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Colorado - Fri. 03/20/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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RELIEF SOUGHT FOR LOCAL TSA STAFF
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Grand Junction Regional Airport officials are asking the public to help support Transportation Security Administration employees who have been working without pay since mid-February due to a partial federal government shutdown that has left the Dept. of Homeland Security without funding. Airport leaders said TSA officers have continued reporting to work despite missing paychecks and are seeking community assistance to help ease financial strain on employees and their families. The airport is accepting store-specific gift cards valued at $20 or less from retailers that sell both food and gas, including City Market, Sam’s Club and Walmart, but prepaid Visa or Mastercard gift cards will not be accepted due to federal ethics rules.
Donations can be dropped off in a collection box located just to the right of the TSA security checkpoint on the airport’s second floor and will be accepted through the end of the shutdown. Airport officials said they are coordinating with federal authorities to ensure donations comply with ethics guidelines and are distributed among the airport’s 45 TSA employees. Alpine Bank is contributing $2,500 and providing lunches for TSA staff. Grand Junction-based company Leitner-Poma has already contributed about $2,500 toward gift cards. The shutdown began Feb. 14 and has also affected other DHS agencies, with the TSA reporting more than 300 officer resignations nationwide.
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DENVER’S FIRST MICRODOSING CAFE NOW OFFERING PSILOCYBIN‑ASSISTED YOGA, ART & MORE
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Vivid Minds Cafe, a brightly painted coffee shop on South Broadway, has become Colorado’s first licensed microdosing cafe, offering adults 21 and older legal, psilocybin‑assisted experiences after hours while operating as a public cafe during the day. The business, owned by Manon and Jeff Parton, combines a traditional coffee shop with a licensed psychedelic healing center in the lower level, where small group sessions such as yoga, sound baths and art therapy are paired with low doses of psilocybin mushrooms. The model is designed as an accessible entry point into psychedelic use, both in dosage and cost, compared with traditional multi‑hour, high‑dose guided trips offered at most healing centers.
During regular hours, Vivid Minds serves espresso drinks, smoothies and beverages featuring non‑psychedelic functional mushrooms, and hosts community events ranging from educational talks to crafting parties and drag shows. Microdosing sessions are held outside normal business hours and require medical screening and facilitator intake, with prices ranging from $150 for a 90‑minute session to $300 for longer classes. The cafe joins Colorado’s emerging natural medicine industry, legalized by voters in 2022, which allows psilocybin to be used for therapeutic purposes under a regulated framework.
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FCC APPROVES MERGER OF FOX31 PARENT NEXSTAR & 9NEWS OWNER TEGNA
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Federal regulators have approved Nexstar Media Group’s $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna, clearing a major hurdle for a deal that would combine ownership of FOX31 KDVR, KWGN, 9NEWS KUSA and KTVD in the Denver market. The FCC announced its approval Thursday, and Nexstar said it also received Justice Dept. clearance, though independent confirmation was not immediately available. The approval came the same day eight state attorneys general — including Colorado’s — and DirecTV filed lawsuits seeking to block the merger, arguing it would violate antitrust laws, raise consumer prices and weaken already strained local journalism.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said the combined company would reach 80 percent of U.S. households and control 57 percent of Denver’s broadcast market, reducing competition and driving up cable and satellite costs. Nexstar has agreed to divest six stations nationally to comply with ownership rules but has not said how it will handle overlapping Denver stations. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the merger as a way to strengthen local broadcasters, while critics warned it could lead to newsroom consolidation and higher retransmission fees for distributors.
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COLORADO SUES TO OVERTURN DOE ORDER KEEPING COAL PLANT UNIT OPEN
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Colorado has filed a legal challenge seeking to overturn a U.S. Dept. of Energy order that delayed the planned shutdown of Unit 1 at the Craig Station coal plant in Moffat County, arguing the federal agency exceeded its authority and imposed unnecessary costs on ratepayers. In a request for rehearing filed Wednesday, the state said the DOE ordered the 45-year-old unit to remain open last December just hours before it was scheduled to close, despite long-standing plans to fully retire the plant by 2028.
State officials and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, which operates the facility, warned the delay will raise electricity costs for customers, particularly because Unit 1 was offline at the time due to a failed valve that required repairs paid for by ratepayers. The filing also accuses the DOE of selectively using data from a 2024 power assessment while ignoring findings that the region faces minimal reliability risk. The DOE order keeps Unit 1 operating through March 30, even as Tri State continues its transition toward renewable energy, which accounted for about half of its power supply at the end of 2025.
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WEEKEND HEATWAVE BRINGS RECORD BREAKING TEMPS TO ASPEN, WESTERN U.S.
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Unseasonably hot weather driven by a strong high-pressure system is bringing record-breaking March temperatures to Aspen and much of the western United States, with highs more typical of early summer than the first days of spring. Aspen is forecast to reach the low to mid 70s through the weekend, roughly 20 to 25 degrees above normal and likely to shatter daily records, according to state climatologists and National Weather Service forecasters. Similar records are being broken across Colorado, including on the Front Range and in mountain communities with long term weather data, while Denver is forecast to approach 90 degrees with elevated fire danger.
The heat is accelerating snowmelt at high elevations, raising concerns about wildfire risk, river flows and the timing of peak snowpack, particularly as overnight lows remain unusually warm. While resort officials say snowmaking and grooming investments are helping maintain ski conditions in the short term, climatologists warn the warmth is unprecedented for March and could significantly reduce statewide snowpack ahead of the typical early April peak.
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ASPEN HOSTING OPEN HOUSE FOR ENTRANCE TO ASPEN UPDATES
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The city of Aspen is inviting the public to learn about next steps in the long running Entrance to Aspen transportation project at a community open house on Thursday, March 26, as officials move forward with reevaluating a federally approved plan first adopted in 1998. The drop-in event will run from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at Colorado Mountain College, with brief presentations at 5 and 6 p.m., and will give residents a chance to review project history, potential design refinements and upcoming milestones. The project focuses on improving safety, mobility and emergency access along Hwy. 82, including replacing the nearly 60-year-old Castle Creek Bridge and realigning portions of the highway.
After voters approved Referendum 2 in 2025 allowing use of Marolt/Thomas Open Space for a dedicated bus lane, the city directed staff to evaluate the previously approved “Preferred Alternative,” triggering a required federal reevaluation with CDOT and the Federal Highway Administration. A new project website, EntrancetoAspen.co, has launched to share information and updates, and a virtual open house will be available there starting March 26, with public comments accepted by email or voicemail.
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BISHOP PLUMBING & HEATING INTRODUCES TRAINING ACADEMY FOR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
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Bishop Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning has launched a new trades training academy aimed at giving local high school students hands-on experience and coursework in plumbing and HVAC, addressing workforce shortages while offering an alternative career path to college. The academy, envisioned more than a decade ago by second generation owner Kristin Davis, blends classroom instruction with real world field training using modern equipment and mentorship from experienced technicians. The inaugural class includes four students earning high school credit while shadowing senior technicians and learning job-ready skills without taking on student debt.
Funded in part by a statewide grant supporting youth interest in the trades, the program plans to expand after its first semester and eventually offer HVAC training alongside plumbing. Organizers say the academy is designed to keep local talent in the valley, strengthen the regional workforce, and encourage more women to enter the trades. For further information about the training academy or Bishop Plumbing and Heating services, visit Bishopplumbing247.com or the Colorado River BOCES website at crboces.org.
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ORGANIC ORCHARD CONSERVED NEAR PAONIA
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Colorado West Land Trust has placed a conservation easement on a working organic orchard just outside Paonia, permanently protecting the property for agricultural use and preserving its role in the North Fork Valley’s farming heritage. The orchard, which has roots dating back to the early 1900s, is leased by the Kropp family of First Fruits Organic Farms and was acquired by Dirt Capital Partners, an impact investment firm that works to keep farmland in production. The agreement provides a pathway for the Kropps to eventually purchase the land, ensuring long-term local stewardship.
According to the land trust, the easement will protect productive soils, irrigation water, wildlife habitat and the rural landscape while keeping the property in active fruit production. The orchard produces organic pears and apples and sits near other land farmed by the Kropp family, in an area that had recently been at risk for development. The conserved property now becomes part of a broader network of protected farms and ranches in the North Fork Valley, where nearly 5,000 acres of private land have already been conserved.
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BLM STATE DIRECTOR DECLINES TRANSFER, IS RESIGNING
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Colorado Bureau of Land Management Director Doug Vilsack is resigning after declining a reassignment to another BLM position, ending his tenure as the agency’s top official in Colorado. Vilsack, who became state director in 2022, said that BLM leadership transferred him to the National Operations Center in the Denver area and that after considering the move, he decided to step down. He will remain in the position through the end of next week to manage the transition. Tom Workman, director of the National Operations Center, is expected to serve as acting state director for 120 days. During his tenure, Vilsack oversaw major land management decisions, including reduced oil and gas leasing, new protections for sage-grouse and big game habitat, and the addition of more than 4,000 acres to the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. He was also closely involved in wild horse management issues, earning praise from local advocates for his engagement.
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ROADWORK ON U.S. HWY. 160 BETWEEN WALMART & ELMORE’S CORNER TO BEGIN MONDAY
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The Colorado Dept. of Transportation will begin a six-mile resurfacing project on U.S. Hwy. 160 southeast of Durango on Monday, with work expected to continue through November and take place primarily overnight to reduce traffic impacts. The project area runs between Walmart and Elmore’s Corner and will start with curb reconstruction at the eastern end before moving west toward Durango, finishing with deck repairs and resurfacing on the High Bridge. Additional work includes new striping, delineators, guardrails, road signs, and ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps and crosswalks at several intersections, including Dominguez Drive, River Road, Three Springs Boulevard and Elmore’s Corner.
Construction will generally occur from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Sunday night through Friday morning, with motorists advised to expect single-lane closures, lane shifts, shoulder closures, speed reductions to 45 mph and delays of up to 15 minutes, along with some daytime congestion from traffic control remaining in place around the clock. For updates on the project, visit cotrip.org.
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THE EAGLE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT IS PLANNING TO RAISE ITS PARKING RATES
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The Eagle County Regional Airport is proposing increases to all public parking rates beginning this summer as it invests in new access control technology and responds to growing demand that has pushed parking lots beyond capacity. Airport officials told the Eagle County Board of Commissioners that the increases would apply to short-term, long-term and permit parking and would help fund more than $1 million in gate installations, security upgrades and future paving of the long-term lot, which is currently gravel. While short-term rates were raised in August 2024, long-term parking rates have not increased in close to a decade.
Commissioners expressed general support for the proposal, noting the rates have lagged industry standards, though final approval is still required. Airport staff said parking demand surged this winter, with all lots reaching capacity on 15 separate days, including periods when vehicles were parked in overflow areas. Officials are also exploring options to expand parking capacity as passenger traffic continues to grow and ahead of the planned 2027 closure of Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, which is expected to further increase demand at Eagle County Regional Airport.
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NORTHWEST COLORADO ELK HERDS BOUNCE BACK THREE YEARS AFTER TOUGH WINTER
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Elk herds in northwest Colorado have rebounded to near or within population targets following a devastating winter in 2022-23 that cut some herds in half, prompting Colorado Parks and Wildlife to propose a significant increase in hunting licenses for the region. Annual winter classification flights show the Bears Ears and White River herds have recovered after three consecutive mild winters, with improved calf survival and strong recruitment reflected in rising spike bull ratios. Biologists reported that while this winter’s unusually dry and warm conditions made elk harder to count and altered migration patterns, thousands of animals were still observed in good body condition across traditional ranges.
The recovery follows sharp reductions in hunting opportunities after the harsh winter, including major license cuts and shortened seasons, and CPW now plans to recommend more antlerless licenses and a return to over-the-counter bull tags for some rifle seasons. Final license proposals will be presented to the Parks and Wildlife Commission in May, with officials noting strong public support for the cautious, data-driven approach used to rebuild the herds.
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WHEELCHAIRS 4 KIDS TO BRING 20 CHILDREN ADAPTIVE SKIING IN BRECKENRIDGE
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Nonprofit Wheelchairs 4 Kids will bring 20 children with physical disabilities and their families from Florida to Breckenridge from March 28 through April 1 for an adaptive downhill skiing experience, marking the organization’s fifth year hosting the trip. The highlight of the visit will be adaptive skiing sessions with the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, where staff and volunteers will assist participants using specialized sleds and equipment. Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center will serve as the group’s base of operations, providing deeply discounted lodging, while several local restaurants and businesses have donated meals and snacks throughout the stay. The program is designed to give children with disabilities the opportunity to experience skiing and snowboarding in a supportive, inclusive environment alongside their families.
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THESE ARE THE MOST STOLEN CARS IN THE U.S.
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Vehicle thefts in the United States fell sharply in 2025 to their lowest level in four decades, but hundreds of thousands of cars are still stolen each year, according to new data from the National Insurance Crime Bureau. A total of 659,880 vehicles were reported stolen last year, a 23 percent drop from 2024, signaling the end of a pandemic-era surge driven by idle vehicles and reduced oversight. Despite the decline, the NICB reports that a vehicle is still stolen every 48 seconds, with risk highest in urban areas. The most frequently stolen vehicles continue to be older, high-volume models that blend easily into traffic and are often dismantled for parts. While thefts of certain Hyundai and Kia models have declined following software updates and security improvements, those brands still account for a significant share of stolen vehicles nationwide.
These are the models the NICB reports were most-frequently stolen last year, with the total number of thefts noted:
- Hyundai Elantra: 21,732
- Honda Accord: 17,797
- Hyundai Sonata: 17,687
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500: 16,764
- Honda Civic: 12,725
- Kia Optima: 11,521
- Ford F150: 10,102
- Toyota Camry: 9,833
- Honda CR-V: 9,809
- Nissan Altima: 8,445
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JANUARY NEW HOME SALES PLUNGE TO LOWEST PACE SINCE 2022
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Sales of newly built homes slowed sharply at the start of the year as affordability pressures continued to weigh on buyers, even as builders increased incentives to attract demand. Analysts said the January pullback was broader and steeper than expected, reflecting a market still adjusting to elevated borrowing costs and shifting buyer behavior. Regional data showed particularly pronounced weakness in the West, while rising supply added further pressure to prices, underscoring the challenges facing the new‑home market early in 2026.
- Sales of newly built homes fell 17.6 percent month over month in January to an annualized pace of 587,000 units, the slowest since 2022.
- January sales were 11.3 percent lower than January 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
- The median price of a new home sold in January was $400,500, down 6.8 percent from a year earlier.
- Inventory of new homes for sale rose to a 9.7‑month supply, up from eight months in December and 7.8 percent higher than a year earlier.
- Mortgage rates averaged between 6 percent and 6.2 percent in January, compared with about 6.36 percent currently.
- An estimated 37 percent of builders cut prices in March, up from 36 percent in February, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
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MARKET UPDATE - 03/19/2026 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 03/19/2026)
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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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