Members of the public gather Dec. 13 for an Upper Colorado River Commission meeting in Las Vegas, held during the 2023 Colorado River Water Users Association conference. (Shannon Mullane, The Colorado Sun)
Good morning, Colorado.
Is it already Wednesday? How can that be? I’m going to have to consult a calendar, a watch and an expert in the space-time continuum. Be back in a second.
WATER
Officials propose historic agreement to permanently include tribes in Colorado River matters
Manuel Heart, chairman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, speaks about Colorado River water issues Dec. 13 at the Upper Colorado River Commission in Las Vegas. (Shannon Mullane, The Colorado Sun)
“We are still not directly engaged in the process that determines (the river’s) future. … Our livelihoods and our traditions have no voice. We must do better.”
— Amelia Flores, chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes
The 30 tribal nations in the Colorado River Basin collectively have 26% of the rights to the Colorado River. But states and the federal government have repeatedly left them out of major decisions about the river. For the first time, six tribal nations are negotiating an agreement with four basin states and the federal government to give them a permanent voice. Shannon Mullane has more.
EQUITY
Black Coloradans suffer higher maternal and infant mortality rates. Three groups are working to change that.
Halle Payne and Frankie Dyer photographed Dec. 18 at home in Morrison with their son, Amarius, who was born in April. Payne, 20, became a practicing doula this year and focuses on prenatal labor, birth and postpartum care. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America)
Black women across the country are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related complication than white mothers. And while infant mortality rates have overall declined, racial disparities continue. Tatiana Flowers looked into programs in Colorado trying to reverse the troubling trends.
ENERGY
Laser fusion is putting CSU at the front of the clean energy pack. Tech entrepreneurs are right behind.
High density laser-created plasma physics research is done at Colorado State University’s Laboratory for Advanced Lasers and Extreme Photonics on July 22, 2019.
Colorado State University is one of three national centers that federal officials have selected to take emerging laser-driven nuclear fusion technology to the next stage. Unlike nuclear fission, which creates atomic weapons, nuclear fusion is a source of clean energy that does not produce hazardous radioactive material or greenhouse gases. Michael Booth has more.
MORE NEWS
Police investigating incidents involving Colorado Supreme Court justices after Trump’s removal from ballot. Police said Tuesday they are investigating incidents directed at justices and providing extra patrols around their homes in Denver following the court’s decision to remove former President Donald Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot.
THE COLORADO REPORT
Aspen Snowmass owner sues over influencers shooting high-end fashion content on slopes. Aspen Skiing Co. filed a lawsuit Wednesday that accuses Perfect Moment, a London-based skiwear-maker, of trademark infringement, among other allegations.— The Denver Post 🔑 Pueblo health department launches program to test for “forever chemicals” in drinking water. The program is available to residents who want to test private wells that may be near potential sources of PFAS contamination in Pueblo County.
— The Pueblo Chieftain 🔑 Colorado Springs adds Urban Park Rangers in hopes of safer, cleaner trails. The unarmed rangers focus on the Pikes Peak Greenway and Midland trails, keeping tabs on the city’s camping ban and responding to complaints.
— KRCC Meet the man chosen to strengthen ties between CU Boulder and Indigenous students. Benny Shendo Jr. was hired in the fall to be the University of Colorado’s new associate vice chancellor for Native American affairs.
— CPR News
🔑 = source has article meter or paywall
REVIEW
Explore Booksellers has some offbeat suggestions for holiday reading
Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Explore Booksellers in Aspen recommends:
“The Book of Ayn” by Lexi Freiman, a novel of political satire “The Delivery” by Margarita Garcia Robayo, a tale of an estranged mother’s arrival “The Curse of Pietro Houdini” by Derek B. Miller, a late World War II adventureRead what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.
After my extensive research, I have determined that yes, it is in fact Wednesday. Who would’ve thunk?
— Danika & 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].
Type of Story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
This byline is used for articles and guides written collaboratively by The Colorado Sun reporters, editors and producers. More by The Colorado Sun
English (United States) ·