When I lived in Chicago there was a hard-lined seasonality to going outside: winter was for the indoors, summer was for the outdoors. The transition this time of year was marked by pent-up energy pouring into the city, with the lakeside parking lots filling early in the day, and music blasting louder from parks and playgrounds, signaling that the big changeover was happening.
In Colorado the transition isn’t as pronounced, perhaps because there’s equal enthusiasm for the outdoors throughout all four seasons. As the day’s high temps rise and the sky stays light, the parks are still full and the trails are still well-trafficked. There are fewer lost mitts at the trailheads, though, and I am seeing more cyclists out on the weekends — the subtler signs of a warm season’s approach.
If you feel like getting out and about, join us Wednesday from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for a free networking event at ARTWORKS Center for Contemporary Art in Loveland. Come talk to our staff, connect with other Colorado Sun readers, and hear about what folks at The Sun and Loveland Creative District are up to.
Hope to see you there. For now, the news.
Reporter
P.S. Let us know how we’re doing.
THE NEWS
IMMIGRATION
Volunteers scramble to help migrant families left without shelter as Denver scales back services
Over the past couple of months hundreds of Venezuelan families have been able to move out of city-funded hotels and into apartments and homes. But there are still hundreds more still looking for housing. On Wednesday night, several families were stranded throughout Denver as they had to vacate their rooms. Fearing that children would be forced to sleep on the street, the city and grassroots volunteers scrambled to provide shelters. Jennifer Brown reports.
OUTDOORS
Outdoor gear sales dropped in 2023, leaving indie mountain retailers struggling with high rents, high taxes and too few workers
10%
Drop in sales at independent outdoor stores in 2023
The pandemic initiated a surge in outdoor recreation and created unprecedented growth in gear sales, but the industry is losing its steam. In 2023 outdoor gear and apparel sales fell by 3% nationally and, coupled with a Colorado cocktail of rent woes and low worker availability, some independent shop owners have been forced to leave the business altogether. However, the number of new participants in outdoor recreation continues to climb — offering a possible antidote to the falling sales, if shops can tap into it in time. Jason Blevins digs into the numbers.
HEALTH
Colorado Medicaid problems still rampant as state agency tries to address computer, structure issues
Colorado Medicaid is temporarily pausing coverage terminations to deal with a faulty system. The move was detailed in a memo sent out to Medicaid recipients in response to accusations and a civil rights complaint that the program is discriminating against people with disabilities, many of whom have been kicked off due to “missing documentation” that recipients have repeatedly filed. “We hear you, and we are taking action,” the memo stated. Jennifer Brown and Tatiana Flowers detail the program’s woes and proposed next steps.
ENVIRONMENT
Colorado environmental groups file 3 ballot measures to limit oil and gas industry
In past elections, environmental groups and oil and gas representatives have reached a truce by agreeing that both interests will take competing ballot measures off the table. On Thursday, Colorado green groups called it off, filing language for a last-ditch effort to get three new measures on the November ballot. The proposals would create much stricter accountability, legal and financial, for the oil and gas industry with regard to health or property damage and clean air and water. Michael Booth has the details.
MORE NEWS
Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter
THE COLORADO REPORT
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THE OPINION PAGE
CARTOONS
Drew Litton celebrates Colorado hoops hopefuls and wonders when was the last time spring produced so many in-state title contenders and March Madness participants?
In “What’d I Miss?” Myra notes that while there’s nothing inherently wrong with men explaining something to women, it might be wise to consider their expertise.
Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer
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
CONVERSATION
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, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. This week we talk about the Dead in Boulder and living large on the mountain.
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Section by David Krause | Editor
Any folks out there whose favorite season is spring?
— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun
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