The Sunriser | Trade war is sinking Colorado outdoor gear makers

---

Good Morning, Sun friends. It was sad, the day after Easter, to wake up to the news of Pope Francis’ death. I’m not Catholic, but I remember feeling inspired and intrigued when a priest who grew up in a Buenos Aires barrio was chosen to lead the church, and I’ve been moved by his words many times since then.

For many non-Catholics, Francis was the first pope we paid much attention to, probably because he addressed issues more relevant to modern life. As a journalist who regularly writes about immigration, and one who recently spent a day at an Aurora community center focused on feeding immigrants in need, I find it compelling that Pope Francis mentioned migrants in his final Easter address, read for him yesterday at St. Peter’s basilica.

“I would like all of us to hope anew and to revive our trust in others, including those who are different than ourselves, or who come from distant lands, bringing unfamiliar customs, ways of life and ideas,” he wrote.

Definitely something to ponder as we peel all those leftover hard-boiled eggs. Meanwhile, we’ve got news on sports betting, public lands and how President Trump’s tariff war is affecting the outdoors industry.

ECONOMY

Small manufacturers of outdoor goods have been growing right along with the outdoor industry in Colorado for decades, but the ripple effects of President Trump’s tariffs are threatening to roll back that growth — and then some — Jason Blevins reports.

READ MORE

---

WATER

The explosion of sports betting around the country (and in Colorado) hasn’t created the windfall for water projects that lawmakers hoped. But a bill looking to stop letting casinos and apps take “free” bets as a tax deductioncould lead to a big boost in revenues, Jerd Smith reports.

READ MORE

---

SPORTS

CPKC Stadium, America’s first venue dedicated to professional women’s sports, has broken ticket records and launched a development boom alongside the Missouri River in Kansas City. Lincoln Roch reports on what parts of KC’s success Denver is hoping to replicate — and whether Denver’s City Council will OK a $70 million investment.

READ MORE

---

MORE NEWS

COLORADO SUNDAY

A tribute singer dresses up like Selena and tours the West, artists adorn walls and their bodies with her likeness, and fans worldwide continue to celebrate her music. Thirty years after her tragic murder, Selena remains a touchpoint for generations of Latin Americans, writes Parker Yamasaki in this week’s Colorado Sunday feature.

READ MORE

THE COLORADO REPORT

🔑 = source has article meter or paywall

• The real story behind I Am Sanctuary, a white-walled Cap Hill mansion in Denver that has sparked curiosity for years. The stately mansion is owned by the Saint Germain Foundation — a tax-exempt organization that calls itself a religion but some critics say is a cult.
  — Denverite
• DOGE targets Aurora-based AmeriCorps program focusing on teen mental health issues. “To dismantle these programs now, when so many Coloradans rely on them, would be devastating. These actions will impact service members and result in a loss of tax support for working families, wildfire response teams, those who build affordable housing, and behavioral health support in our schools. These are the people behind the numbers — and the work they do matters deeply,” Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera said in a statement about the cuts.
• — Sentinel Colorado
• No varsity football at Middle Park High this fall. As enrollment falls at districts around the country, smaller rural schools like Middle Park are having trouble safely fielding a full team of varsity-ready athletes.
  — Sky-Hi News
• Four arrested, over $170k in stolen vehicles recovered in Rifle during multi-agency investigation. Four people suspected of multiple car thefts across Colorado and Utah were arrested in Rifle on Wednesday morning, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.
  — Post-Independent

COLUMNS

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.

Now, what to do with all these hard-boiled eggs?

— Jennifer and the whole staff of The Sun

Corrections & Clarifications

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