Environment & Politics Reporter
Conrad Swanson
Conrad Swanson covers the environment and politics for The Denver Post. He joined the newspaper in 2019 and previously wrote for the Colorado Springs Gazette, the Lawrence (Kansas) Journal-World and the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal. He was awarded a 2019 fellowship for the National Press Foundation’s Spotlight on Statehouse and Local Reporting Program.
Featured Stories

Lauren Boebert is part of a dangerous religious movement that threatens democracy, experts say
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert's pattern of pushing for a religious takeover of America, spreading falsehoods about the 2020 presidential election and warning of an impending judgment day amounts to Christian...

The West’s most important water supply is drying up. Soon, life for 40 million people who depend on the Colorado River will change.
Seven states -- Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — tapped into the river and unlocked the American West. But their agreement, the 1922 Colorado River Compact,...

Colorado, Utah tribe worries nation’s last uranium mill is contaminating water, causing uptick in illness
The White Mesa Mill produces refined uranium, vanadium and rare earth compounds used for nuclear fuels, the creation of steel, batteries and electric cars. Residents are concerned those toxic leftovers...
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“We needed a deal yesterday”: Deadline passes without deal to save Colorado River. What now?
The river is drying, America’s two largest reservoirs are bleeding out and the states whose 40 million residents depend on the previous resources still can’t balance their water budget together.

Feds impose water cuts as Colorado River sinks deeper into drought and overuse
Seven western states and the 40 million people in them that depend on the Colorado River can’t yet agree how to use less water and Tuesday federal officials asked them...

Listen: Lauren Boebert’s neighbors’ 911 calls describe threats, husband running over mailbox
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert's husband reportedly threatened his neighbors on Aug. 4 and ran over a mailbox during a confrontation. Hear the two 911 calls from neighbors reporting the incident...

Adam Frisch wants to move Lauren Boebert’s district away from “anger-tainment” and toward problem solving
Political experts are less optimistic about Frisch’s chances but acknowledge there’s a path to victory for him, even if it¶¶Ňőap an increasingly narrow one.

Lauren Boebert’s neighbor called deputies after confrontation with congresswoman’s husband
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert¶¶Ňőap husband reportedly threatened his neighbors Thursday during what Garfield County sheriff’s deputies described as a domestic dispute, according to documents shared by a political organization trying...

New Denver law aims to choke sales of stolen catalytic converters by targeting resale market
Car part dealers and resellers must soon identify anyone looking to sell them second-hand catalytic converters, Denver City Council decided Monday, approving a law looking to cut into the black...

Rain tamed Colorado’s summer wildfire season, but how long will our luck hold?
Colorado officials warned 2022 could be the worst wildfire year in the state's recorded history but so far Colorado appears to have dodged a bullet with no major active fires.

Lauren Boebert challenger Adam Frisch says new poll shows him within striking distance for a seat in Congress
Incumbent, far-right U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert holds an advantage among likely voters in Colorado’s sprawling 3rd Congressional District, a new poll shows, but her lead is small enough that challenger...

What are PFAS, or “forever chemicals?”
State and federal regulators are moving to tighten controls over how much of those chemicals should be allowed in drinking water but first it¶¶Ňőap important to understand a few basic...

“No safe level”: A lot of Colorado drinking water could contain potentially hazardous levels of “forever chemicals” under new EPA standard
More than a hundred drinking water sources across Colorado — ranging from cities and counties to elementary schools and campgrounds — contain what are now considered to be potentially hazardous...