An Arctic blast is coming

Good morning, Colorado. I’ve lived in some frigid cities before, but they were all the type of places to endure winter more than do winter. When I moved to Colorado and learned to ski I thought wow, this is it. This is how you do winter.

Until last week, friends, when I discovered an entirely new world of winter. I started to learn how to knit. I can now knit, purl, bind on, cast off and frog, which is hardly an advanced curriculum, but I’m already deep in the dreaming and scheming stage. Now, with the frosty weekend coming up: Do I go ski, or do I stay home and knit?

I was contemplating this conundrum last night, when I came up on the sad news that David Lynch — extraordinary director, music maker, weather reporter, transcendental meditator — passed away. So now my plans are up in the air again, because I’m really pining for a “Twin Peaks” binge-watching session.

As the late, great Lynch might say: By golly it doesn’t matter what you do, just enjoy the doing.

Throw around a couple geez louises for the man today, and let’s get to the news.

Parker Yamasaki

Reporter

P.S. If you missed our 2025 legislative preview, where we interviewed Gov. Polis among other state politicians to look ahead at the year in politics, that’s on our YouTube page.

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THE NEWS

WEATHER

An Arctic blast is about to bring dangerously cold air to Colorado. Here’s how to prepare.

Blasts of snow and below-freezing temps this holiday weekend are expected to cause dangerous conditions for people, livestock and pets. Olivia Prentzel gathered some tips for staying safe and warm.

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WATER

Kansas looks on as farms retire thousands of acres in water-short northeastern Colorado

A massive swath of farmland in northeastern Colorado is poised to permanently shut off its wells, in one of the largest “dry-ups” of irrigated agricultural land in the West. Jerd Smith with Fresh Water News explains why Colorado is committed to sending its eastward waters to Kansas and Nebraska.

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OUTDOORS

Ski-haw! People on skis towed behind galloping horses compete in the wildest winter races in the West

Skiers in Ridgway booted up and held on for dear life last weekend during the Colorado skijoring season opener. Novices and experts alike towed behind horses in a timed competition that brings big air, big hats and big falls to town. Photographer William Woody was there shooting from the sidelines.

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MORE NEWS

• First Colorado ski resort fatality of the 2024-25 season reported at Powderhorn. Jessie Mello, a 24-year-old Marine, was skiing with her brothers on an intermediate run when she slid into a tree at Powderhorn on Dec. 24. She died 12 days later in a Grand Junction hospital.
• Fact Brief ☀️ Is covering up license plates to avoid traffic cameras illegal in Colorado? Yes. Driving a car that’s been modified to avoid detection by red-light cameras and similar technology is a Class B traffic violation.

Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Arctic forecast means some changes for the Marade this year. The annual Martin Luther King Jr. parade will have a shorter route, and is asking vulnerable people to find other ways to mark the day.
  — Denverite
• Misinformation fiasco drives suspected wolf poachers to Pitkin County ranch. Colorado Politics published a story Tuesday naming the family that owns a private ranch where Canadian wolves were released. Except they weren’t released there.
  — The Aspen Times
• Rental company facing lawsuits from Colorado attorney general and the Department of Justice. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser says Greystar Real Estate Properties is charging local tenants hidden fees.
  — KKTV

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE OPINION PAGE

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” Ossie and Myra riff on a failed political candidate’s old COVID anagram conspiracy theory and explore the possibilities.

CARTOON

Jim Morrissey notes that Chris Wright, a Denver-based fossil fuel executive nominated for energy secretary, sounded a conciliatory note in his confirmation hearing. Is that enough to overcome concerns?

CARTOON

Drew Litton marks last week’s loss of CU’s beloved and sometimes controversial football coach, Bill McCartney — who led the team to the 1990 national championship.

CARTOON

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy and submit columns, suggest writers or provide feedback at opinion@coloradosun.com.

Podcast Playlist

CONVERSATION

Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up podcast brings you a thoughtful conversation, a bit of Colorado history, and headlines of the day. We keep it tight so you can listen on the go, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. Download the Sun-Up for free on your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. As you bundle up this week and stay inside, check out this week’s lineup from The Sun team:

• Colorado snowpack on par so far … and more. Did you know the snow in our mountains flows to 19 other states? Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane and Jerd Smith with Fresh Water news look at the current numbers and other aqua news.
  LISTEN
• “Vintage” conversation. Colorado Music Experience director G. Brown and Sun reporter Kevin Simpson reminisce about the music that was defining 1975, “speakers the size of Volkswagens” and interviewing Joe Walsh in the front seat of a  Dodge Dart.
  LISTEN
• What’s a billion-dollar deficit, really? Colorado’s legislative session is underway and the big cloud over the golden dome is the budget. We revisit a conversation our politics reporters Brian Eason and Jesse Paul had about where the cuts could come.
  LISTEN
• Colorado companies show off at major tech show. One of the biggest Las Vegas conventions each year is CES, aka the Consumer Electronics Show. Sun business and tech reporter Tamara Chuang talks about the locals who made the trip.
  LISTEN
• Ski patrollers unionizing in Colorado having their moment. The strike settlement between Vail Resorts and patrollers in Park City, Utah, will have major implications in Colorado. Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has more on what it means here.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Remember, you can ask Siri, Alexa or Google to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll play right on your smart speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

Section by David Krause | Editor

We will be well below freezing for the next few days on the Front Range, but by Tuesday we should start seeing some beautiful blue skies and golden sunshine, all along the way!

— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun

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Corrections & Clarifications

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.