The Sunriser | Keeping I-70 left lane clear of semis

1 year ago 628

Good morning, Colorado. Hope you’ve enjoyed this autumn-feeling week of winter weather, because the weekend is supposed to get a little more season-appropriate.

Then again, you never know when it comes to unpredictable Colorado forecasts. With a weekend trip to Boulder planned to see a friend, I’ll be packing way too much just to prepare for whatever temperature each day brings, snow or no snow.

As you do your own preparations, catch up with today’s news from The Sun.

TRANSPORTATION

Semitrailers may be prohibited from using the left lane on I-70 through Colorado’s mountains. Truckers aren’t happy.

Trucks commute on Interstate 70 in Gypsum, on April 12, 2023. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)

Commercial vehicles would be prohibited from traveling in the left lane on Interstate 70 between Morrison and Glenwood Springs if Senate Bill 100 is passed, Jesse Paul reports. The bill — which is intended to decrease wrecks along the heavily trafficked route in the high country — would make an exception for a semitrailer passing a vehicle going below the speed limit. But the trucking industry has concerns with the proposal.

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POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

As many as 1,000 Colorado criminal convictions may have relied on dubious DNA evidence. It will cost the state millions.

A Colorado Bureau of investigation truck sits down the street from a home Nov. 14, 2014, in Evans. (AP Photo/The Greeley Tribune, Joshua Polson)

Colorado district attorneys are concerned that due to “anomalies” found in DNA testing by a former forensic scientist with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, over 1,000 criminal convictions may have been based on shaky evidence, Brian Eason reports. To address the immediate consequences, the Joint Budget Committee last month approved an extra $7.5 million to the state budget for this year, which could result in raising taxes.

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ELECTION 2024: Grand Junction mayor drops out of Democratic primary in 3rd Congressional District, clearing the field for Adam Frisch. Anna Stout, a Democrat, said she was exiting the race after Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert switched congressional districts, writes Jesse Paul.

Colorado is keeping kids locked in juvenile jails months longer than needed because of lack of foster homes, treatment options

29%

Percentage of kids locked up for more than a month after being judged eligible for release who are Black

4.4%

Percentage of Colorado children who are Black

A report for a state committee tasked with finding alternatives to juvenile incarceration shows that 27 of the 94 children who remained in custody more than a month after a court declared them fit for release were Black. And a large percentage of the children kept longer than a month past their release eligibility were in El Paso County. Jennifer Brown has more.

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MORE NEWS

DEA confiscated record amount of fentanyl in 2023, more than 2.6 million pills in Colorado. Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 45, the Drug Enforcement Administration said. Olivia Prentzel has more. Colorado oil and gas regulators reject two drilling plans deemed too close to people and pronghorns. One plan was for a remote and pristine part of Weld County prairie, another for a developed area of homes and parks between Broomfield and Erie, Mark Jaffe reports.

“Doxxing truck” at CU Boulder prompts professor to move class online. Signage on the truck identified and pictured members of CU’s Ethnic Studies Department as part of an ongoing campaign by a conservative media watch group after the department released a statement showing support for Palestinians.
— Boulder Daily Camera 🔑 Groups ask EPA to object to North Fork Valley mine’s air pollution permit. The state recently issued an air-pollution permit for West Elk Mine, which produces coal.
— The Daily Sentinel 🔑 Pilot files lawsuit after foot “swallowed” by moving walkway at Denver International Airport. The lawsuit claims the Delta pilot’s “foot, sock and shoe were severely damaged.”
— Denver7 Denver Art Museum removes case of Native American ceramics as new federal regulations take effect. Revisions to 1990’s NAGPRA legislation mandate museums get tribal permission to exhibit sacred objects.
— The Know 🔑

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

Let Colorado lead the country along the path to clean, reliable domestic oil and natural gas production. The state has put in place dozens of new regulations, so let’s see how they work before haphazardly adding more
— Dan Haley, president and CEO of the Colorado Oil & Gas Association

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 [email protected].

Decorated lanterns float down the Blue River during the annual Wish Lantern Festival in Silverthorne. The event was started in 2019 to commemorate the halfway point between Winter solstice and Spring equinox. (Photo courtesy the City of Silverthorne).

Wish Lantern Festival. January can feel like a big breath of fresh air after the holiday crush. But by the time February comes around, cultures around the world are ready to get back to the festivities.

In Mexico, and other countries around Central America, Feb. 2 is Dia de la Candelaria, or Candlemas Day, a religious day typically celebrated by lighting candles and gathering for a big feast of tamales.

Around the same time of year, people throughout Asia celebrate the Lunar New Year, a weekslong holiday that also includes lots of good food and spending time with family. Lunar New Year culminates in various celebrations and usually includes a lantern festival.

And in Silverthorne, the defining characteristic of early February is darkness. So the city decided they wanted to celebrate light — specifically, the midpoint between Winter solstice and Spring equinox, which happens this weekend.

Now, stir all of those things together and you get the Wish Lantern Festival, a multicultural and multimodal celebration of light, food and gathering happening in Silverthorne tomorrow night.

At this annual event, visitors can start their night at the Silverthorne Pavilion where free salsa dancing lessons will take place alongside lantern decorating stations. At 6:45 p.m., the lanterns will be sent down the Blue River in a community lantern float (Summit County Water Rescue will be waiting downstream to collect them). Lunar New Year crafts will be available at Red Buffalo Coffee & Tea until 7:30 p.m., and a second salsa dancing session commences after the float. Food and beverages provided by La Perla will be available for purchase.

Free; 5:30-7:30, Feb. 2; Silverthorne Pavilion, 400 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne

Goldens in Golden. The annual “Goldens in Golden” meetup takes place this Saturday in downtown Golden. From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Washington Avenue is closed to traffic so that thousands — yes, thousands — of Golden Retrievers and their humans can gather. Pup cups and CBD treats will be provided. According to a press release, the event will take place rain, snow or shine. Free; 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Feb. 3; Parfet Park, 719 10th St., Golden Radical Wednesdays. Wednesday nights in February join U.S. Ski Hall of Famer Greg Stump for four screenings of his vintage ski films, followed by Q&A conversations. Next week the series kicks off with Stump’s 1986 flick “Maltese Flamingo.” Come for the 1980s ski fashion, stay for 1980s ski fashion. $15; 7:30 p.m., Feb. 7, 14, 21, 28; Aspen Film Isis Theatre, 406 E. Hopkins Ave., Aspen Cupids Goat Yoga. Goats dressed like angels clomping around while you downward dog. I don’t know what else to say. Three sessions throughout the day, followed by a screening of The Notebook at 6 p.m. (separate ticket, same goats). $30; 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., Feb. 3; Orchard Town Center, 14584 Orchard Parkway, Suite 250, Westminster