The Daily Sun-Up

G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience, sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss Harry Tuft, Dolly Parton and Colorado music history.

The Colorado Sun's rural reporter Tracy Ross talks with rangeland conservationist and wolf advocate Matt Barnes about the new film documentary In the Company of Wolves, some interesting evidence he's seen around using cattle to fend off wolves, and how he thinks Colorado's wolf reintroduction is going, coming on three years after Colorado Parks and Wildlife brought the first 10 wolves from Oregon to the state.

Today reporters John Ingold and Mike Booth have tips for keeping you safe around bears, as well as an update on a tuberculosis investigation at the immigration detention center. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/19/geo-group-lawsuit-tuberculosis/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/20/geo-group-immigrant-detention-center-public-health/ 

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang gives us her first-person account of riding in a new driverless Waymo vehicle, which will be available to the general public soon in the downtown Denver area. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/21/waymo-cars-denver-map-laws-autonomous/

Today, Colorado Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane breaks down a new federal plan on how to share Colorado River water over the next two years as the states continue to remain at loggerheads over a bigger long-term plan. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/21/colorado-river-water-restrictions-cuts-federal-management-plan/

Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joins us to discuss his new book, Borderlands: My Fight for an Inclusive America. Salazar reflects on his life, career and the experiences that shaped his vision for a more inclusive country.

Today, Colorado Sun education reporter Erica Breunlin has the results from the annual Colorado Measures of Academic Success assessment and breaks down this year’s data and what it means for educators, administrators, parents and students across Colorado. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/19/colorado-students-cmas-psat-sat-results-standardized-testing/

Justin George, public policy editor for The Colorado Sun, sits down with Colorado Sun political reporter Colleen Slevin to discuss why Colorado’s citizen-initiative process — designed more than a century ago to give voters a check on powerful interests — is increasingly shaped by special interest groups with money. We also discuss just how successful ballot initiatives are.

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the upcoming increases to minimum wage next year in Colorado and select cities, including Denver and Boulder, which have their own rate. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/15/colorado-minimum-wage-2027-impact-data/

Today, Sun freelance reporter Betsy Welch discusses the uptick in bear activity this summer in Colorado’s high country, and how town and wildlife officials are addressing the increased interactions. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/14/feeding-bears-illegal-colorado-penalties/  

Author Ian Patterson discusses his new speculative novel, Fruits of Our Labor, which imagines a future where women can reproduce without men.

Today, Sun politics and policy editor Justin George has a primer for the November 3 midterm election and talks about some of the statewide measures that have made it on the ballot. Colorado Sun politics home page: https://coloradosun.com/category/news/politics/  SOS Initiatives page: https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/elections/Initiatives/titleBoard/ 

Today, we're re-airing an interview from May, when reporter Shannon Mullane interviewed an author about his award-winning book on Lake Powell.

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross looks into a program in Cortez that is helping area teens learn skills and getting residents on the Navajo Nation and around the Four Corners area running water in their homes and other necessities. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/08/navajo-nation-entrepreneurship-kids-cortez-training-jobs/

Every year, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins tracks winter and summer taxable sales in 18 large and small mountain towns near ski areas. Today, Jason looks at the recently calculated numbers for the November-through-April stretch of the 2025-26 winter and what he found out. Misery tickets:  bit.ly/4plYyZ2

Introducing our new podcast, Can Colorado Do More With Less Water? Join The Colorado Sun to explore what may or may not be possible in creating water solutions across the state. Snow storage has been used as a snow management tool in Europe for decades. Aspen is among a growing number of North American resorts embracing the practice.  Learn more: https://coloradosun.com/more-with-less-water-series/ Music: namebackwards.live/

Author Samuel Marquis sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss his new historical narrative, "Empire and Frontier".

The Colorado Sun's rural reporter Tracy Ross is talking to Ame Warner, Executive Director of Saguache County Sustainable Environment & Economic Development in the San Luis Valley about the joys and perils of living in a remote area where resources can be scarce but the community more than makes up for it.

Justin George talks with Colorado Sun reporter Colleen Slevin about ICE’s recent expansion and enforcement activity in Colorado. They also discuss opposition to a proposed detention facility in Glenwood Springs.

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang discusses the $21 million project across the state to digitize public records dating back to the 1800s. https://coloradosun.com/2025/10/16/colorado-digitize-analog-records-historic/

Today, outdoors reporter Jason Blevins breaks down the 2025 Colorado tourism report and how despite record numbers of visitors and spending, there are concerns about a slowdown and what a rough 2026 could mean. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/30/colorado-sees-record-year-for-tourism/

Author Heather Hansman sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss her new book about three women who pioneered the outdoors. Misery Tickets: bit.ly/4plYyZ2

Today, we have a portion of our Colorado SunFest weather panel conversation with local meteorologists Chris Bianchi, Mike Nelson and Joel Gratz as they talk about being weather geeks, how they relay important and sometimes life-saving information to their audiences and the inexact science of forecasting. Full Sunfest weather panel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIKXAYTuf4E  May 19 Daily Sun-Up on weather forecasting and AI: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-weather-forecasting-and-ai/id1529487340?i=1000768526702  Misery Tickets: bit.ly/4plYyZ2

Justin George, Public Policy Editor at The Colorado Sun, is joined by Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun’s Elections Editor, to talk about two big Colorado political story lines: How Democrats who backed Michael Bennet are now lining up behind Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Weiser, and why Gov. Jared Polis keeps taking aim at socialism — and members of his own party — on national TV. Misery Tickets: bit.ly/4plYyZ2

Today, Colorado Sun reporter Tracy Ross explains what the closure of two fishing holes in Southeastern Colorado means to the local economy, especially to one small business that sells fishing supplies.  https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/25/southeastern-colorado-fishing-economy-water-reservoirs-jobs/ Misery Tickets: bit.ly/4plYyZ2

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has updates on plans to turn Sweetwater Lake in remote Garfield County into a recreation area in a partnership with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Forest Service. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/24/sweetwater-lake-forest-service-study/ Misery Tickets: bit.ly/4plYyZ2  

G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience, and the Sun's Kevin Simpson discuss the Grammy maker, Studio C and other music topics.

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross breaks down a couple of recent decisions by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife related to the hunting and sale of 17 furbearing animals including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, beavers and martens. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/18/colorado-wildlife-commission-reduces-number-of-fur-bearing-animals-trappers-can-kill/

Today reporters John Ingold and Michael Booth talk about whether Denver water users are cutting back enough, as well as a contempt of court allegation against Children's Hospital Colorado. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/20/denver-water-drought-shortage-consumers-not-saving/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/20/childrens-hospital-colorado-contempt-gender-affirming-care/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/21/2-large-hospital-systems-partner-up-in-colorado/  

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang digs into the latest real estate report from the first half of 2026 in the Denver metro area, and talks about why the market continues to be flat across Colorado.

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks into the growing concerns around hikers relieving themselves in the Colorado mountains and how federal cuts to the Forest Service could mean “wag bags” will have an even greater role in keeping the lands clean.

The Rev. Dr. Nancy Niero, author of "Witness at Sand Creek", sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss her connection to Silas Soule and her book "Witness at Sand Creek".

Today, Colorado Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane looks at how tiny bubbles in the Colorado River are posing big problems for water officials at the Glen Canyon and Hoover dams. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/06/supercharged-bubbles-are-threatening-lake-powells-dam/

Progressives surprised many in Colorado’s primary elections in late June, including a shocking upset for a democratic socialist candidate who ousted a longtime incumbent in Denver in a race that grabbed national headlines. Did Colorado get hit with an anti-incumbent wave on primary night? Colorado Sun Elections Editor Jesse Paul and Colorado Public Radio Public Affairs reporters Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim discuss what the shakeups say about politics in Colorado in this conversation first broadcast on Purplish. The Purplish podcast is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS and The Colorado Sun.

Colorado continues to have some of the highest homeowners insurance in the country. Today, business reporter Tamara Chuang talks about why that is, the sharp increases in the past five years and how homeowners are coping. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/10/wildfires-insurance-homeowners-regulations/ 

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins talks about how those who enjoy the outdoors are flexing their collective muscle to have a say in politics related to the trillion-dollar industry, from the local level to D.C. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/08/boulder-open-space-limit-mountain-bikes/

Introducing our new podcast, Can Colorado Do More With Less Water? Join The Colorado Sun to explore what may or may not be possible in creating water solutions across the state. In this episode we focus on Colorado’s resilient, adaptable farmers who can raise just about anything and use less water doing it. But will enough people buy what they produce? Learn more: https://coloradosun.com/more-with-less-water-series/ Music: namebackwards.live/

James Ellroy, legendary crime fiction author, chats with the Sun's Kevin Simpson about his latest novel, the L.A.-centered "Red Sheet".

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about how ranchers are dealing with the wildfires burning across Colorado and what might be in store after they return and survey the damage. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/08/colorado-wildfires-ranchers-cattle-livestock-aspen-acres/  

On Today's Sun-Up, John Ingold and Michael Booth offer some air quality tips for an unhealthy wildfire season, and introduce a surprising study of exactly how long moose have roamed Colorado.

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks into the expanding role of private AI programs and how a southern Colorado hospital is jumping into the artificial intelligence world to help with billing issues. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/06/huerfano-county-health-facility-iterate-ai-trial-recover-insurance-payments/

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks at the record number of people getting out to enjoy nature but has warnings from local officials as wildfires rage in Colorado and fire restrictions are sweeping across the state. https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/02/recreating-during-drought-wildfires/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/07/01/mesa-county-search-and-rescue-ruby-horsethief/

Colorado Sun Public Policy Editor Justin George, is joined by political reporter Colleen Slevin to discuss the surprising results of Tuesday’s races.

Today, we’re checking in on our Colorado 150 series with culture and arts reporter Parker Yamasaki to talk about some of Colorado’s great venues (think Red Rocks) and mining towns (think Crystal Mill). Our series celebrates 150 awesome things about Colorado as we countdown to the Aug. 1 statehood day. Colorado 150 landing page https://coloradosun.com/colorado-150/  Reader suggestions https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/23/what-do-you-love-about-colorado-audience-callout/  June 4 episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-150th-statehood-project-full-steam-ahead/id1529487340?i=1000771127906  May 7 episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-150th-birthday-celebration-underway/id1529487340?i=1000766587825  April 23 episode https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sun-getting-in-on-colorados-150th-anniversary/id1529487340?i=1000763215424 

Author Rachel Feder sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss the gothic influences on her new novella, "The Turn".

It’s the holiday week, so today Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang talks about the prices for this year’s Fourth of July cookout celebrations and how Coloradans plan to celebrate within their budget. https://coloradosun.com/2026/06/27/fraser-arts-center-economic-development/

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins breaks down the recent one-day spike in the stock price for Vail Resorts shares and how the company's leader is responding. https://coloradosun.com/2026/06/26/takeover-reports-vail-resorts-stock/ 

Author John Andrews sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss his World War I novel, "An American Nurse in Paris".

Today, Colorado Sun education reporter Erica Breunlin has updates on the new state law instructing all Colorado districts and charter schools to create a policy that spells out when and how students can use cellphones during the school day. https://coloradosun.com/2026/06/18/colorado-school-districts-student-cellphone-policy-state-law/

Today, reporters Michael Booth and John Ingold talk about a new Colorado factory that is 3-D printing homes, as well as a Colorado program trying to import prescription drugs from Canada.