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Housing is so expensive in Colorado that school districts are becoming landlords to attract teachers

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

Leaders in Colorado school districts are trying to solve a big problem: They want to attract and retain teachers, bus drivers and other educators, but the state’s high cost of living keeps outpacing employees’ wages even after administrators dole out raises. So now they’re entering the housing market themselves.Districts are building tiny homes, becoming landlords and partnering with developers so that they can find ways to either lease housing to their employees at below-market rates or make homeownership possible for workers who otherwise would be priced out of buying property. School districts in Colorado’s pricey high country are leading such efforts, but at least one metro Denver district — the Douglas County School District — is eyeing a partnership with developers to turn district land into housing for its employees.Superintendents in Douglas, Summit and Pitkin counties said they are having to jump into the housing market because simply raising s...

Colorado River: A crisis from headwaters to delta

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

The Colorado River is one of the most significant rivers in the western United States. The basin includes seven states- Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California as well as parts of Mexico. The river’s history is closely tied to the development of the American West.Today, this 1,450-mile-long river continues to serve as a vital water source, sustaining the needs of millions of people and playing a crucial role in supporting agriculture, industry, and urban life throughout the Southwest. The challenges of finding sustainable solutions for water management, compounded by the impacts of climate change, are pushing the river to the edge of crisis.This project explores the complex challenges facing the Colorado River basin through a visual journey using photography, informative graphics and maps. The exploration includes voices from often-overlooked Native tribes with deep connections to the basin’s water and traverses all seven basin states, extending sou...

Myth or reality? Bigfoot sightings reported in Colorado 130 times over past century

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

Coloradans may be surprised to learn that, since 1926, Bigfoot has been spotted stomping through the state 130 times.That’s according to the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, based in Dana Point, Calif. It may also be surprising to learn that a Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization actually exists.Than again, polling has shown that more than 1 in 5 Americans believe the big guy is out there, just out of sight. That’s roughly the same number who believe the universe began with the big bang.The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization is headed by Matt Moneymaker — a researcher featured in Animal Planet Channel’s reality documentary TV series “Finding Bigfoot” — who’s pursued the hairy, large creature, also referred to as Sasquatch, since the 1980s.In Colorado, sighting reports typically come from the mountains. Bigfoot apparently isn’t a fan of the Eastern Plains, and tends to avoid the big city traffic, too.“If you liv...

Two muralists leaving an enduring impression on Denver’s urban walls

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

Editor’s note: An untold number of unheralded artists live in Colorado, those creators who can’t (or don’t want to) get into galleries and rely on word of mouth, luck or social media to make a living. You’ve likely seen them on Instagram, at festivals or at small-town art fairs. This occasional series, Through the Lens, will introduce you to some of these artists.In many parts of Denver, the intersection of urban landscapes and artistic expression comes to life through a breathtaking kaleidoscope of murals adorning the city’s walls. These larger-than-life masterpieces, painted in vivid hues and with rich narratives, have played a pivotal role in reshaping the city into an expansive, open-air tapestry.Related ArticlesThe Know | The nation’s first VFW isn’t a smoky bar with vets telling war stories. Here’s what Post 1 in Denver is doing instead. The Know | The best Colorado art exhibits of 2023 (including three you can still see) ...

Amid national theater crisis, Denver has staged a comeback. Will it last?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

For the past three years, the theater world has been in crisis. Across the country, companies have staged fewer shows and laid off employees. Some have stumbled financially while others — mostly in entertainment-rich cities like New York, Chicago and Los Angeles — have even closed.The state of the industry has garnered headlines. A New York Times op-ed from last summer argued that American theater is imploding before our eyes, soon to collapse without a bailout.Denver hasn’t been immune to these challenges. Attendance is down here even as it has dropped 20% nationwide since the beginning of 2020 — and could drop even further, according to American Theatre, a magazine that covers theatrical news and trends.And yet Denver’s theater scene is doing measurably better than most. Unlike other cities, there have been no major closures. Instead, the buzz for some shows has built far in advance of their openings, while upcoming titles for next year have recorded ...

Bison vs. urban growth: Rocky Mountain Arsenal seeks solutions to water runoff

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

A growing herd of 250 bison, re-introduced at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge to help restore toxic wasteland to the native short-grass prairie, often descends through a floodplain to reach First Creek and cross to northern half of the refuge.But torrents of water spilling off the rapidly urbanizing parts of Denver and Aurora east of the 25-square-mile refuge have torn into the floodplain, carving a gully that blocks the bison from crossing the creek.“This is a human-created challenge resulting from all the development,” biologist Sarah Metzer, the refuge’s supervisory ranger, said. “Bison are nimble animals but they’re going to have a hard time moving across this creek and getting up that other side.”Biologist Sarah Metzer, looks over flood damage at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge in Denver on Dec. 12, 2023. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)The deepening gully has become an obstacle for both the rec...

Massive surf to peak along Southern California coast Thursday

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

Residents and beachgoers are being warned about the dangers of a massive swell that is expected to reach its peak along the Southern California coastline Thursday.The high surf and flooding dangers are of particular concern in Ventura County and at Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes beaches in Los Angeles County, according to the National Weather Service. Waves of 10 to 15 feet with sets to 20 feet are expected along the Ventura County coast. A high surf warning and coastal flood warning are in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday to 10 p.m. Saturday. “Most dangerous conditions are expected later today (Thursday),” KTLA’s Omar Lewis said.Beachgoers are being urged to use caution as high surf hits the Southern California Coast Thursday. (National Weather Service Los Angeles)Surf near Point Conception and Hermosa, Manhattan and Palos Verdes beaches will reach 7 to 12 feet with sets between 15 and 20 feet, according to the Weather Service. “We’re all excited,” said Manhattan Beach resident Rub...

Zeros to Heroes: Latino Punk Pioneers Return for Holiday Show

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

Zeros to Heroes: It seems that the punk-loving public’s interest in the pioneers of the various geographical scenes is eternal. Here in L.A., that of course means X and the Germs, the Dils and the Weirdos, the Bags and Geza X. But people also loves to dig a little deeper, scratch a little harder, and pull names off of Dangerhouse compilations like Eyes and Black Randy.Somewhere between all of that sit the Zeros. Formed in 1976 in Chula Vista, the original band featured vocalist/guitarist Javier Escovedo, Robert Lopez (aka El Vez) on guitar, Hector Penalosa on bass and Baba Chenelle on drums. The first ever Zeros show was also the first ever Germs show, with the Weirdos also on the bill.The Zeros lineup has changed a little bit over the years, but the core is still in place and Escovedo is still at the mic. It’s been 24 years since their last full studio album (Right Now!), but Escovedo says that will be changing soon.“We’re recording a new record,” he says. “We’re not do...

Wish Book: Understanding lupus is the first step in fighting the disease

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

You may have heard of lupus but probably don’t really know what it is. That was true of San Jose resident Jane Siebenmorgen in 2004, when she started feeling fatigue while on a family trip to Europe.Within a year, she was tired all the time and her symptoms had grown to include weight loss, hair loss and circulatory problems in her fingers, which would turn white, then dark blue and then red. Siebenmorgen went to her doctor — the same one who had stitched up her chin when she was 4 years old — who suspected she had lupus and referred her to a rheumatologist.The following Monday, Siebenmorgen wasn’t feeling well at work and co-workers called 911 after discovering her heart was racing at more than 200 beats per minute. That started a three-week hospital odyssey of tests, talks among specialists and scary moments for her family. While in the hospital, she suffered two grand mal seizures, a stroke and developed a bacterial infection.“At one point, a doctor ...

Kurtenbach: Doubt Brock Purdy all you want. His 49ers’ teammates and coaches won’t

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 13:33:22 GMT

Brock Purdy’s career-worst game against the Ravens was a Christmas gift to everyone out there who — for whatever misguided reason — had decided he wasn’t, in fact, a good quarterback.There was downright glee about Purdy’s come-to-earth game on ESPN, Fox Sports, and countless podcasts and YouTube streams (does everyone have one of those these days?).But you know who has zero doubt that the 49ers’ second-year quarterback is good enough to lead the team to the Super Bowl?His coaches and teammates.It would have leaked out on Monday if there were any doubts about Purdy’s abilities in the 49ers’ locker room.A small, passive-aggressive comment, a bit-to-effusive praise of backup Sam Darnold, or outright questioning of Purdy’s quality — we didn’t hear a peep of negativity from the Niners after Purdy’s four-interception game.And, trust me, there are too many recorders and cameras in that room postgame to have missed it.In fact, the only p...