Good morning, Colorado.
Lawmakers promised more school funding last year — but now, a budget crisis is forcing them to walk back some of those plans.
Join us at 6 p.m. tonight for a virtual chat about what’s happening with school funding and what it means for students across the state. Education reporter Erica Breunlin will talk with lawmakers, school district leaders and experts about the road ahead.
You may RSVP, here, to tonight’s free event and any other event in our stacked May lineup!
At The Colorado Sun, we want to make it easier for our readers to hear directly from people shaping Colorado’s future. These virtual and in-person conversations are a chance to get real answers, learn what’s going on behind the scenes, and dive a little deeper than the headlines. We hope to see you there.
Now, on to the news.
Reporter
THE NEWS
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Colorado legislature declines to override Jared Polis’ veto of social media bill after House caves
The Colorado legislature Monday declined to override Jared Polis’ veto of a bipartisan bill regulating children’s use of social media, sparing the governor the embarrassment of the state’s first veto override in 14 years. Jesse Paul has more on how the override effort fell apart.
EDUCATION
Are Colorado lawmakers leaving money on the table that would prevent school funding cuts?
As lawmakers race toward the end of the legislative session, one tool for funding schools hasn’t been touched: The state’s “permanent fund” — a constitutionally guaranteed fund that absorbs and invests land trust revenues to return interest to schools in the future. Erica Breunlin looks at the effort to reroute some of the money headed for that savings account directly to schools.
ENVIRONMENT
The latest victim of Trump cuts? Beetles keeping an invasive plant at bay in Colorado
30 feet
The depth some root systems of the invasive leafy spurge plant can reach, making it hard to control with herbicides
The leafy spurge may have a funny name, but the invasive plant is a threat to both the ecosystem and economy of the Yampa River Valley. A project to capture and release thousands of beetles that love to eat leafy spurge roots had been making progress — until the Trump administration froze more than $300,000 that had already been appropriated for this year’s beetle-gathering trip. Parker Yamasaki has the story.
NEWS
Greeley wants to be the next city to cash in on the Cache la Poudre River
After decades of “turning our backs on the river,” Greeley is looking to other cities and towns that have revitalized their waterways with a plan to reconnect the Cache la Poudre River to its historic flood plains, revive its ecosystem and — eventually — create a recreational destination. Dan England has more on the future of the river.
Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE COLORADO REPORT
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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE OPINION PAGE
COMMUNITY
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
REVIEW
“Bitter Creek” tells many faceted story of Rock Springs Massacre
Author Teow Lim Goh ventures into the epic poetry realm to tell the decadelong story of labor unrest in the Union Pacific coal mines in the 19th century — and the anti-Chinese violence that erupted amid a miners strike. In “Bitter Creek,” she touches on all points of view reflecting both empathy and deep research into the Rock Springs Massacre in Wyoming that claimed 28 lives. Think you’re not that into poetry? Read the excerpt and think again.
Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer
Don’t forget to RSVP to tonight’s conversation on what’s next for Colorado’s schools. Have a great Tuesday!
— Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun
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