New round of red-hot e-bike vouchers available today

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Good morning, Colorado.

Wildflowers, for me, are one of the best reminders of time. The light pink and white yucca blooms along one of my favorite trails, for example, let me know that summer is on its way. And before I know it, lanky sunflowers entangled in guardrails, bringing beauty and life to lackluster stretches of highway, remind me the season is close to an end.

Though I’m sad to see summer come to a close, it’s a beautiful way to watch the passing of time, isn’t it? But enough daydreaming about flowers. We’ve got a packed newsletter to dig into — let’s get reading.

THE NEWS

ENVIRONMENT

Denver releasing next round of highly sought after e-bike vouchers, already close to 9K bought

Get your computers ready this morning if you’re in Denver and looking to snag one of the wildly popular and quick-to-disappear e-bike discount vouchers. Michael Booth has all the details on the 11 a.m. release and tips on how to boost your chances of becoming one of the lucky 220 recipients.

READ MORE

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ENERGY

When are Colorado’s last coal-fired power plants closing?

About a third of Colorado’s electricity is still generated by 10 coal-fired power plants. That should drop to zero by the end of 2031. To help Coloradans understand what that actually looks like, Michael Booth and Danika Worthington created this digestible explainer with graphics and a map.

READ MORE

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POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

Progressive property tax proposals falter on first day of Colorado’s special session as ballot measure deal advances

On Monday, Colorado lawmakers shut down a series of attempts by progressive Democrats to limit proposed tax breaks to wealthier homeowners and steer more tax relief toward the middle class. Brian Eason and Jesse Paul report on what went down during the first day of the state’s legislative session and what’s to come.

READ MORE

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MORE NEWS

• Colorado man arrested on suspicion of making death threats against election officials, state judges. Teak Brockbank, 45, of Cortez is accused of threatening to kill election workers, law enforcement officers and Colorado judges in posts on social media. He could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

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THE COLORADO REPORT

• Aurora lawmakers ratify new police chief amid complaints about no public process. Protesters erupted in chants of “shame on you” and “vote them out” as the members of Aurora City Council voted to approve former LAPD commander Todd Chamberlain as the latest top cop in the city.
  — Sentinel Colorado
• A national staffing company owes more than $2.3 million to Denver workers in stolen wages and fines, according to the city. A report by the city auditor says California-based Advantage Workforce Services miscategorized employees as independent contractors who should have received sick leave and overtime. The staffing company’s parent corporation Instawork is suing the city over more than $1 million in fines for similar violations.
  — Denverite
• This year’s 29th annual Gatorfest in Mosca was a formal affair. If you, like me, are bummed that you missed this year’s Gatorfest near the Great Sand Dunes National Park, don’t worry, news station KRCC has photos. Plus you have plenty of time to read about the gator park’s history (as told by Jason Blevins back in 2021) before next year’s big 3-0.
  — KRCC
• A Forest Service crew in Colorado got two new furry employees: Llamas. Wyatt and Junior spent the season with the Leadville Ranger District helping to haul tools and supplies to fix remote bridges, trails and other spots around the Rockies that aren’t accessible to motorized vehicles.
  — KUNC
• Nonattorneys can practice law in Colorado. Firms are weighing in. The first cohort of licensed legal paraprofessionals in the state has entered the legal scene with a license that allows them to represent clients in family court for certain standard procedures. Some law firms are already predicting that LLP cases could be half of their caseload within three years.
  — Denver Business Journal 🔑

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• As International Overdose Awareness Day approaches, Colorado needs to focus on harm reduction, not “just say no.”  Coloradans are going to use drugs, so let’s prioritize education, compassion and evidence-based solutions, not a decades-old mantra.
  — Michael Miller, HIV and Harm Reduction Program Manager at Jefferson County Public Health

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

REVIEW

A short story from “Uranians” reveals sinister motives in A.I. character

In this excerpt from a short story by Theodore McCombs, artificial intelligence reveals itself to be a life–saving boon — but the ultimate truth is insidious. “Talk to Your Children About Two-Tongued Jeremy,” part of the Colorado Book Award-winning collection titled “Uranians,” reveals the author’s sharp wit and his unblinking take on the double-edged blade of A.I.

READ AN EXCERPT

• Interview with the author. McCombs, an environmental lawyer when he’s not writing, explains how a couple of writing workshops helped him “cut loose” his creativity. And his thoughts on many other topics — including a hilarious take on which writers he’d like to host for a literary discussion —make this Q&A a cut above and well worth reading.

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Thank you, as always, for joining us here. See you tomorrow.

— Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun

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.

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.