Axios Colorado Springs

April 20, 2026
Welcome back! It's Monday, and we have a wild issue for you.
☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 79 and a low of 45.
👷 Situational awareness: Tejon Street will be closed between Colorado Avenue and Kiowa Street downtown this week to complete the installation of a crosswalk and finalize pavement work.
- There will be intermittent closures on Pikes Peak Avenue for crosswalk installation from April 24th to May 8.
Today's newsletter is 793 words — a 3- minute read.
1 big thing: 🗑️ Look out for bears
Colorado's dry winter and early spring could drive more bears into Front Range neighborhoods as they emerge from hibernation and search for food.
Why it matters: Wildlife experts say drought can shrink natural food supplies, increasing the chances of encounters that put both people and wildlife at risk.
Driving the news: Bears are waking up for the season, with mothers and cubs expected to begin exploring over the next two months, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
State of play: Colorado is coming off a historically dry winter — and what happens next could shape bear behavior.
- CPW spokesperson Kara Van Hoose told Axios it's unclear how the warm winter will influence bear activity.
- So far, the impact has been limited. But if drought persists, it could limit the natural food they rely on.
What they're saying: "When temps are higher, we generally shift our concern to habitat and the availability of natural food sources," Van Hoose said.
- "Since March and April are typically among our most moisture-heavy months, there is still a possibility of more snow and rain to improve natural food sources for bears in the wild."
By the numbers: Colorado Parks and Wildlife tallied 5,299 bear sighting reports last year, about a 15% increase over the previous six years.
Threat level: When natural food is scarce, bears look for easy calories — often in residential areas.
- Unsecure trash
- Bird feeders
- Fruit trees
Be smart: People in areas with bear activity should: lock up their trash, secure feeders and keep small pets inside.
Glenn's thought bubble: I've seen bears aplenty in and around the apparently well-named Bear Creek Regional Park in the last two years, and it seems I'm not alone.
The bottom line: As development pushes deeper into bear habitats, encounters are rising. Now, a dry year could accelerate that trend.
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2. The Peak: Mochi meet and greet
📆 Mark your calendars. April 27 is World Tapir Day, and to celebrate, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo guests can meet Mochi during a special tapir keeper talk.
- Be smart: Reserve regular daytime tickets in advance.
💜 Master Sgt. Sean Ambriz, a Fort Carson division chief, was awarded his second Purple Heart while injured during service as a medic and team leader in Afghanistan in 2011.
- He received his first Purple Heart in 2009 for injuries sustained in Afghanistan. (KKTV)
⚽️ The Colorado Rapids announced they'll host the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC in the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park on April 29.
3. A 4/20 pot portrait
The Springs collected $3.8 million in its first year of legal recreational marijuana sales, according to the Colorado Springs Cannabis Association — an early snapshot ahead of the industry's unofficial holiday, 4/20.
Zoom in: The vast majority — $3.5 million from a 5% sales tax — is earmarked for the police and fire departments, mental health services, and PTSD treatment for veterans.
- "This allows us to maintain our staffing levels and ultimately provide a safer community," Deputy Fire Chief Tim DeLeon told KKTV.
Context: The Springs jumped on the bandwagon in 2024.
- The conservative-leaning city — Colorado's second-largest — stood firm against recreational cannabis sales for a decade, even as the rest of the state embraced legalization.
Yes, but: The city was counting on $4 million annually from its sales tax to help with its $31 million shortfall.
Caveat: Licensed stores in the Springs didn't start selling until May 2025, according to city tax revenue reports, so a true annual average could be higher.
Zoom out: Statewide, marijuana revenue has been dropping from its peak in 2021, due to increased supply and competition from other states.
Editor's note: A story that ran in Friday's newsletter was been corrected to reflect that at least three publicly traded companies (not just one) are headquartered in Colorado Springs: Venu, Fortitude Gold and Century Casinos.
🐎 Glenn is back in the saddle.
Thanks to my editor Gigi Sukin.
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