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Axios Denver
Lobbying spending hits new record in Colorado
The influence game at the state Capitol reached new heights in the last year, with lobbyists paid a record $69.6 million.Why it matters: The sum showcases the profound involvement of special interests in crafting new laws and the huge financial stakes at the Legislature for Colorado businesses and advocacy organizations.Driving the news: The total spent on hiring lobbyists in fiscal year 2023-2024 more than doubled in a decade, according to the Denver Post, and increased by 10% in three of the past five years.Major players, such as the Colorado Oil and Gas Association and environmental group Conservation Colorado, each spent...
Denver's looming heat wave could bring record-breaking temperatures
Record-breaking high temperatures are forecast to hit Denver later this week, according to the National Weather Service.Why it matters: Severe heat poses significant health risks and can exacerbate the threat of wildfires and drought conditions.Denver is experiencing moderate drought conditions for the first time in over a year.Threat level: The "life-threatening" heat wave hovering over California is expected to move across Colorado starting Friday, bringing triple digits and very little moisture to Denver and the Plains through the weekend.The high temperature forecast for Denver is 101 on Friday and 100 on Saturday and Sunday — all three of which would be...
Denver's weather forecast is accurate only 2 days out
Mother Nature loves to keep everyone guessing in the Mile High City.The latest: A new Washington Post analysis of government weather data shared publicly for the first time reveals Denver's weather is among the most unpredictable in the nation.That's because its forecast is accurate only two days in advance compared to other places like Miami, where it's correct a week into the future.Why it matters: Studies show accurate weather predictions can be lifesaving, especially when heat waves hit.The intrigue: It's easier to predict Denver's weather in warmer months (April through September) compared to cooler ones (October through March), per the...
American Elm replicates its elevated dining experience with brunch
American Elm's brunch menu returns this summer, bringing the panache of its American fare to breakfast favorites like waffles and egg plates, plus one unexpected fish dish.Dig in: The West Highland restaurant's menu debuted last month, featuring nine food items, seven cocktails and two spirit-free drinks.Best bites: The trout and creamy smoked cheddar grits, buttered to perfection.The fish is crispy and savory, laid on a bed of thick asparagus. It's a dish that, to me at least, didn't scream brunch; it sounded like a dinner plate, but fit perfectly for a morning meal.For those with a sweet tooth (hey, that's me!) I couldn't resist the waffle.The lightly toasted waffle came topped with whipped cream, berries and powdered sugar. Did I feel like a 6-year-old ordering it? Yes. Was it worth it? Absolutely.What to try: The restaurant's espresso martini, which uses a Colorado spirit, Woody Creek Roaring Fork Vodka, and Atost coffee liqueur.Our thought bubble: American Elm has transformed a cliché brunch staple with its grapefruit mimosa, a deceptively simple but full-bodied and refreshing cocktail that I'm ready to proclaim as the best mimosa in Denver.Sign up for Axios Denver for free.
Slow summer market means better deals for Denver homebuyers
Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios Visuals"It's a really nice time to be a buyer," Compass Denver agent David Schlichter tells us.Why it matters: That's a phrase we haven't heard in a while.State of play: Active listings for the Denver metro were up 31% in May, while pending sales and home prices remained steady year-over-year, data show.In May, many listings averaged about one showing a week, Schlichter says.The big picture: Mortgage rates have forced many people out of the market, which means remaining house hunters have less competition and could score better deals."All signs seem to be indicating we've already peaked for...
Slow summer market means better deals for Denver homebuyers
Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios Visuals"It's a really nice time to be a buyer," Compass Denver agent David Schlichter tells us.Why it matters: That's a phrase we haven't heard in a while.State of play: Active listings for the Denver metro were up 31% in May, while pending sales and home prices remained steady year-over-year, data show.In May, many listings averaged about one showing a week, Schlichter says.The big picture: Mortgage rates have forced many people out of the market, which means remaining house hunters have less competition and could score better deals."All signs seem to be indicating we've already peaked for...
Slow summer market means better deals for Denver homebuyers
Data: Redfin; Chart: Axios Visuals"It's a really nice time to be a buyer," Compass Denver agent David Schlichter tells us.Why it matters: That's a phrase we haven't heard in a while.State of play: Active listings for the Denver metro were up 31% in May, while pending sales and home prices remained steady year-over-year, data show.In May, many listings averaged about one showing a week, Schlichter says.The big picture: Mortgage rates have forced many people out of the market, which means remaining house hunters have less competition and could score better deals."All signs seem to be indicating we've already peaked for...
The Denver Nuggets are coming up short in free agency
The Denver Nuggets aren't making much noise during the NBA's free agency, a worrisome trend for a team setting its sights on another title run. The big picture: Plenty of time remains — the Nuggets can sign free agents from now until their next season ends — but the splashiest big player signings may have already come and gone.The Nuggets lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency to the Orlando Magic, and have yet to find a replacement for the sharpshooting guard.Meanwhile, the Dallas Mavericks, this year's Western Conference champions, picked up Klay Thompson from the Golden State Warriors. And Oklahoma...
How Colorado's melanoma cases compare nationwide
Data: cancer.gov; Map: Axios VisualsMelanoma cases in Colorado may be lower than the national average, but many people here are still being diagnosed with the disease at a rapid rate.Why it matters: Although melanoma accounts for about 1% of skin cancers nationwide, it's responsible for the majority of skin cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).By the numbers: Colorado's rate of new cases is approximately 21 per 100,000 people each year, in comparison to 23 cases nationally.ACS estimates that across the country about 100,640 new cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in 2024.Zoom in: Melanoma cases are highest...
The annual Cherry Creek Art Festival returns this weekend
Tara Brickell, executive director of CherryArts, says participation in this year's Cherry Creek Art Festival drew interest from 1,942 applicants.The big picture: That list was narrowed to 250 artists who will exhibit their art — and meet potential buyers — for the 33rd edition of the festival, which runs Friday through Sunday.State of play: Five jurors were hired to help pick the finalists, Brickell tells us. The artists include 37 from Colorado, four international, and at least 53 showcasing their work at the festival for the first time.What they're saying: "That's one of the greatest parts of the show is...
Jared Polis' political stock is rising amid talk of replacing Biden on 2024 ticket
Gov. Jared Polis is one of a handful of top Democrats under consideration as a possible replacement for President Biden on the 2024 ticket.Why it matters: The popular two-term governor's political stock is rising as calls for Biden to withdraw from the race — including from top Colorado Democrats — mount.State of play: Polis' name is frequently mentioned as a White House contender, alongside the governors of California, Michigan and Pennsylvania — all states with much greater political importance.In recent months, he has voiced opinions on major national issues and didn't shy away from criticizing Biden's debate performance as "not...
Jared Polis' political stock is rising amid talk of replacing Biden on 2024 ticket
Gov. Jared Polis is one of a handful of top Democrats under consideration as a possible replacement for President Biden on the 2024 ticket.Why it matters: The popular two-term governor's political stock is rising as calls for Biden to withdraw from the race — including from top Colorado Democrats — mount.State of play: Polis' name is frequently mentioned as a White House contender, alongside the governors of California, Michigan and Pennsylvania — all states with much greater political importance.In recent months, he has voiced opinions on major national issues and didn't shy away from criticizing Biden's debate performance as "not...
Denver's progressive losses are spotlighting money's role in dividing Democrats
Hours before his warning proved prophetic, Democratic state Rep. Tim Hernández cautioned about outside spending impacting a race like his."When there was no money involved, voters picked me," Hernández told us last Tuesday evening at the Denver watch party for his re-election bid. But, he added, once the ultra-rich start paying for political ads, "it becomes a different conversation."Catch up quick: Hernández campaigned as a progressive champion, aligning with lawmakers like state Rep. Elisabeth Epps, who touted themselves as candidates fighting for the working class.Both ended up losing to challengers who benefited from thousands of dollars of outside spending —...
Why Denver's thousands of fireworks complaints result in few citations
Data: Denver Police Department; Chart: Alayna Alvarez/AxiosDespite state and city laws prohibiting the use of fireworks, the Denver Police Department has received thousands of fireworks complaints.Why it matters: Fireworks are dangerous. They are bad for the environment, raise wildfire risks and injure people every year, officials say.By the numbers: In the last seven years, more than 17,000 fireworks complaints have been reported to DPD, according to data provided to Axios Denver.As of June 30, the agency already received more than 450 complaints for the year, and that number is expected to climb over the next few days.Threat level: Catching the...
Colorado's most Googled hot dog may surprise you
The question isn't if you'll encounter hot dogs on the Fourth of July, but what kind.The big picture: It turns out different U.S. regions have distinct go-to hot dog toppings. Image: Courtesy of Google TrendsZoom in: Searches for Sonoran hot dogs are over-represented in Colorado compared to the country as a whole.That's based on Google searches from June 17-24, according to Google Trends' Jenny Lee.How it's made: Its name is a nod to the Mexican state of Sonora.The bolillo-style bun comes filled to the brim with a grilled bacon-wrapped dog loaded with pinto beans, onions, tomatoes, plus drizzles of mustard, mayonnaise and green salsa.Dig in: Sonoran-inspired franks can be found at several spots around town, including Hamburguesas Don Jesús, Biker Jim's, La Dogueria in Commerce City, and Sonora Hot Dogs y Hamburguesa in Thornton.Sign up for Axios Denver for free.
These are Denverites' top safety concerns
Denverites' top safety concern is a lack of police capacity as the city continues to face officer recruiting challenges, according to a new community survey from Seattle University.Why it matters: The survey, released on June 27, sheds light on the public's perception of safety issues citywide, which Denver police are using to grade themselves and guide their priorities.What they found: The results from more than 6,000 survey respondents reveal that, in addition to wanting more officers on the ground, other leading concerns are property crime, homelessness and traffic safety — the latter two of which the mayor has launched campaigns...
Colorado experts tone down expectations for near-term economic outlook
Business leaders are tempering their economic outlook for the next three months, but remain mostly positive after losing confidence in key economic sectors.The big picture: Despite the cautious local outlook, experts still expect the state to outperform the national economy.State of play: Confidence in the state economy, industry sales, hiring and capital expenditures dipped slightly across 201 panelists surveyed in the latest Leeds Business Confidence Index released Monday by the University of Colorado Boulder.Meanwhile, panelists felt even less confident about industry profits, which saw the largest quarterly drop in its index score, and the national economy, the lowest component overall.Threat level: Interest rates and uncertainty tied to the 2024 election were the most frequently cited reasons for the outlook.Between the lines: Unemployment rates remain low, but are rising slowly in Colorado, climbing to 3.8% as of May, below the 4% national rate, per the Denver Business Journal.Inflation sat at 2.6% in May for the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood region, lower than the 3.3% average across U.S. cities, per the Leeds report.Sign up for Axios Denver for free.
Try these five Denver ice cream shops this summer
Temperatures are rising, so keeping cool is necessary. And what gives you a pleasant chill better than some ice cream?The big picture: We've picked five of our favorite ice cream shops across Denver to enjoy this summer.Bonnie Brae Ice Cream (799 S. University Blvd.)The candy-colored shop is a throwback to simpler, dare we say, funner, times.High Point Creamery (215 S. Holly St.)Here they offer a slightly more upscale dessert experience, with unique flavors like their signature basil with blackberry swirl and coconut creme brûlée.Liks Ice Cream (2039 E. 13th Ave.)The rare place you can smell before you see, this Capitol Hill staple has been serving up treats since 1976.Sweet Cow (3475 W. 32nd Ave.)If you're dairy free, this shop, which has multiple locations across the metro area, serving flavors like vegan almond joy, vegan chocolate chip, and Larry's vegan chocolate peanut butter madness.Sweet Cooies (3506 12th Ave.)This hole-in-the-wall creamery sits in a small but cute Congress Park shopping district.Five more places to try:Gelato BoyEiskaffeeLittle Man Ice CreamNuggs Ice Cream ShopSadboy CreamerySign up for Axios Denver for free.
Denver sees record-low number of migrants since late 2022
The number of immigrants from the southern U.S. border in Denver shelters has plummeted in the wake of President Biden's border crackdown, according to Denver Human Services.Why it matters: New figures suggest the yearslong crisis is beginning to die down locally, marking a drastic change from this time last year. The latest: The city's two congregate shelters set a record on Sunday with zero new arrivals — the first time since November 2022, DHS spokesperson Jon Ewing told us.As of Monday morning, the city was sheltering eight people, compared to a peak of 5,200 in mid-January, per city figures.What they're...
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