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El logotipo del Departamento de Políticas y Financiamiento del Cuidado de Salud de Colorado, el cual administra Medicaid en el estado, en un cartel en las oficinas del departamento en febrero de 2019. (John Ingold, The Colorado Sun)
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Good morning, Colorado!

The first thing you need to know about today is that it’s National Love Your Pet Day. (Today and every other day, obviously.)

Our pets are a pretty important part of our work here at The Sun. They sit by us and calm our nerves during relentless news cycles and hairy deadlines. They remind us to take a break every once in a while for a stroll and some fresh air. They wait for us, loyal as ever, while we race off to breaking news and other assignments, later trumpeting our return home by pawing and clawing at us for a little extra attention.

Just as our pets make our lives all the brighter, we wanted to make your morning a little sunnier by sprinkling in snapshots of the staff with their furry family members throughout today’s newsletter. Starting now!

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Clockwise from top left: Education writer Erica Breunlin and her food-motivated beagle mix, Hazel Grace, on a hike along Colorado’s Blue Lakes Trail near Ridgway. Team editor David Krause and his co-pilot, Ruby, driving the back roads of Colorado in their Volkswagen van. Interim membership director Danika Worthington cuddles her cat, Kiki, who regularly hides behind walls before jumping out to both scare and trip Worthington. Human services writer Jennifer Brown and her dog, Navy, at Colorado’s Wellington Lake.

Maybe your own sidekick is curled up with you as you’re catching up on our morning headlines. Keep them close as you peruse our gallery of beloved newshounds (plus one so-cute-you-could-cry cat) before we roll over into today’s news.

(And don’t be stingy with the treats today, doggone it!)

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The logo for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which administers Medicaid in the state, on a sign in the department’s offices Feb. 26, 2019. (John Ingold, The Colorado Sun)

A report compiled by the federal Office of the Inspector General during the Biden administration says that Colorado overcharged Medicaid by $6 million by billing for the care of nearly 9,000 people who were already deceased. John Ingold and Jennifer Brown dug into the report — and why the state Medicaid program is disputing the findings.

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The kitchen and living room of a condo in the Ogden Flats building in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood on Sept. 25, 2019. (Andy Colwell, Special to the Colorado Sun

Step right up and take a spin on the most consistent ride at the Colorado Capitol: Lawmakers attempting to reform the construction defect liability rules that both housing advocates and builders say are preventing cheaper, entry-level condos from being built in Colorado. Jesse Paul explains how House Bill 1272 would rewrite rules and why its sponsors are hoping to find a sweet spot where everyone is a little unhappy.

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Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande and entered the U.S. from Mexico are lined up for processing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, on Sept. 23, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

A stop work order issued Tuesday by the Trump administration would end funding for legal services in the Office of Refugee Resettlement unaccompanied children’s program. Jennifer Brown has more on what’s next for these children in the system.

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Clockwise from top left: Political editor and writer Jesse Paul and his pup, Ruthie, who knows where each of her neighborhood dog friends lives and makes a point to visit them during every walk. CTO Eric Lubbers and Benny, his rescue schnauzer, who loves snow enough to taste it. General assignment writer Olivia Prentzel and her adventurous sheep dog, Kevin, (and his man bun) kayak in Alcova Reservoir near Casper, Wyoming. Arts & Culture Writer Parker Yamasaki and her devious dog Jasper at a creek near Gothic, Colorado, outside of Crested Butte. Center: Publisher Larry Ryckman with Bella the beagle and navigator, who always knows the way (to her next meal).

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Still frame from “Half-Life of Memory: America’s Forgotten Atomic Bomb Factory,” a documentary about the long-term effects of contamination at Rocky Flats. (Photo provided by Colorado Environmental Film Festival)

Colorado Environmental Film Festival. Nature documentaries are having a heyday, with climate anxiety at an all-time high and deep-pocketed streaming services ready to serve us all the inspiring whale songs, rousing lions roars and steady baritone of David Attenborough that we ask for.

This weekend, the splendor of nature will be on the big screen, during the Colorado Environmental Film Festival in Golden. The festival is much more than nature docs, though, even if there are plenty of them. There are also films about activism, agriculture and innovative adaptations. There’s one film about a historic ski traverse across Colorado, another about wildflower research in Gothic.

If you can’t attend in-person, the festival offers a $60 online encore pass, giving you one week of 24-hour access to more than 40 films. Create a mini film festival on your own home couch — whale songs and all.

$99 all access, $60 online access; Feb. 21-23; Green Center at Colorado School of Mines, 924 16th St., Golden

Clockwise from top left: Outdoors writer Jason Blevins and his backcountry buddy, Gravy, at Colorado’s O’Haver Lake in Chaffee County. Colorado lifestyle writer and editor Kevin Simpson with his dog, Reese. Also known as The Man. Sales associate Caleb Hardy and his 90-pound German Shepherd Echo, who is terrified of squirrels, hike at Arapaho Glacier in Colorado. Sylvia Harmon, director of sales, with her dog, Harley, who excels at trekking up 14ers and loves a good snowfall. Daisy, left, and Boone, who belong to Tracy Ross, rural economic development writer, gnaw on an elk leg they found in Nederland. Center: Editor Dana Coffield and Earl the Shotgun Spaniel in Rye, Colorado.

Thanks for continuing to stay informed with our coverage of all things Colorado. Both you and your pet deserve a treat before you get swept away by the rest of your day. We’ll see you back here tomorrow!

— Erica & the whole staff of The Sun

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Type of Story: News

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

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