Good morning!
This weekend I was possessed to do something I haven’t done since I was in college: shave my entire face. Turns out, I didn’t realize how much I had been relying on my layer of face fur to shield me from brisk March winds — and provide an always-available fidget toy.
Even though I can’t wait to not see my upper lip again, every time I catch myself in the mirror I feel like I’m getting a little glimpse of myself at 16 and I wonder what teenage me would think of my current career. After all, journalism wasn’t on my radar until college because in Yuma in the ’90s there was no cool introduction to the business like The Sun’s Rise and Shine program.
Rise and Shine — a free summer journalism workshop — is back for its third year and looking for up to 15 students. Click here to read more about the program from our coordinator Erica Breunlin. Applications are open and we can’t wait to meet the new crop of budding journalists!
But the journalism of the future is going to have to wait, because we have a newsletter jam-packed with the journalism of the present, including breaking news about Colorado’s primary ballots and much, much more.
So let’s slap on some aftershave and get to the news, shall we?
CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE NEWS
ELECTION 2024
Colorado can’t disqualify Donald Trump for running for president under insurrection clause, U.S. Supreme Court rules
One day before Super Tuesday, when Colorado and 14 other states will hold presidential primary elections, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress, not individual states, is responsible for enforcing the so-called “insurrection clause” of the Constitution. Jesse Paul has more analysis of the decision.
EDUCATION
1800s-era schoolhouse in tiny Colorado town will reopen to students after sitting vacant for decades
The Garcia Grade School building has been sitting empty since the mid-1990s, but for more than a century before it closed its doors it saw generations of San Luis Valley students receive an education. As Erica Breunlin reports, the need for classroom space and a designation on the state’s Most Endangered Places list have come together to bring the building back to its original purpose.
OUTDOORS
Opposition grows to proposal for national monument along the Western Slope’s Dolores River
As of now, the movement to designate a 400,000-acre national monument around the Dolores River is just a proposal and an attempt to get President Biden’s attention. But for Naturita RV park owner Sean Pond, that proposal represents an end to mining and hunting — and an invitation for crowds. Jason Blevins digs into both sides of the fight over the future of the Dolores.
ENVIRONMENT
Colorado bill would add environmental justice and science seats on air commission, close pollution loopholes
House Bill 1339 is described by environmental groups as one way to close “pay to pollute” loopholes and strengthen the ability of the Air Quality Control Commission to represent harmed communities. But as Michael Booth reports, Gov. Jared Polis is already signaling opposition to the bill in its current form.
ECONOMY
State economy grew as Coloradans consumed in 2023. That could change with rising property values.
In this week’s “What’s Working” column, Tamara Chuang examines the continued strength of the Colorado economy at the end of 2023 — with an eye on how increasing property taxes could change the way that Coloradans spend in 2024.
HEALTH
Colorado construction workers, pressured by longer, harder hours, die by suicide twice as often as other professions
Suicide rates in Colorado are the sixth highest in the nation and disproportionately prevalent in the construction industry. Now, companies, unions and trade groups are starting to pay attention to the mental health of workers to help reverse the devastating trend, Jenny McCoy reports.
MORE NEWS
COLORADO SUNDAY
Farms that feed migrating sandhill cranes in Colorado are in it for the long haul
For some 7,000 years, sandhill cranes have made the San Luis Valley a key stopover during migration, but their habitat is under pressure due to climate change, dwindling water supplies and changes in agricultural crops on the farms where they feed, Jerd Smith reports in this week’s Colorado Sunday story. A program called “Grain for Cranes” is helping farmers near the Monte Vista Wildlife Refuge preserve their land and water for future generations, while still making the area a friendly place for migrating birds, who rely on the crops for food.
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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE COLORADO REPORT
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THE OPINION PAGE
COLUMNS
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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.
Thanks for starting your week with us! See you back here tomorrow.
— Eric and the whole staff of The Sun
Corrections & Clarifications
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