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How Colorado’s Proposition HH, a complex property tax fix, became ballot box poison

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

Proposition HH, the marquee measure of Colorado’s 2023 election season that had backing from the state’s top Democratic leaders, fell in a fashion as ugly as any in recent years.The nearly 19-percentage-point shellacking suffered by the property tax ballot measure Tuesday left policymakers scrambling for a backup plan and spurred Gov. Jared Polis to call the first special session since the pandemic.It also raised the question: How does a measure aimed at tax relief, albeit while attempting so much more, fall hard before an electorate facing historic increases in their next property tax bills?Both backers and opponents of Prop. HH chalk up its loss to a lack of a clear message to voters. And the electorate may have been primed to say “No” by a barrage of ads with directly contradictory messages, including plenty on either side that stretched the truth or misrepresented what HH would do.Some 59% of voters rejected the proposal in a low-turnout, off-year electio...

“Coal Country” a true tale of loss, betrayal and anguish | Theater review

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

The judge at the start of “Coal Country” stands on a box, facing the audience at Boulder’s Dairy Arts Center but addressing those gathered in a courtroom. The cast of the Butterfly Effect Theatre of Colorado’s production of the haunting documentary drama sit on benches, also facing the audience.They are awaiting their chance to express the anguish they suffered in one of the deadliest mining disasters in the last century. Only, they will not get their day in court. They will not be allowed to make victims’ statements because, according to the letter of the law, they are not victims. This, despite each of them having lost a loved one (in the case of one man, more than one) in a mining explosion in Raleigh County, West Virginia.Chris Kendall portrays Gary Quarles, the father of a lost miner in Coal Country. (Provided by BETC)On April 5, 2010, the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County experienced a series of explosions starting 1,000 feet down the deep coal mine. Mining giant Massey ...

Where there’s smoke, Xcel Energy hopes AI will help stop Colorado wildfires

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

Xcel Energy Colorado, which expects to spend about $180 million on wildfire prevention this year, is adding artificial intelligence to its arsenal to fight what has become a year-round battle.Xcel is expanding its work with Pano AI, a San Francisco-based company that will install 21 camera systems by the end of the year on more than 1.5 million acres across the utility’s territory. The objective is to quickly alert Xcel and first responders when smoke is detected.Pano uses artificial intelligence, or AI, to interpret images from its high-definition cameras that capture 360-degree views, adding data from satellite feeds and other sources to assess the weather and conditions on the ground. The company staffs a center 24/7 where people review information.“By the end of 2023 we will have installed 21 cameras across the state, both on the Front Range and the Western Slope,” Xcel Energy Colorado President Robert Kenney said Tuesday.“We understand that wildfires in ...

Will travel for turkey: Some Colorado holiday brunches (and things to do, too)

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

Break from tradition and embark on a culinary quest this year for your Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Year’s meal. Imagine carving into a turkey at a historic hotel with a mountain backdrop, or dominating a five-star buffet before hiking in a nearby national park.Here’s a selection of brunch options for the upcoming holiday breaks. Pack your bags and appetite, and get ready to explore:ESTES PARKEstes Park’s Stanley Hotel. (Kyla Chambers)The Stanley Hotel’s Cascades Restaurant & Lounge has a three-course holiday dinner for both Thanksgiving and Christmas ($99-$109/adult). This makes for an easy trip to the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. 333 E. Wonderview Ave., Estes Park; 970-577-4000; stanleyhotel.comPlus, Twin Owls Steakhouse is hosting Thanksgiving dinner from 4 to  8 p.m. on Nov. 23. Reservations are highly recommended as space is limited. 3110 S. Saint Vrain Ave., Estes Park; 970-586-9344; taharaa.comWhere to hike, skate, or snowshoe: Rent skates, ...

DISH Network cutting 499 Denver-area jobs after disappointing earnings

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

DISH Network, the satellite TV and wireless provider, informed the state on Wednesday that it will cut 499 jobs in Englewood and Littleton in early January, a dramatic reversal after months of job gains as the company built out a national 5G cellular network from scratch.“The first employee separations are expected to occur during the 14-day period starting Jan. 7, 2024,” Kaylee Hyman, a senior corporate counsel with the company, wrote the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment in what is known as a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification ACT, or WARN, letter.Of the employees being laid off, 566 will be dismissed starting Jan. 7 and another 33 starting Jan.8, according to the two letters filed with the state.Among the positions being let go are 19 account executives, 17 staff accountants, 16 business intelligence agents, 13 social media associates and five assistant corporate counsels, according to the letters.DISH had roughly 6,000 employees in Colorado as of...

SeaWorld's newly hatched emperor penguin has a name

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

An emperor penguin chick hatched at SeaWorld San Diego in September has officially been named. Over 29,000 people took part in the vote, with more than of voters choosing the name Pearl for the marine life theme park's new arrival. Pearl was hatched on Sept. 12, becoming the first emperor penguin to be hatched at SeaWorld San Diego since 2010.SeaWorld says the general public will be able to view Pearl in early 2024 when she will be ready to join the park's penguin colony. “We have been amazed by the outpouring of excitement around Pearl’s hatching and cannot wait for guests to be able to see her and follow her journey as she matures,” Head of Zoological Operations Eric Otjen said. The park has created two ticket opportunities to enable a limited number of guests to see Pearl now behind the scenes. Ticket prices start at $94 with 10% of proceeds going to support penguin conservation around the world, the park stated in a news release. Tickets can be purchased at https://seaworld.com/...

CBD for Winter Sports

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

Read the original article about CBD for Winter Sports at Real Tested CBD.It’s almost that time of year! Snow is on the way and lifts will soon be moving. If you’ve ever been skiing or snowboarding before, chances are you remember your first day on the slopes. You might even remember the day after even better, sore muscles and all. Skiing and snowboarding are both some of winter’s favorite activities, but they can both take a toll on the body. If you’re someone who loves to take part in winter sports but worries about how you will feel afterwards, CBD could be the answer for you.CBD is thought to have a variety of benefits, including pain management and anti-inflammatory properties that could be perfect for skiers and snowboarders. Read on to learn more about using CBD for winter sports.What Is CBD?Cannabidiol, CBD for short, is one of many naturally occurring compounds that can be found in cannabis and hemp plants. CBD is a major cannabinoid, meaning it is found abundantly and can b...

Caltrain commute could be smoother if non-bike riders made different train car choices: Roadshow

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

Q: About a year and a half ago, I started commuting by Caltrain, using my bike to solve the “last mile” problem. Overall, I am very happy with my commute. I have two complaints, though.First, I take the same train every day. At times I arrive at the station to discover that my train has been canceled and I have to wait 11 minutes for the next one. Why can’t I set up Caltrain notifications to tell me that my train has been canceled?Second, there are limited seats in the bike cars, and riders with bikes take a lot longer to load than regular riders. Why do people without bikes crowd into the bike car? As a result, the bike car is still loading while all other cars, and riders, are ready to go. Non-bike riders in the bike car also sit in seats in the bike area. We cyclists need to be near our bikes, both to keep them from being stolen, and to potentially rearrange them. Can you please let readers know that there is lots of space in other cars and to please give priori...

Protesters shut down UC Santa Cruz entrance in support of Palestine

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

SANTA CRUZ — Hundreds of UC Santa Cruz students, faculty and community members gathered at the base of UC Santa Cruz campus Thursday to show support for the Palestinian people and end to the latest war between Israel and Hamas, now in its second month.According to the Associated Press, the number of Palestinians killed in the war has risen to 10,818, including more than 4,400 children. In the occupied West Bank, more than 160 Palestinians have been killed in the violence and Israeli raids. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, most of them in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.Hundreds of UC Santa Cruz students fill the roadway on Thursday to protest the war in Gaza. (Shmuel Thaler – Santa Cruz Sentinel) Related ArticlesCalifornia Politics | Woman suspected of hate-crime vandalism after crashing vehicle through the gates at California synagogue California Politics | Brawls follow Hamas attack film at Museum of Tolerance in LA California Politic...

Female visitor inadvertently locked overnight at California jail

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:55:41 GMT

A woman attempting to visit an inmate last weekend at the Theo Lacy detention facility in Orange was inadvertently locked overnight in a jail visiting area, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has confirmed.Sheriff’s officials did not disclose the identity of the woman, who was described only as being in her 30s.The woman was at the maximum-security jail to visit an inmate on Saturday and was directed to a public visiting area for the barracks section of the facility, confirmed sheriff’s spokesperson Carrie Braun.Braun said the inmate the woman wanted to see was unavailable and she fell asleep in a visiting booth while waiting. No one noticed the woman when the area was closed at 5 p.m. She was not discovered until the area was reopened the next morning at 8 a.m.Related ArticlesCrime and Public Safety | Man who panicked California mall shoppers with false gunman report sentenced to 7 months in jail Crime and Public Safety | Ex-Baltimore prosecutor Mosby...