FAFSA submissions plunge 27% in Colorado amid financial aid mess

Nearly 27% fewer aspiring Colorado college students have submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid this year compared to 2023 amid a federal financial aid fiasco. That drop has state higher education leaders worried the ongoing delays and confusion surrounding the revamped financial aid application — known as FAFSA — will deter students from … Read more

Bakery Four starting Italian dinner concept

When Shawn Bergin can find the time, his favorite thing to do in his Tennyson Street bakery is to toy with savory creations, whether for staff meals or weekly specialties. This week, for example, Bakery Four is offering al pastor rolls, pasta and sandwiches as lunch specials. “We just don’t do anything at the bakery … Read more

Budget week part 2, tax credits, prone-restraint bills in Colorado legislature

Colorado legislators will work through Budget Madness Part 2 this week, as the state’s spending plan for next year is set to pass the House on Monday before crossing over and restarting the process in the Senate. The House worked all day and into the night Thursday (before taking Good Friday off) to give initial … Read more

Gun-free zones, more money for higher education and renter protections this week in the Colorado legislature

Transgender and nonbinary people would be better protected from harassment in Colorado under new bill Transgender and nonbinary people would receive more explicit protections in Colorado’s anti-bias and harassment law if a newly introduced bill becomes law. Advocates characterize the bill as a simple legislative fix to ensure gender identity and expression are protected across … Read more

Colorado lawmakers aim to protect gender identity in hate crimes law

Transgender and nonbinary people would receive more explicit protections in Colorado’s anti-bias and harassment law if a newly introduced bill becomes law. Advocates characterize the bill as a simple legislative fix to ensure gender identity and expression are protected across state law, while also sending a message about Colorado’s values. “(The bill) ensures nonbinary and … Read more

Boulder’s Barchetta will showcase signature pizzas on ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’

Viewers tuning in to “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” on Friday will enjoy a slice of Boulder as they watch downtown pizza joint Barchetta receive a visit from industry icon Guy Fieri. Fieri’s show takes him on a cross-country road trip highlighting the best classic American restaurants. For Barchetta owner Jesse Jensen, news that Fieri would … Read more

Colorado lawmakers scramble to shore up free school meals program

Colorado’s new voter-approved universal free school meals program is already tens of millions of dollars short, jeopardizing some of the auxiliary programs tied to the ballot measure as lawmakers scramble to keep the initiative solvent and meals paid for. The state faces a combined shortfall of about $50 million to pay for students’ food under … Read more

Colorado’s property taxes, data centers, gun bills and more from the legislature

Legislation promotes construction of data centers. Not everyone supports the idea. Here’s why. A bill that would provide state tax rebates to draw data centers to Colorado has run into opposition from critics who warn of the facilities’ large demands for energy and water and potentially higher costs for other electric customers. The legislation would … Read more

New Belgium debuts pizza-flavored IPA collab with Tombstone

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie it’s the inspiration for a new beer collaboration. That’s according to Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing Co. (now owned by Kirin), which recently teamed up with the Tombstone frozen pizza company on a new IPA. In this case, though, the acronym stands for “I(Pizza)A.” … Read more

Colorado gun bills, property taxes, economic forecasts in legislature

This week will bring a major mid-March milestone in the Colorado legislature’s quickening sprint toward the end of the 120-day session. The Joint Budget Committee, which is in the process of writing the budget for the next fiscal year, which starts in July, will hear the final economic forecasts before lawmakers debate and vote on … Read more