Good morning, readers. Last weekend’s spring storm has me even more convinced Colorado has only two seasons: winter and summer. And within those two seasons, it’s likely you’ll experience conditions from any of the four in a given week. Based on my calculations, we just cleared the third winter, which falls right after the spring of deception.
Here’s to hoping winter has finally released Colorado from its tight grip.
And now, on to the day’s news.
Reporter
THE NEWS
HEALTH
A Colorado board wants to lower prescription drug costs. Why are so many patients opposed?
The state’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board’s mission is to control the extraordinary cost of prescription drugs, including one that could cost one Colorado family $10,000 a month to help with their daughter’s seizures. But the board is facing passionate opposition from patients with rare diseases, who fear that if Colorado sets a cap on prices, pharmaceutical companies could pull their drugs from Colorado, leaving some patients without access to life-saving medicine. John Ingold lays out the conundrum and both sides’ perspectives.
ENERGY
Colorado’s two largest energy co-ops break from Xcel, Tri-State aiming for more local control and lower costs
Refrigerators will still hum and lights will still shine, but the source of electrons flowing into about 290,000 suburban and rural homes and businesses on the Front Range is about to change, Mark Jaffe reports. Colorado’s two largest cooperatives, Sedalia-based CORE Electric Cooperative and Brighton-based United Power, announced they plan to leave Xcel, saying they have enough market power on their own.
WATER
Six Upper Basin tribes gain permanent foothold in Colorado River discussions at key interstate commission
Tribes have historically been sidelined as states and the federal government make important decisions about the future of the Colorado River. But now, under an agreement finalized this month, six tribes have gained the long-awaited access to discussion about the basin’s water agreements, Shannon Mullane reports. It’s the first time in the commission’s 76-year history that tribes have been formally included.
MORE NEWS
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THE OPINION PAGE
COMMUNITY
The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Sun’s opinion policy and submit columns, suggest writers or provide feedback at opinion@coloradosun.com.
SunLit
“Shopping All the Way to the Woods” explores birth of outdoor brands
Although it may sometimes seem that the rise of outdoor gear brands followed the rising popularity of pursuits like camping, hiking and mountaineering, author Rachel Gross explains that the growth of outdoor recreation and the brands that came to define it followed essentially the same timeline. In this excerpt from “Shopping All the Way to the Woods” she charts the birth and growth of two cornerstone Colorado gear-makers.
Kevin Simpson | Writer
Thanks for joining us today! Hope to see you tomorrow.
— Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun
Corrections & Clarifications
A story in yesterday’s Sunriser (U.S. 50 bridge closure is an “immediate 911 deal” for Gunnison Valley Hospital) was updated to correct the area in square miles of Gunnison County. It covers 3,239 square miles, making it the fifth largest county by total area in Colorado, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.