The Daily Sun-Up

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.

In this episode, author Tim Weed sits down with SunLit editor Kevin Simpson to talk about his forthcoming novel, The Gatepost.

Today, Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross profiles the Colorado woman who is guiding the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and why her role is so important right now for farmers and ranchers.

Today reporters John Ingold and Michael Booth talk about health insurance, eagle injuries and the coldest part of watching the Broncos lose the AFC title game.

Today, Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang puts context around a variety year-end reports and statistics, including the 1 million business in Colorado, the state’s GDP as it relates to job growth, and the growing vacancy rates for both downtown Denver office space and metro area apartments. https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/24/new-colorado-businesses-2025-but-slow-renewals-dissolutions/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/22/denver-downtown-office-vacancy-rate-tenants-workplace/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/21/apartments-in-metro-denver-reach-highest-vacancy-rate-in-16-years-pushing-down-rents-again/ 

Today, Sun reporter Olivia Prentzel looks at how community and moral courage came together on the Eastern Plains last month after strong winds sparked wildfires and farmers drove their tractors toward the flames to help firefighters. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/25/yuma-county-colorado-fire-2025-farmers-firefighters-neighbors/ Photo by Jeremy Sparig, Special to The Colorado Sun

Music historian G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience, joins us to share stories of Neil Diamond’s deep connection to Colorado. From legendary concerts to the ways the state shaped his music and his fans.

Today, Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane looks at the state of the state’s abysmal snowpack and how water managers across Colorado are keeping an eye on the clouds and the dwindling reservoirs. https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/21/big-storms-needed-huge-snow-supply-gap-colorado-water-experts/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/16/federal-plans-no-state-input-colorado-river/  https://chambermusic.com - Promotions tab: CHAMBER SUN coloradosun.com/outsider

Gov. Jared Polis is entering his final year in office. Ahead of the 2026 legislative session, he joined Colorado Sun political reporter Jesse Paul at an event at the University of Denver to talk about the year ahead, his legacy and what he's thinking about his future after his current term ends. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/15/2026-colorado-state-of-the-state-annotated/ https://chambermusic.com - Promotions tab: CHAMBER SUN coloradosun.com/outsider

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the new Colorado law targeting deceptive pricing — or junk fees. As she explains, fees are still allowed, they just have to be disclosed. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/17/junk-fees-colorado-consumer-protection-tickets-rents-prices/ https://chambermusic.com - Promotions tab: CHAMBER SUN coloradosun.com/outsider

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks into the continuing fallout in Telluride after the 13-day patroller strike, including an offer by a local group to buy 51% of Telluride ski area. https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/14/telluride-owner-rejects-offer-to-sell/ https://chambermusic.com - Promotions tab: CHAMBER SUN coloradosun.com/outsider

Author Devon O'Neil talks with The Sun's Kevin Simpson about his new book, "The Way Out: A True Story of Survival in the Heart of the Rockies".

Today, Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross has the latest updates on Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program as it heads into year three facing more road bumps, and talks about early plans for a proposed wolverine reintroduction. https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/06/colorado-wolf-pipeline-collapsing/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/08/us-fish-wildlife-backtracks-on-colorado-wolves/ 

Colorado's 2026 legislative session starts today. Lawmakers will be working under the gold dome in Denver for the next 120 days. In anticipation of the new session, we're sharing the latest edition of Purplish, the podcast from Colorado Public Radio and the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. The Sun is a member of the alliance. Photo by Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks at the latest unemployment report for Colorado and how the labor force in the state is changing and other trends in the newest data. https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/09/colorado-professional-jobs-tech-workers/ Photo provided by Activate Work

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks at a new mental health program at Winter Park ski area to help patrollers manage the many stresses of their job, and Jason has updates on the end of the Telluride ski patroller strike. Photo by Brett Schreckengost, Special to The Colorado Sun

Today - The Sun's Kevin Simpson talks to mystery writers Becky Clark and Holly Harris talk about collaborating on "Colorado Mystery Merge".

Today, Sun reporter Olivia Prentzel discusses the fatal mountain lion attack on a hiker in northern Colorado, the investigation and what officials are saying about the rare event. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/05/human-dna-fatal-mountain-lion-attack/

Today - The Sun's Michael Booth talks with John Ingold about a controversial new vaccine schedule, and what a federal order extending coal power plants means for Colorado.

As we start the first full week of 2026, Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang has updates on a number of issues related to Colorado workers, including the state-administered retirement savings plan, new minimum wage numbers and an addition to the state’s paid family leave program. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/03/colorado-retirement-growth-private-401-savings/

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has the latest in the ski patroller strike in Telluride that shut down the ski area and why the rest of the industry is watching closely. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/01/01/telluride-ski-patroller-strike-resort-closure/

Today, events specialist Kristina Pritchett maps out some of The Sun’s in-person events for 2026, including our 4th annual Colorado Sunfest on May 1, our upcoming state legislative session preview and gatherings for first time homebuyers and would-be high-country hikers. https://coloradosun.com/events/

Today we revisit a conversation about happiness with Dr. June Gruber. Dr. Gruber is a clinical psychologist and full Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she directs the Positive Emotion and Psychopathology Laboratory.

Today, Sun director of development Alyssa Pinkerton looks at the growth in support for The Sun this year and what plans are ahead as the newsroom and operations teams plan to grow and cover even more of Colorado. coloradosun.com/support

Today, we're revisiting our conversation with Conor Hall, director of Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Industry Office and a Colorado native. Hall talks about leading and growing the state’s $65 billion outdoor economy.

Today, we’re revisiting a 2023 conversation with Christina Holbrook, who rushed to self-publish her first novel after a brain cancer diagnosis made her worry the traditional publishing timeline wouldn’t move fast enough to bring her book into the world. The leap paid off: the novel went on to win a Colorado Book Award for romance.

Today – we’re revisiting a talk about holiday cheer, as Sun writer Kevin Simpson chats with the Colorado woman behind thousands of visits with that jolly old elf, Santa Claus.

Today - we're revisiting a conversation about how NORAD in Colorado Springs uses their aerospace technology for a very important holiday mission: tracking Santa Claus. https://coloradosun.com/2023/12/22/norad-santa-tracker-2023/ 

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has updates on the ski and snowboarding season, including the return of Cuchara ski hill in southern Colorado, a new feature about getting better on the snow and now free access to his Outsider newsletter starting Jan. 1.

The Colorado Music Experience's G. Brown talks with the Sun's Kevin Simpson about some key figures in Colorado's music history.

Today, Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane checks in from the annual Colorado River conference in Las Vegas. The top water officials in the Western U.S. are together as a water-sharing agreement among the seven states is still pending. https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/17/colorado-river-gathering-rhetoric-concerns-las-vegas/

Unaffiliated voters now make up half of the electorate in Colorado. A new poll is shedding light on this crucial bloc. Colorado Sun political reporters Jesse Paul and Taylor Dolven dug into the data. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/15/colorado-unaffiliated-voters-poll-2025/

Since the start of the Trump administration’s tariffs, Colorado global exports grew 6.3% between January and August, compared with the same period in 2024, and imports fell 2.6%. Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the tariff’s effects on Colorado companies. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/15/colorado-trump-tariffs-havenly-imports-exports-trade/  

Can a billionaire be the model for swiftly addressing the high-country housing shortage? Today, outdoors reporter Jason Blevins discusses a new housing project in Steamboat Springs backed by a tech-focused venture capitalist.

Author César Garcia Hernandez talks to the Sun's Kevin Simpson about his book on immigration politics and policy, "Welcome the Wretched".

Today we're joined by Cameron Kirkegaard, a senior at Grand Junction High School, who recently released a documentary he made called Line of Fire, about sexual assault on the U.S. Biathlon Team – that’s skiing and shooting – that has gone unaddressed for decades.