Posted inBusiness, Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, News

Mystery solved: That secretive solar farm in western Colorado? It’s officially a crypto mine.

Mystery solved. The hush-hush solar development in Olathe is sub rosa no more. The old Louisiana Pacific lumber mill along U.S. 50 is home to a cryptocurrency mine. Aspen Creek Digital Corporation announced late last week that its “high-performance” bitcoin mining center is now operating on the site and is linked to the 10-megawatt solar […]

Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, COVID, Culture, Environment, News, Politics and Government

“A big year” for Olathe sweet corn as pickers pluck first ears of the season

OLATHE — The sun’s first rays are spilling over Jumbo Mountain when the team clambers aboard the sprawling corn harvester.  John Harold joins the pickers as they twist his “Olathe Sweet” sweet corn from the stalks. It’s barely 6 a.m. and the first harvest of the season is underway for the nationally celebrated ears. It’s […]

Posted inColoradans, News, Politics and Government

Supreme Court ruling on DACA brings more time, but no less uncertainty for Coloradans

As of the end of last year, Colorado was home to 14,640 DACA recipients. They have always known their freedom runs on a clock. Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Trump administration cannot summarily shut down the program does not change the precariousness of their legal status in this country, but it buys more […]

Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government

Colorado growers face “risk like we have never faced before” as coronavirus puts up labor walls

Like nearly all farmers, David Harold is well used to uncertainty. He grew up in his family’s Olathe-based business, Tuxedo Corn, steeped in the inevitable risks tied to weather, shifting markets and labor problems. But he is rattled to his roots by the risk posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic. “The amount of risk we […]

Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, Environment, News, Water

Sweet corn put Olathe on the map, but seeds of economic revival didn’t take

When giant, two-story machines called mule jacks lumbered into the corn fields around Olathe this week, it signaled that highly anticipated Western Slope sweet corn was about to hit grocery stores and grills — for the 33rd year running. But change is afoot beyond the million-plus ears of tender, high-sugar corn that will be picked, […]