The Colorado Sun ☀️
banner
coloradosun.com
The Colorado Sun ☀️
@coloradosun.com
Nonprofit, independent newsroom telling stories that matter for a dynamic, evolving state.

News: https://coloradosun.com
Support: https://coloradosun.com/support
Newsletters: https://coloradosun.com/newsletters
Two of the most powerful elected leaders in San Miguel County flew out to California to visit Telluride ski resort owner Chuck Horning in the last week of December and offered him a deal.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/14/t...
2 Telluride, Mountain Village leaders pitch Chuck Horning a $127.5 million, investor-backed offer for 51% of the ski area
Leaders in Telluride and Mountain Village corralled investors to pay Horning $127.5 million for 51% ownership of Telluride Ski & Golf
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 6:06 PM
"This administration is diverting scarce staff time to the pet projects of the very wealthy.”

Sen. Michael Bennet wants to block federal funding for a controversial road across Forest Service land to reach a proposed 19-home luxury development above Edwards.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/15/b...
Colorado senator seeks to block federal funding for controversial road to luxury home project near Edwards
Berlaimont developers have worked since 2008 to develop a road to access sites for 19 homes on 680 acres surrounded by Forest Service land
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Jason Crow among Democrats who say Trump administration is investigating them over video message to troops
Jason Crow among Democrats who say Trump administration is investigating them over video message to troops
The Justice Department said it would neither confirm nor deny whether an investigation is taking place
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 4:11 PM
New program at Winter Park ski area gives patrollers tools for dealing with stress
New program at Winter Park ski area gives patrollers tools for dealing with stress
The Winter Park ski area partnership with Responder Alliance is designed to support mental well-being for ski patrollers and resort workers
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Colorado senator seeks to block federal funding for controversial road to luxury home project near Edwards
Colorado senator seeks to block federal funding for controversial road to luxury home project near Edwards
Berlaimont developers have worked since 2008 to develop a road to access sites for 19 homes on 680 acres surrounded by Forest Service land
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Colorado oil and gas leases go unsold at federal auctions
Colorado oil and gas leases go unsold at federal auctions
Colorado's latest federal oil and gas lease sales have been a mixed bag according to environmental groups and trade officials.
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Colorado PUC moves to give extra financial help to towns losing coal-fired power plants, but there’s a catch
Colorado PUC moves to give extra financial help to towns losing coal-fired power plants, but there’s a catch
There’s a catch. The plants must close as planned, which is complicated by Trump administration orders bolstering the coal industry.
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Bargain grocer Aldi seizes the moment by expanding into Colorado in an era of higher prices
Bargain grocer Aldi seizes the moment by expanding into Colorado in an era of higher prices
The company is also looking to open more than 50 stores in Colorado within the next five years
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:06 AM
Colorado is working on a plan to reintroduce wolverines next. Here’s what it would look like.
Colorado is working on a plan to reintroduce wolverines next. Here’s what it would look like.
Following a rocky rollout of wolves, state officials are taking a cautious approach to the reintroduction of wolverines
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:11 AM
Colorado appeals panel appears skeptical of Tina Peters’ sentence
Colorado appeals panel appears skeptical of Tina Peters' sentence
The three-judge panel was dismissive of many of the arguments made by Peters' attorneys. But they grilled the state's lawyer over the trial judge reciting Peters' false statements about elections in handing...
coloradosun.com
January 15, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Pueblo County officials have ordered the closure of what’s been billed by backers as Colorado’s “first public Christian school,” citing unaddressed safety concerns at the school’s building.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/12/r...
Building for Colorado’s "first public Christian school" ordered to close over safety concerns
It’s unclear if the closure of Riverstone’s building, a former office located in an industrial area, will spell the end of the school
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:18 PM
2 Telluride, Mountain Village leaders pitch Chuck Horning a $127.5 million, investor-backed offer for 51% of the ski area
2 Telluride, Mountain Village leaders pitch Chuck Horning a $127.5 million, investor-backed offer for 51% of the ski area
Leaders in Telluride and Mountain Village corralled investors to pay Horning $127.5 million for 51% ownership of Telluride Ski & Golf
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Legislature mulls ballot measure that would ask voters to raise TABOR cap by billions primarily to fund Colorado’s schools
Legislature mulls ballot measure that would ask voters to raise TABOR cap by billions primarily to fund Colorado's schools
The measure is backed by the Colorado Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, and other education organizations. It would boost funding for K-12 education and help the state address...
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:04 PM
46 gas stations in 11 Colorado counties received diesel fuel instead of unleaded regular gasoline last week, according to a list Sinclair provided to the state a week after the error.

See if you might have been affected at one of these stations.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/14/h...
January 14, 2026 at 8:10 PM
BREAKING: Here are the 46 Colorado gas stations that received diesel instead of regular unleaded
Here are the 46 Colorado gas stations that received diesel instead of regular unleaded
Colorado’s Division of Oil and Public Safety has received more than 600 complaints from drivers who experienced engine issues, and complaints are still coming in
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Just south of Colorado, Ted Turner’s ideal of conservation takes shape. Ben Clark’s new film “Preserved” takes us there.
Just south of Colorado, Ted Turner's ideal of conservation takes shape. Ben Clark's new film "Preserved" takes us there.
“Preserved:" Ben Clark explores Ted Turner’s "pinnacle of conservation"
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The Colorado legislature begins its 2026 lawmaking term today facing a mountain of tough budget decisions — about $850 million worth of them.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/13/c...
Colorado lawmakers return to Capitol facing $850 million mountain of tough budget decisions
The shortfall means two major things: The General Assembly will have to make funding cuts and it also has no money available to spend on new programs.
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Watch: The Colorado Sun discusses the 2026 Legislative Session
Watch: The Colorado Sun discusses the 2026 Legislative Session
The Colorado Sun met with state legislators to discuss the 2026 Legislative Session at The University of Denver on January 8, 2026.
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Realtors say it’s still a buyer’s market in Colorado, but high housing costs keep renters renting
Realtors say it's still a buyer's market in Colorado, but high housing costs keep renters renting 
The market continues to get worse when it comes to condos and townhouses with rising homeowner fees a major factor.
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM
The big bills to watch as Colorado’s 2026 legislative session begins
The big bills to watch as Colorado’s 2026 legislative session begins
Colorado lawmakers open their lawmaking term trying to tackle big issues — like housing, the environment and public safety — under a strained budget
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Colorado grants $2.5 million to launch long-term vision for tourism and recreation around Pikes Peak
Colorado grants $2.5 million to launch long-term vision for tourism and recreation around Pikes Peak
The grant will help finish the Ring the Peak trail, develop campsites and bring “boots-on-the ground” ambassadors to educate hikers
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:06 PM
Colorado Springs Utilities is working with local legislators on a bill that would give the Ray Nixon coal power plant a reprieve from state laws mandating it be closed in 2029 and be replaced by cleaner electricity.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/13/c...
Colorado Springs seeks bill to keep Ray Nixon coal plant open past 2029 closure deadline
Colorado Springs Utilities is working with local legislators on a bill that would give the Ray Nixon coal power plant a reprieve from state laws mandating it be closed in 2029.
coloradosun.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Colorado’s four-year graduation rate climbed to its highest in more than a decade while the state’s dropout rate dropped to an all-time low, according to data released Tuesday by the Colorado Department of Education.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/13/c...
Colorado high schoolers are graduating at a record rate, new data shows
Meanwhile, the state’s dropout rate fell to the lowest on record
coloradosun.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Colorado lawmakers have steadily expanded protections for tenants in recent years, but many renters still find it hard to reason with out-of-state investment firms.

coloradosun.com/2026/01/12/d...
When a landlord ghosted its Denver tenants, trash and dog poop piled up. Then came the mysterious fees.
Colorado lawmakers have steadily expanded protections for tenants in recent years, but many renters still find it hard to reason with out-of-state investment firms.
coloradosun.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Although the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 called for targeting agencies promoting what it termed “climate alarmism,” it did not propose eliminating Boulder’s National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Did Project 2025 call for closing Boulder's NCAR research center?
No. While Project 2025 called for targeting “climate alarmism,” it did not propose eliminating the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
coloradosun.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:17 PM