Antisemitic incidents in Colorado up by 199%

Good morning, Colorado.

Just as the weather is warming up, it’s that time on the Colorado sports calendar when hope springs eternal. The Nuggets and Avalanche are well into their playoff runs, the Broncos can finally start taking a step toward brighter days in tonight’s NFL Draft, DU hockey is fresh off another national title, and you can get Rockies tickets for cheap.

So as we balance our schedules between staying in to watch the games with going out to enjoy the weather, let’s start today with the news from The Sun.

Kevin Jeffers

Product Team

THE NEWS

CRIME & COURTS

Antisemitic incidents in Colorado soar by 199%, reaching unprecedented levels, as rabbis add security to synagogues

Antisemitic attacks reported in Colorado in 2023 reached their highest levels in more than four decades and outpaced a nationwide spike, according to data released last week by the Anti-Defamation League. In Colorado, there were 198 incidents last year compared with 71 in 2022, the report said. Olivia Prentzel has more.

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ENVIRONMENT

Colorado apartment owners sue to block Denver and state carbon-cut laws they find crushing

A group of Colorado’s largest building owners and managers sued in federal court Monday to block separate greenhouse gas reduction rules passed by Denver and Colorado governments, arguing the rules illegally go beyond federal guidelines in requiring costly building renovations to cut carbon. The lawsuit argues the rules would cause a sharp rise in rent and worsen the housing crisis. Michael Booth has more.

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WATER

Colorado communities are working to protect their water from wildfires, before the fire happens

A new state program is paying Colorado communities $10 million in federal funds to help identify which local reservoirs, ditches, roads and more could be impacted by post-fire problems. The goal is to avoid the worst impacts by starting work before a fire even happens. Shannon Mullane has the details.

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• Colorado voters may be asked to send more sports betting money to water projects. A bipartisan proposal to remove a $29 million cap on sports betting revenues to benefit water projects would go on the ballot in November, if lawmakers approve, Jerd Smith reports.

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

• Democrat Trisha Calvarese can remain on special election ballot in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, judge rules. A Denver District Court judge rejected a voter’s lawsuit claiming Calvarese hadn’t been a registered voter in Colorado long enough, Sandra Fish reports.

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Denver is sending someone to Texas for a month to lower expectations about the city’s immigration policies. “If the decisive factor is, ‘Oh, I’m going to get six weeks in a hotel’… that’s not correct.”
  — Denverite
• Colorado has some of the lowest gas prices in the U.S. In Colorado, prices reflect an anticipated softening of demand as ski travel comes to an end just before summer travel begins.
  — 9News
• With an assist from the Denver Broncos, Colorado becomes 11th state to sanction flag football for high school girls. The Colorado High School Activities Association’s legislative council approved the fall sport following a three-year pilot program supported by the team and its foundation.
  — The Associated Press
• Colorado breweries snag 21 medals, mostly gold, at World Beer Cup 2024. Denver’s River North Brewery and Lafayette’s The Post Brewing Co. were the big winners with two awards each.
  — The Know 🔑

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Danika Worthington | Presentation Editor

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Creating a coordinated response for Colorado’s abused children will give them hope and help them heal.  Children’s advocacy that centers on when a number of agencies are under one roof is key in helping kids feel safe and find justice
  — Maureen Basenberg, executive director of Safe Passage Children’s Advocacy Center 

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.

What’s Happening

Boulder Chorale hosts Uvalde Mariachi. The small Texas town of Uvalde is situated 50 miles east of the U.S.-Mexico border in an area with deep cross-cultural ties. Two years ago the town became synonymous with tragedy, when a mass shooter entered a local elementary school, killing 19 students and two teachers. Unfortunately, the town may never shake the event that left it so thoroughly shattered, but in the year that followed, a group of local high school students gave the town something to be excited about — an award-winning mariachi team.

This week, Boulder Chorale welcomes Uvalde’s high school mariachi band to play in a series of concerts in Boulder, Longmont and Lafayette. “Everyone is aware of the tragedy that occurred in Uvalde, but people should know about these amazing young musicians and how Mariachi music has become a source of individual, community and cultural inspiration,” Dr. Vicki Burrichter, Artistic Director of Boulder Chorale wrote in a news release.

Performances by Boulder Chorale on Friday night and Saturday morning are free and open to the public, and the Festival de Las Luces, featuring the Uvalde mariachi band, will be held Saturday and Sunday evenings, with a special discussion both days and a Mexican market Sunday.

Various prices; April 24-28; Boulder, Longmont and Lafayette

• Pueblo Film Festival. The inaugural Pueblo Film Festival kicks off Friday night at Blo Back Gallery, followed by two days of short films and documentaries. Movies are compiled into two-hour blocks, with special industry events throughout the weekend. A schedule with movie information and food vendors is posted on the Pueblo Film Fest Facebook page. $60; April 26-28; Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center, 210 North Santa Fe Ave., Pueblo
• ThriftCon. A massive, traveling vintage and collectibles show posts up at the National Western Complex this weekend. Shop from over 140 vendors descending on Denver with carloads of band tees, trucker hats, leopard print and lots and lots of denim. $14 admission; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., April 27-28; National Western Complex, 4655 N. Humboldt St., Denver
• May as You Can. Ah Haa School for the Arts in Telluride is offering pay-what-you-can classes beginning Wednesday and running throughout the month of May as part of their “May as You Can” campaign to provide accessible creative opportunities to the community. About a dozen different classes are being offered, including two types of cooking classes, beginner’s stained glass and ceramics. Pay what you can; May 1-31; Ah Haa School for the Arts, 155 W Pacific Ave., Telluride

Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter

See you tomorrow.

— Kevin & the whole staff of The Sun

Corrections & Clarifications

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