The Daily Sun-Up

Communities in the struggling Colorado River Basin looking for ways to shore up water supplies after decades of drought are turning to new forms of cloud seeding. Is it snake oil or science? energyoutreach.org/give

Katie Rizzo, author of "The Trimesters of Grief", sit's down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss the loss of her son and her new book. denverartmuseum.org aarp.org/co

Tracy talks to Amanda McCracken, a Boulder-based writer, runner, mother and author of When Longing Becomes Your Lover: Breaking from Infatuation, Rejection, and Perfectionism to Find Authentic Love: A True Story of Overcoming Limerence. denverartmuseum.org aarp.org/co

Colorado Sun Public Policy Editor Justin George sits down with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi during her recent visit to Littleton. Pelosi was in Colorado for a fundraiser supporting U.S. Rep. Jason Crow’s reelection campaign in the 6th Congressional District. In this special edition of The Unaffiliated, George talks with Pelosi about the political landscape in Colorado and across the country heading into the 2026 midterms. denverartmuseum.org aarp.org/co

Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/10/03/opportunity-zones-low-income-colorado-investors-tax-break/  Colorado is working on its next round of incentives to help low-income communities with its “opportunity zones” program, which first launched in 2018. Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about the program’s 2026 plans and her conversation with Gov. Jared Polis. denverartmuseum.org aarp.org/co

Before the ski lifts start turning, there’s another Colorado tradition that will hit Colorado communities in the hills and on the Front Range: ski swaps. Parker Yamasaki looks into the history of swaps and the more than 20 going on across Colorado this fall. Sponsors: denverartmuseum.org, aarp.org/co

Author Krista Hanley sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss her Columbine experience and "How to Survive a Mass Shooting". https://honestlygood.org

Today the Sun's Tracy Ross talks to Annette McGivney and Betsy Gaines Quammen about their new books Plastic Shaman and This Haunted Land as well as the importance of representation, why Western women writers matter and a haunting in the Hemingway House. They'll be in discussion about their books at Boulder Bookstore on Wednesday, Oct 7th. https://honestlygood.org

Today, Sun events specialist Kristina Pritchett and politics editor Justin George give us a preview of the Colorado Sun debates and candidate conversations as we head into the midterm election season. Events schedule: https://coloradosun.com/events/  Election coverage: https://coloradosun.com/colorado-election-2026/  https://honestlygood.org

Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down a new multimillion dollar marketing campaign dubbed “Denver: The best return on life.” Funded by local business leaders, the campaign is leaning into the good things that are going on. https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/26/denver-business-leaders-best-return-living-working/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/06/14/downtown-denver-commercial-real-estate-market/  https://honestlygood.org 

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins gets us caught up on a variety of news coming from the outdoors, including a liability lawsuit dismissed, river permitting proposal, daylight saving pushback and more. Daylight saving time pushback: https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/21/ski-resort-industry-urges-lawmakers-to-reject-daylight-saving-bill/  Liability lawsuit dismissed: https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/25/colorado-supreme-court-liability-waivers-resorts/  https://honestlygood.org

Stephen Collector sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to talk about the outdoors and his new book, "No Do-Overs in Paradise". Original Thinkers: https://www.originalthinkers.com/  NE Water Event: https://coloradosun.com/events/ 

The Colorado Broadband Office has canceled numerous contracts totaling more than $100 million that had been awarded to a Parker-based company to build fiber internet to rural households. Today, Colorado Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang looks at the allegations surrounding Maverix Broadband and their response. https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/21/colorado-broadband-office-rescinds-millions-federal-investigation/ Original Thinkers: https://www.originalthinkers.com/  NE Water Event: https://coloradosun.com/events/ 

Today the Colorado Sun takes you inside a dark tent in the middle of the night at a remote Colorado campground, where an animal attack forced a resourceful camper to draw on her skills and fight back. Join us to hear Kathleen Baran in her own words. Original Thinkers: https://www.originalthinkers.com/  NE Water Event: https://coloradosun.com/events/ 

Today, Colorado Sun Parker Yamasaki talks about the latest round of Michelin star awards in the state, how it works and how one husband-and-wife team is taking the Colorado culinary scene by storm. https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/21/meet-the-denver-chef-who-opened-three-michelin-restaurants/ https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/14/one-michelin-star-for-colorado-restaurants/ Original Thinkers: https://www.originalthinkers.com/  NE Water Event: https://coloradosun.com/events/ 

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins gets into the origins of the 50-year-old Pearl Pass Klunker Tour, which many consider to be the start of modern-day mountain biking and put Crested Butte on the map as a destination for the mountain biking community. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/18/crested-butte-klunker-tour/ Original Thinkers: https://www.originalthinkers.com/  NE Water Event: https://coloradosun.com/events/ 

G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience, sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to chat about Tim Curry, Big Head Todd and The Tragically Hip.

There has been a lot of news recently around water sharing responsibilities of the Colorado River as states fight over how to best manage the basin. Today, Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane rolls through some of the highlights and what it means to Colorado. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/24/nevada-lawsuit-colorado-river-federal-court/   https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/09/united-states-mexico-colorado-river-deal/  https://coloradosun.com/2026/09/15/colorado-river-emergency-release-flaming-gorge-lake-powell/  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-colorado-river-water-cuts-hit-lower-basin-state/id1529487340?i=1000785440105 

Colorado Sun Public Policy Editor Justin George and Colorado Sun Elections Editor Jesse Paul discuss the 8th Congressional District and Republican Gabe Evans’ assertion that Colorado Democrats are to blame for high gas prices. Later they shift to the 5th Congressional District, where Democrat Jessica Killin has launched attack ads against Republican Jeff Crank involving wedding gifts.

Colorado Sun Public Policy Editor Justin George and Colorado Sun Elections Editor Jesse Paul discuss the 8th Congressional District and Republican Gabe Evans’ assertion that Colorado Democrats are to blame for high gas prices. Later they shift to the 5th Congressional District, where Democrat Jessica Killin has launched attack ads against Republican Jeff Crank involving wedding gifts.

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins talks about a new avalanche mitigation system being developed on the Western Slope that will help bring even more safety to the dangerous work at ski resorts in Colorado and the West.

Author Wayne Hicks discusses Did All My Friends Have Fun at Play?, his oral history of the beloved children’s television program “Romper Room.” Hicks shares the stories of the teachers who hosted the show and helped make it a childhood institution for generations of viewers.

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about how the Colorado ranching community is adjusting to the latest Trump administration moves affecting the beef industry and one ranchers approach in Boulder County.

John Ingold and Michael Booth offer insights into a key upcoming court date in a battle between Children's Hospital and parents of transgender children, and a report highlighting how important clean energy jobs have become on the Eastern Plains.

Today, Colorado Sun arts and culture reporter Parker Yamasaki catches up with Amy Redford to talk about the humble beginnings of the now world-famous Sundance Film Festival, which moves to Boulder in January, and her father Robert Redford’s connection to Boulder.

Today Colorado Sun reporter Parker Yamasaki gives her take on the recent North South bike race, a self-supported 643-mile race that started Aug. 28 in Fort Collins and ends when the last finisher rides into Trinidad.

Author Chris Vanjonack sits down with the Sun's Kevin Simpson to discuss creating his speculative short story collection "Out of Body".

Today Sun reporter Jennifer Brown interviews Publisher Larry Ryckman about the Sun's upcoming 8th birthday and our future plans.

Today Colorado Sun Public Policy Editor, Justin George, and reporter Colleen Slevin are talking about a story that reframes how we think about the state and its history before it became a top destination for craft beer drinkers and mountain bikers. What many might now know is that towns such as Estes Park and Fruita carry histories of racism and discrimination, pasts that a group of researchers have been digging up for the Legislature.

Today, Colorado Sun rural reporter Tracy Ross talks about how the growth in northern Colorado spurred a push to create a chamber of commerce in the once sleepy town of Timnath and also team with nearby Severance and other area communities. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/29/rural-chamber-of-commerce-timnath-severence/

Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has covered the evolution of lift ticket pricing for decades and today he breaks down three antitrust lawsuits filed in Denver against the ski industry’s four largest players, arguing the operators conspired to inflate lift ticket prices. https://coloradosun.com/2026/08/27/antitrust-lawsuit-targeting-resort-operators/

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.