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Colorado - Wed. 03/11/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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COLORADO RIVER MAY DELIVER JUST A THIRD OF NORMAL WATER SUPPLIES THIS SPRING
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Extended winter warmth across the Colorado River basin could reduce spring runoff to about one-third of normal, according to federal forecasters. Modeling released late last week projects just 2.3 million acre-feet of water flowing into Lake Powell this spring, or 36 percent of the median recorded between 1991 and 2020. If realized, it would be the fifth lowest inflow since the reservoir was established in 1963. Forecasters said record heat across the basin has dried soils and caused snow to melt earlier than normal, reducing runoff. Snowpack in the Colorado River headwaters stood at 66 percent of the median Monday, the lowest level recorded since measurements began in 1986. Lake Powell was 24 percent full at the start of March, while Lake Mead was 34 percent full. Even under the best-case scenario, inflows are unlikely to exceed two-thirds of normal, and warmer and drier than average conditions are expected to persist through at least mid-March.
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FIRE DANGER RISK RETURNS THIS WEEK ACROSS NORTHEAST COLORADO
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Warm, dry and windy weather is returning to northeast Colorado this week after late winter snow, bringing elevated fire danger, according to meteorologists. The National Weather Service in Boulder said areas near the Wyoming and Nebraska borders and across eastern Boulder and Larimer counties face near critical fire conditions Monday, with conditions expected to worsen as the week progresses. Critical fire danger is forecast Wednesday across the northeast plains, with extremely critical conditions possible Thursday and Friday as winds increase. Forecasters urged residents to avoid all outdoor burning.
In Denver, temperatures are expected to reach 73 degrees Monday, about 20 degrees above the seasonal average and just 4 degrees below the record high set in 1989. Minor heat risk is possible for people sensitive to heat without adequate cooling or hydration. Winds in Denver may gust to about 22 mph, which is below critical fire thresholds. Overnight lows are expected to drop to 38 degrees, with highs returning to the low 70s Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and cooler conditions Wednesday.
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- Denver Gazette, 03.09.26
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DENVER’S REGIS UNIVERSITY NAMES FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT IN ITS NEARLY 150-YEAR HISTORY
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Regis University has named Shawna Cooper Whitehead as the Jesuit Catholic institution’s first female president in its nearly 150-year history, the Denver-based university announced Monday. Cooper Whitehead, who will become the school’s 29th president, begins her role July 1, succeeding interim president Rev. D. Scott Hendrickson. She is coming from Boston College, where she has served as vice president of student affairs since 2021. Regis highlighted several accomplishments from her tenure there, including raising more than $20 million in philanthropic funding for student affairs, engaging New York’s business community through a keynote role with the Wall Street Business Leadership Council, and training 50 students, faculty and staff in Indigenous-rooted restorative justice practices.
Cooper Whitehead has also held senior leadership roles at Seton Hall University, Loyola University Chicago, the University of Chicago, Northwestern University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Regis University’s Board of Trustees said her student-centered leadership and commitment to educational equity align closely with the institution’s Jesuit mission.
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WHY COLORADO PICKED THESE FOUR NAMES FOR ITS FRONT RANGE TRAIN; HOW YOU CAN VOTE
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The Front Range Passenger Rail initiative has opened a public contest to name the passenger train planned to run between Pueblo and Fort Collins, with voting open for the next two weeks. Voters can choose from four options: Front Range Express Destinations, known as FRED; Colorado Connector, or CoCo; Colorado Ranger; and RangeLink. Two voters will be randomly selected to receive free tickets for the planned inaugural train ride in 2029, according to General Manager Sal Pace. Officials said the names were developed with input from consultants, board members and elected officials, and are intended to reflect different aspects of the service, from lighthearted travel to regional connectivity and endurance.
The rail service is planned to operate on existing freight tracks along the Interstate 25 corridor, with partnerships underway with Union Pacific and BNSF Railway. Pace said officials currently estimate fares will cost less than $20 per trip. Those interested in voting in the contest can do so at ridethefrontrange.com/namethetrain.
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- Denver Gazette, 03.09.26
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DENVER GAS PRICES SURGE AS OIL PRICES JUMP — THINGS COULD GET WORSE
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Gas prices in Denver surged by more than 63 cents per gallon last week as oil prices spiked amid escalating conflict in the Middle East, according to GasBuddy. The average price for a gallon of gas in Denver reached $3.42 on Monday, about 76.2 cents higher than a month earlier, though still below the record highs set in 2022. Nationally, gas prices jumped 51.1 cents per gallon over the past week to an average of $3.45, while diesel prices rose 85.9 cents to $4.59.
GasBuddy analyst Patrick De Haan said U.S. strikes on Iran and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel, prompting fuel markets to rapidly adjust to the risk of prolonged supply disruptions. He warned some states could see gas prices rise another 20 to 50 cents per gallon, with diesel potentially climbing even more. In Denver, gas prices are now 64 cents higher than a year ago, with prices ranging from $2.89 to $3.69 per gallon. Statewide, Colorado’s average gas price was $3.40, up 58.4 cents from a week earlier.
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- Denver Gazette, 03.09.26
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DENVER COMPANY TAPPED TO MANAGE HOTEL ON CU ANSCHUTZ CAMPUS AFTER $22.5M SALE
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The Regents of the University of Colorado purchased The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club on the CU Anschutz medical campus in Aurora for $22.5 million and selected Denver-based Sage Hospitality Group to manage the property. The 106-room luxury hotel, located at 13025 E. Montview Blvd., opened in 2023, and was developed by Aimco, which sold the property as part of a broader liquidation plan. The more than 108,000-square-foot hotel includes The Faculty Club, an exclusive lounge intended to bring together academic and medical leaders, as well as The Common Good restaurant and bar, a 24-hour fitness center and flexible meeting space. University and Sage officials said the hotel serves as a key gathering place for the medical campus community. Sage Hospitality Group manages several prominent Denver properties, including Denver Union Station, the Dairy Block and McGregor Square, and was also selected last year to manage the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park.
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- Denver Business Journal, 03.09.26
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CPW TO HOST TWO STATE OF THE FISH MEETINGS IN SILVERTHORNE
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife is inviting anglers to attend two in-person State of the Fish public meetings in Silverthorne focused on Summit County fisheries. The first meeting, centered on rivers, is scheduled for Monday, March 16, at 6:30 p.m. and will include a presentation by Denver Water’s Nathan Elder on expected 2026 flow conditions, followed by an update on fisheries status and management from CPW aquatic biologist Jon Ewert. The second meeting, covering lakes and reservoirs, will take place Wednesday, March 18, also at 6:30 p.m., and will address fish populations and management activities in Summit County waters including Dillon and Green Mountain reservoirs. Both meetings will include opportunities for questions and discussion. CPW said recent management changes and projects will be highlighted. The meetings will be held in the conference room at The Block Hotel at 491 Rainbow Drive in Silverthorne, and no virtual option will be available.
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PITCO OPENS UP RARE HUNTING LOTTERY FOR 13TH YEAR
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Pitkin County has opened its Sky Mountain Park elk hunt lottery for the 2026 season, marking the 13th year of the limited program that allows hunting on county-owned land normally closed to hunters. The hunt will take place during the fourth rifle season from Nov. 18 through Nov. 22, when the park will be closed to most public access. Five hunters will be selected through a weighted lottery that gives additional entries to youth and first-time hunters, while all applicants must hold a valid Colorado hunting license and be eligible for a fourth season cow elk tag in Game Unit 431. County officials say the hunt helps reduce habitat damage caused by concentrated elk herds and supports long-term ecological stewardship. Since the program began in 2014, 54 hunters have participated and 24 have successfully harvested an elk. The drawing closes March 16 and interested hunters can enter the lottery and find more information at PitkinCounty.com/481/Open-Space-Permits.
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HIDDEN WOODY CREEK RACETRACK UNDER REVIEW BY PITKIN COUNTY FOR REDEVELOPMENT
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A long-operating private racetrack in Woody Creek is under review by Pitkin County after the 45‑acre Aspen Motorsports Park was placed under contract for sale and a redevelopment application was submitted late last year. The property, which has hosted racing since 1963 and is billed as America’s highest‑altitude road racing course, is being purchased for $23 million by Mount Adams Capital LLC, a family-owned investment firm. The buyers are described as car enthusiasts pursuing a passion project rather than a commercial venture. Their proposal includes realigning the existing track, building a new clubhouse, adding car storage and maintenance facilities, employee housing, and infrastructure upgrades, while operating as a members‑only club.
County planners and Woody Creek residents have raised concerns about the scale of the redevelopment, potential noise, traffic, year-round operations and expanded special events, arguing the proposal represents a significant shift from the site’s historically low‑key use. A public hearing before the Pitkin County Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled for May 19, with public comment currently being accepted.
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- Aspen Daily News, 03.08.26
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CMU FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER PROGRAM RANKED THIRD IN THE STATE BY REGISTERED NURSING
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Colorado Mesa University’s Family Nurse Practitioner master’s program has been ranked third in Colorado by Registered Nursing, placing it behind Regis University and the University of Northern Colorado and ahead of Colorado Technical University Colorado Springs and the University of Colorado Denver’s Anschutz Medical Campus. The ranking, published March 4, evaluated nursing programs statewide using a points-based system that considers accreditation, online availability, program completions, tuition and fees adjusted for local cost of living, faculty tenure ratios, acceptance rates and graduation rates.
Registered Nursing described CMU’s 49-credit, fully online program as designed for working professionals seeking advanced practice roles, emphasizing comprehensive primary care training across all life stages, leadership development, evidence-based practice and clinical practicums that prepare graduates for expanded healthcare responsibilities and potential doctoral pathways.
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- GJ Daily Sentinel, 03.09.26
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MONTROSE REGIONAL HEALTH TOUTS MILLIONS IN SAVINGS IN SIGNING LETTER OF INTENT TO EXPLORE PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
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Montrose Regional Health has signed a letter of intent to explore a partnership with Community Hospital of Grand Junction that leaders say could generate between $19 million and $32 million in annual savings while allowing both hospitals to remain independent and locally governed. Hospital officials emphasized the agreement is not a merger or acquisition, but an exploratory step toward creating a jointly managed nonprofit parent corporation, tentatively called "New Co.," focused on back-end efficiencies such as group purchasing, shared technology investments and improved insurance reimbursement processes. Potential savings would come from consolidated supply purchasing, shared electronic medical records through Meditech Expanse, streamlined revenue cycle operations and participation in federal 340(b) drug pricing.
Montrose Regional Health CEO Jeff Mengenhausen said the partnership is designed to strengthen long-term financial stability, reinvest savings into patient care and facilities, and position the hospital to navigate rising costs, legislative uncertainty and pressure on rural health care, with a final agreement expected later this year.
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- Montrose Daily Press, 03.09.26
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SAN JUAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO STEP DOWN AFTER 30 YEARS
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Mark Pearson, executive director of the San Juan Citizens Alliance and a longtime Durango Herald columnist, is stepping down after more than three decades leading the Durango-based nonprofit’s public lands advocacy efforts across Southwest Colorado. Pearson, who began volunteering with the organization in 1993 before becoming executive director later in the decade, helped guide campaigns to protect wilderness areas, oppose large-scale development proposals such as a base village at Wolf Creek Ski Area, and support legislation including the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act. He also served on citizen advisory boards addressing issues such as wolf reintroduction and the Hermosa Creek watershed’s wilderness designation.
Pearson said growing pressure for resource extraction and increasingly partisan environmental debates make the alliance’s work as critical as ever but expressed confidence that the organization is financially stable and well positioned for new leadership, with a successor expected to be hired by late spring.
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- Durango Herald, 03.08.26
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WHAT THE LATEST ECONOMIC DATA TELLS US ABOUT COLORADO’S ROLE IN THE U.S. $1.3 TRILLION OUTDOOR RECREATION INDUSTRY
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Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy continued to expand in 2024 but grew more slowly than the national average, according to new data from the U.S. Dept. of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. Nationwide, the outdoor recreation industry generated $1.3 trillion in economic output, supported 5.2 million jobs and accounted for about 2.4 percent of U.S. gross domestic product. Colorado ranked tenth nationally, with outdoor recreation adding about $18 billion in value and making up roughly 3.3 percent of the state’s economy. While the national outdoor recreation sector grew about 4 percent year over year, Colorado’s industry grew 3.6 percent. Officials said inflation, high interest rates, supply chain challenges and affordability concerns have slowed growth following the post pandemic surge, even as participation in outdoor activities remained strong.
- Hunting, shooting and trapping: Grew 16.5 percent year over year, making it the fastest growing outdoor recreation activity nationwide
- Climbing, hiking and camping: Increased 6.5 percent from the previous year
- Recreational flying: Expanded 5.2 percent year over year
- Bicycling: Grew 3.4 percent in 2024
- Motorcycling and off roading: Increased 1.8 percent year over year
- Snow activities: Skiing and snowboarding generated more than $1.5 billion in Colorado, accounting for 20 percent of all snowsports economic activity nationwide
- Boating and fishing: Added about $736 million to Colorado’s economy
- Recreational vehicle camping: Contributed approximately $582 million statewide
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- Steamboat Today, 03.08.26
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MARKET UPDATE - 03/10/2026 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 03/05/2026)
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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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