“You left us no choice. We have to use our teacher voice.”

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Good morning, Sunriser readers!

It’s only been one day of spring and already there’s a restless movement around the cities. I took the bus into Denver yesterday and it was packed in a way I haven’t seen since the day Taylor Swift came to town. The first bus passed my stop because it was so full. The second was standing room only.

There were educators on board making their way to the Capitol to rally around school funding, and basketball fans heading to Ball Arena for the start of March Madness. Everyone piled atop the regular riders, like the guy who looked up at me from his seat and asked: Why are there so many people on the bus?

I know these events would have taken place regardless of the weather, but a brisk, windy day downtown added to the effect.

Let’s keep this train running … or, bus rolling? March Madness continues and Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are speaking at Civic Center Park today. Rideshares, carpooling and RTD are encouraged.

Spring has sprung, folks. See you out there.

THE NEWS

EDUCATION

Hundreds of teachers rally to protect schools at the Colorado Capitol as lawmakers look for cuts

Thousands of people — including hundreds of teachers from districts spanning the state — descended on the Capitol to demand that lawmakers make a long-term plan to put more money into schools. Erica Breunlin has more on the rally — and the plan the speaker of the House is working on to blunt the possibility of cuts.

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OUTDOORS

Federal judges clarify longstanding corner-crossing conundrum for Coloradans wanting to access public lands

Can you trespass without touching the ground? That was essentially the question facing the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals when a North Carolina pharmaceutical mogul sued hunters for trespassing after they used a ladder to cross from one parcel of public land to another where their corners met. Jason Blevins unravels the decision.

READ MORE

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OUTDOORS

Wolf from Canada released in Colorado two months ago shot and killed in Wyoming after it killed multiple sheep

A gray wolf, imported from British Columbia and released in Colorado earlier this year, was shot and killed by USDA Wildlife Services after a rash of sheep deaths. Tracy Ross explains why this killing is legal across the state line.

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AGRICULTURE

Colorado State’s other March Madness is a veggie bracket showdown

Just a few hours after press time, the Colorado State University Rams will take the court in Seattle, hoping to ride their late-season hot streak to an upset victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But the hottest matchup in Fort Collins isn’t Rams vs. Tigers, it’s winter squash vs. potatoes for the title of Veggie Madness champion. Tamara Chuang has more on the CSU extension offices’ second-annual tournament.

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• Drake, Colorado State, VCU, North Carolina are the most popular upset picks for the 2025 NCAA men’s basketball tournament. It’s a good time to be a Rams fan, but as all the PSAs say, please gamble responsibly.
  — NCAA.com

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MORE NEWS

• Vail imposes its own fine on unchained vehicles amid a surge in I-70 closures this winter. I-70 closures — more than 200 this winter — pushed the Vail Town Council to pass a law that spikes fines for semis that block the interstate.
• Aurora police dispute ICE claim they were slow to search for detention center escapees. Notice of the immigration escape at Aurora center came too late to help, police say, per agreement. ICE thinks otherwise.
• Fact Brief ☀️ Can backyard chickens spread bird flu to humans? Yes. While such infections are rare, a woman in Wyoming was hospitalized after contracting bird flu from her backyard chicken flock.

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Judge says Elizabeth School District must re-shelve banned library books. The judge ordered the return of 19 books, including books on race, sexual orientation and gender identity, to the shelves of the Elizabeth School District libraries after a lawsuit was filed by ACLU Colorado.
  — Elbert County News
• As tariffs take effect, a new struggle for small town newspapers arises — the cost of paper. Canada produces nearly 80% of the newsprint for American papers, and the 25% tariff on Canadian timber products resuming April 2 could be devastating for small-town papers.
  — Colorado Public Radio
• Judge allows struggling LoDo restaurant to rebrand as La Loma. The failing restaurant changed hands in the acrimonious divorce of William and Renee Brinkerhoff, which cost more than $6 million in legal fees.
  — BusinessDen 🔑
• “End of an era”: Colorado Springs Hooters closes after 35 years. Seeing this headline reminded me of the fact that for several years, the final driving test for high school students in Yuma was a road trip to Colorado Springs, grabbing lunch at this very Hooters, then switching seats and driving back. The early 2000s were an interesting time.
  — KRDO
• The state lowered prices for the Winter Park ski train. Bookings jumped by 25,000. State officials say their investment and boosted service has been “a real success” and they hope to build on it.
  — Colorado Public Radio

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• With smart reforms, Colorado can redirect the 340B drug discount program back to patients. Colorado has a history of standing up for vulnerable communities, but a lack of transparency in the massive drug program threatens that commitment.
  — Jen Laws, CEO of the Community Access National Network

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” Myra applies some math to the nation’s economic choices when it comes to alleviating poverty versus military spending.

CARTOON

Drew Litton illustrates how Colorado’s soon-to-be christened National Women’s Soccer League franchise has staked out its turf in a prime location that’s easily accessible for future fans.

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:

• Troubles in Telluride. For years there’s been a simmering frustration with the Telluride ski area owner. As outdoors reporter Jason Blevins discusses, eminent domain might be used to take some of the ski area to keep alive a long-running concert series.
  LISTEN
• 2025 legislative session: half-full or half-empty? Sun politics reporter Jesse Paul is joined by Capitol colleagues Lucas Brady Woods of KUNC and CPR’s Bente Birkeland to talk about what has happened, what is happening and what may happen next.
  LISTEN
• Pump up the volume. There’s never a dull moment when Colorado Music Experience virtuoso G. Brown stops by to chat with Sun reporter Kevin Simpson. How’s this for a mix?: David Johansen (see Buster Poindexter), James Brown and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
  LISTEN
• Making a splash. Sun water reporter Shannon Mullane and Fresh Water News editor Jerd Smith break down one of the largest environmental water settlements ever reached in Colorado and the story of a Navajo community finally receiving running water.
  LISTEN
• Diving into Denver’s restaurant scene. So, are there more or less restaurants in the state capital than before the pandemic? Sun business reporter Tamara Chuang did a deep dive into a bunch of data sets to get the answer.
  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.

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Intrigued by Tamara Chuang’s article about Veggie Madness, I spent way too much time reading CSU profiles of the competitors. Did you know that melons are a vegetable, eggplants are a berry, and brussels sprouts are a “tantalizing ‘it’ girl appetizer?”

— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun

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.

Type of Story: News

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