Good morning and happy Monday — or as happy as can be on the first day of school, as it is for many districts around Colorado.
With the chaos of kids returning to the classroom and the almost clockwork afternoon severe thunderstorms on the Front Range, you might forget about one of the great things about the end of summer: It’s peak tomato season.
After many weekends of traveling away from my home kitchen, this weekend I finally got to make The Tomato, the internet-famous sandwich from eclectic New Orleans eatery Turkey and the Wolf. And folks, believe the hype. It’s not that different from a classic tomato sandwich, but somehow the combination of Texas toast, Duke’s mayo, roasted sunflower seeds and thick slices of heirloom tomato — topped with a pile of fresh dill and basil — is the freshest and most satisfying sandwich that has ever come out of my kitchen. Here’s the recipe so you can prepare for your next farmers market trip.
Believe it or not, this is not the only tomato reference in today’s newsletter, so let’s pull up to the table and dig in, shall we?
CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE NEWS
WATER
Denver Water says the high number of customers starting their lawn-watering cycles on Mondays is stressing its system
With 80% of Denver Water’s customers running automatic watering systems that are typically set once and left for the season, the utility is asking (nicely) that some customers switch the first day of their water cycle to Tuesday to help with the crushing demand that kicks off every Monday at 5 a.m. Jerd Smith with Fresh Water News has more on how Denver Water plans to get people off the default settings.
ENVIRONMENT
Belching steers are helping researchers at Colorado State solve the climate crisis
Cargill, the beef producing giant, gave CSU $1 million to see how different diets given to feedlot cows affect the amount of the greenhouse gas methane the animals produce. And as Tracy Ross reports, the experiment is going well.
ELECTION 2024
Colorado GOP sends transphobic email attacking Democrat running to unseat Republican in toss-up race
An email sent by the Colorado GOP repeatedly used male pronouns and used screenshots from a transphobic Twitter account as an attack on Vivian Smotherman, a transgender Durango farmer and Navy veteran who is running against incumbent state Sen. Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa, in November’s election. Jesse Paul has more.
HEALTH
3 charts that explain how Colorado’s largest abortion fund is spending its money
With a surge of need from states where abortion has been all but outlawed, Cobalt says for the first time it has to put a cap on the financial assistance it can provide each month — including patient travel and covering the costs of procedures. Jennifer Brown breaks it down.
ECONOMY
This guy wants to get rid of endless phone loops, junk fees and other consumer irritants
In this week’s “What’s Working,” Tamara Chuang recounts U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Rohit Chopra’s visit to Westminster, where he told residents about the CFPB’s plans to reduce corporate callousness and other annoying aspects of the modern economy.
OUTDOORS
Steamboat Springs paddleboard pioneer sells Hala, Colorado Kayak Supply after pandemic whiplash
Peter Hall, one of the early pioneers of inflatable paddleboards designed to handle whitewater, sold his board business and supply store, citing a post-pandemic flood of the market with cheap “pool-toy” paddleboards and canceled orders for the upheaval. Jason Blevins has more.
FOOD & DRINK
Two Colorado bars specialize in Bloody Mary drinks made from fresh tomato juice. Here’s how to do it at home.
Just as Colorado gardens begin to fill with sun-ripened tomatoes, Sun contributor Gabe Toth comes with tips for concocting the perfect Bloody Mary to sip while enjoying the last dregs of summer. Five to six tomatoes, half a lemon, a touch of fresh garlic and a few carrots form the base of one local spin on the popular brunch-time drink. Read on for ideas on how to top it off and garnish it.
MORE NEWS
COLORADO SUNDAY
In a time of challenge and innovation, a Colorado library card checks out more than books. Lots more.
As one of the last public, indoor spaces where you can spend time without buying something, libraries are known for providing necessary services to communities. But as Kevin Simpson explores in this week’s Colorado Sunday story, libraries are innovating as their patrons’ needs change — from telehealth kits for remote doctors visits to cake pans to garden seeds — and they feel pressure from reactionaries looking to censor their shelves.
Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE COLORADO REPORT
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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE OPINION PAGE
COLUMNS
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.
Whew! I know it’s now mid-morning on a Monday, but after all that news a Bloody Mary is sounding mighty tasty.
Drink responsibly, stay dry and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!
— Eric and the whole staff of The Sun
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