Denver News

The city of Denver and the Mental Health Center of Denver will create a new facility where dozens of people can recover from mental health crises in the Sun Valley neighborhood. To its supporters, it’s a groundbreaking step toward a new model of mental health care for people experiencing homelessness. https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/14/denver-city-council-sun-valley-stabilization-center/ Representatives from Denver Public Schools and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association will return to the bargaining table today in ongoing negotiations over fair pay.

RTD rides should know, The cost to ride buses and trains in the metro area jumped this week. The increases are the first on the RTD’s system in three years. Full-price local bus and train fares will jump from $2.60 to $3 and regional fares from $4.50 to $5.25. Any ride starting or ending at Denver International Airport on the A-Line will cost $10.50

Coloradans shopping for groceries on Tuesday spotted a new item on shelves of their neighborhood supermarket: full-strength beer. As of Jan. 1, Colorado’s 3.2 beer law — a restriction from the Prohibition era that prevented many supermarkets and convenience stores from selling full-strength beer — is no more. Now shoppers can now buy the golden brew while also checking off their grocery lists. https://www.denverpost.com/2019/01/01/full-strength-beer-colorado-grocery-stores/?utm_email=64B4C41F641E221EE4A7F491AF&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.denverpost.com%2f2019%2f01%2f01%2ffull-strength-beer-colorado-grocery-stores%2f&utm_campaign=denver-mile-high-roundup&utm_content=manual

The restaurant, part of a national chain operating at more than 40 locations in 16 states, will close its doors at 1701 Pearl St. on New Year’s Day. With rent increases on Pearl Street as high as 30 percent there is a growing belief among industry experts that the restaurants along Boulder’s iconic pedestrian walkway might soon begin to change their approach. http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-business/ci_32352158/boulder-teds-montana-grill-close-new-year-pearl-street The Centennial state grew by nearly 80,000 people last year, making it the seventh fastest-growing state in the country, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

A settlement reached Thursday between Colorado transportation officials and opponents of the Interstate 70 expansion through northeast Denver calls for the state to pay for a community health study and the planting of trees throughout nearby neighborhoods. The deal, which brings the last major legal challenge of the project to a close, addresses lingering fears in the long-neglected community about the public health effects of expanding a freeway that contributes heavily to air pollution in the neighborhood.

People charged with crimes in Denver will no longer have to pay for ankle monitoring before trial, a court-imposed requirement that can cost defendants about $1,000 per case regardless of whether they ultimately are convicted. Skiers and boarders will have, for the second year, a new ride type through the Lyft ride-sharing app, allowing them to navigate Colorado’s best ski resorts without the added stress of driving in the winter. - https://www.skyhinews.com/news/ski-rack-mode-returns-for-lyft-users-app-extends-to-winter-park-granby-and-other-rocky-mountain-ski-areas/

Starting in March 2019, fliers on Denver-based Frontier airline can head to THREE new non-stop locations! https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2018/12/19/frontier-airlines-bwi-fll-bdl-den.html The Colorado Energy Office is helping launch a “green bank” that will leverage private dollars to enhance and spur investment in clean-energy projects.

The Gaylord Rockies Resort and Conference Center, near Denver International Airport opens today, and with more than 1.1 million room nights already booked, the resort will have a huge economic impact on our state. It's estimated at more than a $7 billion of economic activity for Colorado with 2,500 permanent jobs added. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dengr-gaylord-rockies-resort-and-convention-center/ --- If you need to use the restroom at Union Station, you might be surprised by what you see, or what you don’t see inside. The doors on all the stalls in the bus terminal restrooms have been removed.

Broadband speeds across the country are rising rapidly, but Colorado isn’t at the front of the pack when it comes having the fastest Internet. A new study from Ookla, the Seattle-based provider of the popular Speedtest application, ranks Colorado as the 14th fastest state when it comes to average download speeds on fixed broadband. — On Wednesday, the Colorado Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will set standards for the use of police dogs’ drug-detection skills in this state — and could have repercussions across the country. Since recreational marijuana was legalized in 2012, law enforcement agencies in Colorado have struggled to decide what to do with their K-9s trained to signal for pot. Between 100 and 120 police dogs work in Colorado, and about 20 percent still alert for marijuana. https://coloradosun.com/2018/12/12/colorado-drug-dogs-marijuana-court-case/?utm_source=The+Sunriser&utm_campaign=adbad05d37-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_24f7d21cdb-adbad05d37-42968805&mc_cid=adbad05d37&mc_eid=8e125f71d2

Breckenridge Ski Resort announced this week that it will open some of its Peak 10 terrain earlier than expected. That means they’re opening all of the resort’s five peaks earlier in the season than ever before — since Peak 6 opened in 2013. Hundreds of green-glowing meteors will grace Denver skies this week as the Earth passes through a field of space debris. ---- The annual Geminids meteor shower is one of the best times to see shooting stars.

The city of Denver is putting an unusual twist on development at a planned site in Globeville: A new project could combine affordable housing and space for manufacturers. It’s the latest version of the hands-on approach that the city has taken to development. By buying up land and then negotiating with developers about how to use it, Denver hopes to shape the future of gentrifying areas. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/10/denver-affordable-housing-factory-space-globeville/ The Aspen-Pitkin County Airport is eliminating curbside parking near the terminal to comply with federal security rules.

Lafayette’s police force is now equipped with active shooter kits — gear that more departments are considering funding for as mass shootings become a seemingly routine American experience. Lafayette Police Chief Rick Bashor on Tuesday unveiled the kit: a ballistic helmet and vest containing two ceramic plates on both the front and back. The outfit also comes equipped with wound trauma kits. http://www.dailycamera.com/lafayette-news/ci_32315480/lafayette-equips-police-department-active-shooter-kits-signaling

Colorado oil and gas regulators are considering enlarging the mandatory buffer zone between new wells and school property. A proposal released by the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission late Wednesday afternoon would require new wells to be at least 1,000 feet (305 meters) from buildings as well as outdoor areas that schools use, like playgrounds and athletic fields. ---- Denver Public Schools is hosting a community meeting Tuesday at George Washington High School for the public, parents and students to ask questions of Susana Cordova, the sole finalist for the job of district superintendent. District staff will have a chance to quiz Cordova on Wednesday, Dec. 12, at a yet-to-be determined time. Virtual meetings with school leaders are also planned for the week of Dec. 10. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/05/denver-public-schools-community-meeting-superintendent-candidate/

The Denver Public Library announced Wednesday that on Jan. 1 it will eliminate all fines for overdue materials. Libraries around the country have been assessing their fines over the past few years, but in some places, such as Salt Lake City and Columbus, libraries completely eliminated overdue fines. And both of those libraries have reported increased visitors and circulation as a result. https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-public-library-nixes-overdue-fines-to-increase-visits The city may change where people ride scooters and tweak the “pilot” program that has allowed several companies to deploy hundreds of scooters and bikes here. Under the proposal, riders would generally have to obey traffic laws and signals. They would have to yield to pedestrians, and only one person would be allowed per scooter.

A proposal for a new “neighborhood center” for south Denver WILL proceed after the Denver City Council voted its approval on Monday night. The Denver City Council voted on Monday night to allow denser redevelopment on two sites along a stretch known as the “motel district.” The city paid about $2 million for the two properties — a former strip club and parking lot at 8315 East Colfax and a vacant lot at 7900 East Colfax — in 2017. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/12/03/denver-east-colfax-strip-club-housing-development/

United Airlines is expanding its international offerings from Denver, adding a year-round, daily flight to Germany beginning in May.  The afternoon flight to Frankfurt will be operated on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and begins May 2, pending government approval. Work has begun on a $34-million building that will be the future home of Rocky Mountain PBS, local jazz station KUVO and a host of other public media resources in Denver’s Arapahoe Square area. Today’s Denver News Edition featured a story by Colorado Sun writer Jesse Paul. Click the link for more information about today’s stories and to subscribe to the Colorado Sun. Memberships start at just $5/ month https://coloradosun.com

Gov.-elect Jared Polis will not move to the Colorado governor’s mansion and instead will stay at his home in Boulder. https://coloradosun.com/2018/11/21/jared-polis-governors-mansion/ https://coloradosun.com/2018/11/26/denver-approves-plans-for-supervised-injection-site-for-iv-drug-users/ Today’s Denver News Edition featured stories by the Colorado Sun’s writers John Frank & Jennifer Brown. Click the links for more information about today’s stories and to subscribe to the Colorado Sun. Memberships start at just $5/ month!

At any given time, one in eight Denver residents is depressed, according to a first-of-its-kind study from Denver Public Health that relied on electronic medical records and surveys to gauge the mental-health status of Denver. https://coloradosun.com/2018/11/27/denver-depression-rates-study/ https://coloradosun.com/2018/11/28/denver-zoo-polar-bears-moved/ Today’s Denver News Edition featured stories by the Colorado Sun’s writers Jennifer Brown & John Ingold. --- Colorado Sun Memberships start at just $5/ month!

The biggest 911 call center in the state is turning to existing smartphone technology to locate people faster and more accurately when emergencies happen. All you need to do is download a software update. https://coloradosun.com/2018/11/23/911-cell-phone-geolocation-denver/ Denver, Fort Collins, Pueblo and Breckenridge are following in the footsteps of Aspen who runs on 100 percent renewable energy. Colorado Governor.-elect Jared Polis wants the whole state in line by 2040 https://coloradosun.com/2018/11/26/colorado-100-percent-renewable-energy/

Get ready for your outdoor expenses to increase as Fees will go up for Colorado’s state parks, campsites and hunting licenses next year The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved price increases across the board last week. This is the first camping fee increase since 2015 and the first hunting and fishing cost increase since 2005. https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/11/20/colorado-parks-and-wildlife-fee-increases-2019/201692/ Former Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss the current state of diplomacy at the University of Denver’s 20th annual Korbel Dinner on Nov. 29 at the Colorado Convention Center. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright also will serve as a distinguished guest at the dinner, which begins at 7 p.m.

After saying it would review operations following financial difficulties, Kaiser Permanente Colorado announced Monday that it’s laying off about 200 employees in the state. The University of Colorado’s Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics is ready for Monday’s scheduled launch of two of its miniature satellites on a mission to collect data on the physics of the sun and its impact on Earth. http://www.timescall.com/top-stories/ci_32277010/cu-boulder-mini-satellites-part-major-rideshare-mission

Politicians and administrators looking to work in incoming Gov. Jared Polis’ Cabinet need to act fast. Nov. 27 is the deadline for Cabinet-level applications as Polis is set to take office Jan. 8. Proposition 111, which passed in Colorado during the 2018 midterm election, caps interest rates from Payday lenders at 36 percent. Currently the average payday lending loan in Colorado has an interest of 129%. The measure is already forcing some businesses to close. https://kdvr.com/2018/11/16/payday-lenders-starting-to-close-after-voters-limit-interest-rates/

Colorado’s recycling rate hasn’t improved and the amount of trash produced by Coloradans hit a record of 9.3 million tons in 2017. The statistics in the Eco-Cycle report are from 2017 data collected by the state Hazardous Materials & Waste Management Division. The numbers are based on weight of household trash that goes to landfills or gets redirected to a recycler. http://ecocycle.org/take-action/zerowastecolorado Denver International Airport travelers can now check their bags and print their boarding passes at two of its shuttle parking areas

The city of Denver will extend a program that provides legal defense for immigrants who are fighting deportation. Mayor Michael Hancock held a news conference Tuesday with immigration groups to make the announcement. https://kdvr.com/2018/11/15/denver-to-expand-immigration-legal-aid-program/ Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is interested in setting a minimum wage of $15 an hour for thousands of city employees and other people who work with the city. He said in a news release that he would ask city staffers to “explore increasing starting pay” over several years. The change could apply to direct employees, contractors, vendors’ employees and people who work for private companies at city facilities like Red Rocks or Denver International Airport.

Facing mounting government pressure and a public backlash over the epidemic of teenage vaping, Juul Labs announced on Tuesday that it would stop selling most of its flavored e-cigarette pods in retail stores and would discontinue its social media promotions. https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/13/health/juul-flavor-social-media-fda-bn/index.html People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Colorado State University on Monday asking the school to end experiments that involve infecting wild birds with the West Nile virus. West Nile virus often spreads to people via mosquito bites. Symptoms of the virus, which can be fatal, can include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting and diarrhea. In rarer instances, individuals can develop serious illness that affects the central nervous system, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Vail Resorts is funneling a large share of its investments in the state this year and next on improving the flooring. Vail Mountain put in 10 large fan guns on the Born Free Trail for the upcoming season and is boosting its grooming capacity on the Back Bowls, which should result in a 30 percent increase in tamed terrain. https://www.denverpost.com/2017/07/25/vail-environmental-impact-changes/ Denver Police responded to an almost 20-car crash on the Auraria ramp to the southbound lanes of I-25 as snow snarled traffic across the city, according to a tweet from the department. No injuries or closures are reported from the crash but there were Several closures being reported across the state.

RTD has started the final work on the new southeast extension rail line and that means service disruptions this weekend. The extension will run 2 1/2 miles between Lincoln Avenue and Ridgegate Parkway in Lone Tree. The E and R lines will be shut down from 4 a.m. Sunday until 4 a.m. Monday between the Lincoln and Dry Creek stations. Shuttle service will available every 15 minutes. RTD doesn't have a date for opening the southeast extension, only saying it will be sometime next year.

Colorado residents who do not identify as male or female will be allowed to choose “X” as the symbol to represent their gender on their driver’s licenses when an emergency rule goes into effect this month. Denver Post Reports: The change comes as state officials continue to grapple with policies that allow people who identify differently than their sex assigned at birth to alter their official documents, which LGBTQ advocates say is crucial for transgender and nonbinary peoples’ daily lives. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/11/08/colorado-drivers-license-x-gender/

Voters on Tuesday decided the next Colorado governor would be Jared Polis, a five-term congressman from Boulder whose promises on an array of issues promised a leftward shift for the state. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/11/06/colorado-governor-race-results/ Voters said no to Amendment V, which would have allowed 21-year-olds to run for state office, and no to Amendment 75, an intended counter to millionaire self-funders. Coloradans managed to pass gerrymandering-addressing amendments Y and Z... As well Amendment A, which removes a line allowing slavery from the state constitution.

Remember, it’s still not too late to vote! You can return ballots until 7 p.m. Tuesday night. And you can text “CO” to 2vote (28683) for links to election information and voter registration from the Colorado Secretary of State’s office. http://www.justvotecolorado.org/#findlocation https://www.denverpost.com/politics/voter-guide-2018/

For Coloradans who haven’t gotten around to turning in their ballots yet, Uber is giving free rides to voters on Election Day. The move is part of a push Uber is making to help those who cannot vote because they lack transportation, the company said in a release. https://www.buzzfeed.com/pollup2018/welcome-to-pollup2018 More than 1.5 million Coloradans have cast ballots already in this election, according to data released Monday by the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.

With billionaire backing, a D.C. museum is headed to Five Points to collect Denver’s black culture Nov. 1-11, the NMAAHC will set up shop in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood and elsewhere with the goal of collecting and digitizing as much of the local African-American population’s photos, documents and videos as possible — part of a nationwide initiative that began last fall in Baltimore. The opening reception for the project took place on November 2 at the Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library That institution and the Black American West Museum, also in Five Points, are collaborating with the Smithsonian on the initiative. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/initiatives/family-history-center/community-curation-program/community-curation-denver -- It appears Denver is off the list of possible locations for Amazon's second headquarters. The retail giant is in "advanced talks" to open its second headquarters in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, The Washington Post reported Saturday. -- Skiers heading to Aspen this weekend may have to reschedule their route. The Colorado Department of Transportation announced that Independence Pass on Colorado 82 will be closed for the weekend because of snow and wind. —

Just One month into the flu season and 10 people in Colorado already have been hospitalized with the virus. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is urging people to get a flu shot. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while Colorado so far has a minimal number of flu cases, it's seeing more reports of it than most other states. - The city of Denver has rejected a plan to place a tiny-home village for people experiencing homelessness at a development site along the South Platte River. The Community Village is on a deadline: Its permit for its current site at 38th and Blake expires in January. The village organizers issued an open letter on Thursday demanding that city leaders figure out an immediate solution, and one council member immediately called for action. - An oil tanker rolled over Thursday morning in Aurora, spilling roughly 500 gallons of diesel fuel onto an I-70 overpass at North Chambers Road. Chambers Road was closed between 40th and 38th Avenues in both directions… as well as The off-ramp from I-70 to Chambers Road .

Noosa Yoghurt, the creamy treat made in Bellvue, has agreed to merge into the family of brands owned by private equity firm Advent International, the companies announced Tuesday. Australian native Koel Thomae brought a yogurt recipe from her hometown, Noosa, back to Colorado and teamed with Larimer County dairy farmer Robert Graves to start the new yogurt line in 2009. Initially, the product was marketed locally. Four years ago, California based Advent acquired a majority stake in Noosa and helped the company triple its sales and production capacity then grow its distribution network from 5,000 to 25,000 stores. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/30/colorado-noosa-sold-to-sovos/ The University of Northern Colorado has suspended a fraternity for seven years after finding violations of student code of conduct. The Greeley Tribune reports The University announced the suspension Monday for the Sigma Chi fraternity after wrapping up an investigation that began in April.

Campus leaders are examining how to provide mental health services not only for students, but also for faculty and staff members at the University of Colorado amid increasing demand. The topic has been of public discussion recently, and Demand for services among students is outpacing enrollment growth. http://www.dailycamera.com/cu-news/ci_32234281/cu-boulder-seeing-an-increase-demand-mental-health City employees spent $2.1 million on purchase cards in violation of the Denver government’s rules, according to a new report from Denver Auditor Timothy O’Brien. The auditor’s office took issue with the way the money was spent, but not necessarily what it was spent on. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/23/denver-audit-expense-cards-misused/ Known for its massive portions, The Cheesecake Factory, will be closing its doors for good in Boulder December 29th. The Cheesecake Factory is the latest national brand to join the likes of Old Chicago, the Olive Garden, Applebee’s, Chili’s and TGI Fridays in leaving Boulder’s Pearl Street. “After 19 years of operation, we have decided to terminate our Boulder restaurant’s lease” writes Alethea Rowe, senior director of public relations of The Cheesecake Factory The company is working with staff to help transition them to other opportunities, including transfers to other area restaurants. http://www.dailycamera.com/ci_32233458

Construction crews are working six days a week to finish the 1,501-room Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center. The hotel won’t open until December but more than one million rooms are already booked. Many groups looking to host conventions need to secure their location several years in advance so, some of the rooms are booked out as far as 2028. More than 80 percent of the conventions booked so far have never been held in Colorado before. https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/our-colorado/the-gaylord-rockies-resort-and-convention-center-isn-t-open-yet-but-1-million-rooms-are-booked You could be holding a ticket that isn’t exactly useless. Two tickets sold at a Safeway in Littleton and a 7-Eleven in Denver are worth $30,000 each. Five tickets sold are worth $10,000. They were sold at a King Soopers on West Florida Avenue in Denver, a King Soopers on Lookout Road in Boulder, a C&K Food & Gas on North Pecos Street in Denver, a King Soopers on North 50th Avenue in Brighton and a Stinker Store on West Hampden Avenue in Englewood. Another 40 tickets are worth $1,500. Several thousand other tickets sold were winners ranging from $2 to $600. In sports: The Denver Nuggets will take their undefeated record on the road and face LeBron James and the Lakers tonight for the third time in four weeks, counting two preseason wins. In Weather With the exception of an isolated sprinkle around sunset this evening we'll have dry weather all day. The high will be 68 today and the low 44 tonight.

CompTIA’s report, ranks the Denver, Boulder & Colorado Springs areas as best in the country for tech workers based on salaries, job availability, job growth and cost of living. The report, “Top 20 Tech Towns,” is the first of what the association plans to be an annual release, comes as the technology industry is experiencing significant growth. The industry expanded by nearly 200,000 jobs in 2017 to an estimated 11.5 million workers, according to the association. The report notes the cost of living in the Colorado communities ranges from 7 percent to about 15 percent higher the national average, but points to amenities and outdoor lifestyle that have made the state among the fastest-growing. https://www.aitp.org/blog/aitp-blog/2018/10/23/tech-town-usa-20-cities-it-pros-will-want-to-call-home/ SoulCycle, the national indoor cycling brand that’s gotten media attention because of its passionate following, is coming to Cherry Creek. Colorado’s first SoulCycle location, scheduled to open Nov. 10, will feature a 64-bike studio and a lifestyle boutique. The first class will cost riders $20 and following classes will cost $28. SoulCycle studios are intimate and candlelit, and instructors strive to be inspirational coaches. Lady Gaga, Madonna, Bradley Cooper, Chelsea Clinton, Katie Holmes and Lena Dunham are said to be avid SoulCyclers. https://theknow.denverpost.com/2018/10/24/soulcycle-denver-studio-opening/199340/ One day after his arrest in Englewood on suspicion of first-degree criminal trespassing, Denver Broncos quarterback Chad Kelly was waived by the team Wednesday morning.

Proposition 112 is without a doubt one of the most controversial measures on your November ballot. The measure would increase oil and gas setbacks to 2,500 ft for any occupied structure. Over $30 million is being spent against the Proposition by the oil and gas industry while only $800,000 has been raised by supporters. Top elected officials -- from Governor Hickenlooper to Congressman Jared Polis & Treasurer Walker Stapleton -- are all opposed to the measure. Despite widespread criticism… the Measure could still pass. https://kdvr.com/2018/10/22/poll-shows-polis-education-tax-oil-and-gas-drilling-setbacks-leading/ In sports: The Nuggets won a hard-fought road opener against the Los Angeles Clippers, smashed the Phoenix Suns in Denver’s home opener and then took down the defending champion Golden State Warriors in a nail-biter and one of the most tightly-contested games of the early season. The 3-0 Nuggets host the 2-1 Kings tonight in the fourth game in six nights for Denver.

Home sales aren’t just taking a big dive in metro Denver, they are dropping across much of Colorado and in what were some of the hottest markets in the country. Existing home sales in the United States fell 3.4 percent in August from September. And Year-over-year, they are down 4.1 percent, according to an update from the National Association of Realtors. --- Political spending in Colorado races already has hit a record this cycle with more than two weeks still remaining before all ballots are cast. Statewide, candidates, political action committees and groups pushing ballot measures have pulled in $186 million since December, according to a Denver Post analysis of campaign finance reports. The previous record was the just $153 million collected in the 2014 election cycle. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/18/polis-stapleton-wealth-colorado-governor-race/

Colorado’s unemployment rate has run significantly below the rest of the country for more than four years, allowing the state to post a bigger help wanted sign, one that attracted workers from other states, especially millennials starting their careers. That gap is now narrowing. Colorado’s unemployment rate rose to 3.1 percent in September from 2.9 percent in August, according to a monthly update Friday from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. - Marijuana sales in Colorado exceeded $1 billion as of August of this year, with tax revenue from those sales coming in at $200 million, according to a report from the Colorado Department of Revenue and its Marijuana Enforcement Division. It’s the earliest point in any of the four years Colorado has had legal recreational marijuana that combined medical and rec sales have cracked the billion-dollar mark. Total combined recreational and medical marijuana sales through August hit $1,022,245,511, according to the MED, setting the state on a trajectory to break last year’s record of more than $1.5 billion in sales. It also found that while sales of marijuana flower remained relatively steady, sales of edible products and concentrates like hash oil and live resin grew significantly. Between January and June, edibles sales shot up 13.8 percent over the first six months of last year, and concentrates sales skyrocketed, growing 94.6 percent over the same period. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/18/colorado-cracks-billion-marijuana-sales-record/

Denver schools with persistently low test scores will have to present detailed improvement plans this fall, but they no longer face automatic closure or replacement. The Denver school board on Monday night agreed to a more flexible process for intervening in struggling schools. The changes mean the board will have more options and more discretion. https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2018/10/16/closure-is-still-an-option-but-a-new-approach-will-let-struggling-denver-schools-make-their-case/ After struggling to score the majority of the 2nd half, the Denver Nuggets figured out better offensive efficiency in the last few possessions beating the clippers 107 to 98. The Avalanche Take on the Devils tonight at 5 The Broncos Take on the Cardinals tonight at 6:20 In Weather A warming trend in the Denver metro area means high temperatures will climb from the lower to the upper 60s for the rest of the week, with a lot of sunshine. The high on Today will be around 70 degrees. Variable winds will gust up to 17 mph. The low temperature Thursday night will be around 46 degrees.

No winning lottery ticket was sold for the latest Mega Millions drawing, meaning the jackpot climbs to $868 million. Mega Millions officials say no tickets matched all six numbers to claim the estimated $667 million grand prize in Tuesday night’s drawing. The numbers were 3, 45, 49, 61, 69 and Mega Ball 9. More than 20,000 people in the Denver metro area were without power Tuesday evening after a very large power outage. ---- A tweet by the power company said crews were “hoping” to have the energy back on for customers around 11:30 p.m. but it was largely restored by 10:15 p.m. https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-power-outage-affecting-thousands

The York Street on-ramp to westbound I-70 is permanently closed. It is not part of the final design for the I-70 expansion because it was determined that access points to the interstate were too close. Two Sears stores in the Denver metro area are among the 142 Sears and Kmart locations that will close after the company filed for bankruptcy on Monday. The Sears located on W. Colfax Ave. in Lakewood and on S. University Blvd. in Centennial will close by the end of the year. Denver 911 has partnered with the company Rapid SOS to use your smartphone’s location services to aid call dispatchers with where you are. Instead of relying on cell towers or a caller to describe their location, Rapid SOS operates similar to the technology used by Uber and Lyft, that can narrow down your location to within a few feet. https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-911-update-your-phone-for-faster-response-times

William “Bill” Coors, a former leader at Coors Brewing Company, passed away Saturday at the age of 102. Molson Coors announced the death in a press release. The company said Bill died peacefully at his home. Bill was the grandson of Adolf Coors, who founded the brewery in 1873. Lisa Calderón, co-chair of the Colorado Latino Forum in Denver and a longtime community advocate in north Denver, will join the field of challengers to Mayor Michael Hancock in Denver’s May 2019 election. About 1,750 scooters are expected to be on Denver’s streets by the end of this month with the next expected batch of 350. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/03/denver-scooter-fleet-grows/

RTD is showing that they mean business in its dispute against its partner overseeing the construction and operation of the metro area’s commuter rail system. RTD has warned Denver Transit Partners that its inability to open the G-Line to the western suburbs for passenger service constitutes a “termination event.” In a notice the RTD sent to DTP on Tuesday, but not released publicly until Wednesday, the transit agency warned that DTP has 30 days to quote “remedy the breaches” or 20 days to quote “propose a remedial plan to cure the breaches” that it says has led to the delays. RTD did not say in its notice that it will definitely terminate its $2.2 billion contract with DTP if the concessionaire doesn’t make the necessary fixes in the time allotted, but it did note that DTP’s performance is quote “unacceptable to RTD.” -- The search for 30-year-old Ryan Albert of Marlton, New Jersey reported missing in Rocky Mountain National Park has been temporarily suspended because of poor weather.

Colorado commuters can get discounted or free rides as Google’s Waze carpool service goes national That’s right Waze is providing the means for thousands of Colorado commuters to utilize its new pay-to-carpool service through the end of this month. Waze, a popular Google-owned navigation app, celebrated the national launch of the carpool service Wednesday after two years of development. The service allows drivers willing to offer space in their vehicles to register on the standard Waze app. People seeking rides need to download a different app to be matched with a driver. The goal of the service, according to the company, isn’t to compete with ride-hailing companies like Lyft and Uber but to decrease commute times and lessen congestion. Denver Post Reports Colorado was among 13 states that served as a testing ground for the beta version of the service last month. Through the end of October the company will reward the state with subsidized rides. Any Coloradan who downloads the new app by Oct. 31 will be provided with $2 flat-fee rides through the end of the month. Waze has estimated most rides will cost about as much as taking public transportation. The deal gets better for employees of 56 metro-area companies participating in the Denver Regional Council of Governments’ — or DRCOG’s Any of the roughly 60,000 workers represented at those companies ride for free if they use the service in October. Participating businesses include DaVita and Western Union.

Criminals beware: Denver police can now scan your license plate on Federal Boulevard with a permanent new camera The new installation on Federal cost $62,000 The city of Denver is expanding its use of a technology that scans license-plate numbers and automatically alerts police when it spots a vehicle of interest. Denver already has 11 license-plate readers mounted in vehicles that it uses around the city, which it has operated since debut in 2015. In its first 47 days alone, police used just a single unit to read nearly a half-million plates, generating more than 9,000 “hits” on suspicious cars and resulting in 40 citations and 71 arrests. High Street Real Estate Partners of Atlanta and Eagle Four Partners of Newport Beach, California, formed a Denver-based joint venture called HS-EF Court Place to purchase the hotel from its prior owner, for an undisclosed sum on Sept. 28. The hotel, located at the east end of 16th Street Mall on Court Place, has 1,231 rooms and 133,000 square feet of meeting space but… It will surrender its long-held title as Colorado’s largest hotel when the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center opens just south of Denver International Airport in Aurora in December with more than 1,500 rooms and 485,000 square feet of meeting space. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/08/hyatt-to-acquire-two-roads-hospitality/

Employers across metro Denver have listed nearly 6,000 jobs this month that pay $100,000 or more a year, according to Ladders, a career site for high-wage positions. -You can find job post in technology, sales, engineering, accounting and general operations on the website. -But $100,000 may not go as far as it used to, especially in metro Denver’s high-cost housing market. Attom Data Solutions estimates that someone looking to buy a home at the median price for Denver County of $430,000, would need a yearly salary of $117,148. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/04/want-to-land-a-six-figure-gig-denver-metro-has-more-than-6000-listed/ --- In Weather Temperatures will drop to a low of about 38 degrees Friday night according to the National Weather Service. The weekend will be even cooler and wet, with a high of 58 both on Saturday and Sunday, when the Colorado Rockies face off with the Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field. Isolated rain showers are forecast through the weekend. The best chance for rain is Sunday afternoon. Fans should bring rain coats for the Rockies’ playoff game.

According to Denver Police, the zoo received a call from an unidentified individual threatening to fly an airplane into the facility. They later determined the threat was not credible and announced the park would reopen today. Denver Post Reported The Zoo evacuated more than 1,000 guests from the park and moved animals to safety. - Police said they are working with their federal partners to determine where the threat came from.  Also in Zoo news Two popular residents will be leaving the Denver Zoo. The zoo’s two polar bears are being separated and sent to two other zoos in the hopes they produce offspring with new mates. “Cranbeary, the 16-year-old female, will leave this month for The Alaska Zoo, while Lee, her 18-year-old mate, will depart later in the fall for Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Three schools in the Denver metro area were among the five Colorado schools named Monday as National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Secretary of Education. All five in Colorado are public elementary schools that were nominated for their high level of academic performance as measured by statewide tests in math and English. Public schools are nominated for the program by their chief state school officer. The Colorado schools are: * Swigert International School in Denver * Kendrick Lakes Elementary School in Lakewood * Willow Creek Elementary School in Centennial * Zach Elementary School in Fort Collins * Tavelli Elementary School in Fort Collins Amazon, which has recently added more than 2,000 workers at fulfillment centers in Colorado, said Monday it would lift its lowest pay rate to $15 an hour starting on November first. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/10/02/amazon-minimum-wage-hike-in-colorado/

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a $474,000 civil penalty against Frontier Airlines, alleging the Denver company operated aircraft without required medical supplies on hundreds of flights. https://www.denverpost.com/2018/09/29/frontier-faa-medical-kit-penalty/ - The Colorado Rockies demolished Washington Nationals on Sunday by a final score of 12-0. Charlie Blackmon hit for the cycle. Nolan Arenado hit two home runs. Trevor Story and David Dahl each hit home runs. The Los Angeles Dodgers won big over the San Francisco Giants as well, setting up a final game on Monday night to decide which team wins the National League West. https://www.purplerow.com/2018/9/30/17921208/rockies-nationals-final-score-playoff-standings-update-nl-west-tie-breaker