Colorado still has thousands of lead pipes to replace

Plus: A medical ethicist on the killing of UnitedHealth’s CEO, how to build 403 affordable homes, gondola rescue in Winter Park and more

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Dec 23, 2024 - 10:00
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Colorado still has thousands of lead pipes to replace
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Hello, good morning and welcome to one of the only true business days of this holiday week — at least until those fools in Congress step up and recognize Festivus as the federal holiday it undoubtedly deserves to be.

Did you know that the fictional holiday — introduced 27 years ago in the “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Strike” — was an actual family holiday for one of the show’s writers? Author Daniel O’Keefe came up with the idea around 1966 and evolved it over decades of family gatherings before his son Dan — who penned the now-iconic script — introduced it to the world, with a few tweaks.

As you retrieve your unadorned aluminum pole — tinsel is “distracting,” as we all know — and begin your airing of grievances, we do have a lot of news from the pre-holiday weekend to catch up on, including a massive rescue in Winter Park, a conversation about medical ethics and much more.

I still need to limber up for the feats of strength, but I’ll hold off for a bit so we can get this sled moving downhill already. Let’s get to it, shall we?

P.S. — If you’re not yet a Colorado Sun member, now is the perfect time to join. Gain access to member benefits and support The Sun’s journalism by becoming a member today. You’ll give yourself the gift of high-quality, independent journalism, while helping us meet our goal of welcoming 200 new members this month. What happens when we meet our goal? We’ll unlock a $2,000 matching grant from NewsMatch to support The Sun’s newsroom. That’s a win-win and definitely something to celebrate! >> BECOME A SUN MEMBER NOW

Denver Water crews replacing a lead service line at 1657 Vine St. on Jan. 12, 2021. (Jerd Smith, Fresh Water News)

2037

The federal deadline for replacing all lead contaminated pipes.

With fewer than 15 years to go before the federal deadline for replacement, a new survey shows that cities and water districts from Aurora to Eckley still have thousands of miles of lead pipes to replace. Jerd Smith of Fresh Water News has the breakdown of where the pipes are — and how that number could still get higher before the deadline.

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Just this weekend, when the man suspected of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was mentioned in the setup for a joke on Saturday Night Live, the audience cheered. It was another example of how the assassination has uncorked the frustrations around the health care industry, but how are doctors reacting? John Ingold talked to the University of Colorado’s lead medical ethicist in a wide-ranging Q&A about how to define violence, what it takes to change a system and more.

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Philip Do, a participant in the Housing Resources of Western Colorado’s Self-Help Homeownership program, describes plans for his backyard Oct. 3 at his home in the Butner Estates subdivision in Grand Junction. The program helps qualified families who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford housing build homes. (Barton Glasser, Special to The Colorado Trust)

Participants in the Housing Resources of Western Colorado’s Self-Help Homeownership program must contribute 30 hours a week at the construction site — on top of their paid jobs. But that extra work not only helps build their own homes, but those of their future neighbors. Sharon Sullivan with The Colorado Trust has more on the program that has found a successful formula on the Western Slope.

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Skiers make turns on the fresh groomers at Winter Park, Feb. 29. (Hugh Carey, The Colorado Sun)

For six hours on Saturday, Winter Park’s ski patrol was engaged in a rescue operation that they trained for, but never expected — evacuating an entire ski lift on one of the busiest weekends of the early season. Jennifer Brown and Jason Blevins have more.

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Kevin Gizinski sits at his grand piano in his apartment in Pancratia Hall Lofts in Denver. Developer Grant Bennett says a three-bedroom rent-controlled loft in the historic building runs as low as $1,017 per month, including heat, water and electricity, for tenants earning no more than 30% of Denver’s median income. (Photo courtesy of Pancratia Hall Partners)

Four generations of Andersons have run the grocery store in Georgetown since its founding in 1893. But after the death of sister Coralue, who was the primary force behind the store until her death at the age of 87, the remaining Andersons are ready for a change. Jason Blevins takes a look at one of the true old-fashioned stores in the high country for this week’s Colorado Sunday feature.

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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 opinion@coloradosun.com.

Thanks for starting out your holiday week with us, and make sure to stretch before and after your feats of strength tonight. No one needs a pulled hamstring on Christmas.

Have a great Monday and we’ll see you back here tomorrow!

— Eric and the whole staff of The Sun

The Colorado Sun is part of The Trust Project. Read our policies.

Notice something wrong? The Colorado Sun has an ethical responsibility to fix all factual errors. Request a correction by emailing corrections@coloradosun.com.

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