Federal firings hit NOAA

Good morning, Sunriser readers! The pen is mightier than the sword, they say, and it seems President Trump’s administration has taken the metaphor to heart. Since taking office last month, the administration has slashed tens of thousands of jobs through the signing of various orders and emails. The latest cuts hit workers at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, which has a station in Boulder, just yesterday. More on that below.

Those orders are flying hot and fast during the workweek, so if possible, I encourage you to unplug this weekend. Take heed of the Gen Z advice to “touch grass.” Or visit an art museum if there’s one around. In Denver, the Museum of Contemporary Art offers 1 cent admission to Colorado residents on the first Saturday of the month (that’s tomorrow!). Their current exhibition, “Mountain — Hour — Face” is a multimedia riff on landscapes and the artist’s relationship to land. Pop on in for just a penny, while those are still around.

Parker Yamasaki

Reporter

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THE NEWS

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Mass firings of probationary federal workers begin at NOAA, including many in Boulder

Probationary employees received emails and were given an hour to empty their desks Thursday, despite a U.S. District Court judge in San Francisco ruling that ordered the Office of Personnel Management to stop indiscriminate firings because they are likely illegal. Here’s what we know so far.

READ MORE

How much bang for the buck does Colorado get for its federal taxes? It varies.

The focus lately on federal spending cuts has highlighted the importance that massive amounts of federal money play in all 50 states. But there’s another perspective to this issue: For some states, the amount they receive back in federal funding is less than what they pay in taxes. John Ingold breaks it down.

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OUTDOORS

White River Forest Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams resigns amid slashing of agency workforce

In a letter to employees and partners Thursday, Scott Fitzwilliams — the 15-year supervisor of the White River National Forest, the most trafficked forest in the country spanning 2.3 million acres — said it was “a very difficult decision for me given the challenges we are facing right now; but it’s the right thing for me to do at this point in my life.” Jason Blevins has more.

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• Lake County’s Ski Cooper sees surge in visitors, spending after slashing midweek lift tickets by half. A $45 lift ticket is good for the ski resort industry, says the boss at Ski Cooper. It’s also good for the community-owned ski area, writes Jason Blevins.

MORE NEWS

• A Colorado bill to tap geothermal energy meets resistance from the hot springs industry. Hot springs operators worry the bill will make it too easy for developers to draw from their main resource, Parker Yamasaki reports.
• Fact Brief ☀️ Did a Colorado law set a precedent for abortion clinic “buffer zones” that restrict protesters? Yes. In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a state law that limits protests outside abortion clinics, establishing a nationwide precedent.
• The Outsider ☀️ An anti-wolf group created a map showing Colorado is unfit for wolves. Trouble is, it’s full of mistakes. Plus: Mining along the Upper Colorado River and a new documentary about food, farming and fighting for water in southeastern Colorado.

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Trump administration plans to sell about 20 buildings it owns in Colorado but retain much of Federal Center. The federal government plans to move workers in the buildings into “privately owned leased space.”
  — Colorado Public Radio
• Has Colorado lost its shine when it comes to attracting residents from other states? Colorado’s net international migration was at 240 in 2020, reflecting pandemic restrictions as well as stricter policies under the first Trump administration.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Record-high temperatures expected for Colorado’s mountains this weekend, but winter isn’t done yet. Colorado’s mountains are expected to hit unusually high temperatures heading into the first weekend of March … followed by more snow.
  — Summit Daily
• Del Taco closes 18 of 19 Colorado restaurants without warning. A shop in Grand Junction, which is operated by a different franchisee, is still open, the fast food company said.
  — 9News

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Who is the real “Brutalist”? Aspen icon Hebert Bayer is among Oscar-nominated film’s Bauhaus inspirations. The fictional architect in Colorado-bred Brady Corbet’s epic echoes true stories of designers who fled Nazi Germany.
  — Andrew Travers, Penner Manager of Educational Programs at the Aspen Institute

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” when Myra encounters a litany of contradictions from her friend, she wonders if an introduction is in order.

CARTOON

Channeling Shel Silverstein, cartoonist Jim Morrissey captures the urgency of filling a massive Colorado budget deficit with all revenue possibilities on the table.

CARTOON

He may not work for the federal government, but Drew Litton took seriously (not) the DOGE demand to compile five accomplishments from this week.

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.

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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:

• Colorado’s billion-dollar budget hole. We take a step back to look at how we got here and review what’s on the table. Sun politics reporter Brian Eason and Bente Birkeland of CPR talk about possible options to fix the giant deficit in state finances.
  LISTEN
• From Ridgway to the frontlines in Ukraine. Colorado filmmaker Jordan Campbell, who directed “Ukraine Under Fire,” joins Sun reporter Tracy Ross to talk about how he made it inside the war-torn country and the 40-minute film’s impact and recent world premier.
  LISTEN
• Talking about talking. A big part of The Sun’s mission is to host conversations on statewide topics. Our list of 2025 events is starting to fill up, and Sun marketing specialist Kristina Pritchett has updates on what’s coming up online and in person.
  LISTEN
• Leaning into Lake County’s skiing history. Sun outdoors reporter Jason Blevins takes a winter lap of Lake County with new affordable options at history-rich Ski Cooper and the plan behind a ski-to cabin steeped in history off Fremont Pass.
  LISTEN
• Lockheed’s search for water in space. The Littleton aerospace facility is no stranger to moon missions. Sun tech reporter Tamara Chuang goes behind the scenes for the latest project — a dishwasher-sized satellite that will orbit the moon looking for water.
  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 comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

Section by David Krause | Editor

See you all next week.

— Parker & 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.