The end of Albertsons?

Good morning and happy "Broncos whupped the Raiders" day, despite all the venom from that particular rivalry having been drained by a move to Las Vegas and many consecutive seasons of "rebuilding" by both franchises.

We had a busy weekend full of bat caves, grocery store merger trials and even a bear attack, but before we dive into the news, it's time to reveal the winners of Colorado's Best, where we asked readers like you to choose the best businesses, nonprofits and organizations in the state. I'm happy to see my favorite brunch spot — Lucile's Creole Cafe — get its laurels, along with hundreds of other highly deserving spots around the state. Click the links below to explore the winners and add to your travel plans!

Denver Metro

Northeast (Fort Collins, Greeley)

Southeast (Colorado Springs, Pueblo)

Southwest (Durango)

Western Slope & Mountains (Grand Junction, Vail)

Now, I said something about bat caves earlier that I feel like we need to circle back to, so let's buckle our utility belts and get spelunking, shall we?

THE NEWS Albertsons brand would no longer exist in Colorado after merger with Kroger

As the second week of the State of Colorado v. Kroger kicks off tomorrow, Tamara Chuang breaks down the first week of the tense antitrust trial, including what a post-merger future would look like in a practical sense, what would become of the brands involved and whether the actions Kroger says it will take to keep competition alive are enough to stop rising prices.

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Fact Brief Is a Denver grocery store closing because of concerns over crime? The closure of the Natural Grocers on East Colfax Avenue sparked conversations about the safety of the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Justin George digs in for this Gigafact Fact Brief.

ELECTION 2024

Continuing our series of guides to this year's general election, we have stories on the state's proposed gun tax and a change to how Colorado judges can handle bail for certain violent charges.

Proposition KK: What voters should know about Colorado's proposed excise tax on guns, ammunition.

Amendment I: Should Colorado judges be able to deny bail to people charged with first-degree murder?

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Forest Service closes Colorado caves to limit spread of bat disease that has killed millions of animals "This is definitely a surge. Imagine Colorado is a big rock sitting on a beach and the waves coming in around it are this disease. That's what we are seeing."

— Daniel Neubaum, the species conservation manager dealing with bats for Colorado Parks and Wildlife

The Rocky Mountain Region office of the U.S. Forest Service released a three-year order last month that detailed a plan to close 88 caves — 16 in Colorado — in an attempt to limit the spread of the white-nose syndrome that has spread rapidly in the eastern part of the country. Jason Blevins has the details.

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Colorado's misery index shows we are less miserable, though it may not feel like it

Inflation has dropped. Unemployment is down. Those kinds of indicators are contributing to what economists call the "misery index" actually going down, especially in Colorado. So why doesn't it feel like we're less miserable? Tamara Chuang breaks it down in this week's edition of "What's Working."

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MORE NEWS

Bear with cubs attacks 74-year-old man inside southwestern Colorado home. The man is recovering from "significant" injuries to his head and body after he was clawed by the bear.

Court investigating threats after Colorado judge sentenced Tina Peters to 9 years in prison. Court administrators said they are receiving "threats and compliments" after a district court judge handed down Peters' sentence last week.

Southern Colorado police chief, twin brother charged with theft for allegedly pocketing city funds from K-9 business. Center's police Chief Aaron Fresquez and Sgt. Adam Fresquez are accused of using city funds to train K-9s, before selling them to other agencies.

COLORADO SUNDAY All the buckets, real or imagined: How Colorado plans to store water is a big dam question. "Nothing is fast in water law in Colorado. So many of these projects were envisioned for a completely different reality than what we're seeing now in 2024."

— Lindsay DeFrates, a spokesperson for the Colorado River District

As cities along the Front Range imagine their futures, water storage is a big part of the equation. Michael Booth lays out how and where growing towns plan to store their water, from Greeley to Pueblo, in this week's Colorado Sunday.

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THE COLORADO REPORT

Scientists seeking answers about Mars look to the Colorado River's canyons. New research from the University of Arizona suggests an unlikely connection between the Lower Colorado River Basin and the red planet. — KUNC

When Colorado leaf-peeping season ends, head for Kansas. Blink and autumn in Colorado is gone. If you're still looking to catch the colors, a road trip to Kansas might do the trick. — Cañon City Daily Record

Should elephants have rights? The Colorado Supreme Court will hear arguments this month. The Colorado Supreme Court will determine if five elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs should be freed and go to a sanctuary. — Denver7

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THE OPINION PAGE

Tina Peters goes to prison even as Donald Trump is cheered for continuing to spout the Big Lie. The former Mesa County clerk deserved her nine-year sentence. But what about Trump, whose lies she fell for and who may never face justice? — Mike Littwin

Hurricane Helene proved nowhere is safe from climate change. Colorado is no exception. Colorado is already warming faster than global averages. Ending the use of fossil fuels is the only way to prevent it from getting worse. — Trish Zornio

Grab 'em by the ballot initiatives. This year Colorado voters will be asked to vote on 14 ballot initiatives. With all that going on, who'll notice if I slip in a few of my own priorities? — Peter Moore

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 .

Thanks for kicking off your week with us! See you bright and early tomorrow.

— Eric and the whole staff of The Sun

Corrections & Clarifications

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