The Colorado Voter Guide is live

Good morning, Sunrisers! Were you among the lucky ones who caught the big light show last night? The skies were clear and bright above editor David Krause’s house, where he was able to capture this photo from his front porch.

Speaking of clarity, The Colorado Sun is launching our 2024 Voter Guide today. This meaty production includes explainers for all of the statewide ballot measures — including who is backing them, who is opposing them and why — and details where candidates stand on the issues. There’s also an FAQ where you can ask us your lingering questions. Check it out here.

Let’s get to it.

THE NEWS

ELECTION 2024

Colorado Voter Guide

Ballots are being mailed out today! Politics reporters Jesse Paul and Brian Eason and presentation editor Danika Worthington compiled this comprehensive, easy-to-digest Voter Guide to help you make informed decisions. Don’t remember who’s backing Proposition 131, or which groups oppose Amendment 80? We’ve got you covered.

READ MORE

• How to register to vote, cast your ballot and more FAQs about Colorado’s 2024 election. A dozen answers compiled by The Colorado Sun team, plus a chance to ask us your lingering election questions.
• Donald Trump seizes on one block in Aurora to warn of migrant crime threat, even as the city’s crime dips. The former president has repeatedly used an isolated incident to characterize Colorado’s third most populous city and an entire population of migrants.

OUTDOORS

Group puts up fence, claims ownership over 1,400 acres of Colorado forest, sparking outrage

A barbed wire fence along Chicken Creek Road near Marcos was erected in early October, torn down by residents Thursday and will be disputed in federal court. The fence demarcates about 1,400 acres of land that a group called the Free Land Holders is claiming ownership to based on historical treaties and land deeds. Jason Blevins has more.

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• The Outsider ☀️ Cavers are digging to bury a hoax as they search for the lost Cyclopean Cave outside Leadville. Orth Stein, a pioneer journalist prone to tall tales, first described the Cyclopean Cave in the 1880s. Stein’s stories were largely written off as fiction, but a group of modern cavers think there might be some truth if they just dig deep enough. That and more from Jason Blevins.

WATER

Colorado Supreme Court “slow sip” ruling could affect city water supplies from Greeley to Castle Rock

For decades well users in Douglas County were restricted to 1% of the water under their land per year. How much water that 1% actually constituted went undefined until 2020, when the state slapped a specific number on the water permits. Parker and Castle Rock sued the state over the new numbers, while Greeley and Aurora have joined the state in court, worried their own reserves could be threatened. Jerd Smith has the details.

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• Fact Brief ☀️ Does Aspen put fluoride in its drinking water? Justin George looks into one social media claim that the city of Aspen refrains from adding the cavity-preventing compound.

MORE NEWS

• 1 dead, 23 rescued after equipment malfunction at Colorado mine. The Mollie Kathleen Mine has been a tourist attraction for decades, offering visitors an hour-long tour 1,000 feet underground. Twelve people were on the descent into the mine when the elevator malfunctioned. Olivia Prentzel reports.

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Why Donald Trump is campaigning in Colorado, a state he can’t win. The former president is down by double digits to Kamala Harris in Colorado polls, but is using Aurora as a backdrop for his negative attacks on immigrants.
  — Axios Denver
• East High grad’s quest for gun safety leads to White House accolade. After experiencing three school shootings her junior year, Morgaine Wilkins-Dean helped ensure all DPS families get information about safe gun storage and was honored by First Lady Jill Biden.
  — Denverite
• When will metro Denver see the first snow of the season? Hint: It won’t be this month.
  — The Denver Post 🔑
• Deion Sanders rips Colorado’s “stupid” late start time vs. No. 18 Kansas State. Coach Prime isn’t happy his team has an 8:15 p.m. kickoff for this pivotal conference showdown.
  — Bleacher Report

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• PRO: Colorado needs Amendment 79 because abortion past victories risk complacency, even in blue states. Voters can protect abortion rights in the state constitution and build on Colorado’s role in leading the country.
  — Dusti Gurule, president and CEO of the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights
• CON: Amendment 79 would harm Colorado’s pregnant women and their babies. It is time Colorado takes its place as a leader in health care for women and preborn babies and support during difficult situations.
  — Catherine J. Wheeler, M.D., an obstetrician gynecologist from Teller County

CARTOONS

Jim Morrissey applies the Halloween spirit to the Colorado ballot initiative that seeks to make ranked-choice voting the standard.

CARTOON

In “What’d I Miss?” Myra argues that if guns don’t pose a threat because they’re just inanimate objects, why are some folks so eager to ban books?

CARTOON

Drew Litton observes that, for a few glorious weeks at this point each year, sports fans can immerse themselves in at least four major sports.

CARTOON

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.

Podcast Playlist

CONVERSATION

Each weekday The Daily Sun-Up podcast brings you a bit of Colorado history, headlines and a thoughtful conversation. We keep it tight so you can quickly listen, or stack up a few and tune in at your leisure. You can download the Sun-Up for free in your favorite podcasting app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or RSS to plug into your app. This week we go inside caves and the courtroom.

• Insight from inside the Tina Peters trial. Western Slope freelance reporter Nancy Lofholm talks about what it was like inside the courtroom covering the Tina Peters election breach trial and sentencing to nine years behind bars.
  LISTEN
• A discussion with supporters, opponents for Proposition 131. Ballots are being mailed out today. During SunFest, politics reporter Jesse Paul hosted a panel with those on both sides of the measure that would move the state to an all-candidate primary.
  LISTEN
• Deadly bat disease creeps into Colorado. White-nose syndrome has killed millions of bats in the East, and now it’s encroaching on Colorado caves. Outdoors reporter Jason Blevins has the background and possible fixes.
  LISTEN
• Are you feeling less miserable about the Colorado economy? There’s this national formula called the Misery Index gauging consumer confidence. Business reporter Tamara Chuang weighs the Colorado numbers and has responses from our reader poll.
  LISTEN
• “The everydayness of a marriage.” Melinda Moustakis goes behind her first novel — “Homestead” — which was a finalist for a Colorado Book Award. She chats with SunLit editor Kevin Simpson about how her family’s Alaskan heritage inspired her writing.
  LISTEN

🗣️ Remember, you can ask Siri, Alexa or Google to “play the Daily Sun-Up podcast” and we’ll play right on your smart speaker. As always we appreciate your feedback and comments at podcast@coloradosun.com.

Just got a text notification that my ballot is in the mail. Let’s do this.

— Parker & the whole staff of The Sun

Corrections & Clarifications

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.

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