The Daily Sun-Up

From speed cameras to vaccine policy to ketchup packets, which of the laws passed by the 2026 legislature will impact people’s lives five or 10 years from now? That’s the question Colorado Sun Political Reporter Jesse Paul and other guests of the Purplish podcast tackle today, less than a week after the 2026 Colorado legislative session wrapped up. This podcast is brought to you by the Colorado Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun.

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 how technology has changed and how AI is quickly changing forecasting.  Read more!

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins breaks down a big land acquisition for a Colorado mountain town that millions of people zoom past each year. With barely 200 residents, Silver Plume officials are buying up old mining claims, expanding the town’s mountain park to more than 750 acres.

Today - Sun publisher Larry Ryckman chats with writer Kevin Simpson about his story on the moral courage of Silas Soule. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/05/10/silas-soule-sand-creek-massacre-colorado-history/ 

Today: The Sun's Tracy Ross talks with Dimity McDowell, a longtime runner who one day couldn't take the pain of it anymore, and began the difficult task of weaning herself from her runner's high -- a legitimate addiction. A former contributing editor at Runners World, McDowell chronicles that journey and more in her new book, The 27th Mile: How to Smooth the Rough Transition Out of Your Running Years, which she'll be reading from and speaking about at the Tattered Cover in Denver tonight. We start our conversation with Dimity explaining what a stress fracture is -- she had several over her running career and they were part of what led her to stop.

On Today's Temperature newsletter podcast, Michael Booth interviews Sun health writer John Ingold about the notorious hantavirus cruise and what it may or may not have to do with the Colorado version of hantavirus.

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks at the bills in the statehouse that will affect businesses and where they stand in the closing days of the Colorado legislature.  https://coloradosun.com/2026/05/09/colorado-legislature-swipe-fees-artificial-intelligence-centurylink-bills-laws/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/05/05/colorado-gas-prices-truckers-ride-sharing-drivers-uber-lyft/ 

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins breaks down a few skier data sets from this season, including how the historically dry winter played out in on-mountain visits, and also the number of people who died on the hill. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/05/05/us-skier-visits-drop-2025-26/

Mariko Tatsumoto, author of "Blossoms on a Poisoned Sea", sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss her work of historical fiction.

The Sun is three weeks into our months-long Colorado 150 project celebrating 150 years of statehood. Today, Colorado Sun arts and culture reporter Parker Yamasaki and team editor David Krause talk about the first three top-10 lists and what’s coming in May. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/colorado-150/

Today we're featuring a conversation between Colorado Sun Politics and Policy Reporter Taylor Dolven, Colorado Public Radio Public Affairs Reporter Bente Birkland and Denver Post Immigration Reporter Seth Klamann about lawmakers' efforts to hold federal immigration officers accountable when they step outside of the law. Multiple bills are being considered in the Colorado legislature that would raise questions about the limits of state authority when it comes to how federal immigration agents behave within Colorado’s borders. This conversation first appeared on the Purplish podcast from Colorado Public Radio and is being shared with the Colorado Sun through the Colorado Capitol News Alliance.

Today, Colorado Sun education reporter Erica Breunlin breaks down the recent teachers strike that disrupted Sheridan School District for more than three weeks and what the resolution looks like, thanks to the governor’s office stepping in. https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/29/colorado-sheridan-school-district-consolidation-teacher-strike/ 

Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has been following the legal challenges to skier liability waivers for years, and today he breaks down another case before the Colorado Supreme Court questioning the language in those waivers. https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/27/ski-pass-waivers/  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-jury-pushes-back-on-liability-waivers/id1744182140?i=1000725487892 

Author Meg Wingerter joins the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss her debut novel, "The Silence that Remains".

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about why two of three people appointed by the governor to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife commission didn’t keep their seats and how the state agency is coming under more and more scrutiny. https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/24/one-colorado-parks-wildlife-commissioner-confirmed-two-resign/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/22/did-polis-stack-cpw-commission-with-anti-hunting-interests/ 

Today, Sun reporter Jennifer Brown discusses how a leader of a nonprofit who was being investigated for theft but the attorney general's office got hired as a deputy commissioner for the state’s Behavioral Health Administration. https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/24/behavioral-health-deputy-commissioner-hiring-theft-scheme/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/22/casa-nonprofit-scheme-du-tuition/ 

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks into the continuing drop in average rent in Denver and why it’s trending that way. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/25/denver-renters-market-average-rents/

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks at how a change in Telluride’s affordable housing rules has riled a folks in town. As housing continues to challenge mountain town workers, was it an overcorrect? https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/19/telluride-rent-regulations-renters-affordability-shandoka-sunnyside-voodoo-apartments/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/31/colorado-sunfest-2026-panel-housing-crisis-in-high-country/ 

Today, Colorado Sun events specialist Kristina Pritchett previews our fourth annual Colorado SunFest, which is May 1 at the University of Denver, and how it’s evolved from an idea to a day of conversations and ways to make Colorado even better. https://coloradosun.com/colorado-sunfest/  

\Today, Colorado Sun arts and culture reporter Parker Yamasaki talks about our new Colorado 150 project to commemorate the Colorado 150th statehood celebration this year and what readers and listeners can expect with our series leading up to Aug. 1. https://coloradosun.com/colorado-150/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/22/colorado-150-scenic-drives-and-roadside-attractions/  https://coloradosun.com/2022/08/01/how-colorado-are-you-quiz/ 

Ballots for Colorado's June 30 primary are just about set. Colorado Sun political reporter Jesse Paul joined Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim of CPR News on the latest edition of the Purplish podcast to break down who's on it.  Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/11/scott-bottoms-gop-primary-ballot-colorado-governor/

Today, Colorado Sun business and tech reporter Tamara Chuang looks at the surprising business filing numbers in Colorado for the first quarter, layoffs coming after the First Bank merger and her Colorado SunFest panel, which will include an AI robot demonstration. Panel: https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/09/colorado-sunfest-2026-panel-ai-in-our-lives/

Today, we revisit our Dec. 15 episode when outdoors reporter Jason Blevins reviewed millions of dollars of high country housing projects coming to fruition and how Colorado mountain towns are focusing on short-term and long-term needs. Jason will host a Colorado SunFest conversation May 1 on high country housing solutions starting to take shape.  Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/12/15/steamboat-springs-billioniare-housing/

G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to put the just completed tax season to music.

Today, we're interviewing Ann Schimke of Chalkbeat Colorado about a public Christian school in Pueblo County that has created a legal battle in the state, one that could escalate to the U.S. Supreme Court. Photo: Mark Reis, Special to The Colorado Sun

Lawmakers finish drafting Colorado’s budget with final round of major cuts to address roughly $1.5 billion shortfall. Medicaid took the brunt of the final reductions, include a reimbursement rate cut for providers and a cap on Cover All Coloradans, which provides health care to immigrants who are children or pregnant. https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/01/colorado-budget-draft-billion-shortfall-2026/

New York Times editor Dean Baquet will be the keynote speaker at our fourth annual Colorado SunFest, which is May 1st at the University of Denver. He joins Colorado Sun publisher and co-founder Larry Ryckman to preview their SunFest conversation and talk about the state of media in America. https://coloradosun.com/colorado-sunfest/ https://coloradosun.com/2026/03/13/colorado-sunfest-2026-keynote-speaker-new-york-times-dean-baquet/ Photo: Dean Baquet, former New York Times editor. (Courtesy)

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins looks at the growing mental health concerns in Colorado’s mountain towns as communities come off the worst snow season in state history and the stresses that come with it. Drew Petersen 2024 SunFest conversation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF-_J3rPWtc

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/