Trade war is sinking Colorado outdoor gear makers

Good Morning, Sun friends. It was sad, the day after Easter, to wake up to the news of Pope Francis’ death. I’m not Catholic, but I remember feeling inspired and intrigued when a priest who grew up in a Buenos Aires barrio was chosen to lead the church, and I’ve been moved by his words many times since then.

For many non-Catholics, Francis was the first pope we paid much attention to, probably because he addressed issues more relevant to modern life. As a journalist who regularly writes about immigration, and one who recently spent a day at an Aurora community center focused on feeding immigrants in need, I find it compelling that Pope Francis mentioned migrants in his final Easter address, read for him yesterday at St. Peter’s basilica.

“I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas,” he wrote.

Definitely something to ponder as we peel all those leftover hard-boiled eggs. Meanwhile, we’ve got news on sports betting, public lands and how President Trump’s tariff war is affecting the outdoors industry.

Jennifer Brown

Reporter

THE NEWS

ECONOMY

Colorado’s outdoor businesses buckling in Trump trade war, closing up shop and laying off long-time workers

Small manufacturers of outdoor goods have been growing right along with the outdoor industry in Colorado for decades, but the ripple effects of President Trump’s tariffs are threatening to roll back that growth — and then some — Jason Blevins reports.

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• Trump told farmers and ranchers to “have fun” with his cuts and tariffs. They aren’t. In this week’s “What’s Working” column, Tracy Ross looks at the climate-smart Colorado farmers and ranchers who saw their federal grants disappear as the new administration targets any spending on what they interpret as “green” agriculture projects.

WATER

Colorado lawmakers want to tax “free” sports bets to raise more money for water projects

The explosion of sports betting around the country (and in Colorado) hasn’t created the windfall for water projects that lawmakers hoped. But a bill looking to stop letting casinos and apps take “free” bets as a tax deductioncould lead to a big boost in revenues, Jerd Smith reports.

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• Jared Polis vetoes public records bill, setting up showdown with Colorado legislature. Senate Bill 77 would have given governments more time to respond to records requests from the public and businesses while exempting journalists from the delays.
• Democrats revive effort to ask Colorado voters to let past victims of child sex abuse sue their abusers. Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 would ask voters to amend the Colorado Constitution to let victims for whom the statute of limitations has expired file lawsuits.

SPORTS

Kansas City’s women’s soccer stadium hit big. Can Denver’s NWSL home score bigger?

CPKC Stadium, America’s first venue dedicated to professional women’s sports, has broken ticket records and launched a development boom alongside the Missouri River in Kansas City. Lincoln Roch reports on what parts of KC’s success Denver is hoping to replicate — and whether Denver’s City Council will OK a $70 million investment.

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MORE NEWS

• White House to reverse Biden-era rule promoting conservation on BLM land. Here’s how that may affect Colorado. If the Public Lands Act is rescinded, Colorado’s 8.3 million Bureau of Land Management acres would no longer prioritize restoration on equal footing with ranching and drilling.
• Pope Francis, first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, dies at 88. He made his last public appearance on Easter Sunday — a day before his death — to bless thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, drawing wild cheers and applause. Beforehand, he met briefly with U.S. Vice President JD Vance.
• Fact Brief ☀️ Does Colorado have one of the highest densities of veterans in the US? Despite hosting six military bases, Colorado sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to the share of its population who are veterans.

COLORADO SUNDAY

Why people still fall in love with Selena — in Colorado and beyond — 30 years after her death

A tribute singer dresses up like Selena and tours the West, artists adorn walls and their bodies with her likeness, and fans worldwide continue to celebrate her music. Thirty years after her tragic murder, Selena remains a touchpoint for generations of Latin Americans, writes Parker Yamasaki in this week’s Colorado Sunday feature.

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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE COLORADO REPORT

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

• The real story behind I Am Sanctuary, a white-walled Cap Hill mansion in Denver that has sparked curiosity for years. The stately mansion is owned by the Saint Germain Foundation — a tax-exempt organization that calls itself a religion but some critics say is a cult.
  — Denverite
• DOGE targets Aurora-based AmeriCorps program focusing on teen mental health issues. “To dismantle these programs now, when so many Coloradans rely on them, would be devastating. These actions will impact service members and result in a loss of tax support for working families, wildfire response teams, those who build affordable housing, and behavioral health support in our schools. These are the people behind the numbers — and the work they do matters deeply,” Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera said in a statement about the cuts.
• — Sentinel Colorado
• No varsity football at Middle Park High this fall. As enrollment falls at districts around the country, smaller rural schools like Middle Park are having trouble safely fielding a full team of varsity-ready athletes.
  — Sky-Hi News
• Four arrested, over $170k in stolen vehicles recovered in Rifle during multi-agency investigation. Four people suspected of multiple car thefts across Colorado and Utah were arrested in Rifle on Wednesday morning, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.
  — Post-Independent

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• On Earth Day, a reluctant environmentalist sets out to change the world. Climate change affects us all, regardless of party affiliation. A Denver man is launching an Earth Day project to tell the personal stories.
  — Diane Carman
  
• On this Easter, I pray that we can be delivered from hatred and evil. I usually enjoy the week leading up to Easter, but this year has been difficult as headlines of evil acts intrude into aspects of my worship.
  — Mario Nicolais
  
• The FSU shooting is different — at least for students who had already survived the 2018 Parkland massacre. The 81st mass shooting of the year likely won’t change anything. President Donald Trump has already said as much.
  — Mike Littwin
  

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.

Now, what to do with all these hard-boiled eggs?

— Jennifer and the whole staff of The Sun

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