Electric vehicle, bike tax credits will be slashed

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Good morning Sunriser readers!

It’s that time of the summer when I’m away from home more than I’m at home, whether because of events, reporting trips or quick weekend getaways. While I relish this season, I also find myself grasping at anything that feels like rhythm. Right now, the only sense of consistency I can find is in morning dog walks, daily allergy meds and a cup of coffee with the news. Everything after that is a free-for-all.

Thanks for letting us be a part of your routine, now let’s get to it.

THE NEWS

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Colorado’s tax credits for EVs, e-bikes and heat pumps will be cut in half next year

Lawmakers enacted the green tax credits in 2023 to make electric transportation and heating and cooling more appealing to Coloradans. But as Taylor Dolven reports, the tax credits, some made available just last year, will be slashed in 2026 because of a dismal state revenue forecast.

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AGRICULTURE

Aging volunteers devoted to managing Colorado’s wild horses wonder who will step in when they can’t continue

Colorado’s wild horse management is at a crossroads. A working group created by the legislature is coming to a close, and policy solutions are limited by the state’s tight budget. As Celia Frazier reports, Colorado’s wild horse management faces yet another challenge: Many of the people advocating for wild horses are growing older, and the next generation hasn’t stepped up.

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CULTURE

Is fast fashion fizzling? The Outside Festival in Denver showed secondhand is back in style.

As environmentally scary as it is, fast fashion is a cheap clothing option, especially for one-time festival styles. But at the Outside Festival, photographer Alyte Katilius discovered something hopeful: Yes, most people are low-budget shoppers, not many were wearing fast-fashion pieces. Tracy Ross has more.

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MORE NEWS

• Fact Brief ☀️ Do undocumented immigrants in Colorado pay $400 million in taxes? Yes. Colorado’s 170,000 undocumented immigrants paid $436.5 million in state and local taxes in 2022.
• Helping kids heal: What it takes to keep youth out of Colorado’s justice system. Diversion programs aim to rehabilitate youth and connect them with resources rather than saddle them with criminal records. But for public defenders and advocates who work in Denver’s juvenile justice system, even diversion programs are part of a broken approach to youth justice.
• Douglas County voters decide Tuesday whether to become “home rule.” What they would get from it is up for debate. County commissioners backing the effort say it will give the largely conservative county more independence from a Democratic-controlled statehouse. But some residents are skeptical, questioning whether county home rule can actually deliver what their elected officials are promising.

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THE COLORADO REPORT

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

• Gov. Polis’ office involved in Broncos talks over possible Burnham Yard sale for new stadium, sources say. The 58-acre former rail yard, situated east of Interstate 25 and mostly north of Sixth Avenue, is among a handful of sites the Broncos have been considering for a potential new stadium. Denver Water — whose administrative building sits near the proposed site — confirmed that it has been in talks with the team for more than a year.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Activist sues Aurora over public comment ban after police shooting case. “The ban on public comment is nothing more than the snowflakes on Aurora City Council shutting down important political discourse because they don’t like being criticized.”
  — Sentinel Colorado
• Nightclub owner buys former Tom’s Diner real estate on Colfax for $1.5M. Jorge Pesqueira is on a mission to make his stretch of Colfax “as gay as possible,” BusinessDen reports as the owner of X Bar has purchased the legendary Colfax diner next door to his business.
  — BusinessDen 🔑
• When exactly is dusk? A new gate in Denver stirs a debate. “GATE OPEN DAILY. 7:00 AM TO DUSK” the sign at Schafer Park reads. But after a nearby resident was locked inside the park and ripped a pair of jeans climbing to get out, the meaning of dusk has become a topic of debate.
  — Denverite
• Using simple geometry, architects reimagine the traditional single-family house in Denver. CS2 House, in Denver’s East Colfax neighborhood, is basically a wedge on top of a cylinder, but the studio behind the design says it could be an eccentric prototype for low-cost living.
  — Architectural Record

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• If Colorado’s Medicaid work and cost-sharing program works so well, why would we oppose the federal proposal? Because what’s being proposed won’t work, and we know this because we’ve lived it in Colorado.
  — Julie Reiskin, co-executive director of the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition

CARTOONS

In “What’d I Miss?” Myra argues that she’s in favor of deporting the people who are draining the economy — starting with CEOs who game the system.

CARTOON

Jim Morrissey weighs in on the MyPillow-case of cash that 2020 election denier Mike Lindell owes for defamation.

CARTOON

Drew Litton illustrates the boredom that has set in since the end of winter sports and before the official launch of the Denver Broncos season.

CARTOON

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.

Podcast Playlist

CONVERSATION

Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up brings you a thoughtful conversation and headlines of the day. We keep it tight so you can listen on the go, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. Download the Sun-Up for free on your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. Check out this week’s lineup from The Sun team:

• Colorado Sun is free, but membership has its privileges. Sun membership manager Danika Worthington and cofounder Jennifer Brown talk about our new membership drive and how we don’t have paywalls for anyone and members play a role in our mission.
  LISTEN
• Chairlift falls see record number in Colorado. This season, 18 people, including eight kids, fell off chairlifts in Colorado. Outdoors reporter Jason Blevins discusses what the industry is doing to raise awareness about putting down the restraining bar.
  LISTEN
• Fears over Trump threats rattle Colorado schools. Because of fears over losing federal funding, some Colorado school districts may roll back protections for LGBTQ students and staff. Education reporter Erica Breunlin talks with Chalkbeat Colorado senior reporter Ann Schimke about the early conversations.
  LISTEN
• Gather around, Beach Boys fans. The music world lost a musical genius recently with the passing of Brian Wilson. G. Brown, director of the Colorado Music Experience, explains the legacy of the visionary but often troubled leader of the Beach Boys.
  LISTEN
• Safeway workers walking out. The Colorado grocery store workers strike started over the weekend. Business reporter Tamara Chuang breaks down the strike as well as updates in the King Soopers negotiations after the strike there earlier this year.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Remember, you can ask Siri, Alexa or Google to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll play right on your smart speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

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Same time next week?

— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun

Corrections & Clarifications

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.

Type of Story: News

Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.