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Colorado - Fri. 12/19/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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WINDS TEAR ACROSS FRONT RANGE; WIDESPREAD OUTAGES, CLOSURES
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A powerful windstorm tore across Colorado’s Front Range on Wednesday, cutting power to almost 200,000 utility customers, causing school and road closures and delaying hundreds of flights at Denver International Airport. Wind gusts reached 109 mph at the National Center for Atmospheric Research’s Mesa Laboratory in Boulder on Wednesday, while a wind sensor at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge recorded 102 mph gusts and a west Boulder County sensor near Fourmile Canyon recorded 95 mph winds. Denver-area weather should be comparatively calm Thursday, with a high near 47 degrees and winds around 10 mph, according to forecasters.
But Friday is a different story, and Front Range residents should brace for a repeat of Wednesday’s weather. A new storm system likely will bring winds that are just as strong — if not stronger — to the Front Range starting midmorning Friday and lasting into the late evening. Friday also could bring record-high temperatures in Denver, with DIA forecast to reach 68 degrees. The previous daily record, 67 degrees, was last set in 2023. More public safety power cuts are possible during Friday’s storm, according to Xcel Energy.
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WARNER REJECTS PARAMOUNT'S HOSTILE BID
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Warner Bros. Discovery recommended shareholders reject Paramount’s unsolicited all-cash bid for the company Wednesday, saying it believes Netflix’s proposal for its studios and HBO Max streaming service is still superior. Calling the Paramount offer “illusory” in a letter to shareholders, Warner again raised concerns about the credibility of the equity being offered by Paramount and questioned the structure of the Ellison family’s commitment to funding the deal. It added that Paramount has “consistently misled” Warner shareholders. Paramount Chief Executive David Ellison and his father Larry, the billionaire co-founder of Oracle, are majority shareholders in Paramount, along with RedBird Capital.
Netflix earlier this month agreed to pay $72 billion, or $27.75 a share, in cash and stock for Warner’s studio and HBO Max streaming business after the entertainment company splits itself in two. Paramount then went hostile with its $77.9 billion proposal to acquire all of Warner. Paramount has been arguing that its offer is a better deal for shareholders and more likely to pass regulatory muster. Paramount’s bid initially included capital from three Gulf sovereign-wealth funds, as well as Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners. As of Tuesday, Affinity was no longer involved in the deal.
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DENVER RTD BUSES, TRAINS DECORATED AS GINGERBREAD HOUSE FOR THE HOLIDAYS
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Gingerbread, candy canes and snowman cookies will decorate the exterior of some Regional Transportation District buses and light rail trains in Denver through the end of the holiday season, the transit agency announced Friday. The new wraps will appear across the metro Denver RTD system “along several different bus routes and rail lines.” The gingerbread house design, featured in Denver’s Parade of Lights Dec. 6, adds “a touch of holiday spirit to customers’ daily travel,” RTD said. The decals were added despite the transit agency board’s October vote to ban advertisements on the windows of buses and light rail.
The transit agency’s celebration of the holidays also includes selling pullovers and beanies with the gingerbread house design. The beanie sold for $10, and the pullover ranged from $55 to $63, depending on size. Neither item is still on sale. RTD first sold a holiday sweater last year, inspired by the success of the Bay Area Rapid Transit’s annual “ugly” holiday sweaters. BART’s 2021 sweater sold out in minutes, and its 2023 sweater, which featured a light-up transit map and train horn sounds, was another smash hit. In Littleton on Saturday, RTD scheduled a visit from Santa at its downtown station for photos, ornament decorations and holiday giveaways.
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COLORADO SUSPENDS CDL PROGRAM FOR IMMIGRANTS AMID FEDERAL REVIEW
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Colorado’s program for issuing commercial driver licenses to immigrants with temporary legal status has been suspended for nearly two months as officials audit the system after a federal crackdown on illegal trucking. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered states to stop issuing CDLs to non‑citizens whose licenses extend beyond their authorized stay. A federal review found twenty two percent of Colorado’s time‑limited CDLs failed to comply, prompting warnings of lost highway funds. State officials say expiration dates generally match immigration documents and note all applicants must prove lawful presence and pass standard training and testing. The audit covers licenses issued before Sept. 29; as of Oct. 31, Colorado had 126,525 valid CDLs, including 1,745 issued to drivers with temporary legal status.
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FEDS ISSUE ‘SOBERING’ FORECAST FOR 2026 COLORADO RIVER FLOWS
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Federal officials released a grim 2026 Colorado River forecast showing flows could be 27 percent below normal, worsening November’s projection of 16 percent below normal. Worst‑case scenarios show declines of more than 56 percent as the basin’s two‑decade megadrought persists. The Bureau of Reclamation will delay releases from Lake Powell to conserve water, but officials warn levels could fall below hydropower intakes and below the 1922 Compact’s required releases by 2027, risking legal conflict. Basin states, meeting in Las Vegas, have yet to reach a long‑term management deal, and negotiators say past cuts were not deep enough as worst‑case outcomes increasingly become reality.
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DISPENSARY FIRE IN LEADVILLE TRIGGERS EVACUATIONS & AIR QUALITY ALERT
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A structure fire involving Floyd’s of Leadville, a cannabis dispensary on Poplar Street, prompted evacuations, road closures, and an air quality alert for residents within a half‑mile radius Thursday morning. The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported the fire at 9 a.m., blocking Poplar and 10th through 12th streets, closing nearby businesses, and evacuating homes as crews from Summit, Eagle, and Chaffee counties responded. Officials warned that smoke could affect health, urging residents to wear masks, limit time outdoors, and keep windows closed. Elementary school students were ordered to remain indoors with no outdoor activities due to air quality concerns. As of late morning, the fire remained active, and authorities asked the public to avoid the area while conditions continued to change.
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PAUL JAS CENTER OPENS AS ASPEN’S FIRST PERMANENT HOME FOR JAZZ ASPEN SNOWMASS
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The Paul JAS Center opens Dec. 19 as Aspen’s first permanent home for Jazz Aspen Snowmass, offering a 200‑person venue with a bar and new cafe‑dance format designed for lower ticket prices and more room to move. The project follows a seven‑year fundraising effort, including a $10 million naming gift from Andy Paul, and features acoustics engineered by Jaffe Holden and design work by Charles Cunniffe and Sara Schroeder. The center includes terraces, a recording studio, lecture space, and areas for community events. Opening celebrations span 10 nights with performers including Trombone Shorty, Christian McBride, The Motet, The New Mastersounds, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Shelly Berg, Tierney Sutton, and Billy Valentine.
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DURANGO SCHOOL DISTRICT ADDS THREE NEW ELECTRIC BUSES WITH $900,000 STATE GRANT
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Durango School District will add three electric school buses in 2026 after receiving a $900,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Clean Fleet Enterprise Board, one of only three districts statewide to earn funding this cycle. Officials say the buses will support cleaner, more efficient transportation and are expected to begin service in fall 2026, pending equipment and installation timelines. The district will work with La Plata Electric Association and pursue additional grants for electrical upgrades, noting that industry data shows electric buses generally have lower operating and maintenance costs. Durango’s first electric bus, purchased in 2021 through earlier grants, began regular service in 2022 and was the state’s first vehicle‑to‑grid capable school bus.
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EAGLE COUNTY AIRPORT ADDS FOUR NEW WINTER FLIGHTS & UPGRADES FOR GROWING TRAFFIC
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Eagle County Regional Airport launched its winter schedule with four new nonstop flights, including a daily American Airlines route to Charlotte through Jan. 5 that returns Feb. 12–April 6 and seats 128 passengers. United begins Saturday only service to Washington, D.C., supported by a $248,000 minimum revenue guarantee, while Delta adds flights to Minneapolis and New York without guarantees. The Charlotte route carries a $301,000 guarantee funded by Core Transit’s 0.5 percent sales tax. Airport leaders say enplanements have already set a record and seat capacity will keep rising into 2026. To handle increased traffic, the airport added two automated TSA exit lanes, upgraded Gate 5 to full time use, and plans further expansion as peak day flights exceed 30.
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DESERT JET TO MANAGE NEW HANGARS AT YAMPA VALLEY REGIONAL AIRPORT
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California-based aviation company Desert Jet is bringing new hangar space and expanded services to Yampa Valley Regional Airport in Hayden, according to a statement released on Wednesday. Desert Jet, known for its executive flight support operations in the Palm Springs area, will manage and operate two newly built, 28,800-square-foot hangars developed by Wiens Real Estate Ventures and HDN Hangar Investment Group. The heated hangars can accommodate some of the largest private aircraft, including Gulfstream and Bombardier models, and are designed to serve both visiting and locally based planes. Under the current management agreement, Desert Jet will oversee daily operations of the hangars. For information or hangar reservations, visit DesertJet.com/HDN or contact 970-715-5436.
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PETTIGREW FAMILY LAUNCHES $50,000 MATCHING GRANT FOR ROUTT COUNTY SEARCH & RESCUE
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The family of Derek Pettigrew, a 22‑year‑old Fort Collins man and Steamboat Springs native missing since July, has created a $50,000 matching grant to support Routt County Search and Rescue through the Colorado Gives campaign. Pettigrew’s vehicle was found abandoned near the Wyoming border, prompting a multi‑agency search with helicopters, drones, and ground teams before the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office ended the effort in September. His parents urged the public to donate, saying RCSAR may be another family’s only lifeline. All contributions will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000, with the effort aiming to raise more than $100,000 for the volunteer group that responds to backcountry emergencies across the region. To learn more or contribute, visit ColoradoGives.org/Story/Pettigrew.
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BRECKENRIDGE RELEASES PRELIMINARY SURVEY ON TOURISM AND QUALITY OF LIFE
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Breckenridge officials reviewed preliminary results from a resident sentiment survey showing mixed feelings about living in town but strong support for visiting. Among 764 respondents, 23 percent rated their likelihood to recommend living in Breckenridge as a 9 or 10, while 49 percent rated visiting as a 10. Second‑homeowners were slightly more positive, with 28 percent highly recommending living in town and 61 percent recommending visiting. Respondents said tourism benefits the community, with 58 percent agreeing it makes Breckenridge a better place to live and 88 percent calling tourism extremely or very important to the economy. Top priorities included supporting local businesses, improving infrastructure, and managing congestion, while reliable cell service, high‑speed internet, and walkability ranked highest for quality of life.
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THE BEST U.S. AIRLINES FOR ON-TIME FLIGHTS, CUSTOMER SATISFACTION & MORE
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In November, AirHelp, a service that helps airline passengers claim compensation for flight disruptions, released its annual ranking of the best U.S. airlines. The organization looked at on-time performance, claim processing and customer experience — analyzing data from Oct. 1, 2024, to Sept. 30, 2025. Each airline was given a score out of 10. The best U.S. airlines for on-time performance and more:
- American Airlines – 7.64
- United Airlines – 7.54
- Delta Airlines – 7.46
- Frontier Airlines – 7.07
- Hawaiian Airlines – 6.73
- Southwest – 6.68
- Alaska Airlines – 5.95
- JetBlue – 5.31
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LIFT TICKET PRICES AT TOP COLORADO RESORTS TO EXCEED $300 DURING HOLIDAY WEEK
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Prices for single-day lift tickets at most Colorado mountain ski resorts will increase for the Christmas holiday period, with five resorts charging more than $300 — and two of these topping out at more than $350. • At Breckenridge Resort, same-day adult lift tickets will hit $321 during the holiday period from the Friday after Christmas through New Year’s Day.
- During the same Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 period, prices at Steamboat Resort will peak at $339
- At Telluride Resort, prices will reach $328 during the holiday week
- For at least the third year running, Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek will have the highest-priced, single-day lift tickets of any ski area in the state during the holiday stretch, at $356
- From Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, same-day adult lift tickets will cost $292 at Keystone Resort
- $287 at Winter Park Resort
- $279 at Aspen-Snowmass
- $274 at Copper Mountain
- $239 at Crested Butte.
- During the holiday week, lift ticket prices peak at $149 at Loveland Ski Area
- $199 at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area
- $199 at Eldora Mountain Resort
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MARKET UPDATE - 12/18/2025 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 12/18/2025)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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