Feds reviewing Colorado spending on immigrants

Good morning, Colorado!

Growing up, I always wanted to be an author. But, being a pragmatic child, I decided to pursue a more financially stable career: newspaper reporter.

As you can tell, li’l Danika had no idea what she was talking about. But to this day, I’m incredibly grateful for that delusional young teen. Because now I get to work here.

The Sun is a place that cares about Colorado. We care about our readers. And we deeply care about making sure you are connected to your community.

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Danika Worthington

Presentation Editor

THE NEWS

HEALTH

Trump administration reviewing Colorado spending on health care for undocumented immigrants

The Trump administration will comb through claims Colorado has submitted for federal matching funds to pay for medical costs for undocumented immigrants, possibly targeting programs caring for children and pregnant and post-partum women, and a secure program providing emergency care. Jennifer Brown has more on the programs some Republican legislators say could put Colorado at risk of losing federal funding under the massive federal tax and spending bill being debated.

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ENERGY

Colorado losing a third major clean energy project as subsidy cuts, tariffs roil markets

Amprius Technologies — designer of lithium batteries for electric vehicles — is pulling the plug on plans for a $190 million factory in Brighton once touted as bringing high-salary, new-era jobs to Colorado. Michael Booth dives into this story about the third major clean energy economic development project recently celebrated by state and local officials to be canceled at the starting gate.

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WATER

Front Range water providers request state hearing to air concerns about Western Slope water rights deal

Front Range water providers — Aurora Water, Denver Water, Colorado Springs Utilities and Northern Water — say a proposed $99 million deal that would transfer water rights belonging to the Shoshone Power Plant to a coalition of Western Slope counties could hamper their ability to supply water to millions of people. Shannon Mullane has more.

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• “A glimmer of hope” emerges from long-stalled Colorado River negotiations. In what one policy researcher is calling “a glimmer of hope” for Colorado River negotiations, state leaders appear to be coalescing behind a new proposal that would divvy up water based not on “arcane discussions about various interpretations of laws written 100 years ago” but ones that focus on how much water is in the river today. KUNC water reporter Alex Hager has more.

OUTDOORS

GOP plan to sell more than 3,200 square miles of federal lands is found to violate Senate rules

Environmental advocates are celebrating a ruling late Monday that took a plan to sell 3,200 square miles of federal lands out of Republicans’ big tax and spending cut bill, but caution the proposal, along with plans to roll back the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act and cut funding for land and water conservation, could be far from dead.

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MORE NEWS

• Utah student arrested in Colorado by ICE says 15 days in detention were “hardest of my life.” Caroline Dias Goncalves, 19, was released on bond Friday after 15 days in immigration detention in Aurora. Now she must fight deportation.
• Douglas County home rule vote fails by wide margin. The fast-growing part of Colorado was the first county to vote on home rule in decades after its three commissioners agreed in late March to hold a special election on the issue.
• $3 million from Colorado’s opioid settlement haul will be used to buy overdose reversal kits as federal funding dries up. Colorado is facing the loss of federal public health funding because of cuts announced by the Trump administration.

Section by Tracy Ross | Reporter

THE COLORADO REPORT

• RTD board gives tentative “yes” to pursuing Front Range passenger rail between Denver, Fort Collins. The Regional Transportation District’s Board of Directors voted unanimously — if tentatively — on Tuesday to explore building a passenger rail line connecting northern Colorado.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Most of Colorado’s western I-70 corridor will impose Stage 1 fire restrictions. Areas west of the Eisenhower Johnson Tunnels will enact Stage 1 fire restrictions Friday morning. The decision was made Tuesday during a conference call among fire officials in the region.
  — Vail Daily
• Summer tourism to Colorado slips as mountain resort destinations get more expensive. New booking data shows consumers are hesitating to commit to Western mountain locations for their summer vacations — a consequence of ever-changing economic and political dynamics and rising daily rates.
  — Summit Daily
• Greeley Stampede’s impact goes beyond 12 days of family fun, entertainment. More than a quarter-million people are expected in town for the 103rd Greeley Stampede, which opens Wednesday. According to a 2022 report, the event generated $23 million in revenue for the event and the city combined.
  — Greeley Tribune

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Section by David Krause | Editor

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• Trump declares everlasting peace between Iran and Israel. Wanna bet? Now, Trump — using his familiar diplomacy-through-profanity tactic — is saying Israel and Iran don’t know what the bleep they’re doing.
  — Mike Littwin

COMMUNITY

• After the Boulder attack, the Jewish community needs to know our safety is not optional. As a queer Jewish mom, I’m not waiting for perfect solidarity.
  — Sarah Morris, Jewish Community Relations Council board member

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 three fascinating titles that flow

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:

• “Westwater Lost and Found” by Mike Milligan, the story behind the emergence of a backwater channel to the foreground of Western culture
• “The River’s Daughter” by Bridget Crocker, a young woman finds her identity in river rafting
• “Is A River Alive?” by Robert Macfarlane, a combo of travel writing, reportage and natural history

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

Voting is LIVE for this year’s Colorado’s Best reader’s choice survey. Head to coloradosun.com/colorados-best to cast your vote and get your favorite small businesses the recognition they deserve!

— Danika & the whole staff of The Sun

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Corrections & Clarifications

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