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Front Range rail scales back plans ahead of November vote

The district's voters will decide whether to hike the sales tax by half a cent to fund the train service.

Politics

Colorado lawmakers and rail officials are looking to limit who gets a say in a potential November referendum on a Front Range passenger train.Why it matters: The vote will determine the fate of the train service, a major priority for Gov. Jared Polis and a key element in the state&#x27;s efforts to reduce air pollution.

Denver preps pitch for 2028 convention ahead of DNC visit

The convention would give the city — and particularly downtown — a crucial economic boost.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Democratic leaders are readying their pitch to host the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national party convention in 2028" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/03/04/denver-pitch-dnc-2028-convention" data-vars-content-id="39008bdc-b158-4034-b801-8a7f49868539" data-vars-headline="Denver preps pitch for 2028 convention ahead of DNC visit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/03/04/denver-pitch-dnc-2028-convention" target="_self">national party convention in 2028</a>.Why it matters: As <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="one of five finalists" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/19/democrats-2028-convention-cities" data-vars-content-id="39008bdc-b158-4034-b801-8a7f49868539" data-vars-headline="Denver preps pitch for 2028 convention ahead of DNC visit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/19/democrats-2028-convention-cities" target="_self">one of five finalists</a>, Denver is uniquely positioned as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="an emerging blue state" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/11/09/colorado-blue-purple-state-2022-election" data-vars-content-id="39008bdc-b158-4034-b801-8a7f49868539" data-vars-headline="Denver preps pitch for 2028 convention ahead of DNC visit" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/11/09/colorado-blue-purple-state-2022-election" target="_self">an emerging blue state</a> to illustrate the party&#x27;s values and how to beat Republicans.

Lord of Lactose creams Denver rival in Wash Park milk-chug battle

A milk-chugging challenge drew crowds and a surprise champion.

Culture

The Bovine Baron took on the Lord of Lactose in a Saturday milk-chugging duel at Washington Park.State of play: An April Fool&#x27;s prank turned 24-year-old Liam Poultney (aka the Bovine Baron) into a Mile High milk-swilling sensation — luring challengers and side-eyes, as the joke quickly curdles into something bigger.

Cult favorites and live performances return for Film on the Rocks

The lineup boasts movie classics and a recent Oscar-winning film.

Things to Do

Four classics and a recent Oscar juggernaut will headline this year&#x27;s Film on the Rocks series, kicking off in June.State of play: The five screenings at Red Rocks Amphitheatre will be accompanied by live performances, event organizer Denver Film said.

How a large load tariff could work for Xcel

The utility company's proposal would set separate rates for large electricity users.

News

To handle surging <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center power use" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/03/02/denvers-considers-data-center-moratorium" data-vars-content-id="eaa6827e-fdf7-4385-b6c2-956044372971" data-vars-headline="How a large load tariff could work for Xcel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/03/02/denvers-considers-data-center-moratorium" target="_self">data center power use</a>, Xcel Energy is turning to a tool that&#x27;s gaining traction nationwide: a large load tariff.Why it matters: The tariff could help alleviate costs for households and prepare utility companies for a spike in energy demand from power-hungry data centers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="driven largely by AI" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/data-centers-dominate-rising-us-demand" data-vars-content-id="eaa6827e-fdf7-4385-b6c2-956044372971" data-vars-headline="How a large load tariff could work for Xcel" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/06/data-centers-dominate-rising-us-demand" target="_self">driven largely by AI</a>.

Why Denver's considering a data center moratorium

Forty-six data centers currently operate in Denver.

Denver City Councilmember Paul Kashmann says the city must pause data center development over their massive size, heavy power and water demands, as well as over vague definitions in current zoning laws.State of play: The plan announced last week with Mayor Mike Johnston calls for a one-year moratorium on building data centers, likely starting this spring.

How to recycle your Christmas tree in Denver

Denver's Treecycle program will run until Jan. 30.

You can turn your Christmas tree into one last holiday gift this month by transforming it into mulch.The big picture: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Denver&#x27;s Treecycle program" data-vars-click-url="https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Recycle-Compost-Trash/Seasonal-Programs/Treecycle" data-vars-content-id="f5fc6270-77de-490a-b995-9310bb7fb9ab" data-vars-headline="How to recycle your Christmas tree in Denver" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Recycle-Compost-Trash/Seasonal-Programs/Treecycle" target="_blank">Denver&#x27;s Treecycle program</a> will make three tree drop sites available on weekdays until Jan. 30 from 8am to 2pm, including:

Why you should not eat snow

Think about the snowflake you cut in kindergarten, the one with all the different edges and angles.

Environment

Musician Frank Zappa once famously <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="warned" data-vars-click-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woDy6LwXS1g" data-vars-content-id="b9ab4af7-aa66-469a-bd24-59981e1ca72a" data-vars-headline="Why you should not eat snow" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woDy6LwXS1g" target="_blank">warned</a>, &quot;Don&#x27;t eat the yellow snow.&quot;The intrigue: Colorado State University hydrologist <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Steven Fassnacht" data-vars-click-url="https://sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/srf/" data-vars-content-id="b9ab4af7-aa66-469a-bd24-59981e1ca72a" data-vars-headline="Why you should not eat snow" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sites.warnercnr.colostate.edu/srf/" target="_blank">Steven Fassnacht</a> said it&#x27;s not the only snow you should avoid ingesting.

A clean energy future is possible in Colorado

Western Resource Advocates is helping Colorado retire coal plants and cut emissions by 2030.

Climate

Western Resource Advocates (WRA) are the watchdogs keeping Colorado&#x27;s climate progress on track as political winds shift and threaten progress.Why it&#x27;s important: Pollution from power plants, gas-powered vehicles, buildings, and homes drives climate change and threatens the health and livelihoods of our communities.<ul><li>Cutting fossil fuel use protects both people and landscapes across the West.</li></ul>

Colorado sees dangerous heat waves increase

Nearly 200 cities across the nation have recorded more consecutive heat waves.

The two largest cities in Colorado are getting more heat streaks, raising health risks for residents, a new analysis finds.The big picture: Denver and Colorado Springs both had four additional heat streaks on average between 1970 and 2024, per a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/extreme-heat-streaks-2025" data-vars-content-id="a52aebbe-0126-4d63-809f-be2eaa142522" data-vars-headline="Colorado sees dangerous heat waves increase" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.climatecentral.org/climate-matters/extreme-heat-streaks-2025" target="_blank">new report</a> from research group Climate Central.

Fireflies are flourishing in Colorado

The luminous insects often emerge near wetlands.

You&#x27;re not imagining it. Fireflies are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="having a good year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/07/01/fireflies-good-summer-mild-spring" data-vars-content-id="8692d5e6-3fb6-462b-9e8d-16706dee7210" data-vars-headline="Fireflies are flourishing in Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/indianapolis/2025/07/01/fireflies-good-summer-mild-spring" target="_self">having a good year</a>.Why it matters: Firefly populations have declined over the last 100 years.

Diminutive Colorado cactus removed from endangered list

The Colorado hookless cactus had been listed since 1979.

After 46 years, the Colorado hookless cactus is blooming.State of play: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed the plant, whose scientific name is Sclerocactus glaucus, from the Endangered and Threatened Plants list amid its recovery, the federal agency announced last month.

SCOTUS clears path for more crude trains through Colorado

The ruling means the railway can move forward — at least legally. But opposition at the local level is far from over.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unanimously ruled" data-vars-click-url="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-975_m648.pdf" data-vars-content-id="1ab31475-01b0-4a8d-b3a8-dcedb7d2adbb" data-vars-headline="SCOTUS clears path for more crude trains through Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/23-975_m648.pdf" target="_blank">unanimously ruled</a> that federal agencies aren&#x27;t required to consider broader environmental impacts of infrastructure projects they don&#x27;t directly control.Why it matters: The decision greenlights construction of the controversial 88-mile <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Uinta Basin Railway" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cpr.org/2024/12/10/today-scotus-to-hear-uinta-oil-train-case/" data-vars-content-id="1ab31475-01b0-4a8d-b3a8-dcedb7d2adbb" data-vars-headline="SCOTUS clears path for more crude trains through Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/12/10/today-scotus-to-hear-uinta-oil-train-case/" target="_blank">Uinta Basin Railway</a>, which would carry thousands of barrels of crude oil through western Colorado, and beyond, along the Colorado River — <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="the nation&#x27;s most endangered waterway" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/04/19/colorado-river-ranked-most-endangered" data-vars-content-id="1ab31475-01b0-4a8d-b3a8-dcedb7d2adbb" data-vars-headline="SCOTUS clears path for more crude trains through Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/04/19/colorado-river-ranked-most-endangered" target="_self">the nation&#x27;s most endangered waterway</a> — toward Gulf Coast refineries.

How to recycle your Christmas tree

It&#x27;s time to turn your holiday tree into a springtime gift. The big picture: Denver&#x27;s Treecycle program started one day after Christmas, encouraging residents to bring their trees to select sites to be turned into mulch.

Environment

How a large load tariff could work for Xcel

Why Denver's considering a data center moratorium

Feds "cannot delay action" on Colorado River

How to recycle your Christmas tree in Denver

Why you should not eat snow