WHEAT RIDGE — Skyler Weekes holds the zebra striped barrel on its side and leans his nose close to the opening. “Oh man,” he says, “have a smell of that.” Boozy raisin and vanilla aromas, touched with a soft fruit note, explode from the French oak barrel that aged cognac for 27 months. All around […]
John Frank
John Frank is a former Colorado Sun staff writer. He left the publication in January 2021.
Posted inPolitics and Government
Colorado GOP dismisses concerns about fraud at its caucuses. But one leader calls it a whitewashed report.
An internal Colorado Republican Party investigation released this week discovered a series of blunders with the 2020 caucuses conducted in Weld County, including the improper removal and addition of delegates in far more cases than previously known. But the 14-page report, obtained by The Colorado Sun, concluded that the fraudulent moves did not warrant the […]
Posted inCOVID, Education, News
Colorado’s public school enrollment has dropped by 30,000 students. That could spell financial disaster for districts.
Enrollment in Colorado public schools dropped by close to 30,000 students this school year — the first year-to-year decrease the state’s public school system has reported in more than 30 years. Impacts of the pandemic drove enrollment numbers down, according to the Colorado Department of Education, which released preliminary enrollment figures on Tuesday morning after […]
Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government
Colorado reports nearly 29,000 rejected ballots in the 2020 election, with younger voters the bulk of total
Colorado rejected nearly 29,000 votes in the 2020 election because the ballots didn’t meet requirements in state law. In the vast majority of the ballots voided, the voter’s signature didn’t match the one in state records, and in other cases, newly registered voters didn’t provide the required identification, according to Colorado Sun analysis of preliminary […]
Posted inCOVID, News
What we know and don’t know about the coronavirus infections of Colorado’s governor and his partner
Marlon Reis, the partner of Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, remains hospitalized Monday with the coronavirus after being admitted over the weekend. Reis, 39, was taken to a hospital by Polis on Sunday after suffering from shortness of breath and a worsening cough, symptoms that developed eight days after testing positive for COVID-19. The governor, who […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers water down requirement that counties comply with coronavirus restrictions to get aid
Colorado’s three-day special legislative session finished Wednesday with lawmakers watering down one of the most contentious parts of their $200 million-plus package aimed at providing economic relief during the coronavirus crisis. The Democratic-led General Assembly initially excluded businesses from being eligible for direct government aid if they were located in counties that refused to comply […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers’ coronavirus aid plans include distributing $22.5 million in taxpayer money through nonprofits
Colorado lawmakers are planning to channel $22.5 million in coronavirus economic aid through nonprofits, a move that Democrats say will allow the money to reach people faster and target those unable to access government assistance, including immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. The money represents about 10% of the roughly $200 million in relief the […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers reconvene to consider stimulus plan, but experts question the cost to the state
The unemployment checks for Englewood resident Dana John and her husband ended in July, and the $1,200 federal stimulus money is long gone. One small hope on the horizon is the $375 check Colorado is sending as a stimulus to lower-income unemployed workers. It’s not much, but John said it’s much needed. “I don’t know […]
Posted inElection 2020, Politics and Government
How the Cardboard Cory protest in Colorado helped Democrats defeat Gardner in the U.S. Senate race
Days before the election, even as the outcome of the U.S. Senate race in Colorado looked all-but-certain, Katie Farnan refused to believe it. The mother-turned-activist from Boulder worked for the better part of four years for this moment, all in the hopes of defeating Republican incumbent Cory Gardner. She carried a cutout known as Cardboard […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Colorado lawmakers will return for special session to address coronavirus relief
The Colorado General Assembly is preparing for a special session that will provide more relief to those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, The Colorado Sun has learned. “We’ve been having conversations with the governor’s office about how to best provide economic support to families right now,” said Senate Majority leader Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat […]