Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Wednesday April 21st, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - the Suncor Refinery is one of Colorado’s biggest polluters. And now, as the refinery’s re-permitting hearings approach, some activists are calling for it to be shut down entirely. 

 

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 take you back to April 21st, 1879 when the supreme court reached a decision regarding a dispute between railroads over the royal gorge in Fremont county. The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was considered the most obvious candidate for the market, but they were running out of capital. So their competition, the Atchinson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad decided they’d like to secure the market for themselves. After sabotage and violence the D&RG ultimately won the market.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Suncor Refinery in Commerce City is one of Colorado’s major polluters. Much of that is sanctioned through air pollution permits issued by the state. But activists and locals argue the emissions are beyond what is necessary, and some say the oil and gas refinery should shut down altogether. Reporter Michael Booth talks with Lucy Haggard about what may come in the refinery’s re-permitting hearings next month.

 

To read more about air quality in Colorado, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:

 

The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin concluded Tuesday, with the jury ruling Chauvin guilty of two murder charges and one manslaughter charge. Chauvin pinned George Floyd, a Black man, to the ground with his knee on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes. The incident last summer sparked outrage and renewed calls for racial justice. It also resulted in a sweeping police accountability bill that passed the Colorado legislature. Black leaders across Colorado expressed relief at the verdict Tuesday, but said there is still much work to be done.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/20/derek-chauvin-guilty-george-floyd/ 

 

Coloradans who have been vaccinated against coronavirus are at least 90% less likely to develop COVID-19 than those who have not been vaccinated. State health officials said Tuesday that just 819 coronavirus cases out of the 106,965 occurring since January 21 were people who were fully immunized. Even partial vaccination, that is, receiving just one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, provides about 66% protection against the virus. The state opened three of its mass vaccination clinics to walk-up appointments Tuesday to make it easier for Coloradans to get inoculated.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/20/how-covid-vaccine-effective-colorado/ 

 

Since 2012 Colorado has been an island of legal recreational marijuana sales amid states with medical-only laws or none at all. Many businesses in border towns like Trinidad, Antonito and San Luis have capitalized on the illegal but frequent phenomenon of weed tourism. But New Mexico legalized recreational cannabis this month, and federal legislators are discussing legalization or decriminalization of the Schedule 1 controlled substance. Now Colorado towns that have benefited from the boom are preparing for inevitable declines in tax revenue as pot shops open across the border. Meanwhile, prospective New Mexico shop owners say they hope to capture customers before they cross the state line. 

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.

 

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 Wednesday April 21st, and even though there&rsquo;s a lot of turmoil right now we&rsquo;re feeling lucky to start the day with you.
&nbsp;
Today - the Suncor Refinery is one of Colorado&rsquo;s biggest polluters. And now, as the refinery&rsquo;s re-permitting hearings approach, some activists are calling for it to be shut down entirely.&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 take you back to April 21st, 1879 when the supreme court reached a decision regarding a dispute between railroads over the royal gorge in Fremont county. The Denver &amp; Rio Grande Railroad was considered the most obvious candidate for the market, but they were running out of capital. So their competition, the Atchinson, Topeka &amp; Santa Fe Railroad decided they&rsquo;d like to secure the market for themselves. After sabotage and violence the D&amp;RG ultimately won the market.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.
&nbsp;
Suncor Refinery in Commerce City is one of Colorado&rsquo;s major polluters. Much of that is sanctioned through air pollution permits issued by the state. But activists and locals argue the emissions are beyond what is necessary, and some say the oil and gas refinery should shut down altogether. Reporter Michael Booth talks with Lucy Haggard about what may come in the refinery&rsquo;s re-permitting hearings next month.
&nbsp;
To read more about air quality in Colorado, go to coloradosun.com.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
&nbsp;
The trial of former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin concluded Tuesday, with the jury ruling Chauvin guilty of two murder charges and one manslaughter charge. Chauvin pinned George Floyd, a Black man, to the ground with his knee on Floyd&rsquo;s neck for more than nine minutes. The incident last summer sparked outrage and renewed calls for racial justice. It also resulted in a sweeping police accountability bill that passed the Colorado legislature. Black leaders across Colorado expressed relief at the verdict Tuesday, but said there is still much work to be done.
https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/20/derek-chauvin-guilty-george-floyd/&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Coloradans who have been vaccinated against coronavirus are at least 90% less likely to develop COVID-19 than those who have not been vaccinated. State health officials said Tuesday that just 819 coronavirus cases out of the 106,965 occurring since January 21 were people who were fully immunized. Even partial vaccination, that is, receiving just one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, provides about 66% protection against the virus. The state opened three of its mass vaccination clinics to walk-up appointments Tuesday to make it easier for Coloradans to get inoculated.
https://coloradosun.com/2021/04/20/how-covid-vaccine-effective-colorado/&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Since 2012 Colorado has been an island of legal recreational marijuana sales amid states with medical-only laws or none at all. Many businesses in border towns like Trinidad, Antonito and San Luis have capitalized on the illegal but frequent phenomenon of weed tourism. But New Mexico legalized recreational cannabis this month, and federal legislators are discussing legalization or decriminalization of the Schedule 1 controlled substance. Now Colorado towns that have benefited from the boom are preparing for inevitable declines in tax revenue as pot shops open across the border. Meanwhile, prospective New Mexico shop owners say they hope to capture customers before they cross the state line.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website,<a href="http://www.coloradosun.com/"> www.coloradosun.com</a>. And don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow for a special holiday episode. Now, a quick message from our editor.
&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/.

The Daily Sun-Up

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/.

Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission 

Welcome to The Colorado Sun's daily podcast, The Daily Sun-Up. Every day we&rsquo;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 <a href="https://coloradosun.com/">https://coloradosun.com/</a>.
Our intro music is by Matt Skellenger Group: <a href="https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission">https://mattskellenger.bandcamp.com/album/subspace-transmission</a>&nbsp;