Denver

Denver Alerts

Alert

Picture of the Denver skyline with DEN written across it.

blue

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Denver with Alayna Alvarez, John Frank, and Esteban L. Hernandez.

Axios Denver

Standard

Axios Denver Partners

Axios Denver Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

A guide to fun things to do in Denver this weekend.

Axios Denver Weekender

Weekender

Axios Denver Deep Dive

Deep Dive

Denver Members

Membership

What marijuana reclassification means for Colorado

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

News

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.

Reimagined Denver Pavilions envisions site as new public square

The nearly 30-year-old site would see most of its buildings demolished under a new vision.

For the Denver Pavilions to be saved, it must come crumbling down.Why it matters: A sweeping blueprint calls for demolishing and reimagining the Denver Pavilions to make way for housing, retail and a public square — a dramatic reset for a fading 2000s-era downtown anchor.

Dems advance "No Kings Act" as bold check on federal power

The Colorado bill is the most forceful pushback against the Trump administration this term.

In the waning weeks of Colorado&#x27;s legislative session, Democratic lawmakers are poised to debate a provocative new bill, dubbed the &quot;No Kings Act.&quot;Why it matters: The legislation amounts to the body&#x27;s most forceful pushback <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="against the Trump administration" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/01/27/colorado-immigration-ice-state-lawmakers" data-vars-content-id="5027862c-f5c1-4f3d-8006-dbd9a639412f" data-vars-headline="Dems advance &quot;No Kings Act&quot; as bold check on federal power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2026/01/27/colorado-immigration-ice-state-lawmakers" target="_self">against the Trump administration</a> this term, given its far-reaching implications to sue federal officials.

Colorado moves to restrict surveillance pricing

State Sen. Mike Weissman said the legislation is intended to "protect people from abusive businesses."

Business

This is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="surveillance pricing" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2024/08/02/ftc-surveillance-pricing-startups" data-vars-content-id="a9a4b021-303f-4dbf-bf50-55ccb7d843cc" data-vars-headline="Colorado moves to restrict surveillance pricing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/retail-deals/2024/08/02/ftc-surveillance-pricing-startups" target="_self">surveillance pricing</a>: A plane ticket that costs more because you searched online for an obituary and need to travel. Or a parent who gets offered a lower salary because her social media mentions a sick child who needs health insurance.Why it matters: Both scenarios show how companies can set individualized pricing and wages — often using artificial intelligence or algorithms — based on personal characteristics, online behaviors and biometrics.Driving the news: Colorado lawmakers want to prohibit surveillance pricing, in particular, those systems that discriminate against consumers and workers. A Senate committee advanced the measure at a hearing on Tuesday.<ul><li>In situations where algorithms can set prices, companies would need to publish their procedures to ensure the accuracy of data and give consumers the ability to correct it, per the bill.</li><li>State Sen. Mike Weissman (D-Aurora) said the legislation is intended to &quot;protect people from abusive businesses.&quot;</li></ul>Caveats: The new restrictions would include numerous carveouts, such as voluntary membership and loyalty programs. They also would not apply to federal, state or local government workers.What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;There&#x27;s no transparency, no accountability and no way for consumers and workers to know what&#x27;s happening behind that curtain,&quot; state Sen. Iman Jodeh (D-Aurora), a bill sponsor, said at a rally Tuesday ahead of a legislative hearing.The other side: The business community testified that the legislation is too far-reaching and would disrupt normal business practices, including those that benefit consumers.The big picture: Nationwide, the debate is one of the top issues in state legislatures this year as lawmakers push for added disclosure and protections for vulnerable populations.<ul><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="More than 40 related bills" data-vars-click-url="https://www.insideprivacy.com/artificial-intelligence/state-lawmakers-introduce-new-wave-of-personalized-algorithmic-pricing-bills/" data-vars-content-id="a9a4b021-303f-4dbf-bf50-55ccb7d843cc" data-vars-headline="Colorado moves to restrict surveillance pricing" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.insideprivacy.com/artificial-intelligence/state-lawmakers-introduce-new-wave-of-personalized-algorithmic-pricing-bills/" target="_blank">More than 40 related bills</a> to regulate surveillance pricing were introduced in two dozen states, industry experts note.</li></ul>

Why top companies keep coming back to Leeds

In a volatile hiring market, 99% of Leeds grads report positive career outcomes within six months.

Education

For business students, six months can define a career. But at the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder, 99% of undergraduates report positive career outcomes within six months of graduation.*Why it&#x27;s important: Entry-level hiring has grown more competitive as AI absorbs the rote analytical work once assigned to early-career professionals.<ul><li>Employers increasingly look for graduates who can contribute beyond automation on day one.</li></ul>

Denver Health is bringing new care services where they are needed most

As Denver grows, Denver Health is finding innovative ways to expand trusted care.

Partners

In a growing, aging Denver, the challenge in health care is delivering care that&#x27;s easy to navigate, close to home and comprehensive enough to meet most needs in one system.What you need to know: Denver Health has two major expansions underway — rebuilding the Sam Sandos Westside Family Health Center and opening a new medical center in southeast Denver — designed to make high-quality care more convenient and closer to home.<ul><li>Long known as the city&#x27;s safety net, Denver Health is a complete health system delivering high-quality care in emergencies and for everyday primary and specialty needs.</li></ul>

How Denver's future policymakers learn from live reform

Students are helping Denver measure which housing reforms increase supply.

Cities across the country are under pressure to build more housing fast, and Denver is no exception.The challenge: Colorado faces a shortage of more than 134,000 affordable and available homes, with low- and middle-income households feeling the strain.<ul><li>Evidence-based policymaking has never been more essential — and Denver is a particularly dynamic setting for this work.</li></ul>

Colorado is aging too fast for its systems

Affordability pressures are building as Colorado grows older.

Colorado is one of the fastest-aging states in the country, while ranking in the bottom quarter nationally for affordability.<ul><li>The state now has more residents over the age of 60 than under 18, and that gap is projected to widen for decades.</li></ul>Here&#x27;s the deal: Demography underpins economics and politics. States that adapt to longer lives and longer careers will retain talent, sustain growth and manage costs. Those who don&#x27;t will fall behind.

What PNC's merger with FirstBank means for Coloradans

FirstBank is joining  PNC to help local  businesses and nonprofits access larger resources.

Colorado&#x27;s most familiar name in banking is about to carry an even bigger footprint.The story: PNC announced an agreement on Sept. 8 to acquire FirstBank, Colorado&#x27;s largest locally-owned bank.<ul><li>Once finalized, Colorado&#x27;s fast-growing economy will become one of PNC&#x27;s largest markets.</li></ul>

How Colorado businesses can strengthen their cash flow

Your cash conversion cycle can reveal how efficiently your business turns effort into cash.

Cash flow is the oxygen of every business — and when it comes to liquidity, timing is everything.<ul><li>Thriving businesses depend on cash flow, but few leaders know exactly how long it takes their operations to turn effort into liquidity.</li></ul>

The effort to prevent utility-sparked wildfires in Colorado

Xcel Energy is strengthening its infrastructure as part of a larger strategy to prevent utility-related ignition.

More severe weather and drier conditions mean wildfire risks have fundamentally changed across the Front Range and mountain communities.Why it&#x27;s important: Wildfire seasons are a year-round threat, even in areas where they weren&#x27;t as common before, requiring utilities like Xcel Energy to rethink how they operate the electric system throughout the year.<ul><li>There&#x27;s no single solution to address wildfire threats – it requires a comprehensive approach that balances safety, reliability and affordability.</li></ul>

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>

Empower your employees to save for higher education

This tax-deductible 529 plan helps employees plan ahead for education costs.

As wellness programs expand, employers are turning to solutions like 529 education savings plans to help employees manage financial stress.Why it&#x27;s important: Education costs are rising fast — and employees want long-term benefits that help them plan ahead for their children&#x27;s futures.

What it means to design health care for real life

Kaiser Permanente coordinates your care and coverage, so you don't have to.

Health

There&#x27;s a better way to deliver health care in Colorado — and Kaiser Permanente does so with an integrated care and coverage model.The strategy: At Kaiser Permanente, medical professionals work as one through a shared electronic health record (EHR).<ul><li>This coordination helps simplify the health care and coverage experience with coordinated, personalized support.</li><li>It also helps reduce paperwork, repetitive tests and procedures, potential medical errors and time-consuming medical claims.</li></ul>