If you were looking at my shaggy sheepdog Kevin, you’d have no idea temperatures were teetering above zero the past few days in Colorado Springs. Aside from the icicles forming in his beard, he acted like it was a balmy winter’s day and I had to beg him to come inside after a walk.
Meanwhile, it felt as if no pair of gloves could shield my fingers from the arctic temps and when home, I rushed to the blankets on the couch. It’s where I plan to be tonight — warm and cozy — while tuning in to our free High Cost of Colorado event when reporters Jennifer Brown and Michael Booth discuss with a panel of economic experts why everything just seems to be getting more expensive in Colorado.
It starts at 6 p.m., includes a live chat with the panelists, and you don’t even have to leave your couch. (Click here to RSVP.)
Reporter
THE NEWS
HIGH COST OF COLORADO
It costs more to take care of pets in Colorado than it used to
143%
Price increase of a 16.5-pound bag of Purina ONE Plus Healthy Puppy Formula High Protein Natural Dry Puppy Food since 2020.
Speaking of shaggy sheepdogs, pet ownership ain’t cheap. Most pet owners already know that (and decide to spoil them anyway), but in the latest installment of our High Cost of Colorado series, reporter Kevin Simpson takes a deep dive and breaks down exactly how much Coloradans will spend for our furry family members and the sacrifices we often make to do so.
BUSINESS
Colorado offered $1.45 billion in incentives to attract new business. About 5% was claimed.
$66.3 million
Colorado tax incentives claimed by new business in 2023.
If all 35 companies approved in 2023 take Colorado up on its offer of a job-creation tax credit to move or expand here, we’d be looking at more than 12,700 new jobs across the state in the next eight years. Last year’s slate of approved job-creation tax credits was twice the amount of those approved in 2022, which also means twice the workforce potential. Reporter Tamara Chuang has more on how Colorado’s job-growth incentive is doing.
ENVIRONMENT
“We don’t want to be activists”: The farmers pushing for stronger pipeline safety rules
A pair of sugar beet and corn farmers would seem like an unlikely duo to take on the oil and gas industry and the state’s biggest utilities over the issue of pipeline safety, but read Mark Jaffe’s story, and you’ll find out that’s exactly what’s happening. Mark and Julie Nygren are advocating for more inspections of pipelines with the hopes that others don’t lose their homes to a gas leak.
EQUITY
Denver receives record number of applications from landlords looking for new rental licenses
More than 5,000 landlords applied to get their Denver rental units licensed in December, but the flood of applications may mean they’ll need to be patient awaiting approval. The program is the city’s first large-scale attempt to make Denver’s rental units safer, after years of rising complaints, Tatiana Flowers reports.
MORE NEWS
Section by Olivia Prentzel | Reporter
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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
“So Much Stuff” details a find in Boulder that fits an enduring historical narrative
Anyone who has taken on the task of household decluttering no doubt has scratched their head and identified with the theme of archaeologist and author Chip Colwell’s “So Much Stuff.” How did we manage to collect all these things? In answer, Colwell takes the long — very long — historical view in a fascinating exploration that, in this excerpt, takes us to a front yard in Boulder.
Kevin Simpson | Writer
Warmer weather is on the way. In the meantime, stay warm and catch you here tomorrow!
— Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun
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