Posted inColoradans, Education, News

Colorado school districts are hiring teachers to start work before they graduate amid educator shortage

Ellie Howe began teaching this year beside some of the same teachers she had as a middle schooler in the Eagle County School District, where they guided her through math problems, Spanish vocabulary and social studies projects. “Those teachers definitely pushed me to be a better individual in school,” said Howe, who is still learning […]

Posted inClimate, Energy, Environment, Equity, Housing, News

This is the first net-zero affordable housing project in Colorado’s high country. It certainly won’t be the last.

Jeremy Duncan enjoys scrolling through apps and websites regularly to check his family’s energy consumption at his home in Basalt.  “Holy Cross shows you how much you are saving, and SolarEdge has a feature where you can look at solar panels and see which panels are used most,” Duncan said. “You can break it down […]

Posted inBusiness, Housing, News

Colorado mountain communities vote “yes” on new short-term rental fees but reject heavier regulation

Colorado voters in several resort communities approved increased fees and taxes meant to squeeze more revenue for affordable housing from short-term rentals. But voters in end-of-the-road Crested Butte and Telluride stopped short of heavier restrictions intended to slow and limit short-term rentals in the tourist-dependent communities. Jim Day, who is retired and lives part time […]

Posted inHousing, News, Outsider

A flurry of policy experiments in Colorado serves as “regional laboratory” for regulating, limiting short-term rentals

Winter Park and Breckenridge are offering big incentives to homeowners who convert their short-term rental properties to housing for locals.  A program called “Short-Term Fix” offers homeowners up to $20,000 for converting their Winter Park vacation homes to housing for locals.  The Town of Breckenridge and Summit County last week unveiled a similar program. The […]

Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government

A new rule to slash oil and gas emissions appeals to the industry, but Colorado activists worry it won’t work

The Polis administration is banking on an untested, first-in-the-nation type of regulation to sharply cut oil and gas sector emissions to meet state greenhouse gas targets — drawing praise from the industry, but roiling environmental groups and some local officials. The draft “greenhouse gas intensity target” rule, to be submitted to the Air Quality Control […]

Posted inBusiness, COVID, Economy, News, Outdoors

Colorado mountain, resort communities are rebounding — and then some — from coronavirus-scarred 2020

 John Norton, Gunnison County’s tourism czar, was talking to his board last April. The ski resort had closed abruptly. Lodging and restaurants were closed. Visitors were being told to leave. The pandemic was triggering a panic in tourist-based economies across the country.  A board member asked how much the Gunnison River Valley tourism community could […]

Posted inColoradans, News, Newsletters, Outdoors, Outsider

Cops on skis keep the peace at Vail and Beaver Creek. But they’re more likely to lend a friendly mitten.

VAIL — Det. Greg Schwartz spies a couple in need and skis up to them in front of the bright yellow “Slow Skiing” sign on Vail’s Northwoods run.  “Can I take it for you?” he asks, reaching for the phone balancing in Lowell Zarzuela’s hand as he snaps selfies of himself and his wife, Angie. […]