The Daily Sun-Up

Former Denver judge Jacqueline St. Joan joins the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss her upcoming memoir, Your Verdict, and reflect on a life shaped by the law and personal loss.

Devaki Murch survived Operation Babylift, when President Gerald Ford transported hundreds of Vietnamese children to America in 1975. This week, she's bringing adoptees, caregivers, veterans, and community members together in Boulder, to explore their shared past and reflect on what it means to be a refugee 50 years later

Today - our Temperature newsletter reporters Michael Booth and John Ingold talk about a survey on how people are using legal psilocybin, and some shocking numbers showing how bad the Colorado drought really is.

Finding a job in Colorado is difficult right now for a lot of folks, as employers are hiring but more cautiously. Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the latest job numbers and what those who are hiring and those who are looking for work are saying. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/04/colorado-job-openings/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/01/colorado-business-leaders-negative-future-economy/ 

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks at the ongoing battle between landowners and those who want to wade and float through the land on Colorado waterways. Is the state legislature ready to get involved?

Author Mark Stevens talks with the Sun's Kevin Simpson about serial killers and his new thriller, "Two Truths and a Lie"

Today, Colorado Sun arts and culture reporter Parker Yamasaki discusses the big changes coming at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as they prepare to close the popular gem and mineral hall for a major renovation. 

Medicaid is driving the $1.5 billion state budget shortfall Colorado lawmakers are trying to address this year. Colorado Sun reporter Jesse Paul joined Bente Birkeland of CPR News and Seth Klamann of The Denver Post on the latest episode of Purplish to explore why and what's being done to try to rein in spending on the health care program for low income Coloradans. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/01/colorado-medicaid-spending-state-budget/

Today we’re checking in with Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang about Colorado companies are navigating the Supreme Court decision that the Trump administration’s tariffs are illegal. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/30/colorado-importers-tariff-refunds/

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins puts a bow on a challenging ski season with a check-in on the ever-changing closing dates for Colorado resorts, plus a new lawsuit challenging the Ikon and Epic mega passes.

Author Derek Lowstuter talks to the Sun's Kevin Simpson about his book "Fiddler on the Roof of Africa", detailing his experience as a Peace Corps volunteer.

Indigenous people have had serious health issues since forced assimilation onto reservations in the 1800s changed their food sources. Today, Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about a program the Navajo tribe and doctors are using to change eating habits to address those health concerns.

Today, reporters John Ingold and Michael Booth talk about the signs of climate change already visible in Colorado, as well as some new research by CU Boulder on pythons. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/22/10-signs-of-climate-change-in-colorado/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/19/weight-loss-drugs-pythons-study/

Sun reporter Jennifer Brown has been covering the federal government’s roundup of wild horses in Colorado and across the West for years. Today, Jennifer breaks down the BLM plan for corralling more than 1,100 horses this summer in Colorado and 14,000 across the West. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/23/wild-horses-blm-roundups-2026/

As e-bikes continue to rise in popularity, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks at how communities and agencies that manage forest land are opening up more trails and working on awareness instead of banning the pedal-assisted bikes.

G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience, and the Sun's Kevin Simpson talk Irish music.

Today, Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane takes a look at what state water officials are bracing for as drought conditions across Colorado worsen and a March heat waves come on top of a historically low snow season.

Colorado Sun political reporter Jesse Paul appeared on the Colorado Today podcast recently to discuss with host Haylee May a bill that would add regulations for AI chatbots accessible in Colorado. The podcast is produced by Colorado Public Radio. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/25/colorado-chatgpt-chatbot-regulations/

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down legislation going through the Colorado Capitol that would take sales tax out of the equation for swipe fees.

As we limp into the final weeks of winter, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has insights on the latest Vail Resorts earnings, a change at Alterra and the world’s most social hermit citizen scientist who has been collecting snow data for more than 50 years above Crested Butte.

Author Cynthia Swanson sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss her collection stories focused on women's challenges over the last century.

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross puts perspective on the recent Colorado Parks and Wildlife meetings where talk of possible hunting limits and commercial sales of furbearers became heated and confusing for many. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/06/parks-and-wildlife-commission-accepts-petition-to-ban-colorado-fur-sales-in-embarrassing-out-of-control-meeting/ 

Today Colorado Sun reporters Michael Booth and John Ingold talk about a grouping of measles cases in Broomfield and big swings in fossil fuel policies and prices.

From unauthorized subscriptions and rental agreements to debt collector abuse and cable bills, overall consumer complaints were up 10% last year to the Colorado attorney general’s office. Today, Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the recently released annual report. https://riverside.com/dashboard/studios/daily-sun-up-podcast/projects?redirect_num=1

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins breaks down what a major $7 million BLM land acquisition in western Colorado means for outdoor enthusiasts as it gets added to the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/06/blm-acquires-escalante-ranch/

Author Hillary Rosner talks to the Sun's Kevin Simpson about her new book "Roam" and the issue of wildlife corridors.

Today we're talking with Laura Clellan, the newly confirmed director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife about some of her background and goals in her new position. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/23/laura-clellan-named-colorado-parks-and-wildlife-director-cpw/ 

Democrats are debating dueling data center bills in the Colorado legislature this year. One focuses on tax incentives for businesses that build the sprawling buildings. The other seeks to address their environmental impacts. Colorado Sun political reporter Taylor Dolven talked about the measures on the latest edition of Purplish with CPR News reporter Sam Brasch and KUNC's Lucas Brady Woods.  Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/23/colorado-data-center-bills-incentives-regulations/  Photo by Kathryn Scott, Special to The Colorado Sun

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang gets into a new report that looks at the state of Denver restaurant scene and possible suggestions to help out restaurateurs and service industry workers. Photo by Corey Robinson, Special to The Colorado Trust

Today we're talking with Laura Clellan, the newly confirmed director of Colorado Parks and Wildlife about some of her background and goals in her new position. This is part of a longer conversation, the rest of which we'll share soon. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/23/laura-clellan-named-colorado-parks-and-wildlife-director-cpw/ 

Author Aaron Simmons sits down with The Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss the book he co-authored with his late wife, Polly, titled "widow- widower- widowest-: a grief mosaic".

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross has updates on the pile of rubble still in the parking lot of the Nederland shopping center that burned down in early October. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/23/nederland-closer-to-removing-fire-debris-future-uncertain/

Today, Sun reporters John Ingold and Michael Booth talk about a big fight over data centers, plus questions around the search for a new CSU chancellor.

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks at how Colorado small businesses and big companies are responding to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration’s tariffs are illegal. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/20/supreme-court-trump-tariff-colorado-implications/

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins gets us caught up on the Colorado ski season, from the latest backcountry conditions after last week’s storm cycles, to wondering if the resorts can recover from a tough year and his favorite moments for the Colorado Olympians. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/18/avalanche-danger-spikes/ 

G. Brown of the Colorado Music Experience and the Sun's Kevin Simpson talk breakup songs. https://cossa.co/conference https://coloradosun.com/outsider

Today, we're tuning in behind the scenes of a new series The Colorado Sun is reporting on the state's struggling child care system. The series, funded by a grant from Gary Community Ventures, will explore why child care has become too expensive for many families, the reasons why many child care providers are scraping by and what solutions might make child care more accessible. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/15/colorado-child-care-unaffordable-out-of-reach-school-families/ & https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/17/new-mexico-is-making-child-care-free-for-all-working-parents-why-isnt-colorado/  Photo by Jeremy Sparig, Special to The Colorado Sun https://cossa.co/conference https://coloradosun.com/outsider

The Trump administration has rolled back hundreds of millions of dollars in funding for Colorado among other punitive actions directed toward the state. Colorado Sun reporter Taylor Dolven explored why alongside Colorado Public Radio reporters Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim on the latest edition of Purplish. Purplish is a production of CPR News and the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. The Colorado Sun is a member of the alliance. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/08/04/colorado-attorney-general-phil-weiser-lawsuits-trump/ https://cossa.co/conference https://coloradosun.com/outsider

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang puts the latest inflation numbers in perspective and what Coloradans are cutting back on as they adjust their spending. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/14/denver-consumer-prices-cpi-inflation-tariffs/ https://cossa.co/conference https://coloradosun.com/outsider

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has updates on the 5-year saga around the Idaho Springs gondola project and a Virginia woman who pleaded guilty recently to stealing $4.5 million from them. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/13/woman-pleads-guilty-to-scamming-nearly-5-million-from-idaho-springs-gondola-investors/  https://coloradosun.com/2024/07/26/mighty-argo-idaho-springs-gondola/  https://cossa.co/conference https://coloradosun.com/outsider Photo: Brian Malone, Special to the Colorado Sun

Author Eugene Buchanan joins the Sun's Kevin Simpson to talk about his new book "Yampa Yearnings". https://www.eugenebuchanan.com/ 

With so much swirling around Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross has updates on the latest on the agency’s director search, the death of a 12th reintroduced wolf, and perhaps new hunting regulations around beavers, coyotes and other furbearers. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/09/laura-clellan-colorado-parks-and-wildlife-boss/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/30/colorado-answers-federal-demand-for-information-about-wolf-reintroduction/ 

Today: environment reporter Michael Booth and health reporter John Ingold update listeners on a crucial and wrenching court case involving the future of gender-affirming care, and a new round of layoffs at Colorado's storied renewable energy lab. Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

We are one year into the Trump administration’s maneuver to raise tariffs to balance the trade deficit. Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang talks about international trade and tariffs and the impacts on Colorado.

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has updates on the pending sale of Eldora ski area to the town of Nederland and how the deal is coming together. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/06/303-ski-nederland-eldora/  coloradosun.com/valentine https://coloradosun.com/events

Author Jody Pritzl joins the Sun’s Kevin Simpson to talk about The December Dilemma and the surprisingly colorful history of Christmas stamps.

Today, Colorado Sun arts and culture reporter Parker Yamasaki looks at the changing role that roller derby has within the sport but also in society. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/02/01/fort-collins-roller-derby-all-gender-league/  Photo by Seth McConnell, Special to The Colorado Sun

Gov. Jared Polis is entering his last year leading Colorado. That means it's his last legislative session as head of the state. Colorado Sun political reporter Jesse Paul joined Bente Birkeland of Colorado Public Radio and Lucas Brady Woods of KUNC on the latest episode of the Purplish podcast to talk about what it all means. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/15/2026-colorado-state-of-the-state-annotated/ 

More than 6 million people now call Colorado home, and today Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks at how we got here despite more people leaving Colorado than coming in the past year and the state’s lower-than-usual growth rate. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/29/colorado-now-has-6-million-people/  AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins talks about some of the more than 30 Colorado athletes headed to Italy for the Winter Olympics and what to watch for from the Colorado contingent.