An end to 16th Street Mall construction is in sight

Good morning, Colorado.

My cat is climbing all over me this morning so I think it’s best that we just jump right to the news to avoid any accidental key smashes.

Danika Worthington

Presentation Editor

THE NEWS

BUSINESS

Denver’s 16th Street Mall aims to finish construction by summer 2025

I remember the glory days. I was working on the north end of the 16th Street Mall and could easily hop on the MallRide to grab a drink or to catch the light rail to the airport. But these past few years, construction has taken over the area, rerouting buses and pedestrians. But finally, as Tamara Chuang reports, an end to construction is in sight.

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ELECTION GUIDE

Where Yadira Caraveo and Gabe Evans stand on the big issues

Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo and Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans are running against each other in Colorado’s highly competitive 8th Congressional District. Last election, Caraveo beat her Republican opponent by roughly 1,600 votes. Jesse Paul asked the candidates about their stances on major issues, letting reader responses to our Voter Voices 2024 survey guide his questions.

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• Amendment 80 explained: Placing a right to school choice in Colorado’s constitution. The measure would solidify parents’ right to send their kids to any public school, charter school, private school or homeschooling program. Opponents say it would pave the way to a state voucher program, Erica Bruenlin reports.
• RTD 7A: What you need to know about RTD’s request to keep all its sales tax revenue. The ballot question in RTD’s metro Denver service area asks taxpayers to approve a “de-Brucing” to allow the transportation agency to keep all of its sales tax revenue in the coming years, Michael Booth writes.
• The Unaffiliated ☀️Colorado’s road fee revenue is soaring. Here’s why that’s bad for the state budget. Plus: Speaker Mike Johnson’s weekend visit to Colorado. John Hickenlooper and Brittany Pettersen talk Prop. 131.

JOBS

One of the country’s largest basic income experiments could run out of money after Denver denied more funds

Denver Basic Income Project may have sent its last payment to 807 people who receive no-strings attached money to help lift themselves out of homelessness. The group was unable to convince the city, which provided $4 million out of the group’s $14 million budget, for more funding as staff said its first-year results were not robust enough. Jennifer Oldham via The Colorado Trust has more.

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Section by Danika Worthington | Presentation Editor

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Colorado Supreme Court dismisses lawsuit against baker who refused to make gender transition cake. In the dismissal, justices said in the 6-3 majority opinion that Autumn Scardina had not exhausted her options to seek redress through another court before filing her lawsuit, while the judges in the minority noted baker Jack Phillips’ conduct violated the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.
  — CBS News
• Broomfield man survives losing both legs in wood chipper accident. John O’Neill was just 15 minutes into his first day on the job working a wood chipper before an accident had him fighting for his life.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Colorado in head-to-head fight with the U.S. Air Force over Air National Guard control. State politicians are presenting a united front against a proposed measure that would sidestep governors in seven states, including Colorado, to transfer National Guard troops to Space Force command.
  — CPR News
• La Niña to impact winter weather in Colorado. NOAA predicts a La Niña pattern to develop in October or November, later than normal. Does this mean more snow or less this year?
  — 9News

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Kevin Jeffers | Product Team

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• Come to Trump’s rally to hear the latest lie — that Aurora is Ground Zero for migrant violence. The candidate has been banking on the time-tested strategy of demonizing immigrants. Sadly, it seems to be working.
  — Mike Littwin 

COMMUNITY

• PRO: Amendment 80 is important to safeguard school choice in the Colorado Constitution. Colorado needs the amendment to legally protect the right to school choice over attacks from politicians and others.
  — Brenda Dickhoner, President and CEO of Ready Colorado, a conservative education policy group
• CON: Colorado families already enjoy school choice. Amendment 80 would open door to school vouchers. With Indiana’s $439 million voucher program as an example, Amendment 80 would inevitably lead to a costly entitlement.
  — Karen Francisco, Retired editorial page editor in Indiana now living in Littleton

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

BOOKS

Out West Books suggests books to get into October’s scary spirit

Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Out West Books in Grand Junction recommends:

• “Exposure” by Ramona Emerson, a thriller about chasing a serial killer
• “A Sorceress Comes to Call” by T. Kingfisher, a daughter tries to thwart her evil sorceress mom
• “We Solve Murders” by Richard Osman, a murder-mystery with a sense of humor

Read what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer

Well, now my cat is eating something suspicious. Gotta run. See you back here tomorrow.

— Danika & the whole staff of The Sun

The Colorado Sun is part of The Trust Project. Read our policies.

Corrections & Clarifications

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