Axios Denver

Many LGBTQ+ teens in Colorado and across the U.S. already feel a sense of isolation from those around them — even without social distancing guidelines or quarantine mandates. But experts say the pandemic has made those feelings even worse.

The big picture: For Colorado children of all identities and backgrounds, suicide attempts and calls for psychiatric help are surging.

• Children's Hospital Colorado recently declared a pediatric mental health emergency — a first in its 117-year history — and leaders are demanding more funding for resources, which they say have run dry amid "skyrocketing" demand.
• The hospital system has seen a 90% increase in behavioral health visits in the past two years, officials report.

Driving the news: A recent poll from the Trevor Project found 42% of LGBTQ+ youth across America reported seriously considering suicide during the pandemic, and 70% said the coronavirus negatively affected their mental health most of the time.

• The survey of nearly 35,000 young people found that being cooped up at home — a place where only 1 out of every 3 LGBTQ+ youth said they were allowed to be themselves — was a main driver.

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Colorado Democrats are poised to approve a sweeping set of tougher gun laws, and this time the move comes with an electoral safety net.

• In addition to the five gun measures signed into law or headed to the finish line, the majority party is nearing final approval on a measure to make it harder to recall elected officials.

The state of play: The prior two attempts by Democrats to make it harder to get a firearm in Colorado led to threats of recall elections.

What's new: Any effort to recall a lawmaker this time would prove more difficult under Senate Bill 250 — a sweeping elections overhaul. The new rules would require the recall petition signed by voters to include:

• The cost to taxpayers for the special election.
• A rebuttal statement from the incumbent.
• A prohibition on false statements on the petition, which faces questionable constitutionality.

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Colorado announced the winners of its first-ever Name That Plow contest, which drew more than 1,100 submissions from elementary school kids from all corners of the state.

Meet our newest fleet:

• Abominable
• Arctic King
• Bigfoot
• Blizzard
• Cheese Ball
• Darth Blader
• Eisenplower
• Fresh Plowder
• Frosty
• Jack Frost
• Mr. Plow
• Mr. Snowtastic
• No-way Snow-day
• Olaf
• Plowzilla
• Sno-way
• Snow Crusher
• Snowball
• Snowtorious B.I.G.
• Zebulon Ice

Alayna's thought bubble: Gov. Jared Polis needs to work on his sense of humor, because he excluded ALL 17 of the best suggested names I rounded up after digging through the entries.

• Read the (actually funny) list here.

Kelly Brough is stepping down as CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, a move that is furthering talk about a potential bid for mayor in 2023.

What to know: Brough, 57, led the chamber for 12 years and served as the first woman in the post.

• In the role, she acted as the area's top economic development recruiter and pushed major policies at the state Capitol and ballot box.
• She previously worked for three years as chief of staff to then-mayor John Hickenlooper.

The intrigue: In announcing her departure — effective Sept. 1 — Brough said she has no plans to run for office. But she hopes to remain involved in housing and education issues, the Denver Business Journal reported.

The state of play: The mayor's race is expected to be a wide-open affair, but if she entered, Brough would be one of the better-prepared candidates.

• "Kelly is smart, knows the city well and will have the business community behind her. All of which would make her a formidable candidate," Sheila MacDonald, a Democratic strategist in Denver, tells John.

Yes, but: Brough's alliance with business interests and opposition to key Democratic measures at the Statehouse could work against her as the city trends further to the left.

• The relatives of the Boulder mass shooting are demanding that a special master distribute the donations to victims because the nonprofits currently handling the $6 million collected so far are not being transparent. (AP)
• 25 young, vaccinated Coloradans ages 12 to 17 will be randomly chosen to win a $50,000 college scholarship over the next five weeks as part of a new state health initiative to up vaccine rates. (9News)
• As other states add limits on abortions, women are coming to Colorado, one of seven without restrictions. A fund helped 1,162 people access abortions last year, 20 times as many as in 2017. (Colorado Sun)
• The new reservation system at Rocky Mountain National Park is about as popular as expected — which is to say it's not. It drew an hourlong wait to get into the park and screaming-mad tourists. (Denver Post)
• A Denver firefighter was arrested at his fire station Wednesday for allegedly uploading videos to the internet of kids being sexually abused. (9News)
• Colorado-based Lockheed Martin Space is part of two research missions to Venus that will launch as soon as 2028, NASA announced. (Denver Business Journal)

One of Denver's more stunning homes — a chateau in the middle of the city — is on the market.

• The custom dwelling drips luxury with extensive millwork, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors, a sunken living room and an elevator, Axios' Brianna Crane writes.

• It was crafted by BOSS.architecture and Montare Builders just two years ago.

Details: At 5,310 square feet, it has five beds and seven baths.

Take a look around