New tech could find missing backcountry hikers in minutes

Good morning, Colorado! I hope you got the chance to spend some time outside to soak up the glorious weather last weekend, but if not, this week’s forecast is looking pretty darn good, too. Whether you’re easing back into the week or starting Tuesday strong, we’ve got some fresh news to share with you in this morning’s newsletter — from a state program to support foster children to new tech that could help find missing people in the backcountry.

Let’s get to it.

Olivia Prentzel

Reporter

THE NEWS

OUTDOORS

New technology may help find missing people in Colorado’s backcountry within minutes

Search and rescue teams could have another life-saving tool to find missing people in the backcountry with a new technology that’s being tested by Durango-based helicopter company. The tool, akin to a miniature cellphone tower, attaches to the outside of a helicopter and allows searchers to pinpoint the location of any cellphone within a 3-mile radius. If the conditions and terrain are favorable, it can detect a cellphone up to 20 miles away. The tool, called Lifeseeker, is in the process of being approved by the Federal Communications Commission before it can be sold to states or counties for SAR efforts.

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HOUSING

Colorado is paying to house 100 former foster kids who left the system without a family

Nearly 100 teens and young adults in Colorado left the foster care system last year without being adopted or returning to their families. Now, for the first time, the state is funding a housing voucher program to make sure they don’t end up homeless. The $1 million voucher is expected to cover at least 70% of rent for 100 young people each year who were in foster care at age 14 or older. Jennifer Brown has the details.

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ENERGY

How much methane is Colorado’s oil and gas industry discharging? Regulators will soon start measuring.

For the first time, Colorado air regulators will try to add up all of the methane emissions that the state’s oil and gas industry is producing with the goal of meeting the state’s statutory requirement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 26% in 2025, 50% by 2030; and 90% by 2050.

The measurements are part of the emission intensity rule that requires companies to closely monitor methane releases and limits the allowed pollution based on how much oil and gas they produce, Mark Jaffe reports.

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Section by Olivia Prentzel | Reporter

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Colorado antitrust suit against NCAA keeps athlete claims alive. Despite the college athletics organization’s recent $2.8 billion settlement that was designed to stave off class-action suits, a broader antitrust lawsuit filed on behalf of former CU athletes Alex Fontenot and Mya Hollingshead claims that the restrictions on player compensation restrains the labor market for athlete’s services.
  — Bloomberg Law
• Ban on gas grills rolling through Colorado mountain HOAs. As insurers refuse to cover homes with gas grills on decks because of fire risk, high country HOAs are having to enforce a ban on outdoor cooking equipment through updated policies.
  — CBS News
• “These aren’t little, lazy, flat rivers.” The Blue River, Snake River and Tenmile Creek in Summit County are narrow and flowing fast with lots of debris, leading water rescue officials to urge people hoping to float to be prepared with training — and to avoid cheap kayaks that could be popped or destroyed.
  — Summit Daily
• Colorado Mines Orediggers star QB is headed to the Canadian Football League. John Matocha will take his talents — including his status as the all-time leader in passing touchdowns (162) and and total touchdowns (191) in all NCAA divisions — north of the border, where he’ll need to adjust to a 3-down, 12-player, 110-yard version of the game to compete for the starting spot with the Toronto Argonauts.
  — sportskeeda
• Police drones responding to 911 calls in Colorado? “This really is the future of law enforcement.” I’ve seen this movie and only have one thing to say: no.
  — The Denver Post

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• With half of the $99 million secured for prized Shoshone water rights on Colorado River, now the feds need to pitch in.  State legislature is helping the River District to keep the flows going. Colorado’s Congressional delegation needs to do its part.
  — State Sen. Dylan Roberts D-Frisco 

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

In “Higher Ground,” the author aims for Everest — in spite of asthma

Asthma made author Luis Benitez a “boy in the bubble” during his childhood. But once he learned that the first American to summit Mount Everest also battled asthma, his drive to literally follow in those footsteps was sealed. And that was just the beginning of a life devoted to the outdoors.

READ AN EXCERPT

• Interview with the author. The excerpt’s compelling narrative of Benitez’s childhood struggles leads to his broader discussion of his reason for writing this book (with co-author Frederick Reimers), which is to examine the growing power and influence of the outdoor industry in our rapidly changing world.

Kevin Simpson | Writer

Thanks for reading until the end! Have a great Tuesday and we’ll see you here tomorrow.

— Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun

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Corrections & Clarifications

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