FILM ON THE ROCKS RETURNS, AS A DRIVE-IN SHOWING

Denver Film announced its popular movie series at Red Rocks Amphitheatre will return for its 21st season this month as a drive-in experience. Beginning Aug. 13-16, Denver Film will screen four different titles on a weekly basis with up to 300 cars ticketed for each event. Each film will be presented on an LED screen located in Red Rocks’ Lower South Lot 2 parking area. Tickets for Film on the Rocks: Drive-In will go on sale Tuesday, Aug. 11 at denverfilm.org or redrocksonline.com/film. The cost is $59.50 per car, per showing.

NEW FILINGS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT FALL

The U.S. Labor Dept. Thursday reported that initial unemployment claims fell by a seasonally adjusted 249,000 to 1.2 million for the week ended Aug. 1. That is the lowest level since the coronavirus hit the U.S. in March. However, it still remains at a historically high level for the 20th straight week. In Colorado, 14,723 people applied for state or federal support for the week ending Aug. 1. That is down from the 17,000 filings of the two prior weeks.

MORTGAGE RATES FALL TO RECORD LOW…AGAIN

Freddie Mac Thursday reported that the 30-year fixed mortgage rate fell to 2.88 percent for the week ending August 6. That is down 11 basis points from a week earlier and marks the eighth time this year the benchmark mortgage rate hit a record low. Last year at this time, the 30-year rate stood at 3.6 percent. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped seven basis points to an average of 2.44 percent, while the 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage fell by only four basis points to 2.9 percent. The low lending rates are pushing more people to buy homes. The Mortgage Bankers Association say the number of mortgage applications for loans to buy homes, as opposed to refinancing, was up 22 percent over a year ago.

FOUNDATION FORMED TO SAVE CRYSTAL MILL

The Crystal Mill on the Crystal River above Marble is one of those locations in Colorado that is being loved to death. It is one of the most photographed structures in the state, drawing visitors from around the world. However, the mill is not a protected historic site and is privately owned. The crowds have grown to the point the owners are overwhelmed trying to manage the site. A group of Colorado residents has now formed the Crystal Mill Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit, seeking to raise $10 million to purchase the mill property and install the necessary on-site improvements. More information at: www.crystalmillfoundation.org.

GJ TRANSPORTATION STUDY: EXTENSION OF 29 ROAD IS THE SINGLE PRIORITY

The draft Planning and Environmental Linkages Study, a transportation feasibility study by Mesa County and the city of Grand Junction, has identified the extension of 29 Road to Interstate 70 as the priority for state funding. The study evaluated the 29 Road extension along with expanding interchanges at Horizon Drive and the I-70B interchange near Clifton. The study determined extending 29 Road was the best option to meet the transportation needs of the Grand Valley. The study said the region could benefit from a new truck route and better access to recreational opportunities.

IN ANOTHER TURNABOUT, RMAC WILL MOVE MANY FALL SPORTS TO SPRING

The presidents of the colleges and universities of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference voted last week to continue with a fall sports schedule, playing only conference opponents. This week, the NCAA Division II Presidents' Council canceled fall championships. Yesterday, the RMAC changed direction and decided to move football, volleyball and men's and women's soccer to spring. Cross country and golf for men and women will compete this fall as scheduled. The dates for the change to spring were not announced.

FORT LEWIS RECEIVES RECORD DONATIONS AND GIFTS

The Fort Lewis College Foundation received more than $6.17 million in gifts and pledges for the 2019-20 fiscal year, a record amount. The record amount came from 2,536 donors. Two of the largest gifts in FLC history paced the record-setting year – $2.05 million from the Schlessman Family Foundation toward the Health Sciences Center and $1.6 million from the Ottens Foundation for the Native American Center. The record donations this year topped the previous record of $4.6 million in FY2019.

WHERE PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING TO…BOZEMAN, MONTANA

Like every other airport in the U.S., Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) virtually closed down due to the impact of the pandemic:

• Total airport traffic fell to 2,932 passengers in April, or 97 percent below the level of April 2019
• The difference is by July, passenger traffic rebounded to 83,000
• BZN got its first-ever non-stop flight to Boston July 1 on JetBlue
• Jet Blue began seasonal JFK service three times a week
• Allegiant began twice weekly seasonal service to Nashville, a new destination, in May
• BZN has 10 year-round daily destination: Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Seattle
• This winter, Alaska will begin daily, year-round service to LAX
• American will begin service to Philadelphia next summer
• In terms of total aviation, including general aviation, total take-offs and landings in July reached 11,300, about 12 percent higher than the previous busiest month
• July business jet flight numbers were 50 percent higher than a year ago