I live only a few blocks away from a college campus in downtown Colorado Springs, and all the cool kids ride electric scooters. (I am not one of them.) I’ve never been a big fan of e-scooters, mostly because of how often riders inconsiderately abandon them in the middle of the sidewalk once they’ve reached their destinations, which are often late-night parties with music blasting at unfathomable volumes not far from my house. I discover them tipped over the next morning while walking my dog and begrudgingly step around them.
Some may call me a “cranky city dweller.” But Michael Booth’s story in today’s Colorado Sun has me rethinking my point of view. Let’s be clear: There’s no reason to ditch e-scooters on the sidewalk, but if they are the most efficient way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, maybe I can try to lighten up and cut the cool kids some slack.
We’ve got that story and more mind-opening news ready to read in this morning’s newsletter. Let’s get to it.
Reporter
THE NEWS
WATER
Weekend storms bump up Colorado’s mountain snowpack to above-average levels
Sure, today is the first day of spring, but the reason I’m choosing to celebrate is the news Shannon Mullane brings us in today’s water story: All major basins in the state are at or above their median historic snowpack levels after last week’s major winter storm. Three to 4 feet of snow — and in some places 5 feet — dumped on the Front Range foothills, and that’s a really good sign for summer water supplies.
HEALTH
Colorado is at odds with the feds over prescription drug importation, documents show
Late last month, Colorado submitted an amended application to the federal government for its program to import lower-priced drugs from Canada, but Colorado and the feds still aren’t seeing eye to eye. The FDA raised questions about whether federal approval will even matter if Colorado can’t get drugmakers and Canadian suppliers to work with it, according to state documents. What’s next for the program? John Ingold keeps us in the loop in today’s story.
ENVIRONMENT
Electric scooters are the most efficient way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Colorado study finds
Scooters are No. 1 and buses fall dead last when it comes to limiting greenhouse gas emissions over the life cycle of all possible commuting options, according to a pending study from Colorado State University researchers. Electric scooters take relatively few resources to produce and carry people over short distances, sharply reducing their greenhouse gas contributions as they get the job done.
And where does walking fall, you ask? Read Michael Booth’s story to find out.
HEALTH
As states, including Colorado, target disavowed “excited delirium” diagnosis, police groups push back
Years after the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a state board in Colorado eliminated “excited delirium” from law enforcement training for officers starting in January and a bill is headed to the governor’s desk to ban the discredited medical term from police reports and death certificates. Colorado is not alone in the effort, and momentum is building across the country to ban “excited delirium” from law enforcement training, police incident reports and civil court testimony, Renuka Rayasam with KFF Health News writes.
MORE NEWS
Section by Olivia Prentzel | Reporter
THE COLORADO REPORT
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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE OPINION PAGE
COLUMNS
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
“Democracy’s Mountain” raised societal questions amid conquest of Longs Peak’s most daunting route
The 1960s were a tumultuous time in America on many fronts. Author Ruth M. Alexander reminds us that even the country’s national parks were not immune to the seismic shifts in environmentalism and racial justice. In this segment of “Democracy’s Mountain,” she explains both the broader issues in play as well as the implications of the fascinating race to conquer Longs Peak’s most challenging ascent.
Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer
We hope you enjoy the first day of spring and thanks for reading!
— Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun
Corrections & Clarifications
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