Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Thursday April 29th, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - Highlights from our conversation with state legislators and experts on why funding transportation projects in Colorado can be so challenging.

 

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 April 29th, 1922 when one of the state’s greatest legislative compromises was made. In exchange for flood control appropriations for the Arkansas River valley, southern Colorado politicians agreed to support a long debated tunnel under the Continental divide. Construction on the Moffat tunnel ended in 1928. It was named for David H Moffat, the founder of the Denver, Northwestern & Pacific Railroad.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

State legislators and transportation experts joined Jesse Paul last night for a virtual discussion on Colorado’s transportation future. Senator Faith Winter and Representative Matt Gray spoke on the Democrats’ upcoming transportation bill, while Senator Ray Scott offered the Republican Party’s priorities and lobbyist Sandra Hagen Solin spoke on behalf of the business community. 

 

Here’s a segment from the discussion, where the lawmakers discussed why funding transportation projects in Colorado is such a difficult ask.

 

To watch or listen to the full event, go to coloradosun.com.

 

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

 

Governor Jared Polis indicated Wednesday that he’s likely to veto a bill that would speed up the timeline for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Senate Bill 200 would set firm caps on emissions for key sectors of the economy and give the state’s Air Quality Control Commission power to enforce those caps. Democratic legislators vowed to keep moving the bill forward, setting up a potential intraparty fight on how the state should tackle climate change. The Senate finance committee approved the bill Wednesday afternoon and moved it on to its next hearing. 

 

A surge in demand for new homes and home improvement projects in the past year has collided with a lumber shortage. The overall price of lumber is up 240 percent from a year ago, according to the National Association of Homebuilders. The result? A single-family home costs $35,000 more now than it did a year ago. Prices also have spiked for other materials, such as sheet metal. But experts say the cost of building materials will likely go back down soon as pandemic-induced home improvements are finished. 

 

Nearly $560,000 has been spent to oppose a bill that would reduce the cost of health care, a Colorado Sun analysis shows. House Bill 1232 initially sought to make a state-run public insurance plan, but significant amendments on Tuesday redirected it to require private insurers to offer a standardized plan heavily regulated by the state. Partnership for America’s Health Care Future has led the effort against the bill, funded by hospitals, insurers and other business interests. The dark-money nonprofit is now the top single-year lobbying client for any year since at least 2011 and may be the top single-year lobbying spender ever in Colorado. The opposition spending dwarfs the roughly $65,000 spent in support of the bill by the national nonprofit United States of Care.

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. It’s Wednesday April 28th, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division has been accused of prioritizing industry over public health. Now whistleblowers are accusing the director of having a conflict of interest.

 

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 April 28th, 1873 when President Ulysses S Grant made an unexpected visit to Colorado Territory. He was the first president of the United States to stand on Colorado soil, and the first to look upon the Rocky Mountains. He took the Colorado Central Railroad and upon his arrival in Denver he was greeted by hundreds of guests including a party of Utes.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division is under fire, accused of prioritizing industry over environment and public health. Now whistleblowers are saying Director Garry Kaufman has direct conflict of interest in issuing pollution exemptions to one of the largest mining companies in the world. Reporter Michael Booth shares the latest with Lucy Haggard.

 

To read more about the whistleblower complaints, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

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

 

Coronavirus case rates and hospitalizations are continuing to increase across Colorado, especially among younger people. Data from the state health department shows cases are occurring at a higher rate among children age 11 to 17 than the general adult population. State health officials urge people to get vaccinated, especially now that all the community vaccination sites are accepting walk-in patients. Children under the age of 16 are not eligible for vaccines, though experts hope there will be options for youth to get vaccinated before the next school year starts in the fall.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/27/coronavirus-cases-hospitalizations-rise-colorado-under-18/ 

 

Colorado Democrats are pursuing a bill in the statehouse to ensure people don’t stay in jail longer than necessary after they are arrested. House Bill 1280 would require courts hold a bond hearing within 48 hours of someone being arrested and booked into jail. The bill would also allow hearings to be held by phone or video conference, and would require judicial districts to let people pay bail online. Proponents of the bill argue it ensures everyone receives due process efficiently, as someone arrested on a Friday under current law may have to wait until Monday or Tuesday for their bond hearing. But critics say the bill doesn’t include funding for the changes. And they say the work will drain money from rural law enforcement agencies that already struggle for adequate resources.

 

Commercial rafting dropped 21% in Colorado last year compared with 2019, according to a new report from the Colorado River Outfitters Association. That translated to roughly $36 million less spent as the coronavirus pandemic’s restrictions throttled the activity. Many businesses also reported increased costs due to disease prevention measures, such as increased cleaning and running more rafts to keep groups distanced. But reservations for the coming season are pouring in as more people get vaccinated and coronavirus restrictions are eased, giving outfitters hope for a comfortable rebound this year.

 

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. It’s Tuesday April 27th, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - Gross Reservoir continues to be the subject of court rulings. So, what’s the latest on the fight over expanding?

 

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 April 27th, 1917 when an explosion in the Hastings Mine killed 121 miners. It earned the site the dubious distinction of Colorado’s worst industrial disaster. An investigation later determined that an illegal use of matches to light a lamp had caused the blast. Work in the mine resumed later that year, but it closed for good in 1923.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Owned by Denver Water but located in Boulder County, Gross Reservoir supplies water from both sides of the Continental Divide to Front Range residents. But the reservoir has been anything but smooth sailing and continues to be the subject of court rulings. Reporter Michael Booth talks with Lucy Haggard about the latest update on the fight over expanding the reservoir.

 

To read more about Gross Reservoir, go to coloradosun.com.

 

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

 

U.S. Census Bureau data released Monday confirmed that Colorado will receive an eighth congressional seat. The state’s population increased almost 15% in 2020, roughly double that of the national increase. An independent commission is tasked with redrawing the state’s districts, but the detailed data necessary for that task likely won’t be available until September. Multiple groups across the state are asking that communities with similar interests, such as agriculture, get grouped together in the newly redrawn map.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/26/colorado-8th-congressional-seat/ 

 

A long-awaited bill in the statehouse to decrease health care costs will no longer include a public insurance option. House Bill 1232 will instead require private insurers to offer a highly regulated, standardized plan. Providers won’t be required to accept the plans under certain conditions, including if their provider network reflects the diversity of consumers. The bill’s changes will happen through an amendment, which will be considered in the House Health and Insurance Committee on Tuesday.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/26/colorado-public-option-health-care-bill-update/ 

 

A majority of Coloradans feel the state has an affordable housing problem, and they want the government to fix it. A new poll from Magellan Strategies reflects the frustrations of a hyper housing market for renters and owners alike, especially along the Front Range. Researchers found the coronavirus pandemic has also had a significant impact on changing public opinion. Support for affordable housing policy differed along political party lines, with the most support among Democrats, then independents, and the least support among Republicans.

 

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, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up from the Colorado Sun. It’s Monday April 26th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. 

 

Today --  At this point, most Coloradans who were eager to get the Coronavirus vaccine have received at least one dose. Now, the state is working to reach those who are hesitant.

 

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 April 26th, 1951 when President Harry Truman assigned two small tracts of federal land in Southwest Colorado to Hovenweep National Monument. His action added the Hackberry and Goodman Point ruins to a reserve that protected structures of the so-called finest prehistoric masonry in the United States.

 

 Now, our feature story. 

 

When coronavirus vaccines were first available to the general public, interest far exceeded supply. Now more than two and a half million Coloradans have received at least one dose of vaccine, and state public health officials are figuring out how to get doses to the rest of the eligible population. Reporter John Ingold talks with Lucy Haggard about the coronavirus vaccination campaign’s next steps.

 

To read more about Colorado’s coronavirus vaccine campaign, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

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

 

Public health officials say Colorado can resume using the Johnson and Johnson coronavirus vaccine. The vaccine was paused for 11 days after unusual blood clotting occurred in 15 of the nearly eight million people who had received the shot. Three people died and several remain hospitalized. Experts say the one-dose vaccine is crucial to fighting the pandemic, though new warnings of the rare blood clots will be included in consent forms going forward.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/24/johnson-and-johnson-coronavirus-vaccine-colorado/ 

 

As Colorado begins preparing to reintroduce gray wolves, a bill in the state legislature seeks to ensure the financial cost is shared among stakeholders. House Bill 1243 would change the source of funding from the Wildlife Cash Fund, which is primarily filled through hunting and angling fees, to one of four other funds. The bipartisan bill seeks to assuage critics of reintroduction, many of whom are hunters and anglers who were worried their fees would be the main source of funding for the effort. The bill passed unanimously out of the House Energy and Environment Committee earlier this month and now heads to House Appropriations. 

 

The world’s largest firefighting airplane is offline just as the western U.S. prepares for a potentially catastrophic fire season. The Global Supertanker, a converted Boeing 747 based in Colorado Springs, can fly as low as 200 feet and dump up to 19,200 gallons of water or flame retardant in just six seconds. But reports say the investor group running the airplane is shutting it down. The supertanker can cost as much as $250,000 per day to operate.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/24/global-supertanker-747-grounded/ 

 

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, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up from the Colorado Sun. It’s Friday April 23rd, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - Earlier this week we had a conversation with Pat Schroeder, the first woman elected to represent Colorado in Congress. Schroeder sheds light on bipartisanship, women in politics and what’s in store for the future.

 

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 going back to April 23rd, 1859 when the first copies of the Rocky Mountain News hit the streets of Denver. It was the first paper printed in what is now Colorado, and it remained an institution for a century and a half. 

 

Now our feature story.

 

The Colorado Sun hosted a public conversation with former U.S. Representative Pat Schroeder on Wednesday. The Democrat was the first woman elected to represent Colorado in Congress. Schroeder spoke with Sun editor Larry Ryckman and University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket on bipartisanship, women in politics and what Colorado’s political future may hold.

 

To read more about politics in Colorado, go to coloradosun.com.

 

Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

Colorado lawmakers are preparing a package of gun legislation in response to the shooting at a King Soopers store in Boulder last month. One bill would temporarily prohibit people convicted of a violent misdemeanor from purchasing a firearm for a certain period of time. Other bills seek to close the so-called Charleston loophole, as well as allow local jurisdictions to regulate guns more strictly than the state does. Lawmakers were floating the idea of an assault weapons ban in the days after the shooting, but there is likely not enough support in the legislature to pass such a measure.

 

Aspen Snowmass has had its busiest competition and event season ever in a winter when most other resorts cancelled their events. The four ski areas also leaned into the annual Winter X Games held in January even as Pitkin County grappled with level-red restrictions. By the end of this month, the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association’s competitions will have hosted more than 1,000 athletes from 37 countries. 

 

Summer camps are poised to make a comeback in Colorado after the pandemic called off a necessary staple for so many families. Most camps will operate at reduced capacity, with cohorts, masking and frequent opportunities to wash hands. The experience will be decidedly different from years past; campwide meals and singalongs may need to wait another year. Still, camps are reporting far more interest than in previous years, and many have hundreds of kids on their waitlists.

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 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. It’s Thursday April 22nd, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

It’s Earth Day today and we’re talking all about recycling in Colorado. 

 

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 April 22nd, 1869 when federal officials purchased a site on Colfax Avenue in Denver for $60,000. Why? To set up a facility to produce coin money. The structure they built remains in operation today. Denver’s US Mint also now represents the second largest American gold depository.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

For the 51st annual celebration of Earth Day, reporter Lucy Haggard dives into Colorado’s complete glass recycling loop, and what it could take to improve the state’s recycling rates. 

 

To read more about recycling in Colorado, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

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

 

Northern Water will put $15 million into a trust to end a legal battle over its Windy Gap firming project and the Chimney Hollow reservoir. The reservoir will be filled with water drawn from the Colorado River Basin in Grand County and mostly will benefit 12 of Northern Water’s members, including nine Front Range cities. A coalition of environmental groups trying to stop the transfer of Western Slope water to the Front Range said they were disappointed by the court order that sent them to mediation with Northern Water. But they said the money will be used to mitigate some of the harms caused by diversion project.

 

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/21/chimney-hollow-dam-loveland-settlement/

 

A once-in-70-years freeze in October killed one of the Western Slope’s most beloved organic peach orchards. To survive the devastating financial loss, orchardman Steve Ela is asking supporters to sponsor baby trees as he replants the Ela Family Farm orchard near Hotchkiss. He’s also warning his customers across the state that they’ll have to buy peaches from other growers this year. The official Western Slope peach forecast suggests most orchards near Palisade will have crops about 80 percent of normal.

 

Engineering students from the University of Colorado have won the U.S. Department of Energy’s solar decathlon with an affordable, energy efficient home they built in Fraser. The 1,200 square foot home stays cozy even when temperatures in the mountain town plummet below zero and the new owners sell extra solar energy back to the utility in their community. The house also is being touted as a model for affordable housing because its cost -- including land -- was about $300,000 less than the median home price in Grand County last month.

 

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. It’s Wednesday April 21st, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - the Suncor Refinery is one of Colorado’s biggest polluters. And now, as the refinery’s re-permitting hearings approach, some activists are calling for it to be shut down entirely. 

 

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 April 21st, 1879 when the supreme court reached a decision regarding a dispute between railroads over the royal gorge in Fremont county. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was considered the most obvious candidate for the market, but they were running out of capital. So their competition, the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad decided they’d like to secure the market for themselves. After sabotage and violence the D&RG ultimately won the market.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Suncor Refinery in Commerce City is one of Colorado’s major polluters. Much of that is sanctioned through air pollution permits issued by the state. But activists and locals argue the emissions are beyond what is necessary, and some say the oil and gas refinery should shut down altogether. Reporter Michael Booth talks with Lucy Haggard about what may come in the refinery’s re-permitting hearings next month.

 

To read more about air quality in Colorado, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

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

 

The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin concluded Tuesday, with the jury ruling Chauvin guilty of two murder charges and one manslaughter charge. Chauvin pinned George Floyd, a Black man, to the ground with his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. The incident last summer sparked outrage and renewed calls for racial justice. It also resulted in a sweeping police accountability bill that passed the Colorado legislature. Black leaders across Colorado expressed relief at the verdict Tuesday, but said there is still much work to be done.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/20/derek-chauvin-guilty-george-floyd/ 

 

Coloradans who have been vaccinated against coronavirus are at least 90% less likely to develop COVID-19 than those who have not been vaccinated. State health officials said Tuesday that just 819 coronavirus cases out of the 106,965 occurring since January 21 were people who were fully immunized. Even partial vaccination, that is, receiving just one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, provides about 66% protection against the virus. The state opened three of its mass vaccination clinics to walk-up appointments Tuesday to make it easier for Coloradans to get inoculated.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/20/how-covid-vaccine-effective-colorado/ 

 

Since 2012 Colorado has been an island of legal recreational marijuana sales amid states with medical-only laws or none at all. Many businesses in border towns like Trinidad, Antonito and San Luis have capitalized on the illegal but frequent phenomenon of weed tourism. But New Mexico legalized recreational cannabis this month, and federal legislators are discussing legalization or decriminalization of the Schedule 1 controlled substance. Now Colorado towns that have benefited from the boom are preparing for inevitable declines in tax revenue as pot shops open across the border. Meanwhile, prospective New Mexico shop owners say they hope to capture customers before they cross the state line. 

 

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. It’s Tuesday April 20th, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - How Colorado's politicians have taken to Twitter to amplify their messages.

 

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 April 20th, 1914 when coal miners on strike clashed with guards at the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. The result was the Ludlow Massacre, the deadliest incident in a months old labor dispute. More than 30 people died including 2 women and 11 children. Ultimately President Woodrow Wilson sent the US Army to restore order.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Political chatter is increasingly happening on social media platforms, and especially on Twitter. Reporter Sandra Fish talks with Lucy Haggard about how some of Colorado’s congressional representatives use the digital bullhorn to amplify their messages.

 

To read the full story, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

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

 

Governor Jared Polis signed two gun control bills into law Monday, the first since the state implemented a red flag law in 2019. House Bill 1106 tightens gun storage rules, including by requiring gun safes or trigger locks for households where a minor or ineligible person could access firearms. Senate Bill 78 requires gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm within five days of realizing a firearm is missing. Both of the laws passed the state legislature without any Republican support.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/19/new-gun-control-laws-colorado/ 

 

Thousands of Coloradans who can’t leave their home, don’t have a car or are houseless are finding they’re left behind in the vaccine rollout. About 43% of Coloradans who had received their first coronavirus vaccine doses by the end of March got those shots outside of their home county. And at least 60,000 people traveled 50 or more miles away from their home zip code. Experts say access issues are being misunderstood as vaccine hesitancy. They say Colorado needs more programs that either deliver vaccines to people’s homes or transport people to clinics.

 

The matriarch of Colorado volunteer stewardship, Ann Baker Easley, will retire at the end of April after forty years of service. Baker Easley most recently led Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado as chief executive director for 13 years, and directed the Colorado Youth Corps Association for 11 years before that. Conservationists and land managers laud her as the defining force that built Colorado’s thriving outdoor volunteer culture, a necessity now as more people than ever are venturing outside.

 

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, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up from the Colorado Sun. It’s Monday April 5th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you. Join us daily for an in-depth look at one of our top stories. 

 

Today -- There’s an undeveloped piece of land outside of Denver that’s become the latest topic for debate in the conversation of urban expansion. So... what does this mean for the future of the area?

 

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 April 19th, 1889  when Governor Job A Cooper signed legislation creating the Colorado State Reformatory. This would become a place where offenders between sixteen and thirty could serve their sentences in less oppressive conditions. They could also learn skills that might allow them to live a productive life outside of the institution. 

 

 Now, our feature story. 

 

A large undeveloped land parcel west of Denver is the latest setting for the debate on urban growth, open space and the future face of the metro area. Reporter Michael Booth talks with Lucy Haggard about the fight over Westminster Farm.

 

To read the full story, go to coloradosun.com

 

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

 

The USDA signed off on Colorado’s plans to extend its Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program. The food assistance fund is for low income families with school age children, with varying amounts per child depending on if they are learning remotely or in person. The program’s extension will start kicking in by late May and will include payments dating back to the start of the current school year. Only half of the Colorado students eligible for the program got the money set aside for them last year. 

 

Lower flows in the Colorado River may trigger the federal government to make its first official shortage declaration on the waterway. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says the river’s two main reservoirs, Lake Powell and Lake Mead, are expected to drop to historic lows due to less runoff in the Rocky Mountains. But water allocations will stay steady until officials reassess conditions in August. Arizona, Nevada and Mexico have already relinquished water under a drought contingency plan signed in 2019.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/18/water-shortage-colorado-western-states-declaration/ 

 

Get Outdoors Leadville, the first gear library of its kind in Colorado, had its opening day last week. A $3 million grant from Great Outdoors Colorado largely funded the project, which took five years to settle into its current location on the Leadville Colorado Mountain College campus. Rather than charging to rent each piece of gear, the library lends gear in the style of borrowing library books. Lake County residents can pay a monthly or annual membership fee to the gear cache, though costs are flexible to ensure everyone who wants to borrow gear is able to do so.

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, and welcome to the Daily Sun-Up from the Colorado Sun. It’s Friday April 16th, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

COVID 19 has been especially challenging for smaller retail businesses here in Colorado, and across the country. Today -- the story of one local shop’s mission to bring beauty to Denver, and to do more than just survive the pandemic.

 

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 going back to April 16th, 1880 when the editor of an Ouray newspaper - the Solid Muldoon - declared his support for Ute removal from Western Colorado. At the same time he needled Helen Jackson, who was one of the nation’s most prominent advocates for native cultures. Jackson had moved to Colorado from Massachusetts, and was shocked by stories of the Sand Creek Massacre. So she used her pen to challenge the portrayal of native cultures and it resulted in a novel titled A Century of Dishonor.

 

Now our feature story.

 

Small retail businesses have been acutely affected by the pandemic. Shops like Hope Tank on Broadway in Denver,  Reporter Tamara Chuang talks with Lucy Haggard about one small business’s efforts to bring some beauty to the city despite pandemic difficulties.

 

To read more about Colorado’s small businesses, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

Finally, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

After years of waiting, 667 additional Coloradans with disabilities will soon get necessary round-the-clock care. More than $15 million in the state budget for the upcoming fiscal year is dedicated to funding spots in the Medicaid waiver program. Still, experts estimate that it would take about $315 million to eliminate the 4,000-person-long waitlist for adults by 2026.

 

A 73-year-old woman with dementia is suing Loveland and its Police Department after suffering a dislocated shoulder while being arrested. Karen Garner walked out of a Walmart with $14 worth of items last summer, but returned the merchandise after employees asked her to do so. Police officers found Garner walking through a field nearby, according to body camera footage. The lawsuit claims officers used excessive force to restrain her and violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/15/karen-garner-loveland-police-lawsuit/ 

 

Denver International Airport will soon have a direct connection to Paris, France. Air France plans to send its first flight from Colorado on July 2 and will run an estimated three days a week afterward. The flight is contingent on travel bans, such as the current one in place prohibiting non-essential travel between the U.S. and Europe. Still, local leaders say the air route signals Denver’s growing importance as a metropolitan area.

 

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

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