MAYOR HANCOCK'S STATE OF THE CITY FEATURES NEW $450 MILLION BOND PROPOSAL

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock presented his State of the City address Monday, addressing issues including homelessness, criminal justice and the city's emergence from the pandemic downturn. He did outline a $450 million infrastructure bond package which he said would create 7,500 jobs and $1 billion in economic benefits. The package includes a $160 million, 10,000-seat, "state-of-the-art" arena at the National Western Center. The package also includes $61 million for transportation; $53 million for Parks and Recreation; and $37 million for homeless shelters.

HOT WEATHER ACROSS THE WEST TAKING A TOLL ON FISH

Salmon in the Sacramento River and the Klamath River in California and sockeye salmon in Idaho are all dying and endangered from the hot weather and extended drought across the West. Federal fisheries officials say more than 85 percent of the baby salmon could die because of warmer water in the Sacramento River. California has been trucking millions of salmon raised at hatcheries to the ocean each year to bypass the downstream journey in warmer, more shallow water. In Idaho, officials realized salmon could not survive their upstream migration through hundreds of miles of warm water, so they flooded the Snake River, then trapped and trucked the fish to hatcheries. Low water levels are also affecting recreational fishing. Officials in Wyoming, Colorado, Montana and California are asking anglers to fish during the coolest parts of the day to minimize the impact on stressed fish.

U.S. WILL NOT LIFT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS

Facing considerable pressure from international allies and the airline industry, the Biden administration still will not lift international restrictions on international travel, according to an announcement from the White House Monday. The statement said, “The administration understands the importance of international travel and is united in wanting to reopen international travel in a safe and sustainable manner.” Several European countries have started allowing vaccinated Americans tourists to enter and Canada will begin admitting fully vaccinated Americans on Aug. 9.

GORSUCH HAUS TAKES ANOTHER STEP WITH $10 MILLION LAND PURCHASE

Norway Island LLC purchased about two acres of land at the base of Aspen Mountain last week as another step toward the creation of the proposed Gorsuch Haus. The entire project dates back to the conditional approval by the Aspen City Council for the luxury hotel in January 2019, subject to a city referendum. The proposed 81-room Gorsuch Haus successfully passed the election hurdle, by a margin of 26 votes. With all the requirements still necessary, it is anticipated the construction may begin next spring.

NEW DENVER-MOAB TRAIN TO BEGIN IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS

The Rocky Mountaineer, the luxury train that will run from Denver to Moab with an overnight stop in Glenwood Springs, begins Aug. 15. There will be a welcome celebration in Glenwood Springs from 4 to 8 p.m., Aug. 15, for the arrival of the first train, with a festival on 7th Street and activities surrounding the anticipated arrival at 5 p.m. The Rocky Mountaineer is scheduled to have 56 departures over 14 weeks from Aug. 15 to Nov. 19. Complete information on the new service is available at rockymountaineer.com.

G ROAD WILL HAVE TWO-WEEK CLOSURE AS ROAD PROJECT STARTS

The relocation of the G Road bridge and expansion of 24 Road in Grand Junction will start in two to three weeks, but to prepare for those major projects, G Road, just east of 24 Road, will be closed for two weeks to extend the waterline down G Road. That extension will run from the south entrance into Canyon View Park to Spanish Trail Drive. Once the waterline project is completed, there will be work to move utilities under 24 Road. Following those projects, G Road will be closed again for the larger project involving the G Road bridge.

ROAD WORK ON HWY. 550 OVER RED MOUNTAIN WILL CAUSE POSSIBLE DELAYS

The Colorado Dept. of Transportation said work will begin on installing and repairing culverts on U.S. Hwy. 550 over Red Mountain Pass on Aug. 2. The work will be on culverts in the area between mileposts 80 and 81.5 about 10 miles south of Ouray. The project will also improve existing parking/pullout areas on the road. Motorists should be prepared for possible lane closures and closures of shoulder areas lasting into the fall.

INTERIOR SECRETARY HAALAND CLOSED VISIT WITH DISCUSSION OF CORE ACT

U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland closed her three-day visit to Colorado Saturday with a meeting with Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and county commissioners from Gunnison, San Miguel, Summit and Otero counties in Ridgway to discuss and support the passage of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act. The CORE Act proposes protection of 400,000 acres of public land in Colorado, with 80,000 acres to be developed into recreation and conservation management areas. The Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in February and now awaits consideration in the Senate.

DURANGO BEGINS CONSTRUCTION OF PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS

The city of Durango announced that construction will begin today, Tuesday, July 27, on the pedestrian underpass and bridge project at 32nd Street. It is designed to improve pedestrian safety where the Animas River Trail meets 32nd Street, which is the city's second-busiest street. When completed, pedestrians and cyclists traveling north will pass under 32nd Street on the east side of the river. They will then loop back up to street level and cross the Animas River using a street-level pedestrian bridge that runs parallel to the existing vehicular bridge. The pedestrian bridge will be on the north side of the vehicular bridge.

YVHA UNDER CONTRACT TO BUY THE 536 ACRES OF STEAMBOAT 700 PROPERTY

The board of directors of the Yampa Valley Housing Authority Monday unanimously agreed to sign the contract to purchase the Steamboat 700 property, the 536 acres west of Steamboat Springs. Steamboat 700 LLC, the property's current owner, had already signed the contract. The final details of the purchase, including the purchase price, were not revealed. The initial offer for the property was $23 million, with the funding provided to YVHA by an anonymous donor. The closing is scheduled for Aug. 11.

BEST U.S. AIRLINES 2021

Travel website The Points Guy (TPG) released its Best U.S. airlines in 2021. The ranking is based on factors including reliability (including timeliness, cancellations and baggage); experience (cabin features, lounges and customer complaints); cost (including bag and change fees) and loyalty (frequent flyer usage and award availability). 2021 with last year's ranking:

1. Delta Air Lines (1)
2. Southwest Airlines (5)
3. United Airlines (6)
4. Alaska Airlines (2)
5. American Airlines (4)
6. JetBlue Airways (3)
7. Hawaiian Airlines (7)
8. Spirit Airlines (10)
9. Frontier Airlines (9)
10. Allegiant Air (8)

SLOW YOUR ROLL IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS

For one-and-a-half miles, Hwy. 82 is more than just the fast-lane to and from other communities from Aspen to Rifle. From the Colorado River to 23rd Street, Highway 82 is still Grand Avenue, a small-town main street in the heart of Glenwood Springs. The ‘Take A Minute’ campaign is a grassroots movement based on the statistic that driving the speed limit (25 mph) through Glenwood reduces noise, pollution and danger, and the investment is only one minute. All they have to do is lay off the gas for one-and-a-half miles. A few vehicles whose drivers choose to ‘Take A Minute” can lower the pace of travel significantly, creating a safer, more welcoming downtown core. Join us in making the daily driving difference, invest in community today.

ALPINE BANK MONTROSE ANNIVERSARY DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT AUG. 5

The Alpine Bank Montrose 20th Anniversary Drive-In Movie Night takes place Thursday, Aug. 5 at the Star Drive-In Theatre in Montrose for a movie night on Alpine Bank! The movies will be Jungle Cruise and Cruella. The first 250 cars can enjoy free entry to the Star Drive-In for a Double Feature! To learn more, visit the link below.

POLLINATOR WORKSHOP IN DURANGO

Join La Plata Open Space Conservancy in Durango for an educational event on a conserved property where you will learn from a Conservancy landowner and pollinator enthusiast how to attract pollinators to your property – whether you have a 40 acres or a front yard. This event, on Saturday, July 31, 10 a.m. to noon, is open to all, and directions will be shared upon RSVP. To RSVP, please visit the link below.

BREWS FOR THE BRAVE SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

The Western Slope Veterans Coalition is seeking volunteers for their Garfield County Fair Beer Garden Fundraiser "Brews for the Brave," July 28 through Aug. 1 at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle. Please sign up at the link below. To learn more about the organization, visit online at westernslopeveterans.org, or call 970-233-8735.

2021 CAREGIVER SUMMIT IN GRAND JUNCTION

VA Western Colorado Healthcare Systems Caregiver Support Program is hosting the 2021 Caregiver Summit on Aug. 18 at the Western Region One Source in Grand Junction from 9 a.m. to noon, followed by a resource fair. The theme is "Inclusive Care: Empowering and Engaging Caregivers as Partners in Care." The Caregiver Summit is comprised of VA and community partners presenting information regarding services to one another. The Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VHA) Caregiver Support Program (CSP) provides support and services for family caregivers of Veterans. Please RSVP to Amie Smith, by e-mail at amie.smith@va.gov or by calling 970-242-0731x2075.

ALPINE BANK FACEBOOK CHALLENGE SWEEPSTAKES

Help Alpine Bank share the rewards of volunteerism and nonprofit support as we celebrate Colorado Day on Aug. 1. Volunteerism empowers us to find our purpose, take our passion and turn it into meaningful change. Whatever your passion, change starts with you. The Alpine Bank Facebook Challenge sweepstakes is easy to enter and you and your friends and family can do so through the entire month of July. Nominate your favorite nonprofit, and it may just win $1,876! Here’s how it works:

• Step 1. Click the video that Alpine Bank posted on Facebook on July 1 about the $1,876 cash giveaway.
• Step 2. “Like” the video.
• Step 3. Comment with the name of your favorite nonprofit to be entered to win.
• Step 4. Encourage your family, friends and other supporters to vote by following the three steps above!

It’s that easy. Although a person can only enter once, the nonprofit can be entered multiple times by different people, increasing its chances of winning the $1,876 cash award. Click on the link below for full rules and regulations. The deadline to enter is Saturday, July 31 at 10 p.m.