Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Monday July 12th, 

 

Today we take a look at a new routine blood test for Colorado newborns. It’s already changed the lives of more than a dozen babies.

 

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today we’re going back to July 12th, 1896 when Samuel Adams set out on an expedition down the Blue River. He intended to reach the Gulf of California. He was looking for new mineral sources to promote western development. 

 

 Now, our feature story. 

 

Colorado and Wyoming now are testing all newborn babies for a disease that until recently was practically a death sentence. Since the testing began last year, 13 babies have received an early spinal muscular atrophy diagnosis that gave them access to new treatments -- and a fighting chance at survival.

 

The Sun’s Eric Lubbers talks to reporter Jennifer Brown about the new program.

 

CLIP 

 

To read Jennifer’s article, go to coloradosun.com

 

Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

As the state of Colorado grapples with whether to implement a demand-management program, which would pay irrigators to temporarily dry up fields in an effort to send more water downstream in the Colorado River, there could be unintended consequences for the animals that use irrigated agriculture for their habitat. A first step to understanding these impacts is comparing annual bird counts on seven northern Colorado ranches that did not irrigate last year as part of a study on water use in high-elevation pastures. Those fields are back to normal water use this year and the researchers expect to see more species of birds that depend on artificial wetlands created by flood irrigation. Last year 1,285 birds, comprising 39 different species were counted. 

To meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals, Colorado lawmakers are counting on hundreds of thousands of motorists to swap their gas-powered vehicles for cars that run on electricity. But one of the barriers to adoption is so-called range anxiety -- a driver’s worry that they’ll be stranded with no place to recharge. The Colorado Department of Transportation would like to add charging stations to rest areas along Interstate highways, but federal law says interstate right of way cannot be commercialized -- and that includes rest areas and park and rides. The $715 billion transportation bill passed by the U.S. House could change that. Retailers, including the owners of gas stations and convenience stores, are standing in its way, saying they plan to add charging stations and don’t want the government to undercut their business.

A teenage medical marijuana patient from Douglas County has sued to stop a Colorado law tracking and limiting the amount of cannabis concentrate he and other MMJ [em-em-jay] card holders can buy each day. Lawyers for Benjamin Wann, who uses a cannabis-derived product to control his epilepsy, say the law violates his constitutional right to medical privacy by linking a unique identification number to his purchases. The lawsuit also says House Bill 1317 could discourage doctors from recommending medical pot to some patients because it requires them to recommend a dosage. The sale and use of cannabis remains illegal at the federal level, and the lawyers say requiring doctors to recommend a dosage could jeopardize the drug enforcement administration licenses they need to write prescriptions for controlled substances. 

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Friday July 9th,

 

Today - What is the front range trail and why has one particular 5 mile section taken so long to finish?

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to July 9th, 1842 when Several prominent individuals in western US history met each other along the south platte river. This series of remarkable interactions was prompted by Lieutenant John C. Fremont, a prolific US adventurer. He encountered a party led by James Beckwourth and also Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau just a few miles later.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Trail enthusiasts are about 30 years into the process of realizing one of their biggest dreams: The Front Range Trail.

 

With a particular section of this nearly 900-mile cycling, hiking and walking trail nearing completion in Castle Rock, Michael Booth looked at the origins of the trail, including why it’s taking so long to finish.

 

The Sun’s Eric Lubbers, co-author of The Sunriser newsletter, talks with Mike.

 

To read Mike’s story and see a detailed map of the entire Front Range Trail, head to coloradosun.com.

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

Public health officials in southwest Colorado say they think a person has died because of plague. If the La Plata County death reported Wednesday is confirmed, it will be the first human death from plague in Colorado in six years. Plague is common in the American West. It’s a bacterial infection that can be transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas and is often detected in prairie dogs and ground squirrels. Almost half of the animal plague cases logged in Colorado from 2005 to 2020 occurred in La Plata County.

 

At least $50 million will flow to Colorado from a settlement deal in the Purdue Pharma bankruptcy case, attorney general Phil Weiser said Thursday. That money will come directly from wealthy members of the Sackler Family who own the company that makes the powerful painkiller OxyContin. The sum is expected to increase when the company’s share of the settlement is factored in. Weiser said the money will be distributed to local governments to spend on opioid misuse recovery, treatment, education and prevention. Colorado is one of 15 states to sign off on the deal.

 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has lifted many of the emergency health orders that have been in effect since COVID-19 arrived in the state. At the same time, he signed a “recovery” executive order to support the state’s economic revival and kept in place a COVID-19 health safety net that maintains the state’s access to federal funding. Colorado also remains under a disaster emergency declaration, which is what gives Polis the power to issue the recovery executive order. The governor’s decision on Thursday will not affect people’s access to vaccines, and unemployment and rental assistance programs will remain unchanged.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Thursday July 8th.

Today - Amendments to Colorado’s constitution attempted to take the politics out of the redrawing of maps. Maps that determine the makeup of the state legislature and the state’s representation in Congress.

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

Today, we take you back to July 8th, 2013 when a meeting held in the Washington County seat of Akron reflected growing resentment toward the government. Especially from rural, mostly conservative northeasterners.

The meeting debated two proposals offered by Weld County commissioners. Either they should secede to create a new state - or join a more politically appealing neighbor like Wyoming.

Now, our feature story.

Two amendments to Colorado’s constitution — Y and Z — tried to largely take the politics out of the once-a-decade process of redrawing the maps that determine the state’s representation to Congress and the makeup of the state legislature.

But while the measures were popular with voters and crafted by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, some prominent Democrats in the state say the party gave away a powerful tool that will make it harder to achieve their legislative goals — and maybe even help determine the makeup of Congress in 2022.

The independent commissions have released their preliminary maps, but with new Census data still to come, there’s a lot more work to be done.

The Sun’s newsletter wrangler Eric Lubbers [Loo-burrs] talks with political reporters Jesse Paul and Thy Vo [Tee Vo] about the process.

To read the full story and see a list of where the maps will be discussed, head to coloradosun.com.

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

Colorado is inching closer to herd immunity — but it’s not just because of vaccines. While Colorado overall has reached a point where 50% of the state’s total population has been fully immunized with the vaccine, the number of people who were infected with COVID-19 and survived — gaining some immunity in the process — makes that number closer to 60%. But with vaccinations being embraced unevenly around the state, Dr. Jonathan Samet, the dean of the Colorado School of Public Health said that the problem has splintered into a “series of epidemics.”

Gov. Jared Polis signed a wave of new criminal justice bills into law, including one inspired by the death of Elijah McClain during an encounter with Aurora Police. House Bill 1251 would prohibit the use of ketamine in law enforcement situations after McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, was given a dose of the powerful drug his family said was too large for his size and later died.

Among the other bills signed Tuesday were measures designed to reduce or eliminate burdensome court fees that can have lasting effects on families in poverty.

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Wednesday July 7th.

 

Today - The state plans to launch a massive coronavirus testing program for schools as kids go back this fall. But epidemiologists are still worried that schools are especially vulnerable.

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to July 7th, 1908 when tens of thousands of people filled Denver for the city’s first national political convention. Convention goers praised the auditorium and the city, even as they battled over issues and strategies. 

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Colorado is hoping to launch a massive coronavirus testing program for schools around the state as kids — who may still be too young to receive a vaccine — head back to school this fall.

Epidemiologists are warning that schools — as one of the highest concentrations of unvaccinated people — could be especially vulnerable to the illness. To prevent a year full of classroom quarantines and other learning disruptions, the state of Colorado is crafting a program to allow all public schools to access testing programs.

 

The Sun’s newsletter wrangler Eric Lubbers talks with reporters Erica Breunlin and Daniel Ducassi on the rush to build this massive program before the summer ends.

 

To read Erica and Daniel’s full story, head to coloradosun.com.

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

Some Denver Zoo animals will be vaccinated against COVID-19, starting with primates and carnivores. While transmission between humans and other species is rare, there have been several documented cases of COVID-19 in large cats, monkeys and certain rodent populations. Vice president of animal health Dr. Scott Larsen said the zoo is trying to protect animals including gorillas, tigers, mink and otters in the same way people are protected by the vaccine. Veterinary scientists say they do not think house pets like cats or dogs are in significant danger of catching COVID-19.

 

In an effort to disrupt the black market economy for stolen catalytic converters, auto repair shops are teaming up with AAA Colorado to install etched serial numbers on the valuable car part. The hope is that the program will allow scrap yards to distinguish between stolen converters, which usually have no identifying marks, and legit parts for recycling.

 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will propose reclassifying a rare Colorado River Basin fish called the razorback sucker from endangered to threatened status after a multiyear and multistate effort throughout the Southwestern U.S. to replenish its populations. A proposed formal relisting would classify the fish as no longer on the brink of extinction. Today there are an estimated 50,000 adult razorback suckers, thanks to the Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. The program was created in 1988 to rescue endangered aquatic species in the basin, including the razorback, whose population had dwindled to about 100.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Tuesday July 6th

 

Today - Because of Colorado’s drought, the Ute Water Conservancy District is going to mix Colorado River water into water from its reservoirs on Grand Mesa… for the first time ever. 

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we’re taking you back to July 6th, 1994 when A small forest fire smoldering west of Glenwood Springs in Garfield County erupted. The fire surrounded and killed fourteen firefighters on Storm King Mountain. Dry conditions had made 1994 one of the worst fire seasons on record at the time. In fact, in just three weeks, 8 blazes scorched more than 8,000 acres across the state.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Colorado’s severe drought is forcing Mesa County to tap into a different source for their drinking water. For the first time, Ute Water Conservancy District is going to mix Colorado River water into water from its reservoirs on Grand Mesa. 

 

It’s a move water managers are forced to do in order to meet the peak demand of its 90,000 customers in Grand Junction and across the county, The Sun’s Michael Booth reports. It will also help preserve water that is quickly evaporating in the summer heat.

 

Reporter Olivia Prentzel chats with Booth on what these changes mean for Mesa County residents.

 

To read Booth’s story, go to coloradosun.com.

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon was closed again this weekend due to debris flowing from the Grizzly Creek wildfire burn scar. Five mudslides came down in a 2-mile stretch of the canyon Saturday afternoon trapping a few dozen motorists for hours, the state transportation department said. When the highway finally reopened Sunday afternoon, speed limits were dropped to 40 miles per hour to keep dust down on the highway.

 

Colorado may have hit the 70 percent COVID vaccination rate goal set by President Biden -- but only technically. While more than 70 percent of adults in the state have received at least one dose of the vaccine, only 12 out of 64 counties met the July 4th goal. The dozen includes Denver and Jefferson counties, each of which account for more than 10 percent of the state’s total population, and other high-population counties are near the goal. Other places that reported vaccination rates of 70 percent or higher include the tourism-dependent Summit, Gunnison, Pitkin and Eagle counties, the state’s COVID vaccination dashboard shows.

 

The Douglas County Commissioners, who decided to break from the Tri-County Health Department because of disagreements over pandemic-related business restrictions, are moving forward with plans to create a stand-alone health department. The work begins with a community health assessment required by the state. The assessment is intended to help the commissioners understand the county’s public health needs before they officially decide to leave Tri-County, which serves about 1.5 million people in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Friday July 2nd.

 

Today - A potential solution to Colorado’s housing crisis is taking shape in Florence in the form of... shipping containers. 

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to July 2nd, 1950 when Denver’s decades-old urban rail service clattered to a halt. Why? Buses started to replace trolleys, riders struggled to afford fares during the Great Depression, and Americans fell in love with the automobile after WWII. But Denver purchased the Denver Tramway Company in 1971 and reorganized its bus service as the RTD. Then, when the light rail began it proved that everything old is new again.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

A possible solution to Colorado’s housing crisis is taking shape in Florence in the form of: shipping containers. Two entrepreneurs are building the homes out of the Lego-like metal boxes to create the state’s very first shipping container hotel.

 

The Sun’s reporter Jason Blevins took a tour of the shipping container homes. And the business duo told him they hope their affordable, energy efficient Industrial Hotel will provide affordable options to innovators flocking to the town.

 

Blevins describes the small homes to reporter Olivia Prentzel and explains how they could have a pretty big impact on the state’s housing crisis.

 

To read Blevins’ full story, go to coloradosun.com.

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

If you’re an Xcel Energy customer, expect a “smart meter” to be installed on your home sometime soon. The new meters read household energy use in real-time and report it back to Xcel. They will give customers a more precise idea of their energy use and allow Xcel to charge more for electricity used during peak demand times. Almost all of its Colorado customers will have smart meters by the end of 2023.

 

The Fort Collins planning commission rejected a proposal by Northern Water on Wednesday to run more than three miles of pipeline through city parks and neighborhoods. The rejection will likely only stall the massive project, though. Under state law, Northern Water’s own board can override the decision by a two-thirds vote. While water developers say they need more water to meet the demands of growing cities, residents say the cost to the environment and their wallets is too high.

 

Colorado’s attorney general has appointed investigators to look into whistleblower complaints that say dozens of air pollution permits were issued illegally to companies by a unit in the state’s health department. At least one whistleblower said they were asked to falsify data to get pollution estimates within permitted limits. Attorney General Phil Weiser said Thursday that his office assigned attorneys at an Atlanta-based firm to do an independent investigation.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Thursday July 1st.

 

Today - More than $8 million has been collected from donations following the Boulder King Soopers shooting. But how is the money reaching those who were affected?

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to July 1st, 1933 when The Bent County seat of Las Animas reached a temperature of 114 degrees. It was Colorado’s highest recorded temperature at the time. 

 

Now, our feature story.

 

In the hours after a gunman shot and killed 10 people inside a Boulder King Soopers in March, money for the victims began pouring in.

 

Now, three months later, more than $8 million has been collected, The Sun’s John Ingold reports. But what remains uncertain is how much of that money has actually reached those affected by the tragedy. The largest fund collecting donations has not made clear how it decides where the money will go.

 

Ingold talks with reporter Olivia Prentzel about the donation distribution process and debate surrounding it. 

 

To read Ingold’s story, go to coloradosun.com.

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

Colorado is one step closer toward having a Front Range passenger train system as Governor Jared Polis has signed a bill that creates a new taxing district to fund the project. Funding has been the largest hurdle in making a Front Range train system a reality. Senate Bill 238 will help generate the billions of dollars needed in startup costs. It establishes a 17-member board whose job is to get the new train on track. That board will have the authority to enact a sales tax of up to 8 cents on every $10 purchase to pay for the train.

 

Thornton can now start building a segment of a water pipeline in Weld County, even though the Weld County Board of Commissioners told the city “no” two months ago. Thornton City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a resolution that overrides Weld County’s denial of a permit to build a segment of the Thornton Water Project across private property in Weld County. The 74-mile project will deliver water from a reservoir near Fort Collins, nearly doubling the city’s current water supply. While the city council was expected to approve the resolution, several Weld County residents were at Tuesday night’s meeting to protest.

 

The Biden administration said Wednesday it is hiring more federal firefighters and immediately raising their pay -- to $15 an hour. This is happening as officials ramp up response efforts during a severe drought that has set the stage for another summer of intense, destructive wildfires across the West. President Biden made the announcement during a virtual meeting, which included at least eight Western governors, including Governor Jared Polis. The president’s plan would add or convert to full-time nearly 1,000 firefighters across a host of agencies.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Wednesday June 30th.

 

Preliminary maps for how legislative districts should be drawn were just released. 

 

Today - the biggest takeaways and what political ramifications the final maps will have for Coloradans.

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we take you back to June 30th, 1765 when Juan Maria Antonio de Rivera, a military engineer, crossed the modern boundary between Colorado and New Mexico. He was a part of a Spanish expedition. Rivera had been ordered to head northwest from the Rio Grande valley in search of silver.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Redistricting staff released preliminary maps for how state legislative districts should be drawn Tuesday. The once-in-a-decade process placed a number of incumbent lawmakers into the same districts, setting the stage for election battles next year.

 

The drafts are expected to change a lot over the next few months, as The Sun’s reporter Thy Vo reports, but they’re an important starting point for public debate as the commission starts collecting input from community groups and the public on how political lines should be drawn. 

 

Vo shares with reporter Olivia Prentzel the biggest takeaways from our first look at the district maps and what political ramifications the final maps will have for Coloradans.

 

To read the story, go to coloradosun.com.

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

The Arvada police officer who was fatally shot last week by a man investigators say was intent on killing as many officers as possible was remembered Tuesday as someone with “fundamental goodness” who knew how to love others -- whether it was his wife and two teenage sons or a student overlooked at school. Speaking at a memorial service, Arvada Police Chief Link Strate said Officer Gordon Beesley hated writing traffic tickets when he served as a motorcycle officer, but found his true calling when he was assigned to work with students as a school resource officer. In that role, he was able to identify those who needed his help the most. 

 

Colorado is becoming increasingly diverse, but professors who teach at the state’s four-year colleges are overwhelmingly white, department of higher education statistics show. Of the 3,500 professors who have tenure, just 15 are Black women. Another 38 are Black men. Hispanic students now make up about 20 percent of the state’s university students, but fewer than 8 percent of tenured professors are Hispanic. Who teaches students matters. Studies show that it affects a student’s sense of belonging, and whether students and families see colleges as being for them.

 

After 75 years, Grand Junction’s Central High School will keep the name Warriors, but the school’s mascot — that depicts a Native person — will soon be retired. Students and alumni are divided over the news. But a bill signed by Governor Jared Polis on Monday levies a $25,000 per month fine on schools that continue to use Native imagery or names. The 24 schools that still use this kind of imagery have until June 2022 to eliminate the practice.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Tuesday June 29th. 

 

Today -  For the first time ever, state wildlife officials are asking anglers not to fish the Dolores River. Why? To protect trout struggling in the 75-degree waters. 

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we’re taking you back to June 29th, 1975 when The Colorado Springs Gazette reported the imminent closing of the Cotton Club. The Cotton Club was a popular downtown nightclub that had challenged racial attitudes and divisions for more than a quarter century. It was the result of years of work by Fannie Mae Duncan. Duncan’s nightclub did not discriminate by race, in fact she had a large sign in the window that read “Everybody Welcome”.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

State wildlife officials are asking anglers not to fish the fasty-emptying Dolores River in southwest Colorado, for the first time ever, in order to protect trout struggling in 75-degree waters. They’re looking at similar closures on the Animas and San Juan Rivers, too. Brief, but intense rainfall over the weekend are not nearly close enough to bring Colorado’s Western Slope out of a 20-year drought that has drained rivers and dried up pastures. 

 

Conservation groups told Colorado Sun reporter Michael Booth that they’re also worried about low river levels in more visible, popular branches of waterways that attract many anglers and recreators later in the summer, including the Colorado River.

 

Booth tells reporter Olivia Prentzel more about the voluntary restrictions and what this recent rainfall means for the state’s drought conditions.

 

To read Booth’s story, go to coloradosun.com.

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a case involving a Denver medical marijuana dispensary that wanted the same federal tax breaks other businesses get. But conservative justice Clarence Thomas didn’t let it go without commenting on the government’s incoherent regulation of cannabis, writing that a 2005 Supreme Court ruling that kept marijuana possession illegal may now be out of date. "Federal policies of the past 16 years have greatly undermined its reasoning," he wrote. "The federal government's current approach is a half-in, half-out regime that simultaneously tolerates and forbids local use of marijuana.”

 

A second mudslide from the Grizzly Creek burn scar closed Interstate 70 through Glenwood Canyon Sunday afternoon. And though the Colorado Department of Transportation was able to haul away the debris and expected to fully reopen the highway, more storms are forecast for the corridor this week. One transportation official said the rain is a double-edged sword. “We need the moisture,” he said. “We don’t need it concentrated in Glenwood Canyon.”

 

A federal court judge declined to force U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert to unblock a former state lawmaker from seeing posts to her personal Twitter account. Bri Buentello, who lives in Boebert’s district, claimed her First Amendment rights were violated when she was blocked. Her lawyers argued that because Boebert uses her personal account for public business, she must make it visible to all her constituents. But the judge disagreed, saying the account was personal before Boebert was elected and it will remain personal if she leaves office. Other Colorado politicians have had to pay hefty penalties for blocking constituents from their Facebook pages.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Monday June 28th

 

Today - Denver is dismantling multiple encampments every week. It’s resulted in unhoused people, many of whom move along to another area of the city instead of going to a shelter. 

 

Before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today we’re going back to June 28th, 1934 when President Franklin D Roosevelt signed a bill named for western Colorado’s long-serving Democratic congressman, Edward, T. Taylor. The Taylor Grazing Act redefined the relationship between Americans and government owned land. It provided a structure to encourage fair and balanced use among all parties.

 

 Now, our feature story. 

 

Denver didn’t enforce its controversial camping ban in the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, but now the city is dismantling two to three encampments a week. Advocates call them unconstitutional sweeps and the city calls them clean-ups. But the result, after crews are done scooping up trash, bottles of urine and people’s belongings, is unhoused people will often move along to another part of town rather than going to a shelter. Colorado Sun reporter Jen Brown followed one couple, Cyxx (pronounced six) and Jay, for more than four months, during which they moved nine times. Jen tells reporter Thy Vo about what she learned. 

 

To read Jen’s story, go to coloradosun.com

 

Thanks for listening. Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

A massive mudslide from the Grizzly Creek burn scar closed I-70 through Glenwood Canyon Saturday afternoon. Both lanes of the highway were reopened late Saturday night. But because the debris also flowed into No Name Creek above where the city of Glenwood Springs draws its water, the town enacted water use restrictions through Monday.

 

Colorado Governor Jared Polis on Friday signed into law a bill intended to protect farmworkers. While the law is best known for banning use of the short-handled hoe known as the devil’s arm, it also removes the rule that exempted farm labor from state minimum wage and overtime rules and directs the labor department to devise pay, overtime and maximum working hour rules. It also set minimum pay for range workers at $1,500 per week. Agriculture is a $47 billion industry in Colorado.

 

Philip Anschutz (pronounced Ann-shoots), the billionaire owner of the Gazette newspapers in Colorado Springs and Denver, has agreed to sell his 27% stake in the Los Angeles Lakers to two owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Los Angeles Times reported that Anschutz’s share is valued at about $1.35 billion. The buyers are Mark Walter and Todd Boehly. Walter has been on a real estate buying binge in Colorado, snapping up a large number of commercial buildings in Crested Butte.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. Now, a quick message from our editor.

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

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