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Colorado - Fri. 05/15/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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GOV. POLIS SIGNS NEW LAW REWRITING COLORADO AI REGULATIONS
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Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation Thursday that rewrites and softens a Colorado law that sought to curb discrimination through the use of artificial intelligence, ending a two-year tug-of-war over how tightly the state should regulate the technology. Starting Jan. 1, the law passed as Senate Bill 189 will require companies or agencies to notify job seekers, prospective college students and people seeking bank loans if AI will be involved in weighing their applications. SB-189 also gives people whose applications are rejected the ability to request more information about what data was used to make the decision and to request “meaningful human review and reconsideration.”
The new law marks a significant rewrite, and weakening, of the initial AI regulations signed into law two years ago. The bill’s passage into law means Colorado is one of the few states in the nation to enact regulations addressing the potentially discriminatory use of AI in consequential application decisions. It also ends a 24-month saga of delays and failed negotiations.
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COLORADO'S TICK SEASON WORSE THAN NORMAL AFTER MILD WINTER
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Colorado’s tick season usually starts around March or April, but ticks emerged earlier than normal this year and have been more active. Colorado’s tick population also boomed during the wet spring of 2023 — a population increase that’s still hanging on because the parasite’s lifecycle spans several years. The risk of getting infected by a tick starts as soon as they latch on and start to take a “blood meal,” UCHealth’s senior director of infection prevention, Dr. Michelle Barron, said. Infection isn’t automatic and usually happens over the course of a few days, she said.
- If you find a tick, the first thing you want to do is try to remove it as quickly as possible.
- Coloradans should carefully check themselves after being outdoors in tick territory. Use tweezers to remove ticks or coat the parasites with clear nail polish, which will eventually cause them to fall off. No matter how it’s removed, it’s important to get the head.
- The primary risk in Colorado comes from two closely related species: the American dog tick, most often found in the foothills and eastern Colorado, and the Rocky Mountain wood tick, which typically lives in the mountains and western Colorado. Both tick species live for several years and can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Colorado tick fever.
- The first symptoms are almost always going to be flu-like symptoms. A headache, sometimes a fever, a rash, achiness, tiredness — those will be the first symptoms that might be a cue that someone has one of these tick-borne diseases.
- Ticks like tall grasses and brush. Staying on a trail can minimize exposure risk.
- Hikers can also reduce risk by wearing long pants, especially when tucked into tall socks.
- Good insect repellents with DEET, permethrin or picaridin can make it harder for the ticks to seek out humans by masking the chemical cues they look for.
- Humans should check any crevices where the parasites can latch on, including the back of the knees, waistband, groin area, armpits or scalp. On a dog, owners will want to check pretty much anywhere with hair, but especially in and around the ears, around the eyelids, under the collar, between the legs, between the toes and around the tail.
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BOLDER BOULDER ELIMINATES LAST-WEEKEND REGISTRATION FOR 2026 RACE
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With the 46th Memorial Day Bolder Boulder 10K less than two weeks away, organizers announced that registration for the 2026 edition of the race May 25 will be cut off before Memorial Day weekend due to the high number of entrants that is getting the event close to capacity. Typically, the Bolder Boulder has offered registration even on the morning of the race. Late Wednesday afternoon, the Bolder Boulder sent out a news release that read: “Historically, we have provided participants with the opportunity to register during race weekend and on race morning.
With participation trending significantly higher this year and the event nearing operational capacity, we encourage anyone planning to participate to register as soon as possible.” Race director Cliff Bosley said the Bolder Boulder registrations are trending 10 percent ahead of last year’s pace at the identical number of days before the race. Last year’s Bolder Boulder drew 52,185 entrants — by far the highest total since the 2020 and 2021 races were canceled due to the COVID pandemic.
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ASPEN LAUNCHES NEW PLATFORM FOR BUSINESS LICENSING, TAX FILING, STR PERMITTING
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The city of Aspen has announced the transition to a new online platform, Localgov, for business licensing, short-term rental permitting and local tax filing beginning June 1. Localgov will replace the existing MuniRevs/GovOS system, according to a press release, with the aim of providing a more efficient, secure, and user-friendly experience for businesses and STR permit holders. “Localgov offers a range of enhanced features, including streamlined forms, automatic fee calculations, secure data processing, and flexible payment options such as ACH/EFT and credit or debit cards,” the release states. “The platform also allows users to submit forms and payments at any time, eliminating the need for paper forms or in-person transactions.” Starting June 1, city businesses and STR permit holders will be required to use Localgov for the online submission of the following forms:
- Business license application
- STR permit application
- STR-C tax form (monthly)
- STR-OO / STR-LE tax form (monthly)
- Lodging tax form (monthly)
- Tobacco tax form (monthly)
- Carryout bag fee form (quarterly)
Customer access to the current MuniRevs/GovOS system will end May 31. For additional assistance, business license holders can contact aspensalestax@aspen.gov and short-term rental permit holders can reach out to strs@aspen.gov.
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MORE LIMITED ELK, DEER LICENSES OFFERED THIS YEAR
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife is offering an increased number of limited elk and deer hunting licenses this year thanks in part to northwest Colorado herds’ continued recovery from the 2022-23 severe winter. A third mild winter in a row and this year’s record-low snowpack in Colorado resulted in high winter survival of big game animals, which factors into its decision about the number of licenses to offer. That low snowpack also has raised concerns for Parks and Wildlife about drought, which worsens range conditions, increasing the importance of managing big game populations within the capability of habitat and within population objective ranges in local herd management plans. The Parks and Wildlife Commission approved the staff’s license recommendations during its recent meeting in Grand Junction. The recommendations also included a boost in limited licenses for moose, but reductions in limited licenses for pronghorn and bear.
- Altogether, the 269,600 limited licenses approved by the commission for the five species amount to an 8,100-license, or 3 percent, increase over the previous year.
- Overall, Parks and Wildlife is offering 133,500 limited elk licenses this year, a 2 percent increase.
- Excluding licenses converted to or from unlimited, over-the-counter licenses, 5 percent more limited elk licenses, or 6,600, are being offered this year.
- Among the changes related to over-the-counter licenses, bull elk licenses for the second and third rifle seasons in the Bears Ears and White River herds in northwest Colorado are going back to over-the-counter status after two years of limited status in response to the severe winter.
- Parks and Wildlife is increasing deer limited licenses by 6 percent statewide, to 98,500. It says its statewide post-hunt 2025 deer population estimate was 408,000, up from 384,000 last year.
- Parks and Wildlife this year is offering 19,200 limited licenses for black bear, 500 less than last year. The state has an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 bears. Parks and Wildlife is seeking to reduce bear populations in some areas and stabilize them at present levels in others. It offers over-the-counter bear licenses in some areas.
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GARFIELD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AWARD OVER $34,000 IN DISCRETIONARY GRANTS
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Garfield County commissioners on Monday awarded over $34,000 in second-quarter discretionary grants to 10 local organizations, signed letters of support for improved Divide Creek Drainage irrigation infrastructure and more in their regular weekly meeting. County commissioners announced second-quarter discretionary grant awards Monday after listening to presentations from 10 applicants last week.
- $2,500 was awarded to Colorado Mountain College
- $3,000 to Roaring Fork Outdoors Volunteers
- $5,000 to Rifle Rendezvous Festival
- $3,000 to Roaring Fork Public Radio
- $3,000 to the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra
- $3,000 to the Three Rivers Little League
- $3,000 to West Elk Trails
- $5,000 to the Grand Valley Historical Society
- $3,000 to the Roaring Fork Conservancy
- $5,000 to the Middle Colorado Watershed Council
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ALPINE SHRED DAY IN RIDGWAY, MAY 16
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Alpine Bank invites the community to a shredding event on Saturday, May 16, 9 a.m. to noon, at Alpine Bank, 119 Liddell Dr. in Ridgway, to securely dispose of unwanted documents and personal information. Shred old bank statements, old medical records, canceled or blank checks, credit card statements and personal bills. Staples or paperclips do not need to be removed. There is a maximum of four boxes per household and business. All shredded paper is recycled. For more information call 970-626-4100 or visit the link below.
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PINE RIVER SHARES RAISES $600,000 IN 70-DAY FUNDRAISING PUSH TO BUY SCHOOL BUILDING
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Pine River Shares, a food share program in Bayfield, announced Thursday that it had raised enough money to secure its purchase of the Old Bayfield Primary School. The announcement came after a successful 70-day fundraising push, spearheaded by Pine River Shares, to raise nearly $600,000 – just about half the price the Bayfield School District listed the building for back in December, Executive Director Pam Wilhoite said. “All we’ve been doing for the last 70 days is trying to bring in as much money as possible before closing,” Wilhoite said. “We’re really excited about tremendous community support.” Not only was the fundraising a success, she said, but it was fun.
On May 1, Pine River Shares hosted a “last ditch fundraising concert,” during which residents donated $9,500 to the center. Pine River Shares is part of the Pine River Community Resource Center, which operates out of the old school. The resource center also houses Pediatric Partners of the Southwest, the Bayfield Community Treehouse, the Grief Center of Southwest Colorado, the Bayfield Farmers Market administrative office, and meeting spaces for the local Girl Scout troop and Alcoholics Anonymous.
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SMOKY HAZE IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS LIKELY A RESULT OF FIRES ACROSS THE WEST
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Smoky haze visible in otherwise blue skies over Steamboat Springs is likely being caused primarily by fires burning in other Western states, Steamboat Springs Fire Rescue Capt. Scott Hetrick said Thursday afternoon. “Several fires across the West, from Utah to Oregon, could be sending smoke into our valley … The only fire anywhere near us, at the moment, is the Squaw Creek Fire in Edwards, Colorado,” Hetrick said. In Edwards, crews were dispatched to the Squaw Creek Fire just after 11 a.m. Thursday, and while Hetrick said the smoke from that fire would likely move into the area, he said the smoky haze in the Steamboat Springs vicinity already had been noticeable earlier in the day.
“Looking to the northwest there’s smoke in the air,” Hetrick said. “It’s light smoke, but it’s definitely blowing in from some other states. If you look down south it looks even worse, and I believe with that 20-acre fire (near Edwards), we’re possibly getting some spillage into our valley — especially with the wind.” He said last week’s precipitation improved fire conditions in our area, but he warned people to remain vigilant moving forward, especially with recent windy conditions in Steamboat Springs. “The wind dries everything out quickly,” Hetrick said. “I just want to remind people that we’re approaching our summer season earlier than normal, and to be very cautious — especially during those potential Red Flag days.”
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DILLON MARINA TO OPEN BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND DESPITE LOWER WATER LEVELS
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The Dillon Marina will open for Memorial Day weekend with adjustments to its normal operations due to drought conditions in Summit County, according to a town news release. Boat rentals, kayak and paddleboard rentals, the marina retail shop and office, and the launch ramp will all open for the season Saturday, May 23. The tiki bar, which has a new operator this year, will have a soft opening for Memorial Day weekend before fully opening in June, the release stated. The release stated dock access will look different than most years. Changing water levels “may leave some gangways resting directly on the shoreline,” and marina users should plan for longer wait times and, potentially, “long walks on the beach” to get to their boats. People should also be extra careful around the seawall this year, the release stated.
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TEXAS CLAIMS THE FIVE FASTEST-GROWING U.S. CITIES AS AUSTIN TOPS 1 MILLION
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Texas dominated the U.S. Census Bureau's latest population rankings, with all five of the nation's fastest-growing cities and added the 12th member of the country's million-resident club. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau released on Thursday, May 14, shows that four of the fastest-growing cities are clustered in the suburbs of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with the fifth located outside Houston. The data also shows that the fastest-growing city in the nation is Celina, Texas — north of Dallas — with a 24.6 percent growth rate. It was also the nation’s fastest-growing city in 2023. While growth slowed in cities like Houston and San Antonio, Austin surpassed the 1-million-residents mark. Texas is home to eight of the 15 fastest-growing U.S. cities and towns with populations of 20,000 or more between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025. They are:
- Celina, Texas — 64,427 (24.6 percent increase)
- Fulshear, Texas — 64,630 (21 percent increase)
- Princeton, Texas — 43,524 (18.1 percent increase)
- Melissa, Texas — 29,969 (14.5 percent increase)
- Anna, Texas — 35,245 (10.2 percent increase)
- Forney, Texas — 41,658 (8.5 percent increase)
- Hutto, Texas — 46,048 (7.9 percent increase)
- Greenville, Texas — 37,069 (7.5 percent increase)
Of the 15 cities with the largest numeric population increases of 20,000 or more between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, Texas is home to six.
- Fort Worth, Texas — 1,028,117 (a 19,512 increase)
- San Antonio, Texas — 1,548,422 (a 14,359 increase)
- Celina, Texas — 64,427 (a 12,710 increase)
- Houston, Texas — 2,397,315 (a 11,515 increase)
- Fulshear, Texas — 64,630 (a 11,196 increase)
- McKinney, Texas — 236,001 (an 8,504 increase)
Of the 15 cities with populations of 20,000 or more that posted the largest numeric population increases between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, Texas is home to six. Here is how they rank:
- Houston in 4th (2,397,315)
- San Antonio in 7th (1,548,422)
- Dallas in 9th (1,329,491)
- Fort Worth in 10th (1,028,117)
- Austin in 12th (1,002,632)
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MARKET UPDATE - 05/14/2026 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 05/14/2026)
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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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