Join The Colorado Sun as we talk to Colorado lawmakers, health experts, scientists and more about issues affecting Colorado.

Upcoming Events:

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Join The Colorado Sun for a conversation surrounding the Arkansas River and the people who rely on, and care about the river. We’ll hear from residents who drink its water, to farmers and ranchers who use it to grow food and municipalities upstream working to provide to their communities.

The evening will begin with a photo presentation by Mike Sweeney, a photographer for The Colorado Sun with more than 25 years experience, and Colorado Sun Environment Reporter Michael Booth. Sweeney will tell the stories of the people he met who live along the Arkansas River.

Following the presentation, Booth will lead a panel conversation with the following speakers:

• Dr. Mike Bartolo, Colorado State University Vegetable Crops Specialist (retired)
• Jack Goble, Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District 
• Rick Kienitz, Aurora Water
• Rob Oquist, Otero County Commissioner
• Kim Gortz, Colorado Springs Utilities

Snacks and drinks will be available.

Doors open at 5 p.m. for attendees!

This event is presented by the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District, Aurora Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, Rocky Mountain Farmers Union and Colorado Water Center.

This event is sponsored by Adams State University.

Since 2002, the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District has served Pueblo, Crowley, Bent, Otero, and Prowers counties. Our focus is to safeguard the region’s water resources to ensure thriving irrigated agriculture, vibrant rural communities, and a strong economy for both current and future generations. www.lowerark.com.

Colorado Springs Utilities, a not‑for‑profit municipal utility, serves nearly 500,000 residents in the Arkansas River Basin with electric, natural gas, water and wastewater services. Through agricultural water sharing partnerships that leverage utility resources, we’re pioneering collaborative solutions to preserve long‑term agricultural vitality in the basin.

The Colorado Water Center facilitates outreach, education, and applied interdisciplinary research to address complex and evolving water-related challenges facing Colorado, the west, and beyond by fostering collaboration, synthesizing water knowledge, and inspiring the next generation of water leaders.

Aurora Water provides drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater services to the third largest city in Colorado. The utility is focused on sustainable use of water resources through conservation, advanced water reuse, and responsible development planning that aligns growth with available water supplies, ensuring long-term reliability for customers and the community.

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The Colorado Sun’s politics team will sit down with some of the state lawmakers and discuss the 2026 Legislative Session, what were some of the challenges, what were the successes, and we’ll ask the speakers your questions.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for attendees

Colorado Sun elections editor Jesse Paul will lead the conversations.

Speakers include:

• Gov. Jared Polis
• House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell, R-Colorado Springs

More speakers to be announced!

This event is presented by AARP Colorado, and sponsored by Aponte & Busam Public Affairs Consultants, Advanced Energy United and Western Resource Advocates.

AARP is the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the more than 100 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. To learn more about AARP Colorado’s local efforts to support livable communities, caregivers, and healthy lifestyles across the Rockies, visit www.aarp.org/co.

Advanced Energy United is a national industry association representing businesses that provide the full range of advanced energy and transportation solutions. We work to advance public policies that enable competition and work alongside our member companies to create economic opportunity, lower consumer costs, and bolster energy reliability and resilience across the country. To learn how membership with Advanced Energy United can empower your business, visit advancedenergyunited.org/join.

Aponte & Busam Public Affairs Consultants is a full-service government affairs firm with expertise navigating the legislative and regulatory policy arenas on behalf of a wide variety of clients.

Western Resource Advocates is a regional nonprofit organization fighting climate change and its impacts to sustain the environment, economy, and people of the West. We drive state level action with policies that protect Colorado’s air, land, water and wildlife.

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Join The Colorado Sun for the Colorado Congressional District 8 Democratic Candidate Forum. The event will take place at The University of Northern Colorado Campus on May 28, 2026 at 6 p.m.

Colorado Sun elections editor Jesse Paul and Colorado Sun Politics/Policy Reporter Taylor Dolven will ask Democratic candidates questions before the June 30 Primary Election for Colorado Congressional District 8. 

CD8 spans Denver’s northern suburbs along U.S 85 into Greeley. 

Democratic Candidates who will be at the forum include:

• Shannon Bird – former State Representative
• Evan Munsing – Marine combat veteran
• Manny Rutinel – State Representative, Commerce City

The forum will be free to attend, but registration is required.

This event is made possible through funding from The Colorado Health Foundation.

About The Colorado Health Foundation (CHF):  The Colorado Health Foundation is a statewide, nonprofit and nonpartisan philanthropic organization with a mission to improve the health and wellbeing of Coloradans. Through community engagement, research, grantmaking, and private sector investments, the Foundation aims to ensure that everyone in Colorado has what they need to be healthy.

As a nonpartisan private foundation, The Foundation is prohibited from engaging in lobbying and partisan political activity. CHF does not take positions in support of or opposition to any specific legislation, ballot measure, or candidate for public office.

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Participe junto al equipo de política de The Colorado Sun en el Foro de Candidatos Demócratas del 8° Distrito del Congreso de Colorado, que se llevará a cabo en The University of Northern Colorado el día jueves 28 de mayo de 2026 a las 6:00 p.m. 

Jesse Paul, editor de elecciones de The Colorado Sun, y Taylor Dolven, periodista política y de asuntos normativos de The Colorado Sun, entrevistaran a los candidatos demócratas antes de las elecciones primarias del 30 de junio para el 8° Distrito del Congreso de Colorado.

El 8° Distrito del Congreso de Colorado abarca los suburbios del norte de Denver a lo largo de la U.S. 85 hasta Greeley.

Los candidatos demócratas que asistirán al foro incluyen:

• Shannon Bird: exrepresentante estatal
• Evan Munsing – veterano de combate del U.S. Marine Corps
• Manny Rutinel – representante estatal, Commerce City

La asistencia al foro es gratuita, pero es necesario registrarse. Este evento se grabará y transmitirá en directo con subtítulos en español. Habrá intérpretes en vivo disponibles durante el evento.

Este evento es posible gracias a fondos aportados por The Colorado Health Foundation.

Acerca de The Colorado Health Foundation (CHF): The Colorado Health Foundation es una organización filantrópica a nivel estatal, sin fines de lucro y no partidista, cuya misión es mejorar la salud y el bienestar de las personas en Colorado. A través de enlaces comunitarios, estudios, otorgación de fondos e inversiones del sector privado, la Fundación busca asegurar que todas las personas en Colorado cuenten con lo que necesitan para tener una buena salud.\

Como fundación privada no partidista, la Fundación tiene prohibido participar en actividades políticas partidistas y de cabildeo. CHF no asume posturas a favor o en contra de ninguna legislación específica, medida electoral o candidato a un cargo público.

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