King Soopers workers vote to strike 

Good morning, Sunriser readers. I’m coming to you with a correction this morning. Last week I wrote in this intro that amid chaos stretching from national politics to our own backyards, the lifties at Crested Butte were threatening to strike — it’s the mountain’s lift mechanics heading to the town’s four-way intersection, picket signs in hand.

As one clever reader wrote to me, lifties are generally understood to be “more interested in the stoke than they would be in a strike.”

Both are, of course, an essential part of the resort ecosystem — one keeps the lifts spinning, the other keeps you out of their way.

More where that came from in today’s story by Jason Blevins, who caught up with two of those mechanics and looked into an obscure investor’s letter to Vail Resorts. Also, Tamara Chuang has updates on King Soopers workers, who voted to strike.

Let’s catch the next chair before anyone else walks off the job.

Parker Yamasaki

Reporter

THE NEWS

LABOR

Denver-area King Soopers workers vote to strike over unfair labor practices

Workers at King Soopers stores in the Denver area voted Thursday night to strike and they could soon be joined by workers from along the Front Range as more local unions vote in the coming days. Tamara Chuang has more, including how widespread this walkout could be.

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• Lift mechanics in Crested Butte add to Vail Resorts’ labor challenges as one investor demands change. This week, an obscure investor made national headlines when he issued an 88-page analysis of Vail Resorts saying the company is being mismanaged and calling for the resignation of CEO Kirsten Lynch, chief financial officer Angela Korch and chairman Rob Katz.
  

WATER

Colorado’s cities, counties could be required to limit the amount and type of grass allowed around homes by 2028

It’s time to say goodbye to grassy lawns — well, maybe, depending on where you live. A House bill making its way through the legislature would leave turf determinations up to counties, municipalities and local districts, letting each one decide how best to conserve water as climate change collides with population growth across the state. Jesse Paul reports.

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• Colorado legislature begins debate over paying college athletes, with transparency questions looming large. Some state representatives shared their frustration with what many called the “Wild West” of money in college athletics now.

SPORTS

Denver selected as home for new National Women’s Soccer League team, with games to start in 2026

There are still some details to smooth out about Colorado’s new National Women’s Soccer League team — like what it will be named, and where they will play — but one thing was made clear at Thursday’s news conference: A team is coming to Denver. Lincoln Roch has more on the 16th team to join the league.

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MORE NEWS

• Colorado tuberculosis cases hold steady, as a major outbreak rocks Kansas. While Kansas deals with the largest outbreak of TB in America since the 1950s, Colorado has maintained a typical number of infections and, as John Ingold explains, they seem to be isolated from each other, not the person-to-person transmission that is boosting numbers across the state border.
• Fact Brief ☀️ Does the Colorado River supply most of Southern California’s water? No. The Colorado River is a vital water source for Southern California, but most of the region’s water comes from other sources.
• Colorado’s Michael Bennet poses sharp questions to Tulsi Gabbard, Trump’s pick to oversee U.S. spy agencies. “This is when the rubber hits the road,” Bennet said after Gabbard did not answer a question. “This is not a moment for social media. It’s not a moment to propagate conspiracy theories or attacks on journalism in the United States. This is when you need to answer the questions of the people whose votes you’re asking for.”

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Former Colorado middle-school dean alleges she was fired for protesting district’s book ban as racist. “I felt that the book ban was trying to erase my and my students’ cultural heritages,” LeEllen Condry wrote in the discrimination charge she filed against the Elizabeth School District in Elbert County. Condry says she was fired after she wrote a letter explaining that the removal of books on racism and LGBTQ+ issues from the school library was unethical and racist.
  — The Denver Post
• Interstate 70 in the mountains has a big trucking problem. Are there any new solutions? Among the efforts made by the legislature is a bill limiting big trucks to the right lane along the mountainous stretches of I-70, but even truckers are asking for more help to keep the corridor open and moving.
  — Summit Daily
• Colorado’s low birth rate could put federal transportation dollars at risk under new Trump policy. A new memo from the Trump administration prioritizes transportation projects in states with high birthrates, those that comply with federal immigration enforcement and those without vaccine or mask mandates — which could put interstate maintenance and other funds in jeopardy in the state.
  — Colorado Public Radio

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE OPINION PAGE

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” Myra pushes back on a right-wing contention that empathy has no place in their interpretation of Christian principles.

CARTOON

Jim Morrissey speaks for those who have no voice on the gun safety bill that’s working its way through the state legislature.

CARTOON

Drew Litton illustrates how Colorado’s proud tradition of producing world-class women’s soccer stars has been rewarded with the arrival of a NWSL franchise.

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 thoughtful conversation and headlines of the day. We keep it tight so you can listen on the go, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. Download the Sun-Up for free on your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. Check out this week’s lineup from The Sun team:

• Here’s why homeowners insurance is so expensive in Colorado. Wildfires, hailstorms and other weather disasters are more common in Colorado. Sun reporters Tamara Chuang and Olivia Prentzel talk about the big project they collaborated on.
  LISTEN
• The making of Colorado SunFest. What are you doing on May 16? No plans? We’ve got you covered as Sun events specialist Kristina Pritchett has a preview of our annual Colorado Sunfest at the University of Denver. That date again … May 16.
  LISTEN
• Executive order could affect thousands of Colorado employees. There are roughly 45,000 federal workers in Colorado. President Trump told them they have to work in the office five days a week. Business reporter Tamara Chuang dug into what that means.
  LISTEN
• A Colorado lens on national topics is key. What is the Colorado angle on this? That’s the mantra we use here at The Sun, and publisher Larry Ryckman jumps on the Sun-Up to get into the “why” behind what we do and what we write about.
  LISTEN
• X Games revamp underway under Colorado sports icon. Aspen has been home to the Winter X Games for 24 years, and changes are afoot. Outdoors reporter Jason Blevins, who’s covered plenty of them, talks about the new direction with Jeremy Bloom at the helm.
  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 let us know what you think of our new format at podcast@coloradosun.com.

Section by David Krause | Editor

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— 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.