How renters were helped this legislative session

Good morning, Colorado. Memorial Day means the unofficial start to summer (although it feels like we didn’t get a proper spring, but maybe that’s the Southerner in me talking).

So I hope you’ve gotten your summer plans sorted and can start thinking ahead to autumn, because we’ll be kicking that season off with the second annual SunFest.

Hosted by The Colorado Sun at the University of Denver Josef Korbel School of International Studies, SunFest 2024 will be a daylong event bringing Coloradans together to discuss what makes A Better Colorado.

Tickets are on sale now, with discounts for members and students. Find the details (with more information to come) at coloradosun.com/sunfest-2024.

Here’s today’s news, as well as Parker Yamasaki’s weekly look ahead at What’s Happening this weekend.

Kevin Jeffers

Product Team

THE NEWS

HOUSING

“Enormous progress” for tenants: Here’s how the Colorado legislature tried to help renters in 2024

Affordable housing was a much bigger priority during this year’s legislative session. After last year’s session frustrated housing advocates with a lack of help for non-homeowners, the state’s Democratic majority this year secured a mix of legislative wins and modest reforms aimed at renters. Brian Eason breaks it all down.

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• Watch: Recapping the 2024 Colorado legislative session. The Colorado Sun’s politics team led a conversation last week with state legislators, including Gov. Jared Polis, about the 2024 legislative session. Here’s the replay.

WATER

Fast-growing northern Colorado wins $250 million in loans for new dam, regional water project

Two significant loans from the state this month will help finance a new dam outside Loveland and a major regional water project northwest of Fort Collins. Jerd Smith details the $155 million Chimney Hollow Reservoir and the $100 million Northern Integrated Supply Project, two of the largest financing projects the state has approved in recent years.

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• $6.8 million upgrade to century-old ditch unites agricultural, environmental interests on the Yampa River. The antiquated ditch near Maybell is the largest agricultural diverter on the Yampa River. Fixing it took years of work by unlikely bedfellows to help farmers, floaters and fish on the Yampa River, Shannon Mullane writes.

OUTDOORS

Peter Landsman, the resort industry’s chairlift savant, has visited 3,000 chairlifts at all 750 ski areas in the U.S. and Canada

Peter Landsman loves ski lifts so much he’s made it his ambition to see, ride and photograph every single one in North America. He’s a lift supervisor based in Jackson Hole who keeps a website dedicated to documenting ski lifts around the U.S, and at age 34 has just completed a 25-year quest to visit every chairlift on the continent. Jason Blevins talked to Landsman about his ongoing life’s work.

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Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE COLORADO REPORT

• False report leads Colorado State Patrol to detain 82-year-old man at gunpoint on I-70 near Frisco. After a caller reported that someone in the Mazda had flashed a gun, Colorado State Patrol reportedly did not find a weapon in the vehicle.
  — Summit Daily
• A program to move unhoused folks directly into permanent housing secured funding, but sustainability is an issue. A council committee approved a $5 million contract with Housing Connector, a nonprofit that connects people experiencing homelessness to property owners.
  — Denverite
• After Colorado leaders protest, Congress scales back proposal to move National Guard units to Space Force. Governors would retain authority over transfers under amendment approved by House committee.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• May wolf map shows current activity. Wolves have been in Jackson, Larimer, Routt, Grand and Summit counties.
  — The Aspen Times 🔑
• Former Aurora school resource officer accused of inappropriate behavior toward a student. A former Aurora school resource officer is facing three misdemeanor charges after he was accused of inappropriately texting a female high school student last year.
  — The Sentinel

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Danika Worthington | Presentation Editor

What’s Happening

Mountain Words. If there’s one thing festival director Brooke MacMillan wants people to know, it’s that you don’t have to be an intellectual to attend a literary festival. “It’s for anyone that’s curious,” she said. “Anyone that wants to have a wonderful time using your brain, learning about new topics and connecting with people.”

The Mountain Words literary festival in Crested Butte this weekend has nearly 50 different panels, parties, live theater performances and kid-friendly events.

The workshops can be a little more literary, but the panels span a wide range of topics and skew toward issues that affect communities in the West. Panel discussions like “The Future of Ski Towns,” “Writing the River” and “Public Lands and Future Threats” will bring together nonfiction authors and journalists to discuss pressing land use questions.

One of the events that MacMillan is looking forward to is the debut of “Singletrack! The musical” by Steven Cole Hughes, a live theater production hilariously deconstructing the 1980s sports action genre à la Rad —with more dance numbers.

A full festival pass costs $350 and includes access to all events, as well as exclusive discounts from local businesses (like $3 cocktails at Montanyas Rum Distillery). One-day and single-event tickets can also be purchased for those who’d rather pick and choose, while more than 20 free events will take place throughout the weekend. (Disclaimer: The Colorado Sun is a sponsor of Mountain Words, and our journalists have been on panels in previous years.)

Free-$350; May 24-26; Crested Butte Center for the Arts, 606 Sixth St., Crested Butte

• Cyanotype workshop. A free cyanotype workshop led by photographer, curator and MCA Denver co-founder Mark Sink, hosted by Prairie Sea Projects. Lemonade and iced tea will be provided, bring your own picnic lunch to enjoy in the Prairie Futures gardens. Free; noon-3 p.m., May 28; 6415 U.S. 36, Joes
• Boulder Creek Festival. Music, food, an artisan market, skate lessons, mural painting, an art battle and — my favorite touch — a roller skating rink will be found on the banks of Boulder Creek this weekend during the 35th annual Boulder Creek Festival. The best part: It’s all free. Free; May 24-27; Along Boulder Creek between 9th and 14th Street, Boulder
• Free summer museums. Starting Monday 11 museums across the Eastern Plains will offer free admission to anyone who mentions the words “our journey” at the admission desk. Participating museums can be found on this website, with the exception of the Old Town Museum, in Burlington, which charges a $10 admission. Free; May 27-Sept. 2; Various locations

Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter

Feels wrong that the Rockies are the only pro sports team in town left to root for already. Oh well, more reason to get out of the house this summer.

— Kevin & the whole staff of The Sun

Corrections & Clarifications

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