The perfect storm behind high egg prices

Good morning, Colorado.

I called my butcher and got the rundown on when it was best to stop by for chicken wings. A recipe has already been bookmarked. … Now we just need to get the beer.

I can’t claim to watch much football. But I will proudly declare my love of food and a large pop cultural moment.

But before we get too sidetracked talking about the Super Bowl, let’s dig into today’s news — just like we would a seven-layer dip.

Danika Worthington

Presentation Editor

THE NEWS

NEWS

Colorado’s high egg prices are blamed on bird flu, but there’s more to the story

Chicken farmers are still recovering from a bird flu outbreak in 2020. The virus can wipe out an entire flock in days. But now there are virus mutations, a new cage-free law and more outside states buying up Colorado eggs as the virus devastates their chicken populations. Tamara Chuang has more.

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HEALTH

Who gets federal research funding in Colorado? These two charts will show you.

With several major universities and a large academic medical campus, Colorado is a hub for research. But that makes us particularly vulnerable to the turmoil shaking up the nation’s scientific community as President Donald Trump’s administration tries to freeze funds, halt meetings and grant reviews, and puts a blackout on communication. John Ingold looks into who in Colorado is affected.

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HEALTH

Mental health treatment center opens in the Vail Valley, where suicide is a leading cause of death

The 28-bed Precourt Healing Center is the culmination of a nearly $200 million communitywide effort to deliver mental health services to struggling residents, Jason Blevins reports.

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MORE NEWS

• Senate confirms Denver fossil fuel CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary. He vows to “unleash” US resources. Both of Colorado’s Democratic senators voted to confirm Wright, one of the industry’s loudest voices against efforts to fight climate change.

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE COLORADO REPORT

• Neighborly or nuisance? Western Colorado church’s unhoused solution lands them a court date. The Montrose United Methodist Church began receiving citations after allowing camping on their property. “You have 7 days to remove the homeless camp as well as clean up all trash, litter and junk from property. Failure to do so can result in an emergency abatement,” one of the many notices the church received reads.
  — CPR News
• JBS announces $50M expansion at Greeley meatpacking plant. The largest employer in Weld County is adding a massive distribution center to their beef production facility as part of $200 million in projects announced by the Brazilian company.
  — The Denver Post ????
• 1,800 pack Denver church as Trump’s immigration plans spur resistance. The event, organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, was meant to teach people how to resist federal law enforcement and protect undocumented immigrants from arrest.
  — Denverite
• Altitude Sports, Comcast end long-running dispute to televise Nuggets and Avalanche games. Six years — and an NBA championship and multiple MVPs on the court and the ice — later, the cold war between Kroenke Sports & Entertainment and Comcast is over. Will people un-cut the cord?
  — Sentinel Colorado

???? = source has article meter or paywall

Section by Eric Lubbers | CTO & Newsletter Wrangler

THE OPINION PAGE

COLUMNS

• Forget the distractions. We can’t lose focus on Elon Musk’s all-out attack on American democracy. An increasing number of Democrats have called out Elon Musk — “sound the alarm: Elon’s coming” — but that’s not nearly enough to stop him.
  — Mike Littwin
  

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

Out West Books suggests three titles that conjure the West

Each week as part of SunLit — The Sun’s literature section — we feature staff recommendations from bookstores across Colorado. This week, the staff from Out West Books in Grand Junction recommends:

• “The Crazies” by Amy Gamerman, a nonfiction account of Western landowners in conflict
• “Penitence” by Kristin Koval, a novel of small-town relationships, murder and forgiveness
• “The Woodsmoke Women’s Book of Spells” by Rachel Greenlaw, a novel of legends, spells and (maybe) magic

Read what the bookstore staff had to say about each. Pick up a copy and support your local bookstores at the same time.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Section by Kevin Simpson | Writer

Just think, next year this time we’ll all be buzzing about the Broncos getting ready for the Super Bowl.

— Danika & the whole staff of The Sun

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Corrections & Clarifications

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