Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up with the Colorado Sun. It’s Tuesday September 21st,

 

Today - As rural hospitals close across the country, the historic St. Vincent hospital is back and stronger than ever with the opening of a new eight-bed facility. The city’s mayor calls it a “stunning accomplishment” for a community hospital started in the 1870s by two Kansas nuns, 

 

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 September 21st, 2012 when President Barack Obama used his authority under the Antiquities Act to declare Colorado’s Chimney Rock a National Monument. Archeologists believe that Chacoans, who dominated the region at the turn of the second millennium, used the Chimney Rock site as an astronomical calendar.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

Seven years ago, the only hospital in Leadville appeared on the verge of death. But this month, the historic St. Vincent hospital surged back to life with the opening of a new eight-bed facility, now called St. Vincent Health. The city’s mayor calls it a “stunning accomplishment” for a community hospital started in the 1870s by two Kansas nuns, and it comes at a time when rural hospitals are closing across the United States. For people in Leadville -- the nation’s highest incorporated city -- new services will be available close to home, shaving what can be lengthy drives on slick mountain roads. But it also promises to pump new energy into Leadville’s economy, creating high-paying jobs and a more livable community. Shannon Najmabadi has the details.  

 

To read more of Shannon Najmabadi’s reporting on economic development initiatives across Colorado, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

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

 

A fifth teenager from the tiny Eastern Plains town of Wiley has died as a result of a car crash earlier this month. Fifteen-year-old Braden Black died on Friday. He was a passenger in a SUV that was hit by a truck when the 16-year-old driver ran a stop sign on September 8, the Colorado State Patrol says. The superintendent of schools in Wiley says his community, which had just 260 students, is reeling from the loss, but is managing with help from grief counselors dispatched by organizations in other towns.

 

Denver-based Alterra Mountain Co. lost about $200 million when its North American ski operations shut down last year because of COVID. But its insurer is refusing to pay claims Alterra made under its business interruption policy. Alterra is suing Lexington Insurance in Denver District Court, noting that the policy did not exclude losses as a result of infectious or contagious disease. Other insurers have excluded that type of loss since the SARS virus outbreak in 2003. 

 

The number of electric vehicles sold in Colorado is growing quickly, but not fast enough to meet the state’s ambitious goal of having nearly a million of them on the road by 2030 to help reduce pollution. To encourage sales, Xcel Energy is offering incentives to help people making less than $85,000 a year afford a new or used EV and working with landlords to install chargers at apartment complexes and offering rebates for chargers installed in homes. The utility also wants to speed development of Colorado’s public charging network, which currently includes about 15,000 ports to refuel. About 165,000 are needed to ease consumer anxiety about getting stuck somewhere on the road.

 

Hundreds of students from North High School and other Denver Public Schools walked out of their classrooms Monday morning and marched to the district headquarters to demand the school board do more about board member Tay Anderson than merely censure him. Some of the students said they will feel unsafe as long as he is in office. The board on Friday voted 6-1 to censure 23-year-old Anderson for conduct unbecoming. They voted after a six-month investigation found claims that Anderson had sexually assaulted students were unsubstantiated. It did find that he had flirted inappropriately with a 16-year-old on social media before learning her age, and that he made social media posts during the investigation that were threatening to witnesses. 

 

For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don’t forget to tune in again tomorrow.

 

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 with the Colorado Sun. It&rsquo;s Tuesday September 21st,
&nbsp;
Today - As rural hospitals close across the country, the historic St. Vincent hospital is back and stronger than ever with the opening of a new eight-bed facility. The city&rsquo;s mayor calls it a &ldquo;stunning accomplishment&rdquo; for a community hospital started in the 1870s by two Kansas nuns,&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 September 21st, 2012 when President Barack Obama used his authority under the Antiquities Act to declare Colorado&rsquo;s Chimney Rock a National Monument. Archeologists believe that Chacoans, who dominated the region at the turn of the second millennium, used the Chimney Rock site as an astronomical calendar.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.
&nbsp;
Seven years ago, the only hospital in Leadville appeared on the verge of death. But this month, the historic St. Vincent hospital surged back to life with the opening of a new eight-bed facility, now called St. Vincent Health. The city&rsquo;s mayor calls it a &ldquo;stunning accomplishment&rdquo; for a community hospital started in the 1870s by two Kansas nuns, and it comes at a time when rural hospitals are closing across the United States. For people in Leadville -- the nation&rsquo;s highest incorporated city -- new services will be available close to home, shaving what can be lengthy drives on slick mountain roads. But it also promises to pump new energy into Leadville&rsquo;s economy, creating high-paying jobs and a more livable community. Shannon Najmabadi has the details.&nbsp;&nbsp;
&nbsp;
To read more of Shannon Najmabadi&rsquo;s reporting on economic development initiatives across Colorado, go to coloradosun.com.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
&nbsp;
A fifth teenager from the tiny Eastern Plains town of Wiley has died as a result of a car crash earlier this month. Fifteen-year-old Braden Black died on Friday. He was a passenger in a SUV that was hit by a truck when the 16-year-old driver ran a stop sign on September 8, the Colorado State Patrol says. The superintendent of schools in Wiley says his community, which had just 260 students, is reeling from the loss, but is managing with help from grief counselors dispatched by organizations in other towns.
&nbsp;
Denver-based Alterra Mountain Co. lost about $200 million when its North American ski operations shut down last year because of COVID. But its insurer is refusing to pay claims Alterra made under its business interruption policy. Alterra is suing Lexington Insurance in Denver District Court, noting that the policy did not exclude losses as a result of infectious or contagious disease. Other insurers have excluded that type of loss since the SARS virus outbreak in 2003.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
The number of electric vehicles sold in Colorado is growing quickly, but not fast enough to meet the state&rsquo;s ambitious goal of having nearly a million of them on the road by 2030 to help reduce pollution. To encourage sales, Xcel Energy is offering incentives to help people making less than $85,000 a year afford a new or used EV and working with landlords to install chargers at apartment complexes and offering rebates for chargers installed in homes. The utility also wants to speed development of Colorado&rsquo;s public charging network, which currently includes about 15,000 ports to refuel. About 165,000 are needed to ease consumer anxiety about getting stuck somewhere on the road.
&nbsp;
Hundreds of students from North High School and other Denver Public Schools walked out of their classrooms Monday morning and marched to the district headquarters to demand the school board do more about board member Tay Anderson than merely censure him. Some of the students said they will feel unsafe as long as he is in office. The board on Friday voted 6-1 to censure 23-year-old Anderson for conduct unbecoming. They voted after a six-month investigation found claims that Anderson had sexually assaulted students were unsubstantiated. It did find that he had flirted inappropriately with a 16-year-old on social media before learning her age, and that he made social media posts during the investigation that were threatening to witnesses.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
For more information on all of these stories, visit our website, www.coloradosun.com. And don&rsquo;t forget to tune in again tomorrow.
&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.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;