Ranked choice voting could be delayed indefinitely

I can tell it’s summer because my housework has been put on the farthest-back burner. Instead of doing chores my past few weekends have been spent camping, swinging by the Outside Festival (more on that from Jason Blevins below) and hosting loved ones.

Before Wednesday I was determined to get some stuff done this weekend. But then I went to an opening event for the Denver Fringe Festival, which happens this weekend, and watched a couple dozen performers give 30-second pitches about their hourlong acts. One performer promised “ten thousand years of history from a sex worker’s perspective.” Another created a comedy set based on growing up with a cult leader for a father. Yet another used the bulk of her 30 seconds to show off her dog, and even though I’m not sure what it had to do with her show, she was pretty convincing.

Luckily for me — and anyone else near Denver — the shows can be enjoyed á la carte and cost $15 a pop, making it a pretty low commitment festival. So I should be able to make it and still get my laundry done. Right?

More from this week, below.

Parker Yamasaki

Reporter

THE NEWS

POLITICS

Colorado governor signs bill that would prevent voter-adopted statewide ranked choice voting from taking effect

A last-minute amendment to Senate Bill 210 creates a substantial hurdle for implementing ranked choice voting in Colorado, a measure that is expected to be on the November ballot. After The Colorado Sun reported on the amendment last week, Gov. Jared Polis was urged to veto the bill by groups in support of ranked choice voting, as it could delay the new model indefinitely. Polis signed the bill yesterday, but promised to reconcile the measure with the will of the people, should Coloradans vote in favor of ranked choice voting in November. Jesse Paul has more.

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• FACT BRIEF: Did U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert request infrastructure funding from a bill she voted against? In May Boebert tweeted that she worked closely with local election officials to secure $51.4 million in funding for a major bridge, but the funding came from a bill that Boebert rejected. Justin George looks into the congresswoman’s claims. 

OUTDOORS

Outside Festival deemed a success with 18,000 attendees helping forge a model for a new national outdoor recreation gathering

Two years ago, just as Conor Hall stepped into his role as head of Colorado’s outdoor recreation office, the owner of Outdoor Retailer moved the massive trade show back to Utah from Denver. So Hall got to work on something better. The inaugural Outside Festival in Civic Center park drew a huge crowd this past weekend, luring consumers and retailers with big-name musical acts and panelists, a small film festival and — of course — vendor booths with a bunch of outdoor retailers. Jason Blevins dives into the festival’s first run.

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• Independence Pass, Trail Ridge and more scenic byways across Colorado now open for the summer. After late winter storms delayed the expected opening of major high country highways, summer travel can finally begin. Olivia Prentzel reports.

WATER

“It’s not an ideal world”: States talk Colorado River future, hang-ups in negotiations at CU conference

Negotiators from the seven Colorado River Basin states gathered Thursday in Boulder in their first public meeting since the states failed to reach a consensus on the future of the Colorado River. Shannon Mullane moderated the meeting and reports on what the reps had to say.

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EQUITY

Colorado middle and high schools must provide free period products to students by 2028

House Bill 1164, signed by Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday, requires all schools to offer free period products to students by 2028. It also allocated an additional $100,000 to the state grant fund, on top of an existing $100,000, to support schools that can’t afford the products and dispensers. Tatiana Flowers has more.

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MORE NEWS

• The very last Boulder Techstars class graduates as company ends 17-year run in city. The business accelerator program, which helped thousands of tech companies get started, is now based in New York, and has an office in Denver. 
• Colorado woman who was handcuffed in a police car hit by a train receives $8.5M settlement. Yareni Rios suffered serious injuries, including severe head trauma, from being hit by a train while in police custody. The city of Fort Lupton and nearby Platteville, which together employed the three officers sued for the 2022 crash, will split the $8.5 million settlement. 

Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Colorado Republican Party condemned for “hateful” anti-LGBTQ rhetoric. In a statement Thursday, state GOP Chairman Dave Williams doubled down on the attacks and said he “made no apologies for saying God hates pride.”
  — The Denver Post
• First case affected by DNA debacle at Colorado Bureau of Investigation ends in plea deal. Garrett Coughlin, 30, was sentenced Thursday to 42 years in prison for the 2017 murders of Wallace “Lance” White, his wife, Kelly Sloat-White, and his brother Emory Fraker in Boulder County. In 2019, he received the state’s most severe sentence possible of life in prison with no possibility for parole, but that verdict was overturned.
  — The Gazette
• Former Bronco sues team, NFL after fines from THC violations. Randy Gregory is seeking repayment of $532,500 in fines the league levied against him for taking what his attorneys said was a doctor-prescribed THC.
  — 9News
• From art drops to family festivals, Arvada has big plans to mark its 120th year. Celebrations begin June 22, with a commemoration of the first documented discovery of gold in the Rocky Mountain region, and continue throughout the summer.
  — CPR News

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Collaboration between Colorado ranchers and wolf advocates is key to making reintroduction work.  Mutual respect and tolerance is growing and will go a long way in helping ranchers and wolves coexist in Colorado.
  — Philip Anderson and Courtney Vail 

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” Ossie and Myra take a moment to mark their 300th appearance and celebrate a friendship that has helped them make sense of a complicated world.

CARTOON

Drew Litton takes his pen to the state GOP chair’s stance on LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebrations.

CARTOON

With a nod to the sci-fi thriller “Alien,” Jim Morrissey sees disturbing similarities to the leadership struggle among Colorado Republicans.

CARTOON

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.

Podcast Playlist

CONVERSATION

Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up podcast brings you a bit of Colorado history, headlines and a thoughtful conversation. We keep it tight so you can quickly listen, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. You can download the Sun-Up for free in your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. This week we covered family love and political challenges.

• Ranked choice firestorm. In the final days of the legislative session, a bill was amended to create a major hurdle for the implementation of ranked choice voting in Colorado should voters adopt the new system in November. Political reporters Jesse Paul and Brian Eason break down what it would do.
  LISTEN
• When hope and tragedy intersect. It’s a delicate balance celebrating a heart transplant for a toddler who gets to live after another has died. Reporter Jennifer Brown talks about one family’s relief after another family’s grief.
  LISTEN
• Do liability waivers still have standing? The Colorado Supreme Court’s recent decision on the veracity of liability waivers could change the outdoors industry. Reporter Jason Blevins has insight on what could change when you sign on the dotted line.
  LISTEN
• Hope Springs housing project and 3D-printed houses. A major affordable housing development will help a lot of people in Greeley. Business reporter Tamara Chuang talks about her field trip to the Weld County site and the incredible collaboration.
  LISTEN
• Looking through the family lens. Colorado author Gina Demillo Wagner chats with reporter Kevin Simpson about her new book “Forces of Nature: A Memoir of Family, Loss and Finding Home,” which explores the joys and pains faced by family members of people with developmental disabilities.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Remember, you can ask Siri, Alexa or Google to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll play right on your smart speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

Section by David Krause | Editor

Find me at Fringe this weekend! I mean doing yard work. I’ll be busy with yard work.

— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun

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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.