We haven’t seen demand like this since AC was invented

Good morning, Colorado.

There’s exciting news for Colorado sports fans: The National Women’s Soccer League has entered exclusive expansion talks with Denver, Sportico reports.

Nothing is finalized, of course, but the news did lead to speculation in The Colorado Sun newsroom over a team name. In the running:

• The Denver Black Diamonds
• Colorado Cutthroats (I don’t think the short-lived minor league hockey team would mind)
• The return of the Denver Zephyrs or the Colorado Xplosion
• The Rocky Mountain Mighty Marmots (which perhaps won’t strike fear in other teams but think of the merchandise opportunity)

We’ll have to see how it all pans out. In the meantime, have a killer team name idea? Send it our way. We’ll add it to our running newsroom list.

Danika Worthington

Presentation Editor

THE NEWS

BUSINESS

Building a grid good enough to support thousands of new EVs and heat pumps will cost Colorado Xcel customers $5 billion

Electric vehicles, rooftop solar and heat pumps, on top of general growing electricity use, are drastically increasing the demand for energy. To keep up, Xcel Energy is asking regulators to approve a $5 billion plan for new and improved substations, Mark Jaffe writes.

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EDUCATION

After hopes of progress, some Colorado school districts fear deep cuts under Gov. Polis’ proposed budget

In the spring, school districts breathed a sigh of relief when state leaders passed major funding progress for education. Now they’re holding their breath as the state budget is short $1 billion and Gov. Jared Polis is eyeing education once again. Erica Breunlin has more.

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POLITICS

Ethics complaint filed against embattled state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis over alleged aide mistreatment

A constituent lodged an ethics complaint against state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, a Longmont Democrat, alleging she has failed to uphold her office with integrity and public interest by mistreating her Capitol aides. As Jesse Paul reports, the complaint could lead to the most serious consequences for Jaquez Lewis yet.

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• The Unaffiliated ☀️ The final spending number for Proposition 131 — and the interesting places the money went. The total amount spent by Colorado Voters First, the issue committee that supported Proposition 131, was $18.5 million.

MORE

• Food-focused nonprofits in Durango push for access to services in immigrants’ first languages. Recognizing “language justice,” there is a concerted effort to create spaces where everyone can communicate and participate without language barriers, Mark Stevens reports for The Colorado Trust.

Section by Danika Worthington | Presentation Editor

THE COLORADO REPORT

• 19 people detained after 2 people “tortured” at apartments, Aurora Police chief says. It’s the same apartment complex that spurred national headlines for purported gang violence earlier this year.
  — 9News
• Castle Rock town council approves measure expressing support for Trump’s immigration policies. The measure also expresses a willingness to lawfully cooperate with federal immigration officials in implementing policies in the affluent municipality.
  — CBS News
• Boulder breaks ceremonial ground on Alpine-Balsam, its largest affordable housing project nearly 10 years in the making. The development located between Alpine and Balsam on the west side of Broadway is still several years away from completion.
  — Boulder Reporting Lab
• Psychedelic healing centers are coming to Colorado in 2025. Here’s what to expect. Some healing centers might be available as soon as March.
  — CPR News

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• After another school shooting, let’s face the facts. This is who we are. The Madison police chief said after the shooting at Abundant Life Christian School that “enough is enough.” But history tells us it’s never enough.
  — Mike Littwin

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

BOOKS

Old Firehouse Books suggests fantasy, food and sci-fi

Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Old Firehouse Books in Fort Collins recommends:

• “The Serpent and the Wolf” by Rebecca Robinson, a complex fantasy built around an arranged marriage
• “That Sounds So Good” by Carla Lalli Music, a practical cookbook for all seasons
• “To Be Taught, If Fortunate” by Becky Chambers, a 22nd century sci-fi adventure

Read what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer

Honestly, Colorado Cutthroats is an incredible name if you ask me. Don’t forget to pass along any team name suggestion you may have!

— Danika & 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.