Good Morning, Colorado, you’re listening to the Daily Sun-Up. It’s Thursday April 1st, and even though there’s a lot of turmoil right now we’re feeling lucky to start the day with you.

 

Today - Youth who decided to leave the foster care system before aging out during the pandemic are allowed to return for support. Now, this exception may become permanent 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 take you back to April 1st, 1889 when Governor Job A Cooper approved legislation to make Colorado smarter. He signed a bill that established The Colorado State Normal School in Greeley to train public school teachers. By the early 20th century the school had a strong nationwide reputation.

 

Now, our feature story.

 

During the coronavirus pandemic, youth who left the foster care system voluntarily before aging out at 21 years old have been allowed to return for services and support. Now the state child welfare division wants to make the federally led exception permanent in Colorado. Reporter Jennifer Brown talks with Lucy Haggard about what the change would do, and what it will take to make it happen.

 

To read more about Colorado’s foster care system, go to coloradosun.com. 

 

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

 

The deficit in Colorado’s unemployment trust fund is approaching $1 billion after more than a year of pandemic-induced job losses. The state fund ran out of money in mid-August and had to start borrowing from the federal government to pay benefits. Employers fill the trust fund by paying unemployment insurance premiums for their workers. When the fund falls below a certain level, a surcharge kicks in. But a recent state law has postponed premium increases until 2023. As of mid-March, 245,000 people were receiving some form of unemployment benefits, so the deficit will continue growing.

 

A bill introduced in the state legislature this week would allow law enforcement officers to use deadly force only as a last resort. Democrat-led House Bill 1250 would require officers to respond proportionately to a threat and exhaust other options first, such as de-escalation tactics. The bill follows a sweeping police accountability law the state passed in 2020 following national outcry over the killing of George Floyd. Another bill introduced this week seeks to limit law enforcement’s use of ketamine, the powerful sedative administered to Elijah McClain before he died in Aurora.

 

The Colorado Department of Corrections is offering each employee $500 to get vaccinated against coronavirus. More than 6,000 people work for the state prison system, which has seen thousands of coronavirus cases and 29 deaths among inmates. The total incentive payout will be roughly $1.2 million, but state officials say it is worth it to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. More than 1 million Coloradans have been fully vaccinated as of Wednesday.

https://coloradosun.com/2021/03/31/colorado-prisons-vaccine-distribution-incentive/ 

 

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 Thursday April 1st, 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 - Youth who decided to leave the foster care system before aging out during the pandemic are allowed to return for support. Now, this exception may become permanent 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 take you back to April 1st, 1889 when Governor Job A Cooper approved legislation to make Colorado smarter. He signed a bill that established The Colorado State Normal School in Greeley to train public school teachers. By the early 20th century the school had a strong nationwide reputation.
&nbsp;
Now, our feature story.
&nbsp;
During the coronavirus pandemic, youth who left the foster care system voluntarily before aging out at 21 years old have been allowed to return for services and support. Now the state child welfare division wants to make the federally led exception permanent in Colorado. Reporter Jennifer Brown talks with Lucy Haggard about what the change would do, and what it will take to make it happen.
&nbsp;
To read more about Colorado&rsquo;s foster care system, go to coloradosun.com.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And Before we go, here are a few stories that you should know about today:
&nbsp;
The deficit in Colorado&rsquo;s unemployment trust fund is approaching $1 billion after more than a year of pandemic-induced job losses. The state fund ran out of money in mid-August and had to start borrowing from the federal government to pay benefits. Employers fill the trust fund by paying unemployment insurance premiums for their workers. When the fund falls below a certain level, a surcharge kicks in. But a recent state law has postponed premium increases until 2023. As of mid-March, 245,000 people were receiving some form of unemployment benefits, so the deficit will continue growing.
&nbsp;
A bill introduced in the state legislature this week would allow law enforcement officers to use deadly force only as a last resort. Democrat-led House Bill 1250 would require officers to respond proportionately to a threat and exhaust other options first, such as de-escalation tactics. The bill follows a sweeping police accountability law the state passed in 2020 following national outcry over the killing of George Floyd. Another bill introduced this week seeks to limit law enforcement&rsquo;s use of ketamine, the powerful sedative administered to Elijah McClain before he died in Aurora.
&nbsp;
The Colorado Department of Corrections is offering each employee $500 to get vaccinated against coronavirus. More than 6,000 people work for the state prison system, which has seen thousands of coronavirus cases and 29 deaths among inmates. The total incentive payout will be roughly $1.2 million, but state officials say it is worth it to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. More than 1 million Coloradans have been fully vaccinated as of Wednesday.
https://coloradosun.com/2021/03/31/colorado-prisons-vaccine-distribution-incentive/&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.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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