Good morning, Colorado.
It’s one of my favorite seasons: farmers market season.
The fresh fruit, vegetables and fungi. The local meats. The chili oil guy. They make my world go round. So naturally it’s Wednesday and my mouth is already watering thinking about what goodies I can get this weekend.
In the meantime, I’ll distract myself by reading today’s news.
P.S.
Do you have a favorite thing like me? Maybe a coffee shop or a top tier mechanic? It’s your last day to nominate them for Colorado’s Best. We’ll open voting for the top choice in each category June 3.
Presentation Editor
THE NEWS
OUTDOORS
Big companies like to buy Colorado’s thriving outdoor businesses — and then move them out of state
Colorado’s outdoor recreation industry is maturing and drawing investment. And with that comes reshuffling, consolidation and new corporate strategies that can pull thriving businesses out of the state. Jason Blevins takes a look at what’s happened with BCA, QuietKat, Niner Bikes and Guerilla Gravity.
TRANSPORTATION
One lane of U.S. 50 could be open by July 4, but only if four critical repairs are completed on schedule
Some positive news for folks impacted by the U.S. 50 bridge closure: One lane may be open by July 4. But only if four critical repairs are finished by then. Engineers have found a total of 183 defects in welds — although not all of them critical — during an intense assessment that began after a 3-inch crack and other defects were spotted during an inspection.
CRIME & COURTS
As Colorado fentanyl deaths continue to rise, here’s the DEA’s new plan to combat the problem
1,089
People who died from fentanyl poisoning in 2023, according to preliminary data
Fentanyl-related overdose deaths hit a new high in 2023 in Colorado. This year is on pace to break that record again. The Drug Enforcement Agency confiscated a record 2.61 million pills last year, up from 1.9 million in 2022 and 565,200 in 2021. To fight the problem, the DEA is trying an old strategy: following the money. Read more from Ernesto Cabral, our new fellow from the International Center for Foreign Journalists.
CLIMATE
Colorado’s chickadees may lose their good memory to adapt to climate change, researchers find
Colorado’s chickadees, a common mountain bird, have a remarkable trait: They remember where their seeds are. But as climate change creates more storms that wipe out, dry up or inundate key feeding spots, it may be the most forgetful and therefore adaptable chickadees that are the most successful foragers in the future, Michael Booth writes.
MORE NEWS
Section by Danika Worthington | Presentation Editor
THE COLORADO REPORT
🔑 = source has article meter or paywall
Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team
THE OPINION PAGE
COLUMNS
COMMUNITY
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
Old Firehouse Books suggests fantasy, romance and, yes, math titles
Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins recommends:
Read what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.
Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer
Chili oil in sauces. Chili oil on eggs. Chili oil on sandwiches. Time to buy more chili oil.
— Danika & the whole staff of The Sun
Corrections & Clarifications
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