3D-printing affordable housing in Greeley

Good morning! Somehow, it’s already June.

The summer solstice is just around the corner, the weather’s getting consistently warmer and — because it’s an election year — we’re officially in primary season.

In today’s newsletter our politics team brings us a handy guide to voting in the primary this month and breakdowns of where every congressional candidate stands on the issues. Plus we dig into 3D-printed homes in Greeley, how ski resorts may adjust to a major Colorado Supreme Court ruling and so much more news.

Using blue or black ink, let’s completely fill in the circles and get started, shall we?

Eric Lubbers

CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE NEWS

ELECTION 2024

Ballots for Colorado’s June 25 primary are being sent out. Here’s what you need to know to vote.

Today’s the day that county clerks around the state will begin shipping ballots for the state’s primary election. In many of the state’s districts that skew strongly toward one party or the other, this primary will be the most consequential vote of the election cycle, and Sandra Fish has all the details to help you cast your vote.

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• Where Lauren Boebert and her Republican opponents in the 4th Congressional District stand on big issues. 
• Where Democratic candidates in the 4th Congressional District stand on big issues. 
• Where Republican candidates in the 5th Congressional District stand on big issues. 
• Where Democratic candidates in the 5th Congressional District stand on big issues. 
• More election news and voter guides.

OUTDOORS

One Colorado Supreme Court ruling poked a hole in ski resorts’ liability protections. What’s next?

Before the Colorado Supreme Court’s recent ruling limiting how much liability waivers can protect operators, the ski industry — as well as rafting companies and youth camps — warned that such a ruling could decrease the availability of options for children. Now that a ruling has been made, Jason Blevins reports on what’s next — and why major changes could take a while to affect your next outdoor adventure.

READ MORE, SUN-UP PODCAST

• One man dead, one missing after a rafting accident in Upper Colorado River. A 56-year-old man from metro Denver was pronounced dead by emergency responders after his raft flipped on Saturday. Another man, a 61-year-old from metro Denver, is still missing. Neither had on personal flotation devices, search and rescue officials said.

HOUSING

Hope Springs in Greeley, the largest Habitat neighborhood in the West, gets a 3D twist and $100M to build 491 homes

On Thursday, Alquist 3D started printing Rachel Borum’s new house. And it’s just the first step in an ambitious collaboration between Habitat for Humanity and Greeley-headquartered Alquist to build nearly 500 new affordable homes in a city that is seeing average home prices top $500,000. Tamara Chuang explores the project — and how it could affect housing stock all over the state.

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COLORADANS

100 hikes: A 5-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia. So she and her mother turned to outdoor therapy.

When faced with a daunting diagnosis in her youngest child, Sarah Bailey turned to the expansive trails of Larimer County that helped her through her divorce. And as Dan England reports, a goal of taking 100 hikes is helping both mother and daughter as they navigate the thornier paths of cancer treatment in America’s medical system.

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MORE NEWS

• Did Denver police stop pulling over cars with expired tags? A policy change within the Denver police department aims to increase 911 response times, Justin George writes in this fact brief.
• New broadband laws to help Colorado streamline distribution of $800+ million. Nearly a billion dollars are en route to Colorado to fix internet service issues like slow speeds, affordability or the complete lack of service, especially in rural areas. Tamara Chuang explains how the funds will be distributed and more in the Sun’s latest What’s Working column. 
• A major psychiatric hospital in Grand Junction will stay open — at least for now. West Springs Hospital leaders feared they would have to close their doors, citing financial problems, intense scrutiny from regulatory agencies and staffing concerns. 
• In search of funding for child care, two Colorado regions pursue special taxing districts. Special taxing districts have been possible for five years in Colorado, but none exist yet. 

COLORADO SUNDAY

2024 Summer Book Guide: 10 Colorado authors help you pick your beach reads

Summer is near, so we asked a group of Colorado authors to share some of their favorite reads. These authors have earned recognition this year as finalists for the Colorado Book Award and graciously took the time to consider books in the category for which they became CBA finalists. So whether you’re looking for a fun beach read or something a bit more deep and complex, there’s likely a book for you on this list.

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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE COLORADO REPORT

• AI-learned labor, precision steam and lasers: Western Slope farmers get a look at the future in the fields amid worker shortage. A growing field of companies is looking to bring in the next era of farming with new technology, including a tool that can remove weeds with a blast of steam.
  — CPR
• Colorado clinics, mental health providers are seeing more uninsured patients — and they’re worried that’s the new normal. During the pandemic, Colorado didn’t require people to prove they had low enough incomes to qualify for Medicaid. The majority of the half-million people who have since lost coverage in Colorado haven’t returned the paperwork to prove they are eligible.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Girls, women, trans and nonbinary flag football players in Denver are finding community as the sport grows nationwide. Flag football is growing as a safer alternative to regular football for boys, an entry point into the typically male-domianted sport for girls and as a space for the LGBTQ community. Colorado became the 11th state to make girls flag football an officially sanctioned sport last month.
  — Denverite

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Olivia Prentzel | Reporter

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• Rising star Joe Neguse is best served staying in Congress. With a litany of potential paths before the congressman, his best choice is to stay the course and climb the Democratic leadership ladder
  — Mario Nicolais
• Bill Walton loved all things Colorado, especially Nikola Jokić. The world is poorer for losing the NBA Hall of Famer, but his words, memory and love of Colorado remain
  — Craig Silverman

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.

Thanks for kicking off your June with us! We’ll be here all month.

— Eric and the whole staff of The Sun

The Colorado Sun is part of The Trust Project. Read our policies.

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.