Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Wednesday September 1st.

 

Today - Colorado has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to urge people to get vaccinated. And the campaign includes social media influencers - so how were they selected and what’s the bigger plan?

 

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 September 1st, 1927 when the most popular man in the country concluded a visit to Colorado. It was Colonel Charles A Lindbergh and he was leaving Denver’s airfield after having flown his famous “Spirit of St Louis” airplane there.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

The state of Colorado has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign that includes social media “influencers” to help make the case to the public for vaccination to slow the COVID-19 surge. It’s a strategy to specifically target people overwhelmed by the confusing deluge of information -- and disinformation -- and who so far have been what’s called “vaccine hesitant” for one reason or another. But who are these influencers, how were they selected and what’s the broader plan behind their recruitment for the cause?

 

Colorado Sun reporter John Ingold took a close look at the people behind this effort, why the state went in this direction and what these individuals’ participation tells us about the state’s strategy for improving vaccination rates. He talked to Sun colleague Kevin Simpson about what he learned. 

 

You can read more about the vaccine influencers and what they mean for Colorado’s vaccination efforts from John Ingold at ColoradoSun.com.

 

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





Triple-A road service is looking to hydrogen power in Denver as a way to demonstrate its potential as a viable vehicle fuel. New Day Hydrogen will build a fueling station at the Triple-A operations center, and Triple-A itself will use the fuel in dozens of light duty repair vans and eventually big towing rigs as well. Hydrogen is being advanced as an option alongside rapidly developing electric vehicles. 

 

A federal operation that plans to remove more than 700 mustangs from rangeland in far northwest Colorado is scheduled to begin Wednesday. The helicopter roundup of the horses, aimed at thinning the wild herd, comes despite pleas from animal rights activists, including First Gentleman Marlon Reis. The Bureau of Land Management says the rangeland where the mustangs roam has been badly damaged by drought and has turned to “moon dust” in some areas shared by the horses, elk, deer and sage grouse.

 

It’s been nearly four years since the Outdoor Retailer trade show left Salt Lake City, its headquarters for 22 years. The massive event set up shop in Denver as a political statement that the outdoor industry strongly opposed Utah leaders pushing to overturn the designation of Bears Ears National Monument. Now Utah appears to be trying to reclaim its place as the hub of major outdoor industry trade events. Two new outdoor trade shows have set up camp there, including one that broke its deal with Denver to make the move and tourism officials say they’d love to have Outdoor Retailer back at the Salt Palace.

 

Dick Lamm, a three-term Colorado governor, was remembered Tuesday afternoon at a public memorial. Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb eulogized the longtime fixture in Colorado politics who, among his notable achievements, rebuffed efforts to bring the 1976 Winter Olympics to Colorado. Lamm died July 29 at the age of 85.

 

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 September 1st.
&nbsp;
Today - Colorado has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign to urge people to get vaccinated. And the campaign includes social media influencers - so how were they selected and what&rsquo;s the bigger plan?
&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 September 1st, 1927 when the most popular man in the country concluded a visit to Colorado. It was Colonel Charles A Lindbergh and he was leaving Denver&rsquo;s airfield after having flown his famous &ldquo;Spirit of St Louis&rdquo; airplane there.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.
&nbsp;
The state of Colorado has launched a multimillion-dollar campaign that includes social media &ldquo;influencers&rdquo; to help make the case to the public for vaccination to slow the COVID-19 surge. It&rsquo;s a strategy to specifically target people overwhelmed by the confusing deluge of information -- and disinformation -- and who so far have been what&rsquo;s called &ldquo;vaccine hesitant&rdquo; for one reason or another. But who are these influencers, how were they selected and what&rsquo;s the broader plan behind their recruitment for the cause?
&nbsp;
Colorado Sun reporter John Ingold took a close look at the people behind this effort, why the state went in this direction and what these individuals&rsquo; participation tells us about the state&rsquo;s strategy for improving vaccination rates. He talked to Sun colleague Kevin Simpson about what he learned.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
You can read more about the vaccine influencers and what they mean for Colorado&rsquo;s vaccination efforts from John Ingold at ColoradoSun.com.
&nbsp;
And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
 
Triple-A road service is looking to hydrogen power in Denver as a way to demonstrate its potential as a viable vehicle fuel. New Day Hydrogen will build a fueling station at the Triple-A operations center, and Triple-A itself will use the fuel in dozens of light duty repair vans and eventually big towing rigs as well. Hydrogen is being advanced as an option alongside rapidly developing electric vehicles.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
A federal operation that plans to remove more than 700 mustangs from rangeland in far northwest Colorado is scheduled to begin Wednesday. The helicopter roundup of the horses, aimed at thinning the wild herd, comes despite pleas from animal rights activists, including First Gentleman Marlon Reis. The Bureau of Land Management says the rangeland where the mustangs roam has been badly damaged by drought and has turned to &ldquo;moon dust&rdquo; in some areas shared by the horses, elk, deer and sage grouse.
&nbsp;
It&rsquo;s been nearly four years since the Outdoor Retailer trade show left Salt Lake City, its headquarters for 22 years. The massive event set up shop in Denver as a political statement that the outdoor industry strongly opposed Utah leaders pushing to overturn the designation of Bears Ears National Monument. Now Utah appears to be trying to reclaim its place as the hub of major outdoor industry trade events. Two new outdoor trade shows have set up camp there, including one that broke its deal with Denver to make the move and tourism officials say they&rsquo;d love to have Outdoor Retailer back at the Salt Palace.
&nbsp;
Dick Lamm, a three-term Colorado governor, was remembered Tuesday afternoon at a public memorial. Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb eulogized the longtime fixture in Colorado politics who, among his notable achievements, rebuffed efforts to bring the 1976 Winter Olympics to Colorado. Lamm died July 29 at the age of 85.
&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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