The Daily Sun-Up

Jesse Paul, a political reporter for The Colorado Sun, dives into Colorado's troubling cycle of billion-dollar budget shortfalls, driven largely by Medicaid spending. He discusses why temporary fixes aren't sustainable and outlines Governor Polis' controversial proposal to slow Medicaid growth. With bipartisan resistance to cuts, Paul explores alternatives like reducing bureaucracy or increasing revenue. He also highlights the timeline for upcoming legislative decisions that could shape Colorado's financial landscape.

Today we look into the rocky future of the Rocky Mountain Regional Patent Office, which was slated to close during the shutdown and shift remaining employees to Virginia, and now may be relocated somewhere else in the West. Tamara Chung joins to explain what these shifting federal decisions could mean for Colorado and its workers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins takes us up to the hills outside of Paonia for updates on a project to turn potent methane leaking from an abandoned coal mine into less harmful carbon dioxide. Celebrating the DPS ExperienceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Sun director of development Alyssa Pinkerton and membership manager Danika Worthington discuss ways listeners like you can get involved in supporting Colorado with free, trustworthy news by supporting nonprofit journalism. Gift membership: https://coloradosun.com/gift-membership Black Friday: https://giving.coloradosun.com/page/black-friday-2025 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Mark Easter chats with The Colorado Sun's Kevin Simpson about his book "The Blue Plate: A Food Lover’s Guide to Climate Chaos".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Derek Everett, a history professor and author specializing in Colorado's past, dives into the intriguing periods when the state celebrated two Thanksgivings. He highlights how Thanksgiving evolved into a late-November tradition and discusses FDR's controversial 1939 decision to move it earlier to help the economy. Everett shares Colorado's unique response, where Governor Ralph Carr allowed both dates amid business pressures. This quirky chapter not only impacted local traditions but also reflected broader societal anxieties leading up to World War II.

Tamara Chuang, a business and technology reporter for The Colorado Sun, explores the surprising trends in Thanksgiving meal costs for 2025. She reveals the unexpected drop in prices despite anticipated increases, discussing how retailers are discounting turkeys to attract shoppers. Tamara dives into the impact of avian flu on turkey supply, and how promotions reshape consumer demand. Plus, she explains the fluctuations in vegetable prices due to tariffs and measures how canned goods have become more affordable, all while sharing her own Thanksgiving plans!

The Thanksgiving holiday week is the unofficial start of the Colorado ski season. Today, Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has a preview of the new stuff this winter across the state, big Colorado events before the Olympics and his always optimistic hope for the snow to pick up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G. Brown, veteran music journalist and executive director of Colorado Music Experience, joins The Sun’s Kevin Simpson to dish out a Thanksgiving musical feast. From Colorado classics to unexpected holiday favorites, they share the songs, stories, and sounds that set the tone for the season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Sun reporter Olivia Prentzel looks at how a Denver-area investigator who relied on Flock cameras to build a theft case was disciplined after falsely accusing a woman of stealing a $25 package. She had her own evidence. Read more: https://coloradosun.com/2025/11/12/columbine-valley-office-flock-camera-extra-training/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.