How Arvada became Colorado’s quantum hub

Good morning, Colorado, and happy Tuesday.

Ten days from now you could be sitting among other fellow Coloradans, listening and learning about big ideas that shape our state — from the way AI is seeping into our lives to breaking down ballot measures that you’ll see in this year’s election to the challenges that libraries face in today’s world.

With more than 30 speakers and panels led by Sun journalists, I’m pretty sure there will be something that piques your interest at this year’s SunFest. So while it’s fresh on our minds, grab your tickets now!

Hope to see you there.

Olivia Prentzel

Reporter

THE NEWS

TECHNOLOGY

Colorado’s multimillion dollar investment in quantum gets 70-acre campus in Arvada

Shovels hit the ground Monday in Arvada to start building a 70-acre campus, only two months after Colorado won a $40.5 million federal grant to invest in a quantum computing hub. But the long-term plan is much bigger than a 70-acre business park, according to investors who hope to combine the brain power spawned from decades of existence of federal labs and universities with startups and companies working to commercialize quantum. Tamara Chuang has the story.

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WATER

Colorado wants to help farmers survive drought, pests and market changes. Improving the soil may be key.

Nurture Colorado’s soil and reap the rewards. That’s the idea behind a state program that aims to create more efficient irrigation, more carbon storage and healthier crops. To help farmers who are already battling drought and thin margins, traveling soil specialists are visiting ranches around the state. Shannon Mullane reports from the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation.

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ENVIRONMENT

Waste Management’s $100 million Denver East sorting center aims to boost Colorado recycling

There’s a new sorting center in town, but this one aims to be different from the rest. Local leaders hope the $100 million complex south of the Denver-Arapahoe landfill boosts a new industry of remaking recycled materials into fresh products. Michael Booth has more.

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WILDFIRE

Wildfire burning in northern Larimer County was sparked on private property and human-caused, officials say

A wildfire that forced hundreds to evacuate Monday in northern Larimer County was human-caused, county officials determined. After local firefighters spotted a fire about 5 miles northwest of Red Feather Lakes, it quickly grew to more than 130 acres, prompting requests for air resources and ground support from around the state.

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Section by Olivia Prentzel | Reporter

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Bus Rapid Transit plans are rolling on Colorado Boulevard, so we talked to locals. A BRT lane from Interstate 70 to past Interstate 25 along one of the busiest roads in Denver is one of several projects that could transform travel in the city.
  — Denverite
• Denver fur ban initiative targets fashion industry, but it’s got fly fishers and cowboy hat makers worried, too. Initiated Ordinance 308 is targeting the manufacturing, sale, trade and display of select fur products, but a coalition of fly-fishing shops and custom hatmakers say it could cut into their inventory and ability to stay afloat.
  — The Denver Post
• Female-led search by Vail Mountain Rescue Group uncovers new clues that may finally close the case on missing hiker Michelle Vanek. Since her disappearance in 2005, the search for Michelle Vanek had been frustrating rescue teams. But the board president of Vail Mountain Rescue Group says Vanek appeared in his dream last fall, saying she didn’t want to be found by men.
  — Vail Daily
• Judge shuts down Humvee camper company accused of pocketing deposits. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kimberley Tyson said she was frustrated by Wolf Rigs’ inability to produce financial documents when she converted the company’s bankruptcy filing to a Chapter 7, requiring a liquidation of assets including the prototype camper consisting of an aluminum frame welded onto a refurbished Humvee.
  — BusinessDen ????

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Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE OPINION PAGE

COMMUNITY

• Colorado’s foster kids are still worth fighting for, all these decades later.  If we can better their trajectories, it’s better for all of us economically and as a society
  — Shari F. Shink, executive director of Cobbled Streets

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.

SunLit

REVIEW

“Anyone But Her”: Ghostly chat about widowers’ new girlfriend portends mystery

Take the dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship. Now superimpose them across the spiritual divide between life and death. That’s where Cynthia Swanson’s latest book, “Anyone But Her,” begins — with a conversation from beyond the grave in which a murdered wife expresses her misgivings about the woman her husband has begun to date. Add in dual timelines — 1979 and 2004 —and you’ve got a multilayered mystery.

READ AN EXCERPT

• Interview with the author. The theme of loss echoes throughout Swanson’s book, but the theme of persistence describes the process that went into writing “Anyone But Her.” 
• Listen to a podcast with the author.

Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer

That’s all for today, friends. Thanks for reading and don’t forget, Sun members get big discounts on SunFest tickets!

— Olivia & the whole staff of The Sun

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

Corrections & Clarifications

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