Denver 2R affordable housing sales tax loss pinned on lack of clarity

Denver 2R affordable housing sales tax loss pinned on lack of clarity

The defeat of Denver’s ambitious affordable housing sales tax by voters has generated plenty of reflection in the week since Mayor Mike Johnston and other supporters’ hopes for a narrow passage flickered out. Political activists, observers and even supporters say the proposal suffered from the lack of a clear spending plan that could be explained … Read more

How to enjoy hotel pools and spas without an overnight stay

How to enjoy hotel pools and spas without an overnight stay

The holidays are a time of coming together with family and friends, embracing traditions … and spending more than usual on travel. But what if you’re staying home? An online marketplace called ResortPass allows hotels and resorts to lay out their day-pass offerings so that locals (and travelers staying elsewhere) can enjoy pools, hot tubs, … Read more

What’s new in Buena Vista: Hot springs, hotels, bars

What’s new in Buena Vista: Hot springs, hotels, bars

Just a two-hour drive from Denver, Buena Vista has become a popular weekend getaway for people on the Front Range. Once known primarily for the summer commercial rafting season along the Arkansas River, this town of about 3,000 souls is growing in appeal year-round. With a new hot springs, new hotel options and some new … Read more

Why DPS says it must close Denver schools to avert “full-blown crisis”

Why DPS says it must close Denver schools to avert “full-blown crisis”

Carrie Olson remembers the first time she was told Denver Public Schools would need to close schools because fewer babies were being born. She had only been on the Board of Education for a year or two when the state demographer predicted the difficult decision that Olson — first elected in 2017 — and her … Read more

Museums, hotels, casinos, cultural center

Museums, hotels, casinos, cultural center

I have to confess that I made many trips to Albuquerque to see family during my childhood, but I never really explored the city or the surrounding area until recently. Not only did I find some unique activities and places to see, but I’m ready to return and continue discovering its history and character. Albuquerque, … Read more

Northern lights, beluga whales and science in Manitoba

Northern lights, beluga whales and science in Manitoba

After one night in the Manitoba capital city of Winnipeg, 13 of us climbed aboard the Calm Air 62-seater from the charter terminal, ready for our arctic adventure. Soon, we began our smooth 2½-hour flight to Churchill, the “Gem of the North,” as its called, a small former railroad town built by the Hudson Bay … Read more

Aurora Mayor Pro Tem Dustin Zvonek resigns from City Council

Aurora Mayor Pro Tem Dustin Zvonek resigns from City Council

Aurora Mayor Pro Tem Dustin Zvonek is resigning from the City Council at the end of October, one year before the end of his term. Zvonek announced his resignation during an Aurora council meeting Monday and did not go into detail about why he was leaving. “Sometimes in life, you get thrown a curveball, or … Read more

Take a hike through local history on Mount Sanitas in Boulder

Take a hike through local history on Mount Sanitas in Boulder

Sanitas is Latin for “health,” and hikers are bound to boost theirs while tackling the challenging climb up Mount Sanitas. It’s the area’s rich history, though, that draws this writer to the top of Boulder’s 6,863-foot peak. Arrive early enough, before all the other day hikers turn up, and you might snag a spot in … Read more

When Colorado leaf-peeping season ends, go to Kansas for fall colors

When Colorado leaf-peeping season ends, go to Kansas for fall colors

I grew up in the Midwest, and if there’s one thing I really miss, it’s the long, drawn-out falls of years past. Here in Colorado, autumn is a blip, a frantic shoulder season that usually includes one nightmarish day stuck in I-70 traffic with my kids, all of us racing to Kenosha Pass, hoping to … Read more

Coolcations, solo travel and other hot tourism trends

Coolcations, solo travel and other hot tourism trends

Today’s travel trends are showing where people are going, who they are going with and what they want to do while on a trip. “People are taking more trips and they are talking about them with their friends,” said Randy Yaroch, CEO and owner of The Travel Society in Greenwood Village. “Then you add social … Read more