Good morning, Colorado.
I left a window cracked open last night and woke up to the sounds of birds chirping this morning. I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear the soothing tones of their sweet, sweet songs.
The soundtrack playing throughout most of my mornings and into each afternoon is often composed of much harsher instruments: constant dings from my phone alerting me of new texts, emails, Slack messages and social media chatter; the ferocious clacking of my keyboard as I furiously try to keep up with a source on the phone or begin pounding out a story; the ear-splitting siren of a passing ambulance or firetruck; and my own ugly groans as I struggle to piece together a sentence just the right way.
But lying in bed for just a minute and listening to these songbirds greet the day helped me start my Thursday on a much gentler note. They’re still chirping and, at this point, probably yelling at me to silence my phone and listen to them a little longer.
While I abide, let’s pull up the morning headlines, shall we?
Erica Breunlin
Education Reporter
THE NEWS
BREAKING: Colorado oil and gas industry advocate Kathleen Sgamma withdraws from consideration to lead the Bureau of Land Management. The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources was set to discuss Sgamma’s nomination early Thursday when she withdrew.
EDUCATION
Rural Colorado teachers could earn thousands of dollars more across state lines, study finds
Students walk up a new sidewalk at Vilas School in southeastern Colorado on Jan. 7, 2025. (Vilas School District RE-5 Facebook page)For school districts in rural Colorado, higher wages on the Front Range aren’t the only reason they struggle to recruit and retain teachers. Many teachers could cross the border into New Mexico, Kansas and Oklahoma and find paychecks worth thousands of dollars more per year. Erica Breunlin breaks down the new Keystone Policy Center study.
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BUSINESS
How Colorado’s business community is dealing with on-again, off-again tariffs
A sign at the World Trade Center Denver office says, “Keep Calm and Trade On.” (Provided by World Trade Center Denver)“Right now, the biggest need is accurate information, not speculative information. Our role is to disseminate information … and help them cut through the noise.”
— Sandi Moilanen, Colorado World Trade Center
The tariff announcements that sank global markets — before they rebounded as tariffs were paused yet again — are keeping local businesses stuck in limbo. Tamara Chuang has tips for keeping track of the state of tariffs plus how local businesses are adjusting their plans for the future.
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OUTDOORS
What Trump’s “emergency” logging declaration could mean for Colorado’s US forest land
A Ponsse Bear 8-wheeler cut-to-length machine lifts a beetle-kill tree in the forest harvesting process on Sept. 24, 2021, at Monarch Pass near Poncha Springs. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)A pair of Trump administration edicts could have a big impact on Colorado’s public forests. An executive order declaring more than 100 million acres of national forest land “an emergency situation” that requires industrial logging to fix comes on the heels of a directive to expand American timber production by 25%. Tracy Ross reports on how wildfire management and environmental officials are reacting to the orders.
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WATER
Small Colorado towns push back as state seeks to clean up wastewater to protect rivers
The Weld County town of Ault has spent millions in the last decade to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant, but the work is already out of date as strict new standards and Colorado discharge permit requirements take effect. (Tri Duong, Special to The Colorado Sun)“I told the CDPHE if they continue down this road, the folks out in the rural areas are about ready to tell them to pound sand. That’s how stressful it’s been for these small municipalities. The regulations just keep coming at them.”
— Sen. Byron Pelton, a Republican from Sterling
“One of the key realities is that wastewater treatment plants need to upgrade their plants and do better, and pollute less.”
— Meg Parish, an attorney for the Environmental Integrity Project
Representatives from 64 towns attended a meeting organized by Akron Town Manager Gillian Laycock to discuss what wastewater managers say is a sudden and expensive shift to stricter environmental standards. But as Jerd Smith writes for Fresh Water News, the regulations have been a long time coming and lawmakers are trying to fast-track state support to help get them in compliance.
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MORE NEWS
“This bill, House Bill 1011, I promise you will reduce childcare supply and will increase child care costs. Guarantee it. I’ve seen it every single time, and I’ve been in this business for 35 years.”
— State Sen. Scott Bright, a Platteville Republican who owns two day care centers
Colorado lawmakers kill bill that would have imposed new regulations on day cares owed by private equity. House Bill 1011 would have required day care chains to be more transparent about pricing and to notify parents prior to layoffs. Opponents said it would have discouraged operators from opening up centers. 600 pounds of marijuana stolen from Colorado State Patrol evidence storage lot. The brazen burglary made off with cannabis seized as part of a “highway drug interdiction investigation” but was not part of any active court case.Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
COLORADO REPORT
Arrested protesters sue Auraria police for free speech violations in pro-Palestinian camp crackdown. Lawyer Azra Taslimi, highlighting the fact that the plaintiffs had already taken down tents in compliance with campus orders before they were arrested, said, “That shows us that the tents are really the excuse. They really just didn’t want the protesters there. And this was really about silencing speech.”— Denverite Tesla registrations in Colorado drop nearly 10% over discontent with Elon Musk. “Tesla is taking a beating right now, mostly over politics.”— The Denver Post ? Summit Fire & EMS responds to 2 potentially “lethal” carbon monoxide incidents in 2 days. The two nearly fatal incidents occurred at a condo complex in Summit County and a kitchen at A-Basin. Consider this a reminder to check your carbon monoxide detectors today.— Summit Daily Second top RiNo official stepping down amid BID renewal process. Alye Sharp’s exit follows the departure of Sarah Cawrse. Both were co-executive directors who took over after a previous director also resigned after a short stint.— BusinessDen ? Hyperloop company expands to Colorado Springs with new manufacturing facility, bringing over 100 jobs. Swisspod (which The Sun wrote about here ) is planning on paying around $68,000 per year for the 107 jobs it would create with the facility.— KRDO Alabama rep expects Space Command will move from Colorado Springs this month. Alabama Representative Mike Rogers went on a think tank podcast and said Space Command will be moving its headquarters from Colorado Springs to Alabama and that there are contractors ready to “turn dirt” the day the announcement is made.— KOAA News 5? = source has article meter or paywall
Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler
THE OPINION PAGE
COMMUNITY
People incarcerated in Colorado prisons should have a right to visitations with loved ones. Studies have found that connection with family helps decrease recidivism. That’s why passing House Bill 1013 has to be a priority.— Niyankor Ajuaj, Soul 2 Soul SistersThe 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 [email protected].
What’s Happening
April 10-16
The 2025 EATSS event will feature plates from four chefs who showcase Native foods through an “ingredient driven” approach, said Ben Jacobs, co-founder of Tocabe, an American Indian eatery. “Flavorwise, it’s very approachable, but everything is still unique,” Jacobs said. (Photo courtesy of the American Indian College Fund)Denver EATSS. Ten years ago, less than 11% of Native people held college degrees. That number is up to 17%, according to NancyJo Houk, chief marketing officer for the American Indian College Fund.
“That’s some pretty amazing progress,” Houk said. “They start with pretty small dreams, like, ‘I just want to get through my first semester,’ you know? But we have a ton of scientists — agricultural scientists, students who work with NASA — their dreams just grow. And it starts with people acknowledging they are here.”
The American Indian College Fund is a national program headquartered in Denver that provides scholarships and programming for American Indian and Alaskan Natives to access higher education, and supports them throughout their college careers.
Houk and the fund are gearing up for their big, annual fundraiser event, Denver EATSS, this Friday and Saturday.
The event consists of a culinary showcase and a concert, and tickets can be purchased to one component or both.
“Bison, two different ways, if I can get my fingers on it, rabbit, multiple varieties of the three sisters — corn, beans, squash,” said Ben Jacobs, co-founder of Tocabe and one of the featured chefs. “We’re trying to provide a cultural experience through a culinary approach. What’s cool about working with other chefs is that everyone has their own take, their own creative approach.”
Jacobs, of the Osage Nation, will serve dishes alongside Paul Natrall of the Squamish Nation, Sherry Pocknett of the Mashpee Wampanoag, and Andean chef Andrea Condes.
Later in the evening, Nathaniel Rateliff is joined by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra and Raye Zaragoza, an Indigenous singer based in Los Angeles.
“It’s formal in the sense that people dress nice and get ready for a night out, but it’s not rigid at all, it’s just fun,” Jacobs said. Come ready to engage, he said, to talk, to look at art, to listen to music, to ask questions, and, of course, to eat.
“Something you should know,” Houk said. “Nobody will leave hungry.”
$55 and up; 5 p.m., April 11 and 12; Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1400 Curtis St., Denver
Aspen Shortfest in Spanish. The official Aspen Shortsfest has come and gone, but left in its wake are a handful of award winners and special encore programs for those who want to visit (or revisit) the festival favorites. Friday night’s program features an hour and a half of the best Spanish-language shorts (with English subtitles). Screenings take place at 6 p.m. at the Aspen Isis Theater and 7 p.m. at Brenden Theatres in Rifle. $16; 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., April 11; Aspen Isis Theater, Aspen and Brenden Theatres, Rifle Historic Place Names. Across the U.S., communities are reevaluating the names attached to their monuments, mountaintops and historic markers. On Wednesday, Stacy Coleman from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources will lead a discussion about the research and process of renaming a place. $5-15; 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., April 16; History Colorado Center, 1200 N. Broadway, Denver Record Store Day. April 12 is Record Store Day, a biannual event conceived of and celebrated by — you guessed it — a bunch of independent record stores. More than 30 locations around the state will participate this year with special releases, live music and big markdowns. Free; April 12; Various locationsSection by Parker Yamasaki | Reporter
Well, now that you’re fully informed on everything you need to know to get your Thursday rolling, I hope you can take a minute to sit back and listen to the birds outside your own window. We’ll see you back here tomorrow!
— Erica & the whole staff of The Sun
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