZvNU%3D"> eight days after testing positive for COVID-19</a>. The governor, who also has coronavirus, has had only minor symptoms and is doing well, according to his office.
Xcel Energy and the Polis administration hashed out the shape of a $30 million electric vehicle rebate program, the most generous in the country, behind closed doors. And then in September state officials presented it to utility regulators as their own.
Colorado&rsquo;s State Court Administrator&rsquo;s Office lacks &ldquo;culture of accountability,&rdquo; according to audit.
The department spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on leave, contracts and buyouts over four years with little or no justification
A grandson of Forrest Fenn has confirmed that a medical school student from Michigan found an over $1 million treasure chest that the retired art and antiquities dealer stashed in the wilds of Wyoming over a decade ago.
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/.

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