Good morning and welcome to December! Smart and responsible people like the readers of The Sunriser likely started their holiday shopping long ago, but for the rest of us, it’s the beginning of crunch time.
But if you want to just ignore the relentless Cyber Monday ads and get something meaningful for the people in your life, we’ve got a couple of options for you:
Now that you’ve knocked off a healthy portion of your list, let’s get caught up on news from the long weekend, shall we?
CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE NEWS
HEALTH
Colorado “Mad Moms” are fighting to stop the churn that traps their adult children in mental hospitals and jail
106 days
How many days out of 365 Barbara Vassis’ daughter spent cycling through hospitals, mental health facilities, shelters and jail.
The stories that mothers of adult children with severe mental illness tell might differ in the details, but the endless cycle of jail, psychiatric facilities, emergency rooms and the streets haunts all of them. Jennifer Brown reports on the conditions that sparked the formation of Colorado’s “Mad Moms” organization — and why they say something as simple as relaxing the regimen required for a common schizophrenia drug could help disrupt the churn.
ARTS
Colorado receives millions of dollars in federal arts funding every year. Will that change under Trump?
<0.5%
The portion of the federal government’s budget spent yearly on the NEA and NEH endowments, or about $415 million.
President-elect Donald Trump is the only president to have formally proposed eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment of the Humanities, two of the biggest forces in arts funding around the country. Ahead of his taking power next year, Parker Yamasaki looks at where that funding has made a difference in Colorado — and what could be at stake if it is eliminated.
ENERGY
People in south-central Colorado are putting up a big fight against a proposed electric-rate increase
Local governments, small business owners, individual workers and charity managers were among the many entities that have been hammering home a message to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission: Do not allow Black Hills Energy to increase rates for electricity. Sue McMillin has more on the coordinated effort and why the South Dakota-based for-profit energy company is pushing for the increase in the first place.
MORE NEWS
COLORADO SUNDAY
2024 Holiday Book Guide: 8 Colorado authors suggest great reads to delight you and everyone on your gift list
There’s something special about gifting a book and this year, as in years’ past, we’ve asked Colorado authors for their best suggestions to help with your holiday shopping list. Each author has selected two works for your consideration — some new releases and some old. Plus, we linked to each author’s own award-worthy work. You don’t want to miss this curated book guide courtesy of Kevin Simpson.
Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE COLORADO REPORT
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Section by Olivia Prentzel | Reporter
THE OPINION PAGE
COLUMNS
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I know you’re already daydreaming about how cool your new Colorado Sun cap will look as you sip from your Colorado Sun tin camping mug, but I want to say thanks for starting your week with us.
Stay warm, happy gift hunting and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!
— Eric and the whole staff of The Sun
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