Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Thursday December 3rd, and we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today, we’re focused on lawmakers who are devoting $20 million to help improve internet connectivity for students, and how education leaders are grateful, but say the money won’t solve the root of the issue.

 

We’ve also released another bonus episode, featuring insight from one of our readers on what they’ve learned while living through a global pandemic in Colorado. 

 

But before we begin, let’s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett’s book “Colorado Day by Day”:

 

Today, we’re going back to December 3rd 2011 when Virgil Harms, an octogenarian farmer and square dance aficionado celebrated his 50 years of service as the mayor of Paoli, This is a record unmatched in Colorado History.

 

Now, our feature story. 

 

On Wednesday State lawmakers passed a bill that could help get more students connected to the internet, providing $20 million in grants for districts to broaden access to their students at a time when the internet has become the main mode of learning. 

 

But the dollars, which are part of a state stimulus package at the center of a special legislative session this week, won’t ensure every young Coloradan has a reliable internet connection.

 

The investment is widely viewed -- by lawmakers, educators and education advocates -- as a short-term fix. It’s nowhere near enough money to address the root of the access problem: a lack of adequate infrastructure to sustain a quality internet connection for every Colorado family.

 

Instead, the $20 million in House Bill 1001 is focused on “giving access and infrastructure in as quick a way as possible,” according to state Rep. Mary Young, a Greeley Democrat and one of the bill’s prime sponsors, 

 

Colorado Sun reporter Erica Breunlin is joining us today to talk more about what this means for students.

Erica, thank you for joining us. Can you start by giving an overview of the bill?

So, how exactly will districts be able to use the grant dollars to improve internet connections for their students? 

And can you talk more about why lawmakers included this in the stimulus package?

Grants will be distributed through an application process administered by the Colorado Department of Education. Districts with a high percentage of kids who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch -- a federal indicator of poverty -- and whose communities have significant gaps in internet access - will get priority.

 

A main goal of the legislation is to fund internet connections robust enough for all the members of a household to be engaged in their coursework at the same time. 

 

And as Erica said, for some districts, that might mean investing in more hotspots. Others may want to purchase a subscription to an internet service provider or even build their own antenna system.

 

Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:

 

Colorado’s three-day special legislative session finished on Wednesday with lawmakers watering down one of the most contentious parts of their $200 million-plus package aimed at providing economic relief during the coronavirus crisis. 

-

The ACLU of Colorado on Wednesday asked a judge to issue an emergency order reducing Colorado’s prison population in the wake of four inmate deaths over two days linked to coronavirus. 

-

Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they will not seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing three people and injuring nine others at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado in 2015.

-

Beacon Guidebooks’ upcoming guide to Buffalo Pass will not include names of runs and locations created by Steamboat Powdercats, which argued the titles were “trade secrets.”

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. 

 

The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.

 

Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you’ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning, Colorado, you&rsquo;re listening to the Daily Sun-Up. It&rsquo;s Thursday December 3rd, and we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you.
&nbsp;
Today, we&rsquo;re focused on lawmakers who are devoting $20 million to help improve internet connectivity for students, and how education leaders are grateful, but say the money won&rsquo;t solve the root of the issue.
&nbsp;
We&rsquo;ve also released another bonus episode, featuring insight from one of our readers on what they&rsquo;ve learned while living through a global pandemic in Colorado.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
But before we begin, let&rsquo;s go back in time with some Colorado history adapted from historian Derek R Everett&rsquo;s book &ldquo;Colorado Day by Day&rdquo;:
&nbsp;
Today, we&rsquo;re going back to December 3rd 2011 when Virgil Harms, an octogenarian farmer and square dance aficionado celebrated his 50 years of service as the mayor of Paoli, This is a record unmatched in Colorado History.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
On Wednesday State lawmakers passed a bill that could help get more students connected to the internet, providing $20 million in grants for districts to broaden access to their students at a time when the internet has become the main mode of learning.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
But the dollars, which are part of a state stimulus package at the center of a special legislative session this week, won&rsquo;t ensure every young Coloradan has a reliable internet connection.
&nbsp;
The investment is widely viewed -- by lawmakers, educators and education advocates -- as a short-term fix. It&rsquo;s nowhere near enough money to address the root of the access problem: a lack of adequate infrastructure to sustain a quality internet connection for every Colorado family.
&nbsp;
Instead, the $20 million in <a href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb20b-1001">House Bill 1001</a> is focused on &ldquo;giving access and infrastructure in as quick a way as possible,&rdquo; according to state Rep. Mary Young, a Greeley Democrat and one of the bill&rsquo;s prime sponsors,&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Colorado Sun reporter <a href="mailto:erica@coloradosun.com">Erica Breunlin</a> is joining us today to talk more about what this means for students.
Erica, thank you for joining us. Can you start by giving an overview of the bill?
So, how exactly will districts be able to use the grant dollars to improve internet connections for their students?&nbsp;
And can you talk more about why lawmakers included this in the stimulus package?
Grants will be distributed through an application process administered by the Colorado Department of Education. Districts with a high percentage of kids who qualify for free and reduced-price lunch -- a federal indicator of poverty -- and whose communities have significant gaps in internet access - will get priority.
&nbsp;
A main goal of the legislation is to fund internet connections robust enough for all the members of a household to be engaged in their coursework at the same time.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And as Erica said, for some districts, that might mean investing in more hotspots. Others may want to purchase a subscription to an internet service provider or even build their own antenna system.
&nbsp;
Finally, here are a few stories you should know about today:
&nbsp;
Colorado&rsquo;s three-day special legislative session finished on Wednesday with lawmakers watering down one of the most contentious parts of their $200 million-plus package aimed at providing economic relief during the coronavirus crisis.&nbsp;
-
The ACLU of Colorado on Wednesday asked a judge to issue an emergency order reducing Colorado&rsquo;s prison population in the wake of four inmate deaths over two days linked to coronavirus.&nbsp;
-
Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they will not seek the death penalty against a man accused of killing three people and injuring nine others at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado in 2015.
-
Beacon Guidebooks&rsquo; upcoming guide to Buffalo Pass will not include names of runs and locations created by Steamboat Powdercats, which argued the titles were &ldquo;trade secrets.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The Colorado Sun is non-partisan and completely independent. We're always dedicated to telling the in-depth stories we need today more than ever. And The Sun is supported by readers and listeners like you.
&nbsp;
Right now, you can head to ColoradoSun.com and become a member. Starting at $5 per month for a basic membership and if you bump it up to $20 per month, you&rsquo;ll get access to our exclusive politics and outdoors newsletters. Thanks for starting your morning with us and don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.
&nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we’re sharing an in-depth look at one of our top stories, followed by a quick summary of important things happening in our state. For more visit us at https://coloradosun.com/.

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