Neguse takes on Congressional lobbying

I woke up at 3 a.m. yesterday, strapped on a headlamp and hiked to an old fire lookout just in time to see the sun rise over the foothills. The pink glow lit up the landscape of rocky ledges and treetops above Sedalia, with the stunning view of Pikes Peak to the south. We popped champagne and poured the orange juice, as this was my birthday party with the kind of friends who are willing to get up in the middle of the night because I asked. It was one of those “lucky to be alive!” and “lucky to live in Colorado!” moments.

I hope you are having those this summer, too. They are the payoff for staying engaged and staying connected.

Jennifer Brown

Reporter

THE NEWS

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Joe Neguse wants to ban former Congress members from lobbying. That would leave some Colorado politicos unemployed.

A bill from U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colorado, and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, would impose a lifetime ban on lobbying for former members of Congress. It would also require the U.S. House and Senate to keep a public database of lobbyists, Taylor Dolven reports.

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• Super PAC backing Michael Bennet’s gubernatorial bid is fueled by dark money, pro-charter school groups. Rocky Mountain Way formed in April, a few days after Bennet, a U.S. senator, entered the governor’s race.

HEALTH

Colorado plans for rollout of ibogaine as the next regulated psychedelic plant medicine in healing centers

A woman who used a plant-derived psychedelic compound to treat her own heroin addiction and now runs a therapy retreat in Mexico might have the next treatment model for Colorado. Gabe Allen writes about the compound, ibogaine, and how it could be used to treat addiction here in the not-so-distant future.

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WILDFIRE

Nederland’s fire evacuation challenges mirror those of small towns across the state

It’s been about 15 years since Nederland began trying to figure out how residents of a mountain neighborhood would escape a wildfire. Now, the town is inching toward a solution for the Big Springs neighborhood that includes plans for two egress roads, writes Tracy Ross.

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TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

Colorado agencies have received at least 9 subpoenas from ICE since Trump took office in January

Colorado state agencies have received at least nine subpoenas from federal immigration officials since President Donald Trump took office in January, Taylor Dolven discovered through a public records request. The subpoenas from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement seek information on wage and employment records, names, birthdays and Social Security numbers.

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• Education Department will release some frozen grants supporting after-school and summer programs. Without the money, school districts and nonprofits such as the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club of America had said they would have to close or scale back educational programs this fall.
• What’s Working: Colorado global exports are up, imports are down amid tariff roller coaster. New tariffs are scheduled to start Aug. 1. Plus: What 2,333 Coloradans think about the economy, June unemployment and jobs report, and more!

MORE NEWS

• Fact Brief ☀️ Has cloud seeding triggered extreme flooding in Colorado? No. Scientists say there is no evidence linking cloud seeding to extreme flooding or other weather disasters.
• Get to know the “Super Scooper” airplanes fighting wildfires in Colorado. The 30,000-pound planes with wings nearly as long as a Boeing 737’s scoop up 6 tons of water from lakes through two vents under the plane.

COLORADO SUNDAY

Saving Kit Carson: Inside one rural Colorado town’s battle to stay alive and revitalize its community

The town of Kit Carson has been hovering around 250 souls after a dip to 206 in 2009. The pre-K-12 school built just five years ago for $32 million now faces declining enrollment, which this fall is expected to dip below 100. One common way some describe such a low-water mark: There won’t be enough high school students to field even a six-man football squad, writes Kevin Simpson. Read about the effort to save the town on the plains.

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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE COLORADO REPORT

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

• The North American Monsoon is on its way to Colorado. Whether it will be a typical monsoon season is yet to be determined. After a dry start to the summer in Colorado, with wildfires burning across the Western Slope, the approaching North American Monsoon could provide some needed relief.
  — Vail Daily
• Without water, a Broomfield golf course could face uncertain future. With its access to water set to expire next year, the golf course faces a future that has raised concerns among Eagle Trace residents. The water rights at the course date to the 1800s.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Denver clerk says election security in peril because new facility was excluded from mayor’s bond package. Paul López’s criticisms mirrored those of other city officials and residents about the $935 million Vibrant Denver project.
  — Denverite
• Legendary running coach Joe Vigil dies. Born in Antonito and raised in Alamosa, Vigil became America’s distance running coach as he produced Olympians and raised Adams State into a national running powerhouse that put Alamosa and the San Luis Valley on the map as a place to run and go to college.
  — Alamosa Citizen
• Rep. Jason Crow says he was blocked from Aurora ICE center, a breach of federal law. “I will not be deterred from conducting lawful oversight,” Crow said. “I will continue working to hold the Trump administration accountable for its actions.”
  — Sentinel Colorado

Section by David Krause | Editor

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• Spikes in health insurance marketplace could cost Coloradans more than money. Compounded by cuts to Medicaid, rising insurance costs could lead to devastating outcomes and subsequent congressional losses for Republicans.
  — Mario Nicolais
  

CARTOONS

• 6 steps to a cooler Colorado. Does climate change make your blood boil? Literally? Chill out with these temp-tested strategies for keeping cool in our fiery state.
  — Peter Moore
  

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.

Have a great Monday everyone.

— Jennifer and the whole staff of The Sun

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

Corrections & Clarifications

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