Hello! I found lots to read this morning. We'll be heavy on health and the environment, but you'll also find some items on culture, food, drugs and everything else this city likes to talk about.
State & federal:
A bill moving through the state legislature would expand a program that pays the cost of reduced-price lunches. Instead of ending at fifth grade, it would extend to eighth grade. Ashley reports. (Denverite)
A leaked White House proposal would slash funding to the federal renewable energy office by 70 percent, which could be "devastating" to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden. Still, it's far from a done deal. Mark Matthews reports. (DP)
Colorado has released an update of its state climate plan. Gov. Hickenlooper wants new reporting on greenhouse gas emissions and new research into the effects of climate change on health. (AP)
A train full of GOP lawmakers hit a truck in Virginia. None of the lawmakers or their staff were seriously injured, but the truck's driver was killed. Sen. Cory Gardner and representatives Mike Coffman and Scott Tipton were aboard the train. (CNN)
Tom Tancredo quit the Republican primary for governor. Tancredo was known for such issues as "getting upset that a resort wouldn't host white nationalists." Some Republicans are relieved. Mark Matthews again. (DP)
A proposal to tax plastic bags went down in flames. Sam Brasch reports. (CPR)
The city:
The city of Denver dramatically sped up its hiring process. Here's how. (Governing)
Kevin took an archaeologist to the dump. It was fantastic. (DP)
Schools:
Here's what you need to know about the recent changes to Denver's school choice process, which starts today. (Chalkbeat)
Development:
Security Service Federal Credit Union plans to leave its site at South Broadway and Bayaud Avenue, freeing up 100,000 square feet for possible residential development. (Denverite)
You can buy "wee cottages" in Stapleton. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, 900 to 1,300 square feet. They're still about $300,000. And you have to tell people you live in a wee cottage. (CBS4)
Police:
Arvada police shot and killed a man. They said he was approaching them with a knife. (9)
The national police union is mad at Cory Gardner because Gardner is speaking out against Jeff Sessions' anti-weed moves. (ColPol)
Drugs:
Entrepreneurs in Boston think they've found a loophole, and they're using it to sell ... err, "donate," weed to customers. Buy a $55 bottle of juice, get a bag of weed! We've seen this in Colorado, too. (AP/NYT)
Food:
A "Jewish-style deli" (?) is opening in Golden Triangle. If nothing else, I will have a chance to express my opinions. Kailyn Lamb reports. (BusinessDen)
Tony P's is shutting down its ostentatious presence on 17th Avenue. Ed Sealover reports. (Eater)
Health & environment:
Traffic deaths in Colorado jumped 30 percent from 2016 to 2017, to at least 630 deaths. (CPR)
Interesting overview here of Colorado's health problems. While we may attract affluent people who "bring health with them," people with less money don't have easy access to the outdoors and often can't buy nutritional foods in their neighborhoods. Elana Ashanti Jefferson reports. (Confluence)
A prison in Colorado is using virtual reality to prepare people for life after incarceration. They're practicing chores and social interactions. (CPR)
Dust storms are putting dust on our mountain snowpack, causing it to melt faster. That's a headache for water storage managers. (H2O Radio/Colorado Independent)
