Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, Culture, Equity, Health, News

The construction industry has a high suicide rate. Experts gathered in Denver to find a solution.

Nicholas Williams began to panic when his construction equipment malfunctioned.  He was 65 feet off the ground, and less than two months into the new job, when he became stuck in a lift basket.  When another lift basket rose up to rescue him, Williams had no choice but to jump into the other functioning piece […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, Housing, News, Wildfire

Supply and labor shortages double the time it’ll take to rebuild homes lost in the Marshall fire

Casey Cazier protected his eyes with sunglasses as he sawed a piece of lumber in half to repair a wood fence that was blown off the hinges by 100 mph winds during the Marshall fire.  Over the past two decades, Cazier’s general contracting business has focused on replacing roofs and other parts of homes that […]

Posted inBusiness, Climate, Environment, Housing, News, Politics and Government, Wildfire

Colorado doesn’t have a statewide building code. Would enacting one help protect homes against wildfire?

A handful of Democratic state lawmakers are interested in pursuing legislation next year that would enact a statewide minimum building code in Colorado as part of broader long-term efforts to prepare for wildfires driven by a warming climate.  The new code could help unlock millions of dollars in federal grant funding to protect communities against […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, Growth, Housing, News

Housing demand is greater than ever but Colorado is building fewer homes than expected. Here’s why.

In a past life, Susan Ohlhaber helped people as a mental health counselor. Actually, it wasn’t that long ago. It was just last year. Then the COVID-19 pandemic began and she was laid off. Ohlhaber, who lives in Morrison, is now learning the difference between a jig saw, a circular saw and a reciprocating saw. […]

Posted inBusiness, Economy, News

What’s Working: How much federal COVID relief went to unemployed Coloradans?

The day is finally here and some will weep but others will likely be cheering. It’s the last day Colorado will pay pandemic unemployment benefits, if you’re reading this on Sept. 4. According to Department of Labor and Employment officials, about 107,000 Coloradans will no longer be eligible while another 30,000 people will no longer […]

Posted inEconomy, Housing, News

In rural towns like Kit Carson, a housing and development conundrum born of rising costs, disrepair — and lots of asbestos

KIT CARSON — The hope for rural sustainability in this small, spare town lives in a light-brown, 1,800-square-foot, two-story frame house with four bedrooms and three baths. Her name is LouRae Rady, a single mom and a second-grade teacher at the sparkling new school just a couple blocks away. The hope lies in Rady, whose […]