Voters receiving misleading texts over school choice measure 

Good morning! It’s still mostly dark out as I write this, a sure sign that we are indeed deep into autumn. I’ve always been a morning person, but there’s something special about being up before dawn and slowly watching the world come to life outside my office window.

Another sign of fall is the fact that Election Day is rapidly approaching, and with it an increase in campaign messaging — both legit and sketchy. We’ve got stories about one such questionable message — plus a whole lot more about the complicated and consequential ballot in Colorado — in today’s newsletter, so let’s pour another cup of coffee and dive in, shall we?

THE NEWS

ELECTION 2024

Text message spreading misinformation stokes tension over school choice measure on Colorado ballot

A text message falsely suggesting that the president of the state’s largest teachers union supports Amendment 80 — which would permanently add a right to school choice to the state’s constitution — was sent to voters across Colorado. Erica Breunlin and Jesse Paul report on the origins of the mysterious message.

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• Colorado’s 2024 ballot is very crowded. Will voters fill out every bubble? Tracy Ross looks at who votes in Colorado and what keeps them coming back to the ballot — beyond the big-ticket presidential election.
• Ballot Issue 2Q: A Denver sales tax increase that could provide a lifeline for Denver Health. John Ingold explains Denver’s attempt to shore up the finances of the city’s safety net hospital and health system.
• Ballot measures in three locations could help rural women bring home the bacon. In this week’s edition of “What’s Working,” Tracy Ross explores the ballot measures that could use tourism taxes to fund child care for local workers.  
• 🗳️ The Colorado Sun Voter Guide. Ballot initiative explainers, candidate profiles and more to help you fill out your ballot.

BUSINESS

By the numbers: Colorado’s antitrust trial to block the Kroger-Albertsons merger

The Colorado attorney general’s trial to block the merger of the state’s two largest grocery store chains is coming to a close this week. Tamara Chuang, who has been keeping tabs on the ins and outs of the trial, put together a by-the-numbers breakdown of what’s at stake, what the companies have to say for themselves and more.

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ENVIRONMENT

Colorado air commissioners hear an earful of violations at annual ozone report, north Denver listening tour

Right after hearing a dismal report on the summer ozone season, members of the state Air Quality Control Commission took a field trip through north Denver, where some of the most concentrated air pollution in the state is located. Michael Booth has more on what residents told the commision and some of the sights — and smells — the commissioners encountered.

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MORE NEWS

• Fact Brief ☀️ Is a drug named “Colorado” raising health concerns in Nigeria? Por Jaijongkit checks on a social media claim of a dangerous synthetic cannabinoid that shares a name with our state.
• Cooking class for Denver Auraria Campus students aims to reduce food insecurity stigma. Nationally, an estimated 23% of college students experience food insecurity. On Denver’s multischool downtown campus, a simple cooking class is hoping to help students take care of themselves — as well as take advantage of the food assistance programs offered by the colleges and the state. 

COLORADO SUNDAY

What is the “Cyclopean Cave” — and why are these guys hauling buckets of Colorado mud to find it?

Outside Leadville, Colorado cavers are following a hunch that a pioneer journalist’s fantastical series of caverns, that he called the Cyclopean Cave, could be right below their feet. For the past few years, they’ve been digging out a hole in the ground and are pretty sure they could be onto one of Colorado’s greatest cave discoveries in recent memory, Jason Blevins reports.

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THE COLORADO REPORT

• Marshall fire victims remember the 1,000 lost pets at memorial unveiling in Louisville. Nearly 100 fire victims gathered Sunday for the unveiling of the sculpture to remember the 1,000 pets they lost in Colorado’s most destructive fire.
  — Denver7
• Rising fuel costs are part of higher utility bills in Colorado Springs. The average household in Colorado Springs saw its utility bill go up by nearly $9 a month in October because the price of natural gas goes up in the winter months.
  — CPR News
• National park’s 25th anniversary is a milestone for Colorado conservation, compromise. The rocks are old, but the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Montrose is one of the country’s youngest national parks and is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month.
  — The Denver Post

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• Do we really want a gang of rich guys to tell us how to do election reform in Colorado?  Prop 131 is backed by big money from Kent Thiry and other millionaires. That makes me a little nervous.
  — Mike Littwin
• This project offers hope to those wrongfully convicted of crimes.  The annual Korey Wise Innocence Project gala helps raise funds to free wrongfully convicted inmates in Colorado
  — Mario Nicolais
• The world watches nervously as Election Day nears.  Can we all live through the nightmare of another Trump administration?
  — Diane Carman 
• Why I’m voting to end trophy hunting of big cats, to impose a new gun tax and to oppose the school choice amendment.  Mountain lions, guns and schools, oh my! Proposition 127, Proposition KK and Amendment 80 are a one-two-three of Colorado’s contentious ballot issues.
  — Trish Zornio   

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.

Thanks for kicking off this week with us, and remember to keep your Colorado Sun Voter Guide handy when you’re filling in those bubbles!

— Eric and 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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