Hey, Colorado,
You’ve heard it from us many times over the years: Your news matters. But what do we mean by that? We think having an informed Colorado is critically important. And because you are a Sunriser subscriber, I think I can safely assume you agree.
Colorado has a unique relationship with our local news. We know the value it brings us. And we know what it means to see it disappear. My mom grew up in Denver and her family subscribed to both the Rocky Mountain News and The Denver Post. The Rocky arrived in the morning, and The Post came in the evening. My mom has fond childhood memories sitting at the kitchen table, chatting and laughing with her family, newspapers in the hands of my grandparents. A newspaper was perpetually on the table.
This was back in the day, when the same person who delivered your paper would knock on your door monthly to collect your subscription money. Newspaper delivery subscriptions were a bit cheaper than they are today, but it was an assumed expense — a relatively small cost for a big benefit: being an informed citizen.
The news in Colorado has changed a lot since then. You’re reading The Sun on your phone or laptop as we speak (maybe even at your kitchen table). In 2023, I may not be showing up at your door every month to ask you for money, but trust me when I say, we need your support all the same. Our news may be free to read, but it is not free to produce.
You’ve probably heard about our winter membership drive by now, and I’m proud to report that we’re almost to the finish line! We just need 70 new and upgrading members by Sunday. Will you help us build a future with free, fair and local news in Colorado?
Now, let’s turn to today’s news.
Director of Membership, Marketing & Audience Engagement
EDUCATION
Colorado lawmakers have pledged to “fully fund” schools. But education spending will continue to trail other states.
Sophomore students complete exercises on pronouns and antecedents in a class taught by veteran teacher Jennifer Long on Tuesday at Highlands Ranch High School. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)
“You look at where we sit in relation to the other states across the country and the cost of living that exists in Colorado, (and you see that) we are short selling K-12 education immensely in the state. We have for years.”
— Jeremy Burmeister, superintendent of Platte Valley School District
Colorado is behind when it comes to funding education. Way behind. Lawmakers are attempting to take the first step in catching up with a proposed spending plan Gov. Jared Polis says will ensure the state is “fully funding our schools for the first time” since 2009. But is it enough? It’s a question Brian Eason and Erica Breunlin tackle in this report on the dire state of education funding.
EQUITY
Colorado landlords are skirting a 2021 law meant to protect renters using vouchers, advocates say
Myra Nagy at her one-bedroom apartment Friday in west Denver. Nagy, who moved into her unit at Renaissance West End Flats in 2012, said there should be more resources to help people find housing and other vital services. “When I was on the streets, I didn’t know there was more than one place to apply for housing.” (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)
A Colorado law from 2021 states that landlords can’t discriminate against a resident based on the source their income. But three years later, fair-housing advocates are saying that many landlords are finding ways to bypass the law to avoid renting or leasing to people using housing vouchers. Tatiana Flowers has more.
More staff, training needed in Colorado to create more inclusive emergency alert system, report says. Changes are needed to better warn the 900,000 people in the state who primarily speak a language other than English and more than a million with disabilities, CU researchers said. Olivia Prentzel has the report.WATER
Thousands of permits designed to protect Colorado streams are expired
Ducks float on the South Platte on Tuesday in north Denver. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)
Colorado’s health department is years behind in processing special Clean Water Act permits critical to protecting water quality in the state’s streams and rivers, with just 33% of the active discharge permits on file being current. This is far below the agency’s 75% goal, according to the agency. What’s it mean? Jerd Smith of Fresh Water News has the details.
OUTDOORS
What lies beyond the finish line? Some athletes report a big, empty feeling.
James Carlson trained in the foothills of Colorado Springs for his double Everesting event, when he climbed nearly 60,000 feet, or twice the elevation of Mount Everest. Carlson battled severe depression after his event, even to the point where he didn’t want to get out of bed. (Courtesy of James Carlson)
“Some have too much self-worth wrapped up in it. My question to them is, ‘Why are you out here doing this?’ That can be a tough conversation, but it’s a coach’s job to have that.”
— Kaitlyn Yonke, head coach of Run Infinite
Alongside the awards, glory and satisfaction a competitor hopes for when a big event is over, there’s often another common experience, though not one usually ascribed to world-class athletes: depression. But now, some Colorado coaches are starting to focus on the common occurrence of the post-race blues with athletes as part of their training. Dan England writes about the challenges athletes face after the race is over.
This story first appeared in The Outsider newsletter. Subscribe here.
Colorado ranchers have launched a last-ditch effort to block wolf reintroduction. Here’s how. The Colorado Cattlemen’s and Gunnison County Stockgrowers’ associations filed a lawsuit in federal court against Colorado Parks and Wildlife and U.S. Fish and Wildlife to try to force federal analysis. Jason Blevins has more.POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
What’s top of mind for Colorado voters heading into the election year. A new poll shows that cost of living, crime and public safety, and housing affordability are what worry Coloradans the most, writes Jesse Paul. Emerge America wanted to train more Democratic women for office. Growth came at a cost, especially in Colorado. The organization has faced a split with the staff of one chapter and tensions with others, leaving leadership posts vacant ahead of a big election year. Read more in this story from The 19th.MORE NEWS
A Safe2Tell report after suicidal social media post saved a Colorado student’s life. Police went to the student’s home and interrupted a suicide attempt in progress, according to state officials who run the Safe2Tell program. Jennifer Brown has the details. Authorities identify 4 people found dead following reported shooting inside Peyton home. The deaths of Desiree N. Vandelac, 54, Robert V. Vandelac, 57, and Debray A. Scott, 30, are being investigated as homicides.
🔑 = source has article meter or paywall
Marshall fire survivors sue insurance companies as important deadline approaches. It’s tough to sue an insurance company two years after a fire, but people who lost homes in the 2021 fire are turning to lawsuits to remedy what they say are lowball offers and slow payments.— 9News Greenwood Village movie theater owes $500K in rent, landlord says. The parent company of Landmark Greenwood Village has recently shut down several theaters across the country, including one in Minneapolis where it was sued for back rent.
— BusinessDen 🔑 How jails and courtrooms became Colorado’s mental health safety net — and why that isn’t working. “There is nothing more frustrating in the world than trying to take care of an adult child with mental illness in this state.”
— The Denver Post 🔑 2nd racist video by Greenwood Village middle school students draws ire from parents. “We know that this is a systemic issue within the district,” said one district parent after a second video emerged featuring students at Campus Middle School making anti-Black racist statements and drinking.
— Sentinel Colorado
Poor Richard’s Books suggests these titles that are absolute gifts
Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Poor Richard’s Books & Gifts in Colorado Springs recommends:
“The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating” by Elisabeth Tova Bailey, a charming meditation on a snail — and life “The Longmire Defense” by Craig Johnson, in which the sheriff pursues a cold case “Brave the Wild River” by Melissa L. Sevigny, the story of pioneering botanists on the Colorado RiverRead what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.
Have a great Wednesday, Colorado.
— Lauren & the whole staff of The Sun
Corrections & Clarifications
Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing [email protected].
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