Good morning and a very merry Christmas Eve, Colorado — especially to all those who travel via train, plane or car to be with your loved ones! I made my way back home to the cornfields of Illinois yesterday first by train, then plane and finally car, and am happy to report not a single hiccup along the way.
It was such a relief after a turbulent trip home last Christmas when I found myself seconds away from missing my flight. I definitely should have gotten to the airport sooner and had instant regrets as I crawled through a very long TSA line. When my plane began boarding and I was still several people deep in the security line, I became *that* person and pleaded with my fellow passengers to let me skip ahead. They kindly stepped aside, but my hopes of making my flight dissipated when the TSA agent couldn’t scan my ID and sent me back to the airline desk.
I ugly cried my way to the airline desk, sure my plane would take off without me. But then, an angel of an airline employee appeared, giving me the documentation I needed and escorting me through the security line to make sure I passed the checkpoint. I became *that* person racing for her life through the airport and hurtled practically head first onto my flight before they closed the doors.
My very own Christmas miracle.
All this to say, learn from my foolishness and, if you must fly this holiday season, show up to the airport the standard two hours before your flight, if not sooner.
Now, let’s all send good vibes to the thousands of travelers making their way home today and dive into today’s news, shall we?
Erica Breunlin
Education Reporter
THE NEWS
OUTDOORS
Ranchers, rural community leaders at odds with Colorado governor over wolf reintroduction program
Colorado Parks and Wildlife placed GPS collars on two wolves in North Park on Feb. 2, 2023. Male wolf 2101 has a gray coat and is in the foreground on the right. Male wolf 2301, believed to be the offspring of the gray-colored wolf, has a black coat and is in the background on the left. (Colorado Parks and Wildlife photo)“I think our members walked away feeling kind of bruised after that. And I’ve been scratching my head wondering, ‘How did we get here? Why did it end like that?’ ”
— Kelly Flenniken, executive director of Colorado Counties Inc.
When the discussion at the Winter Conference of Colorado Counties Inc. turned to wolves, Gov. Jared Polis seemingly blamed ranchers’ complaints for the fact that the state has had to turn to Canada to import the predators instead of nearby Western states. Tracy Ross cuts into the tension and provides a thorough look at what’s actually happening with the next phase of reintroduction.
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OUTDOORS
Winter Park reopens gondola Monday after replacing cracked steel beam. Other resorts keep eye on towers.
Skiers make turns on the fresh groomers at Winter Park on Feb. 29. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)“It was an amazing turn of events from a recovery process.”
— Daren Cole, president of Leitner Poma of America
Grand Junction’s Leitner-Poma of America got the call that Winter Park’s gondola needed a new steel beam on Sunday — and less than four hours later, the beam was fabricated, packed and on the road. That’s just one component of the swift response that allowed the resort to reopen a little more than 24 hours after a dramatic evacuation. Jason Blevins has more.
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WATER
Federal Colorado River conservation program lapses, faces uncertain future
Farmers, ranchers and other water users in Colorado have been paid to cut their water use under a federal program for two years. Now they’re waiting to see if they will be able to continue their efforts after Congress let the program lapse in December. (Shannon Mullane, The Colorado Sun)The pilot program that aimed to pay farmers, ranchers and other water users to, well, not use their water, expires this year. And as Shannon Mullane reports, the program’s funding was not renewed during the current lame duck session, leaving the program and its advocates feeling stuck.
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Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE COLORADO REPORT
The new Farm Bill extension provides some relief for Colorado producers, but leaves much unsettled. The federal agricultural policy hasn’t changed since 2018, but the realities of farming and ranching have shifted dramatically.— Colorado Public Radio Pueblo likely to rescind renewable energy pledge after city councilor flip-flops on vote. In 2017, the Pueblo City Council pledged to have the city 100% powered by renewable energy sources by 2035. But moves by the current council will rescind the commitment and replace the committee it created after councilor Roger Gomez said his votes to preserve the system were “mistaken.”— The Pueblo Chieftain New Moffat Tunnel deal moves daily passenger train to mountain communities a step closer to reality. A tentative agreement between Colorado state officials and the Union Pacific Railroad has set the stage to expand passenger rail service in the mountains by using the 100-year-old tunnel.— The Denver Post ? “The same suspect burglarized the park five times.” The landlord of the American Ninja Warrior Adventure Park in southeastern Denver sued the owners of the business for eviction and back rent. But the owners say a leaky roof and pervasive criminal activity in the area — including five burglaries by the same suspect — prevented the business from turning a profit in the seven months they were open.— BusinessDen ??=source has article meter or paywall
Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE OPINION PAGE
CARTOONS
Could it be that Colorado’s heart is two sizes too small? Bah! Humbug! Colorado ranks No. 2 among yuletide grumps. But we’ve learned maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store and how to make it mean a bit more.— Peter MooreThe 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
REVIEW
“Dying to Ride” melds mystery with competitive equine culture
The death of a beloved mentor stuns protagonist Margo Richards in author Lenore Mitchell’s equine-centric mystery “Dying to Ride.” But the circumstances of her demise — a suspicious fall from a cliff —raise questions. This Colorado Authors League award finalist reflects the author’s lifelong love affair with horses. In fact, “every character in the story loves horses in some way,” she says.
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Interview with the author. Although Mitchell has never claimed more than “basic” riding skills, she learned a lot about herself and her horses through competitive trail rides covering nearly 2,000 miles. She felt a particular kinship to a horse named Babe.Kevin Simpson | Writer
Thanks so much for spending some time with us this morning before wrapping your final gifts and sneaking a few morning Christmas cookies. Have a very happy holiday!
— Erica & the whole staff of The Sun
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