Good morning, Colorado.
My friends and I came in second at Star Wars bar trivia last night. I can confidently say I helped our team correctly answer all but 38 of the 40 questions. What would they have done without me?
As I bask in the glow of my two right answers, let’s turn our attention to the news.
MARSHALL FIRE
Colorado’s most destructive wildfire was also a hurricane, researchers say two years later
Cameras above Boulder on Dec. 30, 2021, caught another view of the wildfire and the smoke and wind “wave” created by 100 mph downslope winds and a “jump” near Louisville. (Provided by NOAA)
The Marshall fire wasn’t just intense flames, but also an all-day hurricane, according to the nation’s top weather analysts. Downslope winds blasted well over 100 mph and stayed at hurricane force for 11 straight hours.
The wildfire was Colorado’s most destructive, killing two people, destroying more than 1,000 homes and causing $2 billion in damage. But with this added context, scientists say it’s “nothing short of miraculous” that more people weren’t killed. Michael Booth has more.
POLITICS
Colorado lawmakers will push even harder in 2024 to replace lawns. Here are the other water bills on tap.
Colorado House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, front center, makes a point during a news conference May 9 in the House Chambers of the Colorado Capitol. (Philip B. Poston, Sentinel Colorado via AP)
All signs point to a big water year in 2024. More than a half-dozen bills will likely be introduced, covering everything from wetlands to Grand Lake’s water quality. Among those is a $5 million push to get Coloradans to move on from bluegrass lawns, Fresh Water News’ Jerd Smith reports. But keep in mind, nothing is official until it actually passes.
Colorado’s 2024 legislative session begins today. Here’s your guide to get involved. Sandra Fish breaks down how you can find your lawmakers, testify on bills, stay up-to-date and more.HOUSING
Colorado property manager settles for $1 million after investigation finds it illegally billed residents
Four Star Realty, which manages about 4,600 Colorado properties, regularly charged residents for damage they didn’t cause, billed them for unnecessary work and added fees that were not in leases, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. The property manager has agreed to pay $1 million over the next year to settle claims from the yearlong investigation, Tatiana Flowers writes.
Why are young artists moving to the San Luis Valley? It’s affordable. The region in the south-central part of the state has a relatively low cost of living but high poverty rates, making it a target for millennials who want to make art and give back to the community, Tracy Ross reports.MORE NEWS
Lauren Boebert’s ex-husband released from jail after arrest on assault charges, court records show. The arrest comes after a public altercation between the Boeberts in Silt on Saturday, but it’s unclear if it’s related, Olivia Prentzel reports.
THE COLORADO REPORT
Dish Network laying off another 150 at Douglas County HQ. The company said it is laying off 157 employees, adding to a previous round of cuts disclosed late last year.— Business Den Denver’s multiracial population is growing so much it now outpaces NYC, D.C. and San Francisco. Nearly 13% of the city’s population identifies as two or more races, according to census data. That’s more than quadruple the national figure of 3%.
— The Denver Post Broncos open to Russell Wilson’s return but say no call made yet. Though most signs are pointing toward a divorce between the team and QB, nothing is settled yet.
— ESPN Cowboy-mounted shooting returns to National Western Stock Show. Watch some cowboys shoot balloons off their horsies at the Stock Show for the first time since 2018.
— 9News
🔑 = source has article meter or paywall
Park Hill Community Bookstore offers titles not necessarily long, but deep
Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Park Hill Community Bookstore in Denver recommends:
Beetlecreek, by William Demby, a novel critiquing racial hypocrisy Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver, a Dickensian riff on Appalachia The Trees, by Percival Everett, a murder mystery that takes aim at racismRead what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.
Did you know they used scuba gear to make Darth Vader’s mask noises in the original films? I did! OK, actually, I didn’t — it was just a lucky guess. But we still got the point so you can’t take this away from me!
May the force be with you on this fine Wednesday.
— Danika & the whole staff of The Sun
Corrections & Clarifications
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Type of Story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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