Some of my favorite journalism stories are the ones I like to call “slice of life” stories — those that give us a peek into people’s daily routines that can feel ordinary to one reader and extraordinary to the next.
Yesterday, I talked with a parent whose kids had to take a 30-minute boat ride across Colorado’s largest reservoir, instead of the bus, to join their classmates in Gunnison after the U.S. 50 bridge was abruptly shut down from a 3-inch crack in structural steel. On their morning commute, they wore life jackets over their snowsuits to brave 20-degree temperatures. To get home, they faced the rolling waters and whipping winds that are typical on any given afternoon on Blue Mesa.
Sounds extraordinary to me. (Though as I learned, some of them take snowmobiles to their bus stop in the winter, so I am sure these kids were cut out for the adventure on the reservoir.)
The story also reminded me of The Colorado Sun’s statewide reach and commitment to tell Coloradans’ stories. When we learned about kids riding a boat to get home from school, two of our photographers on the Western Slope jumped in their cars to help tell their story from either side of the reservoir.
We’ve got a packed newsletter this morning, so let’s get reading.
Reporter
THE NEWS
AGRICULTURE
Ranchers in three counties demand Colorado officials kill four wolves responsible for six dead cows
Ranchers in Grand, Jackson and Larimer counties and a sheriff have sent six letters in the past week asking Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to kill four wolves blamed for the death of six cows in the past 16 days. Tracy Ross parsed through their requests and spoke to CPW to see what the state plans to do to address the killings.
POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Democrats are set to unveil their Colorado property tax relief plan this week. Here’s what’s in it.
On Democrats’ docket in the Colorado legislature this week is a measure that would overhaul the state’s property tax system to limit future spikes in businesses’ and homeowners’ tax bills. The goal is to provide more relief to people who own lower-value homes. In today’s story, Jesse Paul and Brian Eason spoke to the main sponsor of legislation, which is facing conservative groups pushing for larger property tax cuts.
TRANSPORTATION
Gunnison students take boat ride across Blue Mesa Reservoir to get to class around bridge closure
A group of students braved the elements — icy rain, whipping winds and choppy waters — this week on their way to school in Gunnison. It wasn’t part of a field trip, but the only way to get to school on time after the U.S. 50 bridge over Blue Mesa Reservoir shut down last week. Transportation crews are still inspecting the bridge to determine how they can repair it, CDOT said Monday. But a timeline for reopening is still unclear, leaving thousands of residents forced to scramble for solutions to get to work, doctor appointments and go about daily life in the meantime.
ENERGY
Xcel’s plan for new EV chargers, rebates cut 40% by Colorado regulators
Xcel failed to win over state utility regulators to its ambitious and expensive plan to develop the state’s infrastructure to serve electric cars, Mark Jaffe reports. In an April 10 decision, the PUC cut Xcel’s transportation electrification plan by 40%, saying it failed to demonstrate it would be cost effective and lead to more people buying and using EVs.
MORE NEWS
Section by Olivia Prentzel | Reporter
What do you want candidates to talk about during the 2024 election as they compete for your vote? Our survey is still open. Tell us what you think!
THE COLORADO REPORT
🔑 = source has article meter or paywall
Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
SunLit
In “Not Quite Dead Geniuses” diverse life forms create an unusual alliance
When a trained biologist like Gary Raham takes on the world of science fiction, the results are nuanced, occasionally humorous and unavoidably complex. In “Not Quite Dead Geniuses at Large on an Angry Planet” — the fourth entry in his “Dead Genius” series — his characters encompass a broad range of biological forms, and that’s not counting the artificial intelligence that whispers to them.
Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer
Thanks for reading until the very end! Have a wonderful Tuesday.
— Olivia & 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.