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Finishing touches are being put on the first Colorado location of Texas-based Buc-ee's ahead of its scheduled March opening, but it was a bit of a bumpy ride to get here.

Driving the news: The colossal, cult-favorite convenience store chain — known for its tidy bathrooms, beef jerky walls and buck-toothed mascot — is now hiring 400 employees to staff the 74,000-square-foot store just off of Interstate 25 in Johnstown, between Fort Collins and Greeley.

The Colorado move is part of the empire's continued expansion from its existing 58 stores across Texas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Yes, but: Bringing those buck teeth to the Centennial State — the northernmost and westernmost point within the company's footprint — has presented new challenges, Buc-ee's general counsel Jeff Nadalo tells Axios Denver.

First have been the unpredictable weather conditions.

Then were the "unique engineering feats" required to adjust for water drainage from the mountains, Nadalo says.

A wall of beef jerky at Buc-ee's. Photo: William DeShazer/The Washington Post via Getty Images

What to watch: If openings of other Buc-ee's locations are any indication, expect die-hard fans to start lining up outside the doors days in advance, Nadalo tells us.

Of note: No other Colorado locations are in the works as of yet, but "we're always looking at new sites," he says.

Colorado's first Buc-ee's location to open in March

But bringing those buck teeth to the Centennial State has presented "unique" challenges.

A Buc-ee's convenience store in Katy, Texas. Photo: Craig Moseley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Finishing touches are being put on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first Colorado location of Texas-based Buc-ee&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/02/09/texas-bucees-gas-station-first-colorado-location" data-vars-content-id="08c5c073-c898-407e-a47a-3ab57f6fba3a" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s first Buc-ee&#x27;s location to open in March" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/02/09/texas-bucees-gas-station-first-colorado-location" target="_self">first Colorado location of Texas-based Buc-ee&#x27;s</a> ahead of its scheduled March opening, but it was a bit of a bumpy ride to get here.Driving the news: The colossal, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cult-favorite" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80oyG1Vl1Vc" data-vars-content-id="08c5c073-c898-407e-a47a-3ab57f6fba3a" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s first Buc-ee&#x27;s location to open in March" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80oyG1Vl1Vc" target="_blank">cult-favorite</a> convenience store chain — known for its tidy bathrooms, beef jerky walls and buck-toothed mascot — is now hiring 400 employees to staff the 74,000-square-foot store just off of Interstate 25 in Johnstown, between Fort Collins and Greeley.

Latest news on Wall Street, Corporate America and financial regulation.

Business

Axios Denver, anchored by John Frank and Alayna Alvarez, is here to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news and developments unfolding in their own backyard.

A series of loopholes and blind spots are allowing Colorado law enforcement officers with documented records of misconduct to get new policing jobs, often in the state's smaller, rural departments, a new investigation finds.

Why it matters: The state is working to crack down on rogue officers with new accountability measures, but the challenges showcase the limitations of a 2020 law that created a database of disciplined officers.

Threat level: How many of these so-called wandering officers are employed in Colorado is not clear, but an investigation led by the Colorado News Collaborative found a handful of examples that fit a broader pattern. Among them:

Christopher Valko was fired from the Denver Police Department for an illegal search and later came under scrutiny as a Parker police officer for another search without a warrant. He resigned in lieu of being fired and now works for Sheridan police.

Washington County sheriff's deputy Leotis Johnson was fired for inappropriately messaging a woman he pulled over but took a job in Morgan County, only to be fired there for doing the same to a female colleague.

Federal Heights officer Pablo Vasquez, who was labeled a "significant" liability risk, landed a new job as a sergeant in Platteville. He pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor after parking his police car on railroad tracks. A woman put in the back by another officer was seriously injured when a train collided with the car. He received a deferred judgment and is eligible to remain a certified officer.

The intrigue: Troubled officers often land in rural communities because it's tougher to hire there given the lower salaries and remote locations, officials told reporters.

Rural agencies typically pay 30%-50% less than larger urban departments, officials and scholars said.

What they're saying: "I worry, especially in rural communities like ours, about the caliber of applicants we're getting," Rio Blanco County Sheriff Anthony Mazzola told the collaborative.

"So it's hugely important that we know — and everyone knows — as much as possible about their backgrounds. It's a matter of public safety."

The other side: Valko could not be reached for comment, and Vasquez declined to comment.

Johnson told reporters he saw nothing inappropriate with what he called his "friendly text messages" to women he met on the job.

Between the lines: A 2020 law creating a new database of disciplined officers is designed to help prevent this dynamic, but it is incomplete and countless episodes of misconduct are not included because Attorney General Phil Weiser decided not to include incidents prior to 2022.

In Johnson's case, the database lists him as "terminated with cause" in August 2022, but there is no record he was untruthful with superiors, which could get him decertified by the state.

Valko resigned from the Parker Police Department "in lieu of termination," but he was able to have that resignation omitted from the database during an appeals process last year.

Of note: The public database maintained by Colorado's Peace Officer Standards and Training doesn't list officers' full employment histories.

The Gazette newspaper and the Invisible Institute — a nonprofit news site based in Chicago — filed a legal challenge to disclose the information. The institute reports that Colorado is one of just 15 states that keeps such information hidden.

How rogue officers stay on the job in Colorado

The state is working to crack down on rogue officers with new accountability measures.

Swearing in former officer Christopher Valko, left. Photo courtesy of Parker Police Department 

Swearing in former officer Christopher Valko, left. Photo: Courtesy of Parker Police Department

Colorado

A series of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="loopholes and blind spots" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/10/19/co-police-cops-accountability-post-program-laws" data-vars-content-id="38622c8a-3c95-44a4-a3d9-d869659138cb" data-vars-headline="How rogue officers stay on the job in Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/10/19/co-police-cops-accountability-post-program-laws" target="_self">loopholes and blind spots</a> are allowing Colorado law enforcement officers with documented records of misconduct to get new policing jobs, often in the state&#x27;s smaller, rural departments, a new investigation finds.Why it matters: The state is working to crack down on rogue officers with new accountability measures, but the challenges showcase the limitations of a 2020 law that created a database of disciplined officers.

News

Arend Richard's vision to turn marijuana consumption into a sophisticated experience is taking shape.

Zoom in: Across the street from a sex shop, a few doors down from a tattoo studio and just a block away from a dispensary, the Cirrus Social Club promises something new.

State of play: The social club, which took over a martial arts studio at 3200 E. Colfax Ave. in the Congress Park neighborhood, wants to provide a luxurious setting for adults to consume marijuana.

Richard tells us he wants to help first-timers find the right strain of cannabis, and appeal to what he calls the "sophisticated stoner," who consumes regularly but is aware of the newest and latest glassware on the market.

The space would include a bar, a ballroom and a private room seating up to 15 people.

Why it matters: If it's successful, it would be one of just a handful of places in Denver where people can legally consume cannabis indoors — a major draw for tourists who want a place to use responsibly.

Rendering showing the interior of Cirrus Social Club, a marijuana consumption club in Denver. Courtesy of Arend Richard

What they're saying: "We're going after a demographic of people who are not heavy cannabis consumers, but rather the out-and-about social person who's older than 27," Richard told Westword in March.

Richard held an open house last month to provide the public with more details about the project and unveil the renderings.

He tells us he's raised $1.5 million in capital.

Context: Only four businesses in Denver have received tentative approval for what the city calls marijuana hospitality establishments, where people can legally consume.

Just two, including Cirrus, have tentative approval for use and sales, Excise and Licenses spokesperson Eric Escudero tells us. The other is Pure Elevations Spa & Garden.

The businesses still need to pass inspections.

Between the lines: The club's interior was designed by Miranda Cullen, founder and principal at Littleton-based firm Inside Stories. She tells us it was her first time designing such a space.

Her goal was to "elevate" the aesthetic that reflects the services Cirrus will be providing, and potentially change the way people perceive marijuana use.

What's next: Richard tells us he's aiming to open the club next spring, before 4/20 celebrations.

A glimpse of Denver's forthcoming upscale cannabis club

Cirrus Social Club wants to provide a luxurious place for adults to consume marijuana.

Arend Richard&#x27;s vision to turn marijuana consumption into a sophisticated experience is taking shape.Zoom in: Across the street from a sex shop, a few doors down from a tattoo studio and just a block away from a dispensary, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cirrus Social Club " data-vars-click-url="https://cirrussocialclub.com/" data-vars-content-id="36fa0460-c8e3-4cf7-9121-3191733e8b38" data-vars-headline="A glimpse of Denver&#x27;s forthcoming upscale cannabis club" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cirrussocialclub.com/" target="_blank">Cirrus Social Club </a>promises something new.

Culture

Aurora native Caleb Hahne Quintana is showing his Southwestern-inspired paintings at Art Basel this year.

Why it matters: The art fair, which marks 21 years in Miami and opens to the public Friday, is the largest and one of the most influential in the world. It features 277 galleries from dozens of countries.

Details: Hahne Quintana has at least three oil paintings — "The Hand Whispers History," "Poem of the Plains" and "How Many Times Have I Given My Hand My Head To Hold?" — displayed in Anat Ebgi's gallery exhibit at the festival.

His intimate portraits tend to blend realism with fantasy and highlight the expansive landscape of the American West using rich, contrasting colors.

The oil painting, "How Many Times Have I Given My Hand My Head To Hold?" by Caleb Hahne Quintana, displayed at Art Basel on Dec. 8 in Miami. Photo: Martin Vassolo/Axios

Driving the news: The Brooklyn-based artist has quickly become one of the most-buzzed-about emerging talents on display at Art Basel.

This month, an "art-world insider" told Vogue that Hahne Quintana was one of the top two artists to see, and Culture Magazine named him one of six artists not to miss at the fair.

Meanwhile, Nylon magazine listed him among the art world's 10 "most exciting" up-and-coming painters.

Between the lines: Hahne Quintana, whose work has been featured at the Denver Art Museum, uses his medium to reclaim his Mexican heritage and honor the stories of his ancestors.

Of note: His solo exhibition "Aurora," inspired by his hometown, was featured last year at Anat Ebgi Gallery in Los Angeles.

How Many Times Have I Given My Hand My Head To Hold?

Aurora native Caleb Hahne Quintana's paintings on exhibit at Art Basel

The Brooklyn-based artist has quickly become one of the most-buzzed-about emerging talents at the fair.

The scene during Art Basel Miami Beach's VIP Preview at the Miami Convention Center on Wednesday. Photo: Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images

Aurora native <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Caleb Hahne Quintana" data-vars-click-url="https://www.instagram.com/c.hahnequintana/" data-vars-content-id="85b0b0c7-e191-4426-8e07-3e3be6ed743a" data-vars-headline="Aurora native Caleb Hahne Quintana&#x27;s paintings on exhibit at Art Basel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.instagram.com/c.hahnequintana/" target="_blank">Caleb Hahne Quintana</a> is showing his Southwestern-inspired paintings at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Art Basel" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/12/04/art-week-fairs-art-basel-2023-guide-planner" data-vars-content-id="85b0b0c7-e191-4426-8e07-3e3be6ed743a" data-vars-headline="Aurora native Caleb Hahne Quintana&#x27;s paintings on exhibit at Art Basel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/12/04/art-week-fairs-art-basel-2023-guide-planner" target="_self">Art Basel</a> this year.Why it matters: The art fair, which marks 21 years in Miami and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="opens to the public Friday" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/12/08/art-basel-things-to-do-guide-parking-south-beach" data-vars-content-id="85b0b0c7-e191-4426-8e07-3e3be6ed743a" data-vars-headline="Aurora native Caleb Hahne Quintana&#x27;s paintings on exhibit at Art Basel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2023/12/08/art-basel-things-to-do-guide-parking-south-beach" target="_self">opens to the public Friday</a>, is the largest and one of the most influential in the world. It <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="features 277 galleries" data-vars-click-url="https://www.artbasel.com/miami-beach/exhibitors#138284" data-vars-content-id="85b0b0c7-e191-4426-8e07-3e3be6ed743a" data-vars-headline="Aurora native Caleb Hahne Quintana&#x27;s paintings on exhibit at Art Basel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.artbasel.com/miami-beach/exhibitors#138284" target="_blank">features 277 galleries</a> from dozens of countries.

Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who left office in July after a three-term tenure, is embarking on his next venture as a consultant.

Driving the news: Hancock is launching a company called Hancock Global Services as founder and principal consultant, Axios Denver has learned.

It will provide "executive consulting services" in public affairs advocacy, economic development and more, according to an Instagram account for the company.

Why it matters: In his 12-year term, the former mayor made major connections at the local and national level, and his new business puts him in a position to capitalize on his experience.

The intrigue: Hancock Global was formed in March, four months before he was termed out as chief executive, according to previously unreported records filed with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office.

What he's saying: Hancock declined an interview with Axios Denver about his new venture and client list.

In early 2021, Hancock told us that when his third term ended he would likely take a break from politics "to go enjoy family and life for a while and earn a decent living."

Of note: In his final year as mayor, he earned a salary of $188,429.

Scoop: Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock launches consulting business

Hancock Global will provide  "executive consulting services" in public affairs advocacy and economic development.

Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock during his goodbye speech on July 17. Photo: Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via Getty Images

Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="left office in July" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/07/17/denver-mayor-michael-hancock-exit-farewell-legacy" data-vars-content-id="d56d9f04-d996-46f2-9451-42b8e34fa9b3" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock launches consulting business" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2023/07/17/denver-mayor-michael-hancock-exit-farewell-legacy" target="_self">left office in July</a> after a three-term tenure, is embarking on his next venture as a consultant.Driving the news: Hancock is launching a company called Hancock Global Services as founder and principal consultant, Axios Denver has learned.

Politics

A former medical office building just south of downtown Denver will welcome its first permanent residents Friday.

Driving the news: The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) said in a statement Wednesday that people will begin moving into income-restricted units at 655 Broadway.

The nine-story tower includes 110 housing units, with 96 exclusively available for adults 55 years or older and people with disabilities who are 18 years or older.

By the numbers: Rent ranges from $950 to $1,250 a month, and the building includes studio and one-bedroom apartments.

Why it matters: The new complex is a rare example of former office space being converted to housing — a costly endeavor that city officials have explored for downtown skyscrapers.

Details: DHA renovated the building's interior and exterior after purchasing the building from Denver Health for $5 million in May 2020.

The project received $18 million in housing tax credits from the Enterprise Housing Credit Investments, a nonprofit focusing on building affordable housing.

The intrigue: The second floor includes 14 apartments for homeless patients being discharged from Denver Health, which partnered with DHA.

"Ensuring patients have stable, affordable housing upon discharge is critical for their continued well-being," Joshua Crawley, DHA interim CEO, said in a statement.

Of note: Additional features include wide, well-lit hallways and on-site health wellness programs.

What's next: The first four residents and a hospital transitional resident are expected to move in this week.

Former office building converted to affordable housing

The nine-story tower includes 110 housing units, with dozens of age-restricted options.

655 Broadway in Denver. Photo: Courtesy of Denver Housing Authority

A former medical office building just south of downtown Denver will welcome its first permanent residents Friday.Driving the news: The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) said in a statement Wednesday that people will begin moving into income-restricted units at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="655 Broadway" data-vars-click-url="https://www.denverhousing.org/655-broadway/" data-vars-content-id="67aa0cf1-dc35-4b5a-90bb-87f751bec676" data-vars-headline="Former office building converted to affordable housing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.denverhousing.org/655-broadway/" target="_blank">655 Broadway</a>.

Development

National

Colorado's Supreme Court justices expressed repeated skepticism Wednesday during oral arguments seeking to prevent former President Trump from appearing on the 2024 ballot.

Driving the news: The high court questioned whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits those who engage in insurrection from holding office, covers the presidency and whether the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol rose to that level.

Justice Monica Márquez noted that the Constitution refers to "officers" without explicitly including the president.

Justice Carlos Samour sided with Trump's attorney and expressed concern "about the definition of insurrection that the district court adopted. It strikes me as somewhat or potentially overbroad."

All seven justices on the state's high court were appointed by Democrats.

Why it matters: The pointed inquiries suggest the court agrees with a lower court opinion allowing Trump to remain on the Colorado ballot, but may dispute the ruling that he engaged in an insurrection.

Catch up quick: A district court judge in Denver ruled in November that Trump engaged in insurrection because he incited the attack, but ruled Section 3 doesn't apply to the office of the president.

The liberal group behind the lawsuit, filed on behalf of six Republicans and unaffiliated voters, appealed to the state supreme court, as did the Trump campaign, which is seeking to reverse the court's finding that he is responsible for the attack.

What they're saying: The plaintiff's pushing to disqualify Trump argued the constitutional clause is a broader "self-defense mechanism" that covers the commander in chief.

"If we say this conduct by this person is not enough under the Constitution, what we do is empower Trump and others to use more political violence to attack our democracy," said Eric Olson, the plaintiff's attorney and a former Colorado solicitor general.

The other side: Scott Gessler, a former Colorado secretary of state who is representing Trump's campaign, argued the drafters of the Constitution made a distinct choice to not include the president in Section 3.

He acknowledged the violence at the Capitol amounted to a riot, but not an insurrection or rebellion. To do so, he said, it would need to last longer, take place at more than one building and involve more powerful arms.

The big picture: The Colorado case is considered the most significant challenge to Trump's eligibility to appear on the state's presidential primary ballot, but it is not the only one.

At least 32 cases across the country are seeking to block Trump, the GOP front-runner, from the ballot, using the untested insurrection clause.

The most recent came Wednesday in Oregon, where the group behind cases in Minnesota and Michigan filed a new challenge.

Six have been dismissed so far, per legal analysis by nonprofit publication Lawfare.

What to watch: It's unclear when the Colorado court may rule, but the secretary of state must certify the March 5 primary ballot by Jan. 5. The decision is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Colorado Supreme Court skeptical of bid to block Trump from 2024 ballot

The high court questioned whether Section 3 of the 14th Amendment covers the presidency.

Former President Donald Trump campaigns Saturday in Ankeny, Iowa. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Politics & Policy

Both bookworms and aspiring ones can add a few more titles to their reading list.

Driving the news: The Denver Public Library has published its 2023 staff picks, with a selection of fiction, nonfiction, teen and children's books.

Details: Staff are invited to submit  their choices, and are asked to choose books published after the second half of 2022 until present day, DPL spokesperson Joe Gosalvez tells us.

Here are three  fiction and nonfiction options:

An adjunct professor who works as a part-time girlfriend.

A Southern romance about a woman who wins the lottery.

"Sure, I'll Join Your Cult" by Maria Bamford.

A memoir from a comedian trying to find her place.

A writer explores what it's like to live off the grid.

An immigrant profiles recipes from every state.

Here are three for  teens and young adults:

A queer teenage romance with a fantasy twist.

A barista on the moon gets recruited by aliens to be a god.

A friend investigates the death of her best friend, the school's first Black homecoming queen.

Denver Public Library staff picks their favorite reads

Their selection includes fiction, nonfiction, teen and children's books.

Illustration of a book smiling and reading another book. 

Both bookworms and aspiring ones can add a few more titles to their reading list.Driving the news: The Denver Public Library has published its 2023 staff picks, with a selection of fiction, nonfiction, teen and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="children&#x27;s books" data-vars-click-url="https://www.denverlibrary.org/kids/list/2023-picture-books" data-vars-content-id="2a32a9ce-6233-4f53-bbd6-363ca0367350" data-vars-headline="Denver Public Library staff picks their favorite reads" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.denverlibrary.org/kids/list/2023-picture-books" target="_blank">children&#x27;s books</a>.

NRCC chair praises Mike Johnson's fundraising as House speaker

Mike Johnson

Under U.S. pressure, Israel allows Palestinian-Americans to travel from West Bank

Israel

China is becoming the most formidable rival America has faced, and the risk of confrontation with Russia, North Korea or Iran still looms. Authoritarians are rising, the chaotic Afghanistan exit revealed the limits of U.S. power, and the pandemic, climate change and other critical challenges continue to pose grave threats.

World

Claudine Gay gets show of support from Harvard Alumni Association, faculty

Harvard

Jack Smith asks Supreme Court to weigh Trump's immunity argument

Donald Trump

Holiday travel period will be one of busiest ever, AAA says

Air travel

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

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