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Colorado governor candidates Marx, Weiser clash over domestic violence

More than the issues, the candidates' approach to answering questions drew the most attention.

Election

In their first — and likely only — campaign forum, Colorado&#x27;s top gubernatorial candidates mostly played nice, until the final minutes.Why it matters: Democratic candidate Phil Weiser and Republican candidate Victor Marx used the Thursday event, hosted by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce in Denver, to outline their agendas for addressing affordability and boosting business growth.

Evans, Rutinel clash in high-stakes congressional debate

Both parties are keen on capturing the 8th Congressional District seat.

News

Republican Gabe Evans and Democrat Manny Rutinel traded sharp attacks Wednesday in a heated debate in Colorado&#x27;s closely <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="watched 8th Congressional District seat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/01/trump-latino-voters-competitive-district" data-vars-content-id="60f86175-388e-480f-87f1-1c4a79947781" data-vars-headline="Evans, Rutinel clash in high-stakes congressional debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/01/trump-latino-voters-competitive-district" target="_self">watched 8th Congressional District seat</a>. Why it matters: In their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="only scheduled debate" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/29/colorado-candidates-refuse-debate-2026-election" data-vars-content-id="60f86175-388e-480f-87f1-1c4a79947781" data-vars-headline="Evans, Rutinel clash in high-stakes congressional debate" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/29/colorado-candidates-refuse-debate-2026-election" target="_self">only scheduled debate</a>, the candidates spent more time sparring than spelling out how they&#x27;d address voters&#x27; concerns — even as the race could determine the balance of power in Congress.

Walmart drones are coming to Denver

The retailer is preparing to drop groceries and other goods at customers' homes in as little as 30 minutes.

Business

Walmart is deploying drone delivery to Denver, promising to drop groceries and other goods at customers&#x27; homes in as little as 30 minutes. Why it matters: The robot ramp-up is in full force. Driverless cars are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="roaming Denver&#x27;s streets" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/01/waymo-launches-denver" data-vars-content-id="8c165c1a-5bcf-4231-9391-680eebe8d200" data-vars-headline="Walmart drones are coming to Denver" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/09/01/waymo-launches-denver" target="_self">roaming Denver&#x27;s streets</a>. Now drones are taking to the skies.

Arc opens its first thrift bins

Arc's first-ever outlet sells massively discounted clothing and goods,

Arc Thrift Stores opened its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first-ever outlet" data-vars-click-url="https://arcthrift.com/outlet" data-vars-content-id="6f9e1cb3-e2aa-4daa-900c-4ca55ec5ff29" data-vars-headline="Arc opens its first thrift bins" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://arcthrift.com/outlet" target="_blank">first-ever outlet</a> yesterday.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a big deal if you&#x27;re in the thrifting game.

Children's Hospital Colorado sees 65% spike in mental health ER visits

Inpatient psychiatric admissions are also increasing.

Children&#x27;s Hospital Colorado saw pediatric ER visits involving mental health concerns jump about 65% <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="from 2019 to 2025" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/06/16/health-of-colorado-kids-crumbles-amid-covid" data-vars-content-id="6a720447-782a-4401-9f1f-4d35af651d1b" data-vars-headline="Children&#x27;s Hospital Colorado sees 65% spike in mental health ER visits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2022/06/16/health-of-colorado-kids-crumbles-amid-covid" target="_self">from 2019 to 2025</a>, and the number could climb even higher this year, hospital officials tell us. Why it matters: The surge comes as Colorado records some of the highest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="suicide rates among children" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/10/09/young-adult-suicide-spikes-colorado" data-vars-content-id="6a720447-782a-4401-9f1f-4d35af651d1b" data-vars-headline="Children&#x27;s Hospital Colorado sees 65% spike in mental health ER visits" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/10/09/young-adult-suicide-spikes-colorado" target="_self">suicide rates among children</a> and young adults in the country.

How Denver Health trauma care helped a mountaineer return to Everest

For those whose lives revolve around outdoor pursuits, a serious orthopedic injury has higher stakes, putting years of training and their daily activities out of reach.

Health

<div data-sponsor-disclosure="&quot;{&quot;logoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://images.axios.com/VwV2mKKgMVSGwOkZugMhkwzvNdU=/2026/08/25/1787681204429.jpg&quot;,&quot;headline&quot;:&quot;A message from: Denver Health&quot;}&quot;"></div><div style="display:none"></div>For those whose lives revolve around outdoor pursuits, a serious orthopedic injury has higher stakes, putting years of training and their daily activities out of reach.<ul><li>Outdoor recreation contributes billions to the state&#x27;s economy, reflecting how deeply skiing, hiking and climbing are woven into life here.</li></ul>

Colorado's childhood vaccination rates slip lower

Colorado's vaccination rates are among the nation's lowest.

Colorado&#x27;s vaccination rates for kindergartners dipped across the board in the 2025-26 school year, while exemptions continued their post-pandemic rise, new CDC data <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="shows" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" data-vars-content-id="cea17424-8f19-4fc1-9291-577462f03368" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s childhood vaccination rates slip lower" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cdc.gov/schoolvaxview/data/index.html" target="_blank">shows</a>.Why it matters: Colorado&#x27;s vaccination rates are among the nation&#x27;s lowest, and public health officials worry about the possibility of outbreaks at schools and beyond.

Colorado has a new No. 1 hospital after 14 years

The state's hospital hierarchy just changed.

Intermountain Health Saint Joseph Hospital is Colorado&#x27;s new top-ranked hospital, according to U.S. News &amp; World Report&#x27;s latest <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Best Hospitals ranking" data-vars-click-url="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings?src=usn_pr" data-vars-content-id="cfc6193d-c823-4ec5-9189-6a2216a60520" data-vars-headline="Colorado has a new No. 1 hospital after 14 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings?src=usn_pr" target="_blank">Best Hospitals ranking</a>. Why it matters: The ranking ends UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="14-year run" data-vars-click-url="https://www.uchealth.org/newsroom/us-news--world-report-ranks-three-uchealth-hospitals-among-colorados-best/" data-vars-content-id="cfc6193d-c823-4ec5-9189-6a2216a60520" data-vars-headline="Colorado has a new No. 1 hospital after 14 years" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.uchealth.org/newsroom/us-news--world-report-ranks-three-uchealth-hospitals-among-colorados-best/" target="_blank">14-year run</a> as the state&#x27;s leading hospital in one of the nation&#x27;s most influential guides for patients comparing care.

Two stomach illnesses are spreading in Colorado

It's a bad time to have a stomach and a good time to be extra cautious about what you eat.

Two intestinal illnesses — salmonella and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="cyclosporiasis" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/cyclosporiasis-cases-rates-rise-outbreak-states" data-vars-content-id="db3bd09a-df23-4439-9aff-751cd9294628" data-vars-headline="Two stomach illnesses are spreading in Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/23/cyclosporiasis-cases-rates-rise-outbreak-states" target="_self">cyclosporiasis</a>, caused by a parasite that causes &quot;explosive&quot; diarrhea — are on the rise in Colorado.Why it matters: Consider this a public service announcement from your digestive system to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="be extra cautious" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" data-vars-content-id="db3bd09a-df23-4439-9aff-751cd9294628" data-vars-headline="Two stomach illnesses are spreading in Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/20/cyclospora-outbreak-diarrhea-infection-wash-food" target="_self">be extra cautious</a> about what you eat.

Gut-wrecking stomach bug cases confirmed "throughout" Colorado

The state has recored 90 cases this year.

Colorado public health officials have recorded 90 local cases of a parasite so far this year, though where specifically remains unclear.The big picture: The gastrointestinal illness — called cyclosporiasis — is caused by a microscopic parasite spreading through contaminated food

Why one Colorado mom says integrated care made all the difference

See how connected care helped one Colorado family navigate a stressful diagnosis.

Partners

When Lauren Shockey&#x27;s toddler son suddenly lost weight and started behaving differently, she feared something serious was wrong — but she said Kaiser Permanente&#x27;s integrated system helped her family move quickly from concern to diagnosis, all within one connected experience.The landscape: During medical crises, families often must juggle appointments, referrals, testing and coverage questions separately.Kaiser Permanente&#x27;s integrated model is designed to keep care, coverage and communication connected in one system so families can focus more on treatment and less on logistics.

Why your symptoms might not tell the full story

You can research symptoms, track changes and still not have a clear answer — but imaging could help guide next steps.

You now have more ways than ever to research symptoms, compare treatments and track your health.<ul><li>But even with all that information, getting a clear diagnosis isn&#x27;t always straightforward.</li></ul>The landscape: The traditional care path often focuses on managing symptoms first, either by waiting to see if symptoms improve or through treatments.<ul><li>That approach doesn&#x27;t always identify the cause of the issue, and without a clear diagnosis, care can become a series of short-term fixes instead of a targeted plan.</li></ul>

Denver is among the most polluted cities

As a whole, Colorado's air quality is improving, but pollution in certain areas remain problematic.

The metro Denver area ranks as the eighth-most ozone-polluted region in the nation with an average of 30 high-ozone days a year, per the American Lung Association&#x27;s 2026 &quot;State of the Air&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.lung.org/research/sota" data-vars-content-id="d8de295a-9f8e-4d93-b7bf-d6a6267bbae5" data-vars-headline="Denver is among the most polluted cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.lung.org/research/sota" target="_blank">report</a>.Why it matters: Hundreds of thousands of people in the metro area — which includes Aurora and Greeley — have health conditions such as asthma that make them more susceptible to air pollution.

What marijuana reclassification means for Colorado

The Trump administration took a significant step toward rescheduling marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

The Trump administration took a significant step Thursday toward <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="rescheduling marijuana" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/22/trump-marijuana-rule-change" data-vars-content-id="c8832fc2-00c9-46c7-a50f-a52d68453c34" data-vars-headline="What marijuana reclassification means for Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/22/trump-marijuana-rule-change" target="_self">rescheduling marijuana</a> as a less dangerous drug, ordering the reclassification of FDA-approved and state-licensed marijuana.Why it matters: The order is a boost for Colorado&#x27;s medical retailers and will make it easier for researchers — like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="those" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/07/07/colorado-marijuana-labels-thc-study" data-vars-content-id="c8832fc2-00c9-46c7-a50f-a52d68453c34" data-vars-headline="What marijuana reclassification means for Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/07/07/colorado-marijuana-labels-thc-study" target="_self">those</a> at the University of Colorado Boulder — to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="study" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/01/08/cu-boulder-study-weed-exercise" data-vars-content-id="c8832fc2-00c9-46c7-a50f-a52d68453c34" data-vars-headline="What marijuana reclassification means for Colorado" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/01/08/cu-boulder-study-weed-exercise" target="_self">study</a> medicinal applications.

A line chart that shows kindergartner vaccine exemption rates and the U.S. average from 2011-12 to 2025-26. The local rate rose from 0.6% to 3%, with faster gains after 2020. It remained below the national average each year, which increased from 1.6% to 4.2%.

Health 🩺

Children's Hospital Colorado sees 65% spike in mental health ER visits

How Denver Health trauma care helped a mountaineer return to Everest

Colorado's childhood vaccination rates slip lower

Colorado has a new No. 1 hospital after 14 years

Two stomach illnesses are spreading in Colorado