Good morning, Sunrisers! Last night, I impulsively decided to drive to Fort Collins to attend curator Tony Ortega’s discussion about his new exhibition at the Museum of Art. I’m glad I made that choice. The exhibition, titled “Nepantla,” features 36 artists exploring the intersection of Chicano, Indigenous, and American cultures. The diverse array of artwork includes paintings, fabric art, sculptures, and even a unique series of paintings displayed on the bottoms of chili cheese fry trays.
If you’re in the area and seeking a pleasant outing this weekend, I highly recommend visiting the Museum of Art in Fort Collins.
Now, on to the news.
ELECTIONS
Tina Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk who accessed election equipment without permission and later advocated for her actions at various conspiracy conferences, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for interference in election processes. Despite her claims, no evidence of election fraud was found, and her actions resulted in about $1.4 million in costs for the county in damage control, tarnishing its reputation and prompting stricter state election laws.
Meanwhile, polls indicate a highly competitive race between Yadira Caraveo and Gabe Evans in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, which has gained significant national attention and funding as it could determine control of Congress.
WATER
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Paradox Valley Unit aims to protect the Dolores River from excess salinity by extracting high-salinity groundwater. In the final piece of a series on Colorado water myths, experts discuss the potential of desalination as a solution for the state’s water stress amid the growing demands on its water resources. Other states facing similar challenges have explored or adopted desalination technologies.
BALLOT EXPLAINER
Colorado voters will again decide on wildlife management, specifically whether to prohibit hunting mountain lions, bobcats, and lynx. Current policies by Colorado Parks and Wildlife endorse regulated hunting as a management tool. In a related matter, Proposition 129 proposes the creation of a veterinary professional associates position to address the national shortage of veterinarians, particularly in rural areas, though concerns have been raised regarding animal safety.
MORE NEWS
A rescue team from Wyoming assisted in recovering the body of a hiker who passed away on a Colorado peak earlier this year. This specialized team is adept at handling technical mountain rescues.
Additionally, spelunkers are collaborating with biologists to survey caves and manage the spread of a deadly bat disease known as white-nose syndrome, which has led to year-round closures of caves and mines in the eastern U.S. The implications of this syndrome for bat populations in the West are also being examined.
Also on the horizon, questions are being raised about Colorado’s public pension program and its investments in companies that boycott Israel, following a law mandating transparency in these economic prohibitions.
THE OPINION PAGE
In today’s cartoons, R. Alan Brooks and Cori Redford delve into discussions of character and racism within the MAGA movement, while Drew Litton expresses excitement over the return of the Denver Broncos’ iconic “Orange Crush” uniform design.
The Colorado Sun strives to provide nonpartisan news coverage. The opinions expressed in the opinion section do not reflect the views of the newsroom.
Stay tuned for our daily podcast, “The Daily Sun-Up,” which brings you a mix of Colorado history and current events. You can find it on major podcast platforms or ask your smart speaker to play it.
See you on Monday.