Good morning, Colorado.
In case anyone is wondering, I had to bail on my stargazing plans Tuesday night. I won’t go into details, but a dog with diarrhea derailed the night and, as much as I wanted to catch a bunch of meteors, it was much more important to take care of her. But Perseids, I’m coming for you next year!
In other news, among the emails waiting for me in my inbox this morning was one claiming that, of all states, Colorado is “most excited about the return of the pumpkin spice latte” at Starbucks later this month. That’s based on some research around search data and “consumer interest” in the seasonal beverage across the country. I’m still vetting how legit this email is. It gives a little bit of a rationale as to why we’re allegedly obsessed with the PSL, writing that it’s the kind of cozy treat perfect to cap a hike.
Don’t get me wrong — I love a good PSL (unlike a friend, who recently told me that drinking a PSL is like drinking a candle). But can we all please soak up the rest of summer and wait until the leaves start changing to begin sipping PSLs and gathering holiday decor? We’re approaching that time of year when stores start stocking their shelves for Halloween and even Christmas, and I really don’t want to wish the rest of the summer away.
But before I really start preaching and cause another derailment, let’s turn our attention to today’s news, shall we? There’s lots brewing.
Education Reporter
THE NEWS
EDUCATION
Many Colorado teachers must spend more than 40% of their income on rent
40%
amount of paycheck spent on monthly housing for half the teachers in four districts
A new report titled “We Can’t Live Where We Teach” by the nonprofit Keystone Policy Center highlights the hardship educators face in finding affordable housing — a factor that heavily influences whether teachers can work in a district and stay in the field altogether. As Erica Breunlin writes, the report comes with input from more than 3,200 educators surveyed in 10 Colorado districts earlier this year.
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Frequently asked questions — and misunderstandings — about Colorado’s special session to close a nearly $1B budget hole
Colorado lawmakers are returning to the Capitol on Aug. 21 for a special session to address a nearly $1 billion hole in the state budget. There’s a lot of confusion out there about why the hole exists, how the state budget works and what’s going to be done to address the gap. Jesse Paul and Brian Eason are here to help.
CRIME AND COURTS
Arizona hunting guide gets prison time for “numerous and severe” list of violations in Colorado
An Arizona outfitter discovered poaching doesn’t pay when he was sentenced and fined by a federal judge for guiding and outfitting out-of-state clients on numerous big-game hunts in Colorado. Timothy Rawlings will serve 12 months in federal prison. As Tracy Ross reports, Rawlings’ sentence also includes three years of supervised release following the prison term and $45,800 in restitution.
SPORTS
Rocky the mascot sues owner of the Denver Nuggets over firing
In a lawsuit filed in Denver District Court, the man inside the mountain lion suit, Drake Solomon, alleged that he was fired after he took time off to heal from a hip injury, in violation of disability protection laws. Solomon became Rocky in 2021, following in the footsteps of his father, who was the original Rocky more than 30 years ago. Jennifer Brown looks at the messy breakup.
ENVIRONMENT
Colorado approves up to $14 million to plug oil wells before they end up on state’s “orphan list”
142}{{number of marginal wells that will be plugged with new money to cut pollution and avoid the sites ending up on the state’s orphan well list
The state estimates well-plugging costs in Colorado range between $10,000 and $40,000 and site remediation at about $1 million. Between the state and federal funding there were about 9,500 wells in the state eligible for the new program. There are about 46,000 active wells in the state. Mark Jaffe breaks it all down.
Section by David Krause | Editor
COLORADO REPORT
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Section by David Krause | Editor
THE OPINION PAGE
COMMUNITY
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What’s Happening
Aug. 14-20
Breckenridge International Festival of Arts. Breckenridge always goes big — whether it’s setting world records for the longest shotski at the annual Ullr Fest, hamming it up at the Bacon and Bourbon Hogfest or hosting the International Snow Sculpture Championships in the depths of Winter, the town takes its seasonal celebrations very seriously.
The Breckenridge International Festival of Arts is no exception.
Kicking off Friday, BIFA, as it’s known, is nine full days of music, plays, movies, panels, guided walks, artist talks, arts and crafts and at least one full-length circus performance.
Highlights of this year’s festival include “Spark,” a sky-high light show inspired by fireflies and billed as a biodegradable alternative to fireworks, on display beginning at 9:30 p.m. Aug. 15-17. Entry is free, but a timed entry must be reserved in advance.
The Minty Fresh Circus performance Aug. 23 features an all-Black cast with an “Afro-futuristic vibe” that celebrates Black music and movement through contemporary circus, sound design and visual storytelling. And on Friday night, Emmy-nominated singer Kishi Bashi performs his signature blend of song and storytelling at the Riverwalk Center.
A couple of nods to the local scene show up in “Breckenridge Rewind,” a film montage of Breckenridge in the 1970s and ’80s followed by a talkback with longtime locals, and “The Great Divide,” a musical set in the mid-1800s, as an early Breckenridge props itself up against the backdrop of gold mining, the Civil War and the eventual statehood of Colorado.
Various prices; Aug. 15-24; Various locations in Breckenridge
Section by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter
Thank you for giving us a sliver of your morning! We’ll see you back here tomorrow.
— Erica & the whole staff of The Sun
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