Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, Economy, Growth, Housing, News, Outdoors

Leadville was an unassuming, old mining town — until COVID brought the deep-pocketed tourists

LEADVILLE —A coffee shop downtown finally got fed up with the question and posted an answer: No, you cannot leave your bicycle in here. Everyone has a $10,000 bike. The sign got laughs from the locals, who’ve earned the right by living year-round at 10,000 feet to poke fun at Front Range and out-of-state tourists […]

Posted inGrowth

A first look at Denver Public Schools’ new strategic plan

A year into his tenure, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero is rolling out a new strategic plan to guide Colorado’s largest school district.  The plan, which Marrero calls a roadmap, focuses on three broad goals: improving the student experience, improving the adult experience for educators and families, and replacing “ineffective, destructive systems” with “equitable, […]

Posted inBusiness, Growth, Housing

Old practices, new frontiers: The revival of a shuttered drive-in starts a bold experiment in southern Colorado

CENTER — The robot dangling from a rickety tower of lumber squirts out potato-shaped globs of mud. In a matter of hours, rings of globs are piled head high, creating an adobe hut.  “This is sort of another experiment for us,” architect Luke Falcone says.  Falcone’s family is testing a new vision in Center at […]

Posted inGrowth, Health, News, Politics and Government, Wildfire

Colorado passed new laws intended to help tenants. But those affected by the Marshall fire say they’re not working. 

Before the Marshall fire burned about 1,000 homes in Louisville and Superior and rained potentially toxic ash on hundreds of others, Colorado strengthened laws for tenants doing battle with landlords.  One law change in 2020 prohibited price gouging, including for rent, after a disaster. Another recent legislative update said landlords have 24 hours to address […]

Posted inBusiness, Growth, News

The life sciences industry is booming. Here’s how it affects the Denver metro.

The life science industry has thrived in Colorado for decades. But in the last year or two, more people are moving in and around Denver to research everything from diseases and medical devices to pharmaceuticals and drug discovery. That means there’s less space equipped with proper ventilation and technology and fewer labs available for research […]

Posted inEconomy, Equity, Growth, Health, News, Social Services

Health disparities drive Ute Mountain Ute plan for new grocery store, workforce center

In Towaoc, capital of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, there are about 347 households and no place within 15 miles to shop for fresh, healthy food. That’s a significant barrier to improving health in a community where rates of obesity and diabetes are nearly three times higher than the rest of Colorado. An ambitious plan […]

Posted inClimate, Environment, Growth, News, Water

Cities in the West have water even as drought and climate change tighten their grip. How is that possible?

By Suman Naishadham, The Associated Press As drought and climate change tighten their grip on the American West, the sight of fountains, swimming pools, gardens and golf courses in cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Boise, and Albuquerque can be jarring at first glance. Western water experts, however, say they aren’t […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, Growth, News

What’s Working: Colorado’s blood-plasma industry grew by 170,000 square feet this week

A decline in global plasma donations during the pandemic has one Colorado company hoping to reverse the trend in order to help people with rare and chronic diseases. Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies opened a new manufacturing plant this week and plans to hire several hundred workers.  But first, in economic news, two Colorado counties […]