DIA GREAT HALL CONSTRUCTION DISPUTE AT A STANDSTILL

Officials at Denver International Airport have rejected a major claim from Great Hall Partners, the construction firm to the renovation of the terminal at DIA. Last week, DIA officials said Great Hall Partners is not entitled to any time extensions or additional costs that may have resulted from the discovery of weak concrete in the terminal's main floor last fall. Under the terms of its contract with DIA, Great Hall Partners is required to complete the project by November 2021.

ALLEGIANT AIR ADDS 24 NEW ROUTES, INCLUDING A RETURN TO FORT COLLINS

Las Vegas-based budget carrier Allegiant Air announced an expanded winter schedule with 24 new nonstop routes. The latest expansion includes two cities it had served previously, Fort Collins and Palm Beach, Florida. Allegiant hasn't served Fort Collins since 2012 and Palm Beach since 2016. The new flights will generally be offered twice a week, with some operating on a seasonal basis, and others operating year-round. Most of the new routes begin service in mid-November.

HOMELAND SECURITY: NO GREEN CARDS FOR IMMIGRANTS WHO USE SOCIAL PROGRAMS

The Department of Homeland Security Monday issued a rule that would disqualify legal immigrants from permanent residency if they use certain public-assistance programs and block prospective applicants for green cards deemed likely to need them. The use or potential use of a benefits program such as Medicaid, some types of housing assistance or food stamps could disqualify an applicant.

BLM: FULL EIS FOR PROPOSED LIMESTONE QUARRY EXPANSION IN GS

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management Monday announced that it will require a full environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed expansion of the Mid-Continent Quarry just north of Glenwood Springs by RMR Industrials. The BLM made the decision to require the more extensive EIS after reviewing RMR's plan for the third time. The BLM sent two previous proposals back for revision in December and April. A spokesman for the BLM said the EIS was warranted because of the "significant impact" of the project. The BLM expects to begin holding public meetings on the project in late spring or early summer 2020.

AIRLINE OFFICIALS DETAIL LIMITATIONS OF ASPEN AIRPORT TERMINAL

At an ASE Vision meeting Monday, officials from the commercial airlines serving the Aspen-Pitkin County Airport voiced their concerns that the terminal is outdated and does not provide a positive traveling experience. The ASE Vision process began earlier this year and is designed to provide community participation in the process of how to proceed with airport improvements. The primary concern expressed by the airline officials was the small size of the terminal capacity causes an overflow of waiting passengers with one or two flight delays and passengers waiting to board have sometimes been forced to stand outdoors.

DISTRICT 51 STUDENTS BACK IN SCHOOL, FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN WEDNESDAY

Mesa County's School District 51 students returned to school Monday. Students at Tope Elementary School took full advantage of the new playground funded through a $150,000 grant from the Colorado Health Foundation. Students at Fruita Monument High School had to contend with ongoing construction as crews continued to build a new central corridor and front entrance for the school. District-wide, full-day kindergarten starts Wednesday.

ROAD UP TO FORT LEWIS COLLEGE FINALLY REOPENS

The front hill to Fort Lewis College on East Eighth Avenue will reopen Wednesday morning after an extended closure since June 26 for road maintenance. The road was closed to allow crews to replace a culvert above the hairpin turn. The road closure was extended about a week because the college decided to expand the project and put in 350 feet of new curb and gutter. The project's budget increased from $130,000 to $155,000 as a result of the change.

FCC AWARDS $2.5M FOR BROADBAND IN SAN JUAN COUNTY, N.M.

The Federal Communications Commission announced Monday that it has approved nearly $2.6 million to bring broadband to more than 500 homes and businesses in San Juan County. Plains Internet, based in Amarillo, Texas will use the federal funding to provide high-speed internet service for hundreds of residents. FCC has provided more than $21 million to bring broadband to more than 8,500 households and businesses in New Mexico, primarily in rural and tribal areas.

HONG KONG TOURISM TAKES A HIT FROM PROTESTS

• Anti-government protesters forced the cancellation of all outbound flights Monday afternoon at Hong Kong International Airport
• The United States, Australia, the UK, Ireland, Singapore and Japan all issued travel advisories about travel to Hong Kong
• The Hong Kong Tourism Board has preliminary figures indicating a "double-digit decline" in the number of visitor arrivals in the second half of July

Visitor Arrivals to Hong Kong, Jan.-June 2019:

• China: 27,573.517
• Taiwan: 923,988
• South Korea: 737,100
• Japan: 674,505
• U.S.: 648,274

GLENWOOD'S DOWNTOWN TUESDAY MARKETS

The Glenwood Springs Downtown Market and Music continues tonight and through Sept. 17. The Glenwood Springs Downtown Market is a community event where people gather to visit with their neighbors, listen to music, buy local and enjoy the downtown atmosphere. Residents and tourists alike can enjoy vendors and live music between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. in Centennial Park located at the corner of Grand Avenue and Ninth Street. Glenwood’s Downtown Market features crisp produce, live music, local artisans, cooking demonstrations, fresh flowers, home baked goods and more! To learn more, visit the link below or call 970-618-3650.

ACOUSTIC GUITAR NINJA TRACE BUNDY OPENS SEASON

Internationally-acclaimed guitar virtuoso Trace Bundy opens the 2019-2020 performing arts series of the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College in Durango on Saturday, Aug. 17, at 7:30 p.m. Bundy uses harmonics, looping, multiple capos, and his unique banter and stage presence to deliver an unforgettable live concert experience, he is the fan-dubbed “Acoustic Guitar Ninja.” Tickets are available online at www.durangoconcerts.com or by phone at 970-247-7657.

GRATEFUL DEAD MEET-UP AT THE MOVIES

Aspen Film presents the Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies on Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Isis Theatre in ASpen. Celebrate the ninth Annual Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies – the first to go global – when the previously unreleased complete June 17, 1991 concert from Giants Stadium comes to movie theaters worldwide. Tickets and more information are available at the link below.

TODDLER BIKE RACE IN STEAMBOAT

Join Alpine Bank - Steamboat on Saturday Aug. 17 for the Toddler Bike Race! The race will be held between 10th and 11th streets on Yampa street during the SBTGRVL Bike Expo. Ages 1-4 years old welcome, as long as the kiddos can balance on their bike. Registration for the race will open at 10 a.m. Races will begin at 10:30 a.m. To learn more visit the link below or visit www.striderbikes.com.

SUMMIT CHAMBER MIXER AT ALPINE BANK - BRECKENRIDGE

A Special Mixer in partnership with Alpine Bank's Customer Appreciation Day will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Alpine Bank - Breckenridge. The bank is located at 110 N. Main St. To learn more email LauraLyman@alpinebank.com or call the bank at 970-453-4929.

ALPINE BANK FRUITA FALL FESTIVAL

The 2019 Alpine Bank Fruita Fall Festival presented by Family Health West invites you to Fall in Love with Fruita. This year's event takes place Sept. 27-29 in Downtown Fruita. The Fruita Fall Festival is three days of celebrating the fall season in the beautiful downtown Fruita, surrounded by good music, delicious food, and the changing leaves on the trees. The Musical Line-up will have everyone dancing from one end of the festival to the other. This year’s festival offers something for everyone, from the Carnival, Food Trucks, Beauty Pageant, Baking & Canning Contest, Beard Rally, Cornhole Tournament, with over 100 Vendors, and so much more. To learn more, visit the link below.

BLACK CANYON BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

The Black Canyon Boys & Girls Club (BCBGC) is a safe place where area youth ages 6-18 can go after school and during the summer to participate in programs and activities that help develop the assets needed to be caring, responsible members of the community. It also offers them an opportunity to develop friendships and relationships with a diverse group of individuals. BCBGC emphasizes positive values in the relationships members have with each other and with their adult leaders. It helps boys and girls make appropriate and satisfying choices in their physical, educational, personal, social, emotional, vocational and spiritual lives. For more information about BCBGC, visit them online at www.bcbgc.org.

EXPERIENCE ELECTRIC WORKSHOPS & DEALER DISCOUNTS

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular, and most manufacturers now offer one or more electric models. Responding to growing demand, area clean-energy groups are hosting presentations in the coming weeks to get the EV-curious up to speed, while several Glenwood Springs auto dealers will offer limited-time discounts on select EV models starting Aug. 1. Garfield Clean Energy, CLEER and Walking Mountains Sustainability are offering four Experience Electric workshops:

• Wednesday, Aug. 14 at the Rifle Library, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 21 at the Glenwood Springs Library, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Aug. 28 at Carbondale’s Third Street Center, 5:30-7 p.m.
• Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the Walking Mountains Sustainability Center in Avon, 5:30-7 p.m.

The workshops will enable participants to learn about EVs on the market today, find out about discounts and tax credits, understand how EV charging works and talk to experienced EV owners. RSVPing is recommended by going to ExperienceElectric.eventbrite.com or by calling CLEER at 970-704-9200. Meanwhile, the third annual Electric Vehicle Sales Event, aimed at drivers in Garfield, Eagle and Pitkin counties, will offer discounts of $1,000 to $4,000 on several popular EV models through Oct. 31. Participating dealers are Audi Glenwood Springs, Mountain Chevrolet, Phil Long Honda and Bighorn Toyota, all in Glenwood Springs.