An “unusual” way to sell the Stanley Hotel

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THE NEWS

BUSINESS

A new plan for the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park: Sell it to Colorado

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After a deal with an Arizona nonprofit fell through, the Colorado Educational and Cultural Facilities Authority proposed a new plan for ownership of the culturally valuable Stanley Hotel. The hotel is deep into recasting itself as a major center in the film industry, and the new deal removes the Arizona-based middleman, which already planned to transfer the property once $450 million in bonds were paid. Jason Blevins dissects what he calls an “unusual and complicated” plan.

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ENVIRONMENT

EPA blocks another Colorado oil and gas air pollution permit, demands changes

Environmental groups like the Center for Biological Diversity are frustrated by the slow pace of policy to reduce pollution caused by Colorado’s thriving oil and gas industry, so they’re taking on the industry one permit at a time. The center’s latest target is a Weld County gas processing plant, which they flagged to the EPA for ineffective “flaring” practices, or the way gas plants remove pollutants from emissions. The same plant was fined in 2022 for failing to detect and repair leaks. Michael Booth has more.

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• Colorado pumps $21 million into fast-charger expansion for electric vehicles. The investment will fund 290 fast-charging ports at 46 sites, part of an effort to ease consumers’ “range anxiety,” or the fear of running out of battery before making it to a convenient charging station. 

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EQUITY

Colorado jails are scrambling to continue opioid treatment programs as money dries up

A one-time $3 million grant helped Colorado jails launch opioid treatment programs, which provided critical medications and counseling services. But those funds are set to dry up in June, and jail leaders are frustrated at the state’s lack of response as they scramble to continue the programs — both for the sake of the inmates, and to remain in compliance with behavioral health laws that the state itself issued in 2023. Tatiana Flowers spoke with jail staff and state administrators about their struggle to piece together the funding.

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MORE NEWS

• Faith Winter, a top Democrat in the Colorado Senate, is seeking treatment for substance abuse. The No. 3 Democrat in the Colorado Senate appeared intoxicated at a recent community hearing and was discouraged from driving home by Northglenn police officers. She is seeking treatment for alcoholism. 
• Denver to Istanbul flights on Turkish Airlines begin June 11. More international routes are in the hopper. The 6,130-mile flight will be the longest passenger flight out of Denver, eclipsing the 5,788-mile journey to Tokyo, and will run three times weekly. The flights are part of DIA’s ambitious attempt to create more global connections.  

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Douglas County threatens to fine, seize buses that drop off illegal immigrants. Douglas County Commissioner George Teal told “Fox & Friends” that the red-leaning community is not a sanctuary city and that the new ordinance is reflective of that.
  — Fox News
• Bill allowing motorcycles to ride between lanes signed into law. Gov. Polis signed into law a bill that allows motorcycles to move between car lanes if traffic is stopped or moving under 15 mph.
  — 9News
• As Deion Sanders’ Colorado takeover enters Year 2, the big question: Is it working? A year after turning the Buffaloes from afterthoughts into college football’s biggest story, Coach Prime is making the media and recruiting rounds ahead of a pivotal second season.
  — The Athletic 🔑
• Rockies introduce new menu items at Coors Field. Among the new offerings this season to distract fans from the on-field product are a Chorizo Burger, a Burgeritto, an Italian Pretzel Melt, a Strawberry Cheesecake Quesadilla and more.
  — Purple Row

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Colorado must answer the call for more green spaces for the environmental benefits they bring. Having more green space would infuse Denver with vitality while addressing climate change issues
  — Linda Appel Lipsius, Executive director at Denver Urban Gardens

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” Myra explains some history behind a Denver landmark, and how it changed the financial landscape for American women.

CARTOON

Drew Litton celebrates the home-grown Denver basketball star who has eclipsed all others, and will soon be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

CARTOON

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 range from conversations about a famed Denver elephant to how commission changes could affect the housing market.

• The lost history of Denver’s 19th-century amusement park. Colorado native and author David Forsyth talks with Sun reporter Kevin Simpson about Denver’s old Manhattan Beach park and the 1890s fight with Elitch Gardens over its animal attractions.
  LISTEN
• Republicans, Democrats pick special election nominees. The candidates for the June 25 election to replace Ken Buck in Colorado’s 4th District are set. Politics reporters Brian Eason and Jesse Paul set up the Greg Lopez vs. Trisha Calvarese matchup.
  LISTEN
• What do the changes in commission rates mean for buyers and sellers? Real estate agents are sorting out the details, and business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down how home sales contracts could look different.
  LISTEN
• Fight developing over Leadville milling proposal. Investors want to take old mine tailings scattered across town and process them to find gold and silver using cyanide. Locals say not so fast. Outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has more. 
  LISTEN
• Medical debt burdens thousands of Coloradans. Health reporter John Ingold has been working on a project with other Colorado newsrooms looking at the ways medical debt is hurting more and more families. He talked about it this week.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Remember, you can ask Siri, Alexa or Google to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll play on your smart speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

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See you back here Monday.

— Parker & 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.