What to do if you see a wolf

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There is a farm on the side of U.S. 36 just south of Lyons that has caught my eye countless times. It has a sunny yellow barn that sits right on the road, and it’s surrounded by charred trees from when the Calwood fire singed the property’s edge.

Yesterday I got to walk around this farm with one of the sisters who owns it for a story. It turns out they’re doing a lot more than growing food here — they have a small-business incubation space, a soil-rehabilitating permaculture operation and a very wild rooster named Bruce. The barn itself is being converted into a community gathering space where they host cool creative events, but more on that later.

One of my favorite parts about this job is getting to look at the things that we’d otherwise drive right by — getting to stop the car, ask questions, dig deeper and meet the chickens.

Today’s stories include closer looks at affordable housing policy, real estate scams and wolves.

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On to the news.

THE NEWS

OUTDOORS

How are wildlife officials preparing Coloradans for wolf reintroduction? With a brochure.

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In one week Colorado Parks and Wildlife will start their official release of wolves into Grand, Summit and Eagle counties. Wolves aren’t entirely new to Colorado — packs have been spotted in Jackson County — but their reintroduction into the western part of the state could put them in contact with far more cattle and humans than before. Tracy Ross reports on how the state is preparing reluctant ranchers, hunters and hikers, and what to do if you encounter a wolf in the wild. The short answer: Don’t run.

READ MORE

• Effort to ban mountain lion hunting in Colorado heats up with state Supreme Court challenge and a second ballot measure. The outcomes determine if voters will have a say in how mountain lions are hunted in Colorado.

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EQUITY

A year after Colorado voters approved Proposition 123, demand for its affordable housing funds outweighs supply

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Last year Colorado voters approved a broad measure to address a lack of affordable housing. Proposition 123 provides funds for a variety of programs, including grants and loans to acquire land, down-payment assistance, and homelessness prevention through rental assistance and eviction-defense programs. Tatiana Flowers looks at the measure’s impact one year in.

READ MORE

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BUSINESS

Women accused of stealing $4.5 million from investors in Idaho Springs resort project indicted on federal charges

There’s a bright red mine structure with the word Argo in all caps hovering above Idaho Springs. It’s visible from Interstate 70, and from the road it looks like one of Colorado’s many gold-mines-turned-tourist-attractions. What you can’t see is that it’s also the site of an alleged $15 million theft by Chrisheena Shante McGee and Sandra Pierce Bacon, who were recently indicted by a federal grand jury. Jason Blevins has the story.

READ MORE

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THE COLORADO REPORT

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

• Colorado investigates “unprecedented” scheme by drivers paid to transport Medicaid patients hundreds of miles a day. Scores of patients who flocked to Denver methadone clinics in packed cars from southern Colorado over the summer are believed by state officials to have been part of a coordinated scheme that exploited the state’s Medicaid system.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Jewish National Fund conference begins in Denver, protesters march outside. The JNF said its conference pays tribute to the victims of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas and addresses a rise in antisemitism. Protest organizers said the nonprofit group supports ethnic cleansing and genocide.
  — 9News
• Divided by politics, a Colorado town mends its broken bones. Two years after death threats and aspersions roiled little Silverton, the town has found a semblance of peace and a lesson for a ruptured nation.
  — The New York Times 🔑
• Deion Sanders is Sports Illustrated’s 2023 Sportsperson of the Year. Coach Prime was recognized for transforming Colorado’s moribund football program and breathing fresh life into the community.
  — Sports Illustrated

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board shouldn’t buy into pharma industry fear tactics to protect its profits. State review board must use its authority to make the five most expensive drugs affordable and keep the industry accountable
  — Hope Stonner, policy manager at the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” Ossie’s club experience makes him wonder how much stereotypical musical tastes really tell us about each other.

CARTOON

After such a promising start, a whole lot of losing followed Coach Prime’s arrival in Boulder. Drew LItton wonders: Is the coach still cover worthy?

CARTOON

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.

Podcast Playlist

Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up podcast brings you a bit of Colorado history, headlines and a thoughtful conversation. We keep it tight so you can quickly listen, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. You can download the Sun-Up for free in your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts or RSS to plug into your app. This week’s conversations ranged from pulling energy from under Colorado soil to scaling the state’s 14ers.

• Colorado Energy Office boss talks about the state’s renewable energy future. It’s full steam ahead for geothermal energy with $12 million available in state grants. Will Toor talks about the benefits of “the heat beneath our feet.”
  LISTEN
• The higher cost of attending a concert in Colorado. Going to a show at Red Rocks is really a want, not a need. But how far is our discretionary income stretching nowadays?
  LISTEN
• Possible 2024 ballot measure would overhaul how Colorado elections work. You’ve likely heard of ranked choice voting, but do you know how it works? Our politics team breaks it down.
  LISTEN
• Pulling the curtains back on The Sun newsroom. Wonder how we make this Colorado Sun magic? A couple of our founders talk about what it takes to keep this statewide newsroom churning every day.
  LISTEN
• The price of enjoying the outdoors is on the rise. Sun reporter Olivia Prentzel has summited dozens of the state’s 14ers. She’s also seen the price of recreation climb, as well.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Also, remember to ask your favorite smart device to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll be on the speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

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Have a good weekend!

— Parker & 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 corrections@coloradosun.com.