“Big, beautiful bill” could kick 100,000 Coloradans off Medicaid

Good morning, Colorado.

For most of my adult life, I’ve been a serial plant killer — completely unintentionally, of course. And it seems like the less care a plant requires, the more likely I am to send it to an early compost pile. I’ve lost a few succulents in my day, including one this past winter when I absent-mindedly left a window open overnight during a full arctic freeze. I’ve also let down too many orchids to count. All with regret and guilt.

So imagine my surprise and sheer glee when I spotted blossoms peeking out of the newest plant in my dwindling collection! She’s a bold bromeliad who adds an electric pop of color to my bookshelf, and she’s here to stay. Or here’s hoping. My grandma used to say that talking to your plants helps them thrive, so guess who I’ll be bouncing all my story ideas off from now on?

While I run around and check who needs a fresh spritz of water, let’s mosey on to today’s full spread of news, shall we?

Erica Breunlin

Education Reporter

P.S. — The Colorado Sun is hiring! We’ve got big plans and big ambitions for the future of journalism in Colorado, and we’re looking for a leader to help us make them happen. Check out our posting for Chief Operating Officer here and if you or someone you know could fit the bill, let us know!

THE NEWS

HEALTH

How Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” would impact Medicaid in Colorado

President Trump’s tax and spending proposal is set to usher in major changes to Medicaid around the country, with provisions that change eligibility and ban certain procedures. John Ingold looks at the bill, which passed in the U.S. House of Representatives early Thursday morning, to tease out how these changes will affect Coloradans.

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TECHNOLOGY

AT&T buying Lumen’s home fiber business, including Colorado market, for $5.75 billion

On Wednesday, AT&T finalized a $5.75 billion purchase of Quantum Fiber — formerly known as CenturyLink — to add about 1 million fiber internet customers to its roster, including an undisclosed number here in Colorado. Tamara Chuang reports the details of the deal.

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WATER

Colorado Parks and Wildlife closes Yampa River fishing near Stagecoach Reservoir due to low water

Low flows on the Yampa this month are creating a stressful environment for the people and the fish depending on the river. As of Monday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has banned fishing from a popular spot below Stagecoach Reservoir to help water managers stretch their reserves through the summer. Shannon Mullane has more.

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CLIMATE

Why growing Arctic wetlands are actually bad for Earth

Wetlands are critical in promoting clean water and a home for all kinds of wildlife, but they are also producing a lot of methane, particularly as Arctic wetlands keep expanding due to global warming. Michael Booth explains this “vicious feedback loop” detailed in a study that was co-led by a CU Boulder climate researcher.

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MORE NEWS

• Douglas County commissioners didn’t violate open meeting laws, judge rules, allowing home-rule election. Blocking the special election set for June 24, when residents can vote on the first step of creating home rule, would be a disservice to the public, the judge said.
• Animal rights attorneys threaten to sue CPW over elephant permits at Colorado Renaissance Festival. Attorneys claim that Texas-based Trunks and Humps violates state law by displaying elephants at the annual festival in Larkspur.

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

COLORADO REPORT

• Oil firms pumping secret chemicals into ground and not fully reporting it. Since Colorado’s first-in-the-nation rules requiring drillers to list all chemicals used in extraction began in July 2023, there have been more than 1,000 new fracking sites, but more than 60% have still not filed chemical reports.
  — The Guardian
• Volunteers, visitors prepare Golden Cemetery for busy Memorial Day weekend. This is an interesting look at what it takes to prepare a cemetery for the busiest day of the year.
  — Golden Transcript
• These Elyria Swansea residents are suing their landlord, alleging retaliation for their tenants union. The tenants union demanded the repair of amenities that had been broken for months and better management of fees. The lawsuit claims that apartment managers served one of the leaders of the union with a “Demand for Compliance” letter in September alleging she had violated the lease by “door knocking” and approaching other residents in common areas for surveys.
  — Denverite
• Aurora OKs agreement to tackle drone threats near Buckley Space Force Base. Under the pact approved by the city council, Aurora police and the FBI will respond to reports of drones near Buckley and coordinate with the base’s security.
  — Sentinel Colorado
• Colorado abortion clinics reported trespassing, vandalism, threats over last 2 years. The National Abortion Federation says 65% of providers in Colorado reported trespassing at clinics in 2023 and 2024 — one of the highest percentages in the nation.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Grand County newspaper digitization project adds historic editions for Sky-Hi News, Middle Park Times. This is a very cool project, but you definitely need to click through to see how dang good-looking the Sky-Hi News masthead was in 1947.
  — Sky-Hi News

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

What’s Happening

May 22-28

Cookie Factory. A brand new contemporary arts space opens this weekend in Denver’s Baker neighborhood, housed in a former paper mill turned fortune cookie factory built in 1933. The space will be called, fittingly, Cookie Factory.

The building’s owner, Amanda J. Precourt, has spent the better part of a decade renovating and rezoning the space to include an upstairs apartment to house her extensive art collection, along with a downstairs exhibition space that will host two solo shows per year, featuring newly commissioned works that draw inspiration from the Colorado landscape.

The Cookie Factory’s inaugural show, “Nothing Without Nature” by Los Angeles-based Sam Falls features a mix of mediums — including his signature “drop paintings,” created using natural flora on a massive canvas — that Falls created on a visit to the Yampa River Valley.

On Saturday, Cookie Factory will open to the public for the first time during an afternoon block party with music, giveaways and a look at the latest exhibition, beginning at 1 p.m.

Free; 1-6 p.m., May 24; Cookie Factory, 425 W. 4th Ave., Denver

• Mountain Words Festival. A multiday literary festival in Crested Butte, co-founded by the owner of the local bookshop, Townie Books. The $350 festival pass grants access to panels, writing workshops, and exclusive author and poetry readings. For less of an investment, check out the lineup of free community events. $350; May 22-25; Crested Butte Center for the Arts, 606 Sixth St., Crested Butte
• Territory Days. Old Colorado City celebrates 50 years of Territory Days this weekend, the annual street fair and multi-block party full of live music, local vendors and kids activities like gold panning. Free; May 24-26; Colorado Avenue, Old Colorado City
• Mountainfilm. The premier documentary festival in Telluride, Mountainfilm goes way beyond film screenings to include morning coffee chats about Western issues, community hikes and cold plunges, expert presentations, and meet and greets with influential people, like former Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. Various prices; May 22-26; Various venues in Telluride

Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter

It’s probably about time for you to water your houseplants, too. Hydrate them and yourself today, and we’ll see you back here for Friday’s news!

— Erica & the whole staff of The Sun

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