COLORADO ENERGY OFFICE CREATES "GREEN BANK" FOR CLEAN-ENERGY INVESTMENTS

The Colorado Energy Office has formed the nonprofit Colorado Clean Energy Fund, which will team up with the Coalition for Green Capital and other organizations to leverage private dollars to enhance and spur investment in clean-energy projects. The coalition, whose partners include the U.S. Department of Energy, foundations, and environmental organizations, works nationally and internationally to increase investment in renewable-energy and energy-efficient projects. State dollars won’t be used for the fund.

MANY COLORADO FAMILIES STRUGGLING TO MEET NEEDS

About 430,000 Colorado households, about a quarter of the households in the state, don't earn enough income to cover basic costs such as food, shelter, health care and child care, according to a new self-sufficiency study Tuesday released by the Colorado Center on Law and Policy. However, two-thirds of those struggling families do not meet the definition of poverty, leaving them beyond the reach of governmental programs that offer financial support. Only 8 percent of Colorado households meet the federal poverty definition, which for a family of two is around $16,460 and below, regardless of county of residence.

FTC FILES SUIT OVER $100 MILLION LAND SCAM IN BELIZE

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has filed suit against the developers and the Atlantic International Bank in Belize alleging they were selling lots in a remote jungle area in Belize with promises it would be a luxury resort. The scam covered 13 years, involved more than 1,000 U.S. investors who put up about $100 million. It is the first time the FTC has sued a foreign bank. Central American countries have become a big draw for investments from retirees.

ASPEN COUNCIL AGREES TO CONTRIBUTE $4.36M TO LIFT ONE PROJECT

The Aspen City Council late Monday night voted 3-2 to contribute $4.36 million as a public-private partnership with the developers of the Lift One project at the base of Aspen Mountain. The council also agreed to proceed with the process of taking the Lift One proposal to a public vote in March. The project includes the Lift One Lodge, the Gorsuch Haus, a new chairlift and a location of the Skiers Chalet Lodge that will serve as a ski museum, ticketing services and ski patrol office.

WAANDERS TABBED BY ANDERSON RANCH ARTS CENTER AS CEO

Anderson Ranch Arts Center announced Monday that it has hired Peter Waanders as its president and chief executive officer. Waanders has been the director of the Society of Fellows program at the Aspen Institute since 2011. Waanders will begin in the new post Jan. 15 and he succeeds Nancy Wilhelms, who had served as executive director of Anderson Ranch since 2013. Before joining the Aspen Institute, Waanders owned independent bookstores and was a partner in the David Floria Gallery in Aspen.

EARLY MORNING EARTHQUAKES FELT IN GLENWOOD SPRINGS

Many people in Glenwood Springs were awakened early Tuesday morning by two small-magnitude earthquakes that struck just north of town. There was no major damage from the quakes. The first quake was recorded about 3:02 a.m. Tuesday, about a mile north of Glenwood Springs and at a depth of 3.1 miles beneath the earth's surface. It registered at a magnitude 3.4 on the Richter scale, according to the U.S. Geological Survey earthquake website. The second quake came a little over an hour later, at 4:13 a.m., and occurred about 3.7 miles north of town at about the same depth. It registered 3.6 magnitude.

TELSKI: MORE LIFTS, MORE TERRAIN TODAY

So far this winter, Telluride Ski Resort officials report the upper mountain has received 84 inches of snow. Today, Telski officials will be operating chairlifts 4, 5, 6 and 9. Lift 9, also known as "Plunge," will open for the first time, but for today only as a "community preview" of "snowmaking and natural snow terrain." After today, it will close again until December 19 when it opens for the season. Saturday, Prospect Bowl will open for the season as will High Camp and Alpino Vino restaurants and chairlifts 14, the Gold Hill Express, and lift 12, Prospect Express.

VILLAGE AT WOLF CREEK DEVELOPERS STYMIED AGAIN BY COURTS

In May 2015 the U.S. Forest Service approved a land exchange with Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture, giving the developers the access needed to build a resort on top of Wolf Creek Pass. That decision was challenged in court by environmental groups and in 2017 the federal court ruled the forest service exceeded its authority in making the approval. An appeal of that decision was denied in September 2017. The developers then appealed to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. On Tuesday, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled it does not have jurisdiction to hear the appeal and dismissed it.

TOWN OF AVON: NEW MAYOR, TWO FINALISTS FOR TOWN MANAGER

The Avon Town Council Tuesday swore in new council members Chico Thuon and Tamra Nottingham Underwood and incumbents Sarah Smith Hymes and Scott Prince. The council also selected Sarah Smith Hymes as mayor and Amy Phillips as mayor pro tem. The Avon Town Council has also narrowed down to two finalists the candidates for town manager. The finalists are Mike Mallinoff, who is currently the county administrator for Charles County, Maryland; and Susan Parker. the previous town administrator for Sunset Beach, North Carolina.

SUMMIT COUNTY'S NEW LEADERS OF HOUSING

Summit County officials Monday announced changes in the county's housing administration. Current Summit Combined Housing Authority executive director Jason Dietz will become the county's new housing department director, while accountant and Frisco resident Amy Priegel will replace Dietz as executive director of the housing authority. Dietz has served as head of the housing authority since May 2017. He will move from a planning and monitoring role into the direct oversight and administration of the county's construction projects, including the second phase of the West Hills housing development, which will add 41 more units online.

STILL NEED TO SEND YOUR PRESENTS, CARDS? CHECK THE DATES

U.S. Postal Service

• Dec. 14: USPS Retail Ground shipments
• Dec. 18: APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) through Priority Mail Express
• Dec. 20: First Class
• Dec. 20: Priority Mail
• Dec. 22: Priority Mail Express

FedEx
Find rates and transit times at www.fedex.com.

• Dec. 17: Ground and home delivery
• Dec. 19: Express Saver
• Dec. 20: Two-day options
• Dec. 21: Overnight options
• Dec. 25: FedEx SameDay, FedEx SameDay City Direct and City Priority

United Parcel Service
Calculate time and cost at www.ups.com.

• Dec. 18: UPS 3 Day Select
• Dec. 20: 2nd Day Air
• Dec. 21: Next Day Air

CHANGE MATTERS

Did you know that Alpine Bank’s debit card rewards program rounds up to the next whole dollar every time you use your Alpine Bank Visa debit card? Once you enroll in Change Matters, the rounded-up amount from each transaction is then transferred from your checking account into your designated Alpine Bank savings or money market account. On top of that, you will receive a five-percent bonus each quarter on the change you’ve saved. Watch that extra change add up fast. Learn more at the link below.