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Axios Denver
Front Range wildfires damage property, with more structures threatened
The wildfires ravaging the Front Range are starting to creep into residential areas, with new damage to multiple homes reported Thursday afternoon.The big picture: At least 24 structures were scorched by the Alexander Mountain fire west of Loveland, Larimer County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Thursday.It's the first reported property damage from the wildfire that's grown to more than 8,100 acres and is only 5% contained.The damaged structures are in the Palisade Mountain Drive and Snow Top Drive areas.Meanwhile, the 450-acre Quarry Fire in Jefferson County that prompted the evacuations of 575 homes was 0% contained.And in Boulder County,...
Scoop: Harris picks up thousands of volunteers in Colorado
In the days since Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential bid, a surge of Colorado volunteers has joined her cause, her campaign says.By the numbers: As of last week, the campaign had already amassed nearly 6,000 Colorado volunteers, according to numbers shared with Axios Denver by the Harris campaign.More than 550 people joined a virtual campaign call hosted by Colorado's top Democrats earlier this week, per the campaign.Why it matters: It signals a "groundswell of support" in the Centennial State, spokesperson Raul Contreras tells us, and offers an example of the momentum Harris has gained in a short amount...
Here's what's happening this weekend in Denver
This weekend, take advantage of deals celebrating Colorado's birthday, see the legendary Foo Fighters live in concert, and walk among knights and nobles at the Renaissance Festival.1. 🎂 Celebrate ColoradoCelebrate Colorado by enjoying free and discounted activities across the state.Why it matters: Today is the Centennial State's 148th birthday.Zoom out: Over 400 events including festivals, county fairs, art exhibitions and concerts were planned for this celebration, which began last Friday.Here are a few local freebies and discounts to take advantage of this weekend:🦓 Denver Zoo: 50% off online tickets for admission after 2pm. Tickets🎉 HistoryColorado Center: Enjoy free admission and...
Colorado firefighters scramble as resources get "very, very slim"
Colorado officials are concerned about the state's ability to battle more than a dozen wildfires as resources get stretched thin nationwide.The latest: The Polis administration is asking local fire agencies to bring home crews dispatched to help California and Pacific Northwest states battle blazes. State of play: Because of the competition for firefighting resources nationwide, "I do get a little bit worried about our long haul, or ability to staff in the long term," Stan Hilkey, the state's executive director for public safety, acknowledged at a briefing Wednesday in Loveland near the Alexander Mountain fire."I'd feel a lot more comfortable...
Colorado wildfires turn deadly
Four Front Range wildfires are exploding as of Wednesday across a dry landscape, with one turning fatal.The latest: One person was found dead in a home burned by the Stone Canyon fire outside Lyons, Boulder County sheriff Curtis Johnson said Wednesday.As many as five homes have been burned in the blaze, which has consumed at least 1,548 acres and is 0% contained. Evaluation orders remain in place for some parts of Lyons and Larimer County.Johnson said he is not aware of any other missing person reports as of now. Officials are investigating the cause of the wildfire and asking the...
Denver lands professional women’s rugby team
Women's Elite Rugby (WER) on Wednesday named Denver among the first three U.S. markets set to host a professional women's rugby team starting next year.The big picture: The WER in April announced its intent to create the country's first women's pro rugby league by adding six to eight teams for its rugby 15s inaugural season.Each team will have 30 players, according to a statement from WER, with its founding players set to be announced after a selection process next January. State of play: The announcement coincides with the U.S. women's national rugby team earning its first-ever Olympic medal on Tuesday....
Abortion rights group wants to use state measure to draw Latino voters
An abortion rights organization wants to use a statewide ballot measure enshrining abortion access to draw more Latino voters to the polls this fall. The big picture: The COLOR Action Fund, the lobbying arm of Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, last week announced a campaign to reach voters in suburban Denver.
Purely Elizabeth is the go-to granola for "it" girls
Business is booming for Purely Elizabeth, a Boulder-based natural foods brand that specializes in crunchy clusters of granola baked with organic oats.The big picture: Since launching in 2009, Purely Elizabeth products are now in more than 30,000 major retail stores nationwide.Along the way, the granola has become a go-to for celebrities and influencers, like fashion models Karlie Kloss and Kaia Gerber, jewelry designer Jennifer Fisher and social media star Emily Mariko.By the numbers: In the first quarter of this year, sales spiked 56% year-over-year, coinciding with the May rollout of its first-ever large-scale advertising campaign.The publicity push follows a $50...
Alexander Mountain fire grows as wildfire danger accelerates in Colorado
The Alexander Mountain fire in northern Colorado continues to grow, as hot and dry conditions increase the risk of wildfires throughout the state.Threat level: So far this fire season, an average snowpack and moisture through early summer kept fire danger moderated, but that is beginning to change, Boyd Lebeda, a state fire intelligence coordinator tells us.The conditions — particularly the low relative humidity — allowed the Alexander Fire west of Loveland to spread to 5,080 acres as of Wednesday morning. It is 0% contained.The growth led to additional evacuation orders for the Masonville area as well as Hidden Valley.What they're...
Local Black women elected officials in Denver are finding optimism in Harris' candidacy
University of Colorado Regent Wanda James, a Democrat, says Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential candidacy ignited a feeling that things "are going to be okay."Zoom in: James knows a little bit about making history, becoming the first Black woman elected to the board in more than 44 years. Why it matters: Her opinions capture how some Democrats are feeling in the wake of Harris' historic candidacy, especially among Black and Asian American voters whose enthusiasm had been waning under President Biden, writes Axios' Ivana Saric.Black voters will be crucial for Democrats to keep the White House in November.Between the lines:...
State considers plan to drill near Aurora Reservoir amid protests from neighbors
Colorado regulators will decide as soon as Tuesday whether to allow 166 oil and gas wells on state-owned land near the Aurora Reservoir and nearby neighborhoods.Why it matters: The proposed drilling operation on 32,000 acres in unincorporated Arapahoe County, just east of Aurora, is the latest flash point in the debate about how close fracking should come to homes and sensitive areas.Friction point: Hundreds of residents near the reservoir are challenging the plan from Crestone Peak Resources and hope to convince the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission at a day-long hearing that the health and safety impacts are too...
Venezuela's political unrest could mean more immigrants in Denver
The results of Venezuela's hotly contested presidential election could force millions more Venezuelans to flee to the U.S.-Mexico border.Why it matters: Denver — which Mayor Mike Johnston says has received more migrants per capita than any other city — may once again face an influx of immigrants in need of food, shelter and employment at a time when resources remain strained.The big picture: Multiple polls show as many as one-third of Venezuelans are interested in leaving the country if President Nicolás Maduro stays in power, the New York Times reports.Maduro was announced as the winner of Sunday's election, despite independent...
Dolores River in Colorado is center of the latest public lands dispute
A 400,000-acre area along the Dolores River in southwestern Colorado is the newest battleground in the debate over public lands.Why it matters: How the land is designated determines how the public can access and use it, whether for recreation or commercial purposes such as mining and livestock grazing.State of play: A coalition of conservation and environmental groups wants President Biden to designate the river watershed that spans two counties as a national monument to increase land protections and limit development, the Colorado Sun reports.The advocates say the designation under the Antiquities Act is needed to preserve Indigenous cultural sites, geologic...
Colorado's severe weather threats, mapped
Colorado's easternmost counties are in the bullseye for extreme weather, a new National Weather Service analysis finds. State of play: Yuma, Kit Carson and Cheyenne counties each average 18 severe thunderstorm or tornado watches a year. The rates are among the highest in the nation and part of a central...
Development plan around Broncos stadium at a standstill
A plan to reimagine the area around Empower Field is stalled while the Denver Broncos determine next steps for the stadium. State of play: The Stadium District Master Plan that calls for turning nearby grounds into a mixed-use neighborhood, parks and an entertainment district is on hold indefinitely, the Denver Post reports.
4 top spots for horseback riding near Denver
Now is one of the best times to trot onto a horseback riding trail and soak up some of Colorado's stunning scenery — and abundant wildflowers — atop a saddle.Here are four of our favorite riding tours under an hour's drive from Denver:Bear Mountain Stables (Conifer)Nestled on a beautiful property in Jefferson County, this family-owned facility offers peaceful, guided rides year-round through beautiful pine forests, rock outcroppings and aspen groves.The experience — suited for beginners and experienced riders alike — includes outfitting and a lesson. The trail time is between 1.25-1.5 hours.Price: $85 per rider. Reservations required. (All children must...
Meet Denver's galloping guardians who keep the city safe
A group of galloping guardians charged with keeping Denver safe is the last and only full-time Mounted Patrol Unit in the state.Why it matters: The four-legged squad not only helps protect city streets, but is also playing a key role in connecting and building trust between Denver police and the community.By the numbers: The Denver Police Mounted Patrol Unit currently consists of five male horses and six people — one sergeant, four officers and a stable master.Trotting to the rescue are equine officers Maverick, a 14-year-old mustang; Maximus, a 16-year-old appendix; Ollie, a 10-year-old paint; Orei, an 8-year-old warmblood; and...
Denver house hunters sticking to the sidelines
Fence-sitters might be looking online, but they're not out making offers, longtime Denver-area agent Kelly Moye tells Axios.Why it matters: Some house hunters are giving up.Zoom in: In Denver, people have either decided to wait for rates to drop, or they're seriously "ready to rock," Moye says."I'm not getting any looky-loos," she says. The ability to look for houses online has eliminated those one- to three-year buyers.The big picture: We've been talking about it for years — home prices, mortgage rates and a lack of inventory are posing serious challenges for buyers. And recent data show people are growing weary.Pending...
New "battle station" will help coordinate Republican efforts in 8th congressional seat
Fresh off a galvanizing national convention, Republicans in Colorado see a path toward flipping a crucial suburban Denver congressional seat.The big picture: The National Republican Congressional Committee opened an office in Thornton with an energetic reception Thursday inside the 8th Congressional District, perhaps the most competitive in the state.State of play: Republican Gabe Evans, a state lawmaker who won the party's nomination in June, was the man of the hour — someone supporters say is the candidate to lead the party to victory come November.He wants to unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo to represent a largely working-class district stretching...
Olympic spotlight: Denver's Emma Weber makes Olympic debut
The much-hyped Olympic swimming competitions will feature Denver's Emma Weber in the breaststroke.State of play: This is the 20-year-old's first Olympics but not her first moment in the spotlight. Weber was the state champion in the 100-meter breaststroke and 200-meter individual medley at Regis Jesuit High School and helped lead the University of Virginia to a national championship this March.She finished second in the U.S. Olympic trials just behind reigning Olympic gold medalist Lydia Jacoby and ahead of world-record holder Lilly King.Weber didn't expect to qualify and instead bought spectator tickets to cheer on her college teammates, her mother told reporters.Fun fact: Her great-grandmother, Louise Weigel, competed in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics as a figure skater.What to watch: The first 100-meter breaststroke heats air at 3am Sunday on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com. The final is Monday.Go deeper: A Colorado guide to the 2024 Paris OlympicsSign up for Axios Denver for free.
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