So-called assault weapon ban clears first hurdle at Capitol

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Good morning, Colorado.

I’ve been getting an itch recently. I gaze out the window and my eyes fall on the snow-covered garden bed. Then they meander on over and hit the covered charcoal grill. Soon.

Better gardeners know when to roll up their sleeves and start digging. I, having only gardened one season, have no clue. But lately I’ve begun hearing whispers in the air: “Plant me.” So I repeat, soon.

Now, let’s plant some seeds of knowledge or some other poor pun and read today’s news.

THE NEWS

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Bill banning purchase, sale and transfer of so-called assault weapons in Colorado clears its first hurdle

A bill that would ban the purchase, sale and transfer of a broad swath of semi-automatic firearms made it out of the House Judiciary Committee in the early hours of Wednesday morning after 12-plus hours of testimony. The bill has gone further than similar legislation last year but its future is still uncertain. Jesse Paul has more on what the bill does and what will happen next.

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WATER

“Do your job”: Colorado lawmakers tell Congress to boost funding for deteriorating southwestern water system

Colorado lawmakers are calling on Congress to fund repairs to a deteriorating federally managed irrigation system in southwestern Colorado. The Pine River Irrigation Project is 175 miles long and serves 400 water users, including the town of Ignacio and 100 non-Native farmers and ranchers.

How bad is it? Parts have collapsed and been abandoned, water can’t reach diversions and raised pipes are in danger of falling. The maintenance backlog would cost more than $2.3 billion to fix. Shannon Mullane has more.

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• Does your Colorado town have PFAS in its water? There’s help for that. Colorado launches an $86 million grant program to help small, disadvantaged communities with cleanup, but the word has been slow to spread, Fresh Water News’ Jerd Smith reports.
• After waiting a decade, Texas will make its case for Rio Grande water to the Supreme Court. The Rio Grande River starts in Colorado, but it is groundwater pumping near Elephant Butte in New Mexico that Texas says is diverting its share of the river.
• A guide to the people and terms in the Rio Grande U.S. Supreme Court case. The language of water policy is wonky. Here are some key concepts and terms to help you follow along.

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HEALTH

A Western Slope program is helping older Coloradans maintain independence

Not interested in a nursing home? A national program known as PACE is giving Medicaid-eligible seniors an alternative. On the Western Slope, the program delivers a wide-range of services that help people stay in their homes, from sending certified nursing assistants and cleaning helpers to peoples’ homes to driving a van to take people to doctor appointments. Read more from Nancy Lofholm with The Colorado Trust.

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THE COLORADO REPORT

• Former Avalanche winger Chris Simon dies at 52. “Chris was a great guy, a beloved teammate and an important part of our first championship season,” Avalanche president Joe Sakic said.
  — ESPN
• Dish Network to sell Littleton property to billionaire founder’s SPAC. The company — which has laid off 715 people locally since November — will sell its Littleton office campus to an entity linked to the company’s founder, then lease it back.
  — Business Den 🔑
• Colorado Mountain College president to step down in August. Carrie Besnette Hauser is one of the most tenured higher education CEOs in Colorado and the longest serving president in CMC history.
  — Glenwood Post Independent
• Denver’s historic Esquire Theatre will close this summer. What’s next for the building? The 96-year-old building in central Denver will close on July 17 as Landmark Theatres pulls out of its operation of the historic movie house.
  — The Denver Post
• Colorado State men rout Virginia in March Madness First Four. The Rams’ first NCAA Tournament victory in 11 years sets up a first-round matchup with Texas.
  — USA Today

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• Coloradans will likely reject Donald Trump in November, but that’s just a starting point. Electing a Democratic Congress might be the last best hope for preventing an assault on American democracy.
  — Mike Littwin

COMMUNITY

• My resignation from Colorado Parks and Wildlife commission should serve as a wake-up call to hunting community. Colorado’s values about wildlife are changing, and CPW commissioners need to have a more inclusive view of wildlife resources.
  — Gary Skiba, who resigned from the CPW commission on March 7

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

BOOKS

Explore Booksellers suggests stories from obsessive love to Earth orbit

Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Explore Booksellers in Aspen recommends:

• “Sweet Days of Discipline” by Fleur Jeggy, a novel of obsessive love
• “After the Funeral and Other Stories” by Tessa Hadley, a collection of small events with huge consequences
• “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey, observations of Earth while in orbit

Read what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

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I think I’m about one gardening season away from calling cucumber plants “my precious.”

— Danika & 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.

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.