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Colorado - Wed. 12/31/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
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Alpine Bank will be closed Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, for New Year's Day. We invite you to use Alpine Online or the Alpine Mobile app for 24/7 banking access, even when we are closed. Learn more at the link below.
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FORMER U.S. SEN. BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL DIES AT 92
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Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a longtime Western Colorado political figure and the only Native American to serve in the U.S. Senate during his tenure, died Tuesday of natural causes at age 92. Campbell, a member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe, served in the Colorado Legislature, three terms in the U.S. House and two terms in the Senate, where he switched parties from Democrat to Republican in 1995 and chaired the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs until 2005.
Born in California in 1933, Campbell served in the U.S. Air Force, competed in judo at the 1964 Olympics and later coached the U.S. National Judo Team. He was also an award‑winning jewelry designer and a vocal advocate for Native American issues, water rights and public lands. Campbell helped secure the Sand Creek Massacre site as a national park unit and championed the Animas‑La Plata water project. He said his proudest achievement was helping establish the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall.
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DENVER AIRPORT RANKS NO. 1 FOR MOST DOMESTIC DESTINATIONS IN 2025
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Denver International Airport claimed the top spot in the United States for domestic nonstop destinations in 2025, marking the first time DIA has led the nation in its domestic flight network. The airport reported service to 197 U.S. destinations, surpassing Chicago O’Hare and Dallas‑Fort Worth, which each offered 195 connections. DIA added 12 new domestic destinations during the year, including service launched by Contour Airlines to Page, Arizona; Taos, New Mexico; and Moab and Vernal, Utah, along with additional routes to cities such as Butte, Montana; Corpus Christi, Texas; and Wilmington, North Carolina.
The milestone coincided with DIA’s 30th anniversary, as the airport also expanded its international reach to 34 nonstop flights serving 19 countries, adding new routes to Punta Cana, Regina and Rome. In 2024, DIA remained the third‑busiest airport in the U.S. and sixth‑busiest worldwide, handling more than 82 million passengers, up 5.8 percent from 2023. While overall growth slowed in 2025, the airport recorded multiple monthly and daily passenger records, including its busiest month ever in July.
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RED ROCKS SETS ATTENDANCE RECORDS IN 2025 CONCERT SEASON
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Red Rocks Amphitheatre continued its record-setting run in 2025, earning recognition as the best-attended amphitheater in the United States and the second most attended venue nationwide, according to industry publications Pollstar and Billboard. The roughly 9,500 seat Morrison venue hosted more than 1.75 million paid fans across 236 events, Pollstar reported, while Billboard ranked Red Rocks second only to Madison Square Garden. London’s O2 Arena led overall attendance with 2.5 million fans, followed by Madison Square Garden and Madrid’s Movistar Arena at 1.8 million each. A City of Denver Arts & Venues statement said Red Rocks’ 1.72 million fans placed it fourth globally, tied closely with Las Vegas’ Sphere and Santiago’s Movistar Arena, and noted the venue also draws about 1.1 million unpaid visitors annually.
City officials highlighted that Red Rocks is the only outdoor, seasonal venue with fewer than 15,000 seats to make Billboard’s Top 10. The milestone year comes despite high ticket prices, and a reported 6.1 percent drop in worldwide concert grosses compared to 2024, though totals remain well above pre-pandemic levels.
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COLORADO BUFFS NAME FERNANDO LOVO AS NEW ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
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The University of Colorado officially announced Fernando Lovo as its new athletic director after the Board of Regents unanimously approved a five-year contract paying $1.2 million per year, making him the highest-paid AD in school history. Lovo, 37, becomes the seventh full-time athletic director at CU and will replace Rick George, who is stepping away at the end of the school year after 13 years in the role. Lovo’s contract includes a $600,000 base salary and $600,000 annually for media activities and community relations, plus incentives tied to fundraising, academics, attendance and competitive success. He will begin work Thursday and transition alongside George, who will move into advisory and emeritus roles while continuing to assist the football program.
Lovo spent the past 13 months as athletic director at New Mexico, where the Lobos posted a 9-4 football season, multiple coaching hires, eight Mountain West championships, record fundraising and a 17.6 percent budget increase. CU will cover the buyout owed to New Mexico as Lovo takes on the challenge of navigating budget pressures and a rapidly changing college athletics landscape.
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PORTION OF COUNTY LINE ROAD TO CLOSE FOR 100 DAYS IN SOUTH METRO DENVER
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A major stretch of County Line Road south of Denver will close for about 100 days beginning Jan. 6 as part of a $30 million widening and reconstruction project led by Douglas County and regional partners. Both directions of County Line Road will be closed between Clarkson Street and the U‑Haul business access to allow crews to conduct large‑scale fill operations at Lee Gulch, work officials say is necessary to level the roadway, improve drainage, enhance sight lines and increase public safety. The corridor, which divides Arapahoe and Douglas counties, carries about 25,000 vehicles per day.
Detours will route drivers to University Boulevard or Broadway, with C‑470 recommended for through traffic, while business and residential access will remain open via designated routes. The long‑term project, underway since 2019, will add an additional lane between Broadway and University Boulevard, install a new traffic signal at Clarkson Street, improve sidewalks, relocate water lines and resurface sections in Littleton. Construction is expected to be completed in September 2027.
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ASPEN DAILY NEWS ANNOUNCES SALE TO HOFFMANN MEDIA GROUP
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Aspen Daily News is set to be sold to Florida based Hoffmann Media Group at the end of January following an agreement reached over the weekend, ending the paper’s local, independent ownership that dates back to its founding in 1978. Publisher David Cook, who has co-owned the paper since 2017, announced the sale to staff and will remain as publisher, while co-owner Spencer McKnight will step away from the business. Hoffmann Media Group CEO Pason Gaddis told employees their jobs are secure and emphasized that local news coverage, editorial independence and newsroom leadership will remain in Aspen, with the paper operating under local autonomy. The transaction was described as a family-owned partnership rather than a hedge fund or consolidation deal.
The Aspen Daily News will become Hoffmann Media’s second Colorado newspaper following its October purchase of the Telluride Daily Planet, now The Telluride Times, though Cook and Gaddis said there are no plans to add a paywall to ADN’s online content. Hoffmann Media, part of Hoffmann Family of Companies, operates publications in more than 30 markets and cited both financial resources and personal ties to the Roaring Fork Valley as reasons for the acquisition, with few visible changes expected for readers.
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GJ AIRPORT TO HOST NEW YEAR’S DAY 5K & 10K ON SECONDARY RUNWAY
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The Grand Junction Sports Commission will host its first New Year’s Day 5K and 10K on Thursday at the Grand Junction Regional Airport, using the airport’s secondary runway to kick off 2026 fitness goals. The race begins at 10 a.m. and includes a long‑sleeve T‑shirt, chip timing with live results, awards and post‑race snacks. The event marks a new partnership between the Sports Commission and Mesa County Valley School District 51, with all D51 teachers and staff eligible for a 51 percent registration discount using their district email addresses. Kids can participate for free in a 1‑kilometer run or 100‑meter dash starting at 11 a.m. Online registration is open through midnight on New Year’s Eve at grandjunctionsports.org/newyear, with on‑site registration available Thursday morning before the race.
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MONTROSE FEATURED IN NEW NATIONAL TV SERIES HIGHLIGHTING WESTERN SLOPE LIFE
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A new six‑episode television series produced by Wild Rides Television is bringing Montrose and the Western Slope to a national audience through RFD‑TV. Historic Montrose Colorado – Western Slope Exploration & Adventure Oasis highlights the region’s heritage, people, businesses and landscapes through interviews with local residents and business owners, paired with archival footage and cinematic visuals. Executive producer TiffAnnie Blum, who moved to Montrose eight years ago, said the series aims to present an authentic view of Western life beyond common stereotypes. The first two episodes aired Dec. 15 and Dec. 22 and feature Redemption Mill owner Adam Camacho and Montrose‑based company Secret Creek. Upcoming episodes will explore the city’s history, ranching heritage and locally owned businesses, with episodes airing weekly on Mondays at 8 p.m. CST on RFD‑TV before later becoming available on Wild Rides’ YouTube channel.
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RURAL COLORADO HOSPITALS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING
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Colorado is expected to receive more than $1 billion in new federal funding for rural health care over the next five years through the Rural Health Transformation Program. State officials said Colorado has been approved for just over $200 million in first‑year funding, far exceeding initial expectations of about $100 million annually. The funding is intended to support all 52 of the state’s rural and frontier hospitals, as well as community clinics, behavioral health providers, opioid treatment programs and emergency medical services.
Officials said the money will help address chronic disease, preventable hospitalizations and gaps in specialty care, while also supporting workforce training, technology upgrades and telehealth expansion. However, the funds come with restrictions, including limits on provider payments and a prohibition on construction costs. State health leaders cautioned the investment will not offset looming Medicaid cuts and the potential loss of Affordable Care Act subsidies, which could increase uncompensated care and financial pressure on rural hospitals.
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DEVELOPER BUYS SUMMIT HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SECOND TINY HOME BUILT IN CONSTRUCTION CLASS
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Students in Summit High School construction teacher Oakley Van Oss’s class have completed and sold their second tiny home, which was built during the 2024–25 school year through the Summit County Builders Association Careers in Construction program. The home was hauled Dec. 17 to the Runway Neighborhood workforce housing project in Breckenridge, where architects Tim Sabo and Suzanne Allen of Allen‑Guerra Architecture purchased it for use as a field office. Unlike the first tiny home built by the class, which was designed for elevations below 7,000 feet, the second was engineered for Summit County’s high‑altitude conditions and heavy snow loads, featuring additional insulation and closed‑cell foam.
About 14 local businesses contributed expertise and services, with eight sponsors supporting the project, while the towns of Breckenridge and Frisco assisted with construction and transport. Van Oss said students built every aspect of the home alongside community volunteers, gaining hands‑on experience in framing, electrical, plumbing and finishing work. Proceeds from the sale will help fund a third tiny home already in development. More information on the home, volunteers and sponsors can be found at TinyURL.com/Tiny-Home-2.
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THE HIGHEST‑PAID MUSICIANS OF 2025
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Forbes’ annual ranking of the highest‑paid musicians shows how blockbuster tours, streaming dominance, catalog sales and business ventures continue to drive massive earnings across the music industry. In 2025, several artists surpassed the $100 million mark, fueled largely by record‑breaking global tours and lucrative catalog and brand deals. Canadian singer The Weeknd topped the list after earning nearly $300 million, while Taylor Swift and Beyoncé followed with earnings boosted by historic tour grosses and expanding business portfolios. The list reflects a mix of pop, hip‑hop and global touring acts whose income extends far beyond album sales.
Top 10 Highest‑Paid Musicians of 2025:
- The Weeknd — $298 million
- Taylor Swift — $202 million
- Beyoncé — $148 million
- Kendrick Lamar — $109 million
- Coldplay — $105 million
- Shakira — $105 million
- Drake — $78 million
- Chris Brown — $74 million
- Zach Bryan — $70 million
- Bad Bunny — $66 million
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WINTER WATERING 'ESSENTIAL' TO TREE CARE AS DRY, WARM CONDITIONS CONTINUE
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Boulder city officials are reminding people that winter watering is essential to keep trees healthy as winter conditions remain dry and warm. Trees that don’t get watered in the winter can cause issues that might not show up until the following spring. This can include branch dieback, reduced leaf size, chlorosis and dying trees. Winter drought conditions can also stress trees and make them more susceptible to insect attacks. Trees that are the most at-risk from dry winter conditions include those that have been recently planted, evergreens and shallow-rooted deciduous trees like maples, poplars and lindens.
Winter watering tips:
- Water when the air and soil temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit and there is no snow on the ground.
- Water early in the day so water can soak in before freezing night temperatures.
- Do not water frozen soil.
- Water once or twice a month with 15 gallons per inch of tree trunk diameter. Newly planted trees need 15 to 20 gallons.
- Water at the tree’s dripline, which is the outermost circumference of the tree branches. A slow, deep soak reaches the fine feeder roots that are up to 8 inches below the soil surface.
- Hand watering, a soaker hose or a drip application is best.
- Leave irrigation systems off in the winter to prevent frozen and broken equipment.
- Put two-to-four inches of wood chip mulch from one inch away from the base of the tree out to the dripline to retain soil moisture.
- During dry, warm periods, water trees every few weeks.
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MARKET UPDATE - 12/30/2025 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 12/24/2025)
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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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