Press releases are provided to Yellow Scene Magazine. In an effort to keep our community informed, we publish some press releases in whole. 

DENVER — June 23, 2026 — As this summer’s twin anniversaries near, History Colorado’s museums across the state are recognizing 250 years of US independence and 150 years of Colorado statehood through a month-long series of events, exhibitions, and experiences.

Whether you’re planning a summer road trip or staying close to home, History Colorado’s museums across the state are hosting a variety of family-friendly activities to engage with our state and nation’s stories this Sesquisemiquincentennial summer.

July through early August officially marks the anniversaries for Colorado and the United States. Coloradans overwhelmingly voted to approve the state’s constitution on July 1, 1876. The nation was then celebrating its Centennial: exactly 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Coloradans held massive unofficial parades and parties in anticipation of imminent statehood. By August 1, now known as Colorado Day, President Ulysses S. Grant officially signed the proclamation welcoming Colorado to the Union as the 38th state. 

The Declaration of Independence similarly went through a month-long process from when the nation’s founders agreed on a plan for independence on July 2 to when delegates signed the declaration and made it official on August 2. 

“The United States is both a place and an idea. Our shared ideals are more than abstractions – they are what weave us together as Americans,” said Dawn DiPrince, History Colorado’s President/CEO and State Historic Preservation Officer. “When you feel untethered, the best antidote is to reconnect to the fundamentals – to reach for our roots… to reflect on the originating ethos of this nation, to re-anchor to our formational ideals and to remind us who we are, who we could be and should be as a nation.”

As Coloradans mark this milestone Independence Day on July 4 and Colorado Day on August 1, History Colorado is offering intriguing ways to connect with this history all across the state – from heritage train rides in the mountains to a trio of thought-provoking America 250 – Colorado 150 exhibitions at the History Colorado Center, outdoor poetry and music, an immersive art installation in Fort Garland, Indigenous perspectives on US history in Montrose, and so much more. 

Community is also invited to come together for free Colorado Day festivities and museum access on August 1. Experience Colorado’s rich history, vibrant culture, and local community spirit at the Colorado Day Community Fest in Denver and at free events at History Colorado museums statewide. 

America 250 – Colorado 150 Exhibitions:

Moments That Made US | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | Now on View!

Moments that Made US brings together extraordinary artifacts spanning eight hundred years of American history – revealing the struggles, triumphs, and resilience that have shaped the nation. Much of what is on display has never before made its way to Colorado – like a silver spoon crafted by American Revolutionary Paul Revere and President Richard Nixon’s tape recorder from the infamous Watergate Scandal. Moments That Made US is a signature initiative of the America 250 – Colorado 150 commemoration.

38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | Now on View!

Colorado’s origin story is full of tension and intrigue, with powerful interests clashing on a long road to statehood. But why did it take five tries and more than fifteen years to become the 38th star on our nation’s flag? As our state turns 150 years old, 38th Star: Colorado Becomes the Centennial State brings you along for the winding journey. Through a unique collection of photographs, artifacts and voices – you’ll see why each attempt at statehood came with challenges and opportunities.

Expedition 1776: The Journey of Domínguez & Escalante | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | Now on View!

At the same time that the nation’s founders were signing the Declaration of Independence on the East coast, one of the earliest European expeditions was traversing the treacherous terrain of the West. Expedition 1776: The Journey of Domínguez & Escalante traces the exploration of two Spanish priests whose maps – spanning what is now Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico – shaped where people settled and created essential trade routes for centuries to come.

New Exhibitions Open Now:

Outside, Looking In | Montrose, CO

Ute Indian Museum | Now Open!

Through Outside, Looking In artist and author Vickie Leigh Krudwig seeks to promote awareness and compassion by examining the past 250 years of American history from an Indigenous perspective, acknowledging both historical injustices and the enduring resilience of Native communities. The exhibition includes 12 mixed-media paintings and short essays that symbolize Indigenous stories and the preservation of ancestral knowledge.

Exhibitions Opening Soon:

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros | Fort Garland, CO

Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center | Opening June 28

Unearthing Futures / Desenterrando Futuros is an ambitious and sprawling cross-border exhibition exploring adobe as a living practice that connects art, architecture, and ancestral knowledge across the Southwestern United States. The Fort Garland Museum – itself housed in five original adobe buildings – is collaborating with the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos, New Mexico to share unique installations at both locations. Artists show how adobe endures not through permanence but through renewal. Unearthing Futures also extends well beyond the museum galleries, offering a road trip experience guided through a website and phone app highlighting historic and contemporary adobe structures dotting the landscape between these southwestern cities. 

Ed Dwight: Casting A Legacy | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | Opening July 17

Ed Dwight is a living legend whose artwork makes history come alive. Working from his Denver studio since 1977, Dwight has dedicated his artistic career to sharing African American history – while he himself continues to shape history as a trailblazer with astronomical accomplishments. Ed Dwight: Casting A Legacy showcases more than a dozen of Dwight’s artworks and explores his life and contributions as a renowned sculptor and innovator as a pilot, engineer, and the first Black astronaut candidate in the United States.

Avondale: Fields of Devotion | Pueblo, CO

El Pueblo History Museum | Opening July 18

From fertile farm fields to boisterous baseball fields and foreign battlefields, the people of south-central Colorado’s small town of Avondale step up to the plate in many ways. Avondale: Fields of Devotion draws on stories shared with El Pueblo History Museum by the town’s residents through History Colorado’s Avondale Museum of Memory project. Through an intriguing array of historic photographs and artifacts, alongside the stories and voices of community members themselves, this exhibition honors the deep love shared by this community.

Exhibitions Closing Soon: 

Declaration of Sentiments | Denver, CO

Center for Colorado Women’s History | Closing July 6

The oldest-known printing of the Declaration of Sentiments is leaving Denver on July 6. This groundbreaking declaration dared to demand equal rights for women – helping launch the women’s suffrage movement, and paving the way for Colorado to become the first state where men voted to extend that right to women. Displayed alongside the Declaration is a remarkable letter sent by Susan B. Anthony congratulating Colorado activist Ellis Meredith on the successful inclusion of women in the electorate – more than 25 years before the rest of the nation. After this rare copy of the Declaration returns to Washington DC, a reproduction copy will be on view as part of the ongoing Votes and Dreams exhibition. 

July Events and Experiences:

Ethnobotany Tours | Montrose, CO

Ute Indian Museum | July 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, & 22, 9:30 – 10:15 am

See what’s blooming in the Ute Indian Museum’s gardens on an ethnobotany tour guided by a museum docent. Hear about the trees, shrubs, and plants connected to the Ute people, and learn about how the Utes found value in these plants for food, fiber and cultural uses. These tours are free and open to the public, with no RSVP required.

Independence Day 250th Celebration Trains & Tours | Georgetown, CO

Georgetown Loop Railroad | July 4, 10 am – 3:50 pm

Ride through towering evergreens, over iconic trestles, and along mountain vistas aboard the Georgetown Loop’s historic narrow-gauge railroad. This special themed train ride is inspired by America’s heritage and legacy, and commemorates a major milestone in our nation’s history with a special celebration honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States. Learn more and book tickets on the Georgetown Loop Railroad’s Events webpage.

4th of July at CCWH: Music, Poetry, Groundbreaking Declaration | Denver, CO

Center for Colorado’s Women History | July 4, 10 am – 4 pm 

Enjoy the gorgeous gardens at the Center for Colorado’s Women History on July 4th for a series of free poetry and music performances featuring women and gender diverse artists. The performances will run from 11 am to 4 pm. The performances are free with advance RSVP. The museum is also open for general admission to see Votes and Dreams and a rare printing of the groundbreaking Declaration of Sentiments, on display for a limited time until July 6th.

Monday Morning Movement & Meditation | Trinidad, CO

Trinidad History Museum | July 6, 13, 20 & 27, 8 – 8:40 am

Join free yoga and meditation classes on the Trinidad History Museum’s Bloom Lawns each Monday morning this summer. Please bring a water bottle and mat or blanket. Enter through the gate on Walnut St. Please note that the class is outside and weather-dependent. Reserve your space to attend this event. For questions or more info, contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us. 

Tuesday Night Summer Socials | Denver, CO

Center for Colorado’s Women History | July 7, 14, 21, & 28, 4 – 7 pm

Special summer hours are back at the Center for Colorado Women’s History every Tuesday evening in June. The museum is open until 7 pm. Explore the Votes and Dreams exhibition with General Admission or join a 45-minute Women’s History Tour to also see the rest of the historic home and learn more about Colorado’s trailblazing women. Purchase tickets online or in person. For more information, contact Cat Jensen cat.jensen@state.co.us.

Little Saigon Teacher Professional Development | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | July 8, 8 am – 3 pm

Educators are invited to learn about the historic roots and resilience of Denver’s Little Saigon through a one-day workshop. Engage with a film, oral histories from community members, a featured lecture by Dr. Joie Lê, and a guided tour of the exhibition Big Dreams in Little Saigon. As the community faces many changes today, this workshop will discuss how to share educational resources in classrooms. Register in advance to attend. This workshop is organized in partnership between History Colorado, Colorado Asian Pacific United, and the University of Colorado Center for Asian Studies South, Southeast, and West Asia (SSEWA) Outreach Program. 

Move & Groove: Family Fitness Class | Trinidad, CO

Trinidad History Museum | July 10 & 24, 9 – 10 am

Join the Trinidad History Museum every other Friday on the Bloom Lawns for a movement class that is fun for the whole family! Taught by Sabra Lopez, this class is open to all ages. Tickets are $5 per person or use the discount code 2for8 at checkout when purchasing a child and adult ticket for a total of $8. Please bring a mat and water bottle. Enter the museum grounds through the gate on Walnut Street. For more information, contact Millie Duren at emily.duren@state.co.us.

Low Sensory Tour | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | July 11, 8 – 10 am

The History Colorado Center is happy to open its doors for families and self-advocates who prefer a lower sensory museum environment. For one morning every other month, the museum will be closed to the general public, attendance limited, and sounds in the exhibits turned down. Tickets are free, but space is limited, so reserve your spot in advance.

Dementia-Friendly Tour | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | July 11, 9:30 am or 10:30 am

The History Colorado Center is offering a dementia-friendly tour to promote connection and belonging for adults with dementia and their companions. This tour is designed for those who want to linger and enjoy the museum at a slower pace. Tour participants will sit down and engage in a facilitated discussion, learning new information and contributing their own observations along the way. Tickets are free but space is limited, so reserve your spot in advance. Please reach out to Emily Turner at reservations@state.co.us or (303)-866-2396 with questions about this program.

Poetry on the Porch Series | Denver, CO

Center for Colorado’s Women History | July 11, 18, & 25, 1 – 3 pm

The beloved Poetry on the Porch summer series is back at the Center for Colorado Women’s History every Saturday in July. Join us in our garden to experience the work of women and gender diverse featured poets, and share your own! Hosted by author, educator and poet, Marissa Forbes, this series includes an open mic for all poets, complimentary hand fans and water. Come for the poetry and stay for the community. These events are free and open to the public, but please reserve tickets in advance. The featured poets are Victoria “Tori” Martinez on July 11, Megan Foley on July 18, and Ashley Cornelius on July 25. 

Sasquatch Adventure Trains & Tours | Georgetown, CO

Georgetown Loop Railroad | July 11 – 12, 18 – 19, & 25 – 26, 10 am – 3:50 pm

Enjoy a fun, family-friendly ride through the mountains, explore the Sasquatch Museum, and take part in a Bigfoot scavenger hunt. Each booking receives a 2026 Sasquatch Adventure Faro Chip. Sasquatch Adventure Trains have three opportunities varying in time slots, pricing, and tour activities. Learn more and book tickets on the Georgetown Loop Railroad’s Events webpage. 

Music on the Lawn | Trinidad, CO

Trinidad History Museum | July 16, 5:30 – 7 pm

Bring a blanket, lawn chair, and snacks to enjoy live music on the Bloom Lawns at the Trinidad History Museum. This evening will feature a performance by Desert Mountain Revival. Enter through the gates on Walnut or Chestnut Street. RSVP in advance for free admission. This event is recurring every Third Thursday from May through September, and admission is free!  

Colorado Statehood Teacher Professional Development | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | July 20 & 27, 8:30 am – 2:30 pm 

Explore the 1876 creation of the Centennial State in honor of Colorado’s 150th anniversary. During this professional development workshop, educators will explore new standards-aligned lesson plans and resources that provide a more complete and diverse understanding of the people and events surrounding Colorado’s statehood. These educator materials are a signature initiative of the America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission and are generously sponsored by Comcast. A $250 stipend will be provided to educators who complete the workshop. RSVP to secure your spot.

State Historical Fund Webinar | Virtual

History Colorado | July 22, 12 – 1 pm

Historic preservation projects can be expensive. Join presenters Winter Roybal & Laurel Schlegal for a free webinar event to learn more about the variety of grants available from the State Historical Fund and how to apply. Register in advance for the Zoom webinar.

Harlem of the West: A Tribute to Five Points’ Jazz Era | Denver, CO

Dazzle at the Arts Complex | July 23, 7 – 8:30 pm

Harlem of the West: A Tribute to Five Points’ Jazz Era brings the music, style, and spirit of Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood to Dazzle for an evening of live jazz, visual storytelling, and historic interpretation in partnership with History Colorado’s Blaxplanation program. Featuring songs from the 1930s through the 1950s, the concert honors the sounds once heard in the clubs, stages, and gathering places that made Five Points nationally known as the “Harlem of the West.” Book tickets before they sell out. Doors open at 6 pm.

Colorado Day 150th Celebration Trains & Tours | Georgetown, CO

Georgetown Loop Railroad | July 31, August 1 & August 2, 10 am – 3:50 pm

Celebrate the spirit of Colorado with these mountain train experiences dedicated to the state’s history, wildlife, and natural beauty. Featuring special programming with Nature’s Educators and additional Colorado-themed activities, this event honors everything that makes Colorado unique. Colorado Day 150th Celebration Trains have three opportunities varying in time slots, pricing, and tour activities. Additional details for each train tour can be found on the Georgetown Loop Railroad’s Event Page. RSVP to reserve your tickets! 

“Adobe: Past, Present, Future from Fort Garland to Taos” Overnight Trek | Denver, CO

History Colorado Center | September 30 – October 3 (Deadline to register is August 18)

Immerse yourself in adobe art on this two-day excursion through the southwestern towns of Fort Garland and Taos. In this overnight trip with History Colorado’s Tours & Treks series, visit historical places to learn about the practices of adobe making that predate statehood, and see modern interpretations of adobe art through the Unearthing Futures/Desenterrando Futuros installations at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center and the Harwood Museum of Art. Register for tickets by August 18.

About History Colorado

History Colorado is a 146-year-old institution that offers access to our state’s history through enriching experiences at eleven museums and historic sites. As an agency of the State of Colorado and a non-profit organization, History Colorado is committed to serving all Coloradans through generational work that centers communities, deepens knowledge and catalyzes the transformative power of history.

History Colorado is also home to a free public research center, people-centered preservation work done by the State Historical Fund and the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of the State Archaeologist, the State Historians Council, and many other community-driven public history projects such as the Museum of Memory. History Colorado stewards more than 15 million objects, photographs, and archival resources that make up the State’s collection, and serve tens of thousands of learners of all ages each year. History Colorado is one of only six Smithsonian Affiliates in Colorado. Visit HistoryColorado.org, or call 303-HISTORY, for more information. #HistoryColorado

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The post Press Release – Things to Do: US Independence & Colorado Statehood Month at History Colorado appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Plan seeks to add new natural-gas-fired plants and pave a pathway for nuclear energy. Many Coloradans aren’t sold on the benefits. 

Xcel Energy’s plan to transition away from coal-fired power plants to more renewable energy met resistance from residents and elected officials who say it does not go far enough to help Colorado meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals and could harm communities already reeling from the impacts of pollution. 

The plan, formally known as Xcel’s Just Transition Solicitation, has been under development since 2022. It includes plans to retire three coal-fired power plants in Pueblo, Hayden, and Craig. The plant in Pueblo will retire no later than 2031, while the plants in Hayden and Craig will retire in 2028. Xcel said the retirements will help the company reach its goal of reducing emissions by 80% by 2030. 

During a public hearing about the plan on April 28, approximately 60 Coloradans spoke against the plan. Some argued that it would make it more difficult for municipalities to meet their own greenhouse gas reduction goals by replacing the coal-fired plants with gas-fired power plants. Others worried about Xcel’s plans to include other energy sources like carbon capture, nuclear, or hydrogen mixed with natural gas, and their potential financial impacts.

The state Public Utilities Commission is expected to make a final decision about the plan in August 2025. 

Emily Baer, a member of the town council in Erie, told PUC that Xcel’s plan could hinder the state’s goals of achieving 100% clean electricity generation by 2040. She said it could also hinder Erie’s efforts to meet its aggressive energy plan, which calls for at least 25% of commercial power to come from renewable sources and have electric cars make up at least 30% of vehicles registered in town. 

Baer said Xcel should focus on creating new wind and solar plants, rather than building new gas-fired plants. 

“In addition to the negative health impacts, gas plants are expensive to build. Wind and solar plants are not,” she said. 

Colorado’s aggressive climate action goals and its push to become a leading state in electric vehicle adoption are two factors influencing Xcel’s Just Transition plan. The state wants to be 100% net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and has passed new laws that increase building performance standards and energy efficiency requirements. Overall, the utility provider estimates the state will need about 14 gigawatts of new generation and storage capacity to meet these goals. 

However, meeting these goals has been a source of significant political headaches. For instance, building owners in Denver have pushed back against the city’s stringent building performance goals, also known as Energize Denver, which set energy-saving targets for buildings that are 25,000 sq. ft. and larger. 

In early April, Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency adopted new rules to add some flexibility to those goals, like extending the deadline for compliance from 2028 to 2032 and adding ways for owners of financially distressed buildings to delay compliance. 

Gov. Jared Polis has also faced political roadblocks in his attempts to accelerate Colorado’s transition away from energy sources like fossil fuels and coal. Polis’ office developed draft legislation that would have required state utility providers like Xcel, Black Hills Energy, and Holy Cross to eliminate climate-warming emissions before the 2040 deadline. 

However, CPR reported the legislation wasn’t introduced during the 2025 legislative session because it faced significant pushback from business groups, utilities, and labor unions. 

“I’m hopeful we can find a pathway forward,” Andy Miller, climate and clean energy policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, told CPR News. “Especially facing federal headwinds against renewables and emissions reductions, it’s important for Colorado to continue being a leader in this space.”

Some elected officials who support Colorado’s clean energy transition were also concerned about the plan’s financial impact on their communities. Chris Nichols, the mayor of Craig, said his community and nearby Moffat could face a 15% decline in tax collections once Xcel’s power plant closes. Overall, Nichols estimated that Craig and Moffat could lose roughly $28 million in tax collections from the power plant’s closure. He asked PUC to ensure Xcel’s Just Transition plan includes a community assistance agreement to recoup that income over the next 10 years. 

Routt County is pursuing a similar agreement with Xcel to recoup $89 million over a 10-year period from the closure of the Hayden Plant. Xcel previously offered to pay $16 million, the Yampa Valley Bugle reported.

Nina Waters, a Summit County Commissioner, also expressed concerns about the financial impacts of Xcel’s transition plan. She argued that investing in new gas-fired power plants would undermine her county’s climate goals and threaten its snowpack, which she said is a primary driver of the county’s economy. 

“Snow is arriving later and melting earlier,” Waters said. “Wildfire seasons are lasting longer. These changes threaten not only our natural resources but the economic security of thousands of families in Summit County and beyond.” 

Local residents from across the Front Range also spoke against the nuclear power provisions in Xcel’s plan. Xcel proposed creating small nuclear power reactors in place of the retired power plants to help generate the additional electricity Colorado needs. 

Nuclear power has become a point of contention between utility providers, lawmakers, and local residents in Colorado over the last several years. Some argue that adding nuclear power could diversify the state’s energy portfolio and help reduce costs for homeowners. Others argue that environmental risks from creating nuclear waste storage facilities outweigh the potential financial impacts. 

Jeri Fry, co-founder of Colorado Citizens Against Toxic Waste, told Wyoming Public Radio that nuclear energy is a constant threat to her community in Cañon City, where about 5.8 million tons of radioactive waste are buried behind a berm. The waste came from the Cotter uranium mine, which operated from 1958 to 1979. There are hundreds of homes within a two-mile radius of the site as well. 

“These things have half lives that are centuries, millennia long,” Fry told Wyoming Public Radio. “And so a community that is not given full disclosure and full information about what they’re signing on to, could just get a horrible commitment.”

Julian Guevara, an organizer with Mi Familia Vota, expressed concerns about working-class families in cities like Pueblo bearing the brunt of the environmental impacts resulting from nuclear power. He asked PUC to instead consider supporting more reliable and safer renewable energy alternatives like wind and solar. 

“The future of Pueblo’s energy economy should not be built on unproven, high-risk nuclear technology that could saddle working families with sky-high energy costs and long-term radioactive waste concerns,” Guevara said. 

The post Colorado Asks PUC to Reject Xcel’s Just Transition Plan  appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

In a bold display of solidarity, approximately 10,000 King Soopers workers across Colorado have launched a strike. They are citing unfair labor practices and the company’s refusal to address critical issues in their “Last, Best, and Final Offer.”

The strike, organized by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 7 (UFCW Local 7), affects 77 stores throughout Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, and Jefferson counties, and King Soopers stores in Boulder and Louisville.

Union leaders argue that King Soopers, a subsidiary of Kroger, has consistently engaged in tactics designed to undermine worker rights and suppress union activities. According to UFCW Local 7, the company has engaged in illegal surveillance and interrogation of union members, withheld critical information necessary for contract negotiations, and even targeted retiree health benefits to fund wage increases for current employees.

“This strike is about holding one of the largest corporations in America accountable when they break the law and cause harm to workers and our customers,” noted Kim Cordova, president of Local 7, which has offices in Colorado Springs, Cheyenne, Wheat Ridge, Grand Junction, Greeley and Pueblo, Colo. “We are holding this strike for a two-week period to allow everyone to understand our concerns and give the employer time to right their wrong.”

 

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The union also alleges that King Soopers has retaliated against workers for wearing union attire and participating in union activities, actions that are protected under federal labor laws. Such behavior, according to UFCW Local 7, is part of a broader strategy to intimidate and weaken the union’s bargaining power.

In response to the strike and the union’s allegations, King Soopers filed a federal lawsuit against UFCW Local 7. The company claims that the union is engaging in unlawful tactics by trying to force King Soopers into bargaining with other labor unions that do not represent its employees. The lawsuit accuses the union of threatening illegal strikes and coordinating bargaining efforts with unions outside Colorado, such as the Teamsters and other UFCW locals.

“This litigation is nothing more than an attempt to distract from King Soopers’ efforts to silence its workforce and prevent workers from reaching an equitable contract that addresses major issues like staffing, safety, and health care,” the union said. “Kroger will go to any length to hide its corporate greed in price gouging and shareholder buybacks.”

King Soopers maintains that its “Last, Best, and Final Offer” includes significant wage increases and benefits. The company expressed disappointment over the union’s decision to strike, arguing that the offer was designed to benefit associates while keeping groceries affordable for customers. However, workers and union leaders argue that the proposed wage increases come at the cost of critical protections, such as seniority-based scheduling and retiree health benefits.

The strike has garnered widespread support from the community, with customers and local organizations standing in solidarity with the workers. Many shoppers have chosen to boycott King Soopers stores during the strike, opting to support other local businesses or shop at union-friendly stores.

The strike also raises broader questions about labor practices within the grocery industry and the role of unions in protecting worker rights. As one of the largest grocery chains in the country, Kroger’s handling of the situation could set a precedent for labor relations across the industry.

As the strike continues, both sides remain entrenched in their positions. UFCW Local 7 has vowed to continue the strike until King Soopers addresses their demands and negotiates in good faith. Meanwhile, the company’s legal actions and public statements suggest a prolonged battle ahead.

For the workers on the picket lines, the fight is about more than just wages—it’s about dignity, respect, and the right to a fair workplace.

The outcome of this strike will not only impact King Soopers employees but could also influence labor movements across the country. As the battle unfolds, one thing is clear: the voices of the workers will not be silenced.

The post Approx. 10,000 Employees Join King Soopers Strike appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Ean Tafoya recalled riding the bus with his mom when he was younger. “I was public transit-dependent, and I used to ride the bus until I was like 16,” he shared. He recalled positive memories and pride in taking the bus but experienced first-hand the difficulty surrounding public transit use in the area. Stops without shade or shelter, lack of public restrooms, and bus stops surrounded by open parking lots and not much else. He noticed the expansions of highways to the detriment of the environment and witnessed how transit access was segregated, not just along race and class, but also by rural and urban divides. 

“Transit is an important equalizer to allow people to have access to get to their jobs to get wherever they need to go for school, among other things,” Tafoya said. Tafoya is the Colorado State Director for GreenLatinos, an organization that focuses on climate and transit equity and justice.

Roberta Ayala, a local politician and activist, also recalled the difference in transit and walkable connections. “I grew up in like the original neighborhood of Thornton when it was developed like you can see that but it’s still more walkable, as you go further north, it gets worse,” she shared in a previous interview with Yellow Scene Magazine.

Walkability, safe and reliable transit, and affordable places to live sit atop the wishlist for many Coloradoans. All are interrelated and all help foster a sense of community and place that many feel is currently missing from modern suburbs. The way we design and build cities affects how they are used, and in turn, how the people living there experience daily life.

“Social cohesion exists because of a meaningful and moral intention of settlement which in turn expresses itself in the organization and appearance of buildings, which in turn promote a sustained social identity,” stated award-winning Syrian architect and author Marwa al-Sabouni in her novel “Building for Hope.” Creating public transit hubs that invite people in, offer mixed-use areas, encourage people to leave their cars behind, and have proper amenities is essential as Colorado looks to expand rail and other public transit options in the coming years.

Psychology & architecture

We are not Europe. Our cities did not grow organically from villages designed for humans and animals. Colorado’s suburbs, in fact, the nation’s as a whole, sprung up rapidly in the decades following WWII. The chosen solution to the nation’s baby boom was mass-produced single-family homes built near interstate offramps. The massive interstate system is a product of the Cold War. They were built to ensure the military could rapidly move things like tanks and artillery across the nation if the need ever arose. They also functioned as America’s new primary mode of transit.

“Of course, mass production did not begin in the world of building. Cars, rather than houses, led the way — and in due course, the buildings made room for cars,” al-Sabouni wrote. “The infrastructure built for vehicles dictated the nature of the urban fabric — low density and suburban sprawl…” she continued.

The idea that each family should have their own patch of land, fenced in, away from the bustle of inner cities, may also be a subconscious rejection of the communal solutions offered by political rivals such as the U.S.S.R. and China in the post-war years. These psychological influences affected the way modern American cities were built, and how they function today.

The architectural design of the typical suburb physically distances neighbors from each other, which in turn results in more mental and emotional isolation. This cannot be solved overnight. It is impossible to transform the suburbs into European-style towns, plus many residents prefer their suburban homes and yards. Our culture values home ownership and takes pride in personal automobiles.

Ayala explained a major complaint for many Colorado residents along the Front Range: “It’s just been built with a lot of housing but not any resources nearby.” This low-density style promotes individualism but also isolation. It is also the reason why public transit is so difficult to properly implement in Colorado, many places were designed with car ownership in mind, disregarding public-transit dependent people and eliminating the need for walkable, human-scale, pedestrian-friendly areas. The individual freedom of the car eroded the sense of community and connectedness that walkable areas possess.

“We’ve built the roads for you know, for the car, not for the person. So there’s no median. And if you’re driving up and down that thing, like I do, for campaigning, or just in general with your life, you notice there’s tons of accidents, “Ayala elaborated on the danger of certain local roads. 

Additionally, car travel does not promote interaction and community the way walking or biking does. People are much more likely to stop in a local shop, recognize a neighbor, or have a conversation with a stranger when they are walking rather than driving around town. Unfortunately, oftentimes a store trip without a car involves traversing a quarter mile of a half-empty parking lots to get from one big-box store to another. There is little in this experience that fosters any sense of community or belonging.

One way to increase a sense of place and “home” while also taking cars off the road is mixed-use zoning in a thoughtful way that allows each neighborhood walking and biking access to small shops, local markets, and food options other than drive-thrus. Mixing businesses, restaurants, and offices with residential areas provides options other than driving to a supermarket or big box store. Although many new developments do consider this, revisiting the zoning of older suburbs and lower-income areas could help reinvigorate neighborhoods and provide more equity in access to food, jobs, and entertainment that do not require a car.

Nodes not roads

Public transit expansions are likely coming, here and nationwide. RTD is planning expansions and the Biden administration has made infrastructure projects a priority with nearly $5 billion allocated to transportation infrastructure.

As Governor Polis pushed to secure federal funding for the Front Range Light Rail, it is important to examine how to ensure the rail line’s success, the shortfalls of the current public transit system, and how to encourage car users to take more train or bus trips instead. One factor that causes public transit to see fewer riders than expected is that new public transportation can be poorly designed in a way that is competing against existing public transportation, not car transit. A passenger rail line that is faster than the bus but does not deliver riders directly to their chosen locations, or that has an unpleasant user experience, will likely only pull riders from the bus, not encourage drivers to buy a train ticket instead of a tank of gas.

One problem is the over-building of parking. It may seem counterintuitive, but just like adding more lanes to a highway does not reduce traffic, adding more parking spots does not help the situation. It only encourages more drivers to use the space rather than take an alternate method. Colorado Public Radio reported that 40% of parking spaces go unused at peak hours near transit stations. Converting this space to something more useful would help immensely.

Providing all bus stops with shade and seating access is one step. It should not be physically uncomfortable to access public transit. “Unfortunately now for those who are transit dependent, the user experience isn’t very good. We don’t have enough park benches, we don’t have solar panels with shelters that will tell you when your bus is coming, or access to the restroom,” Tafoya shared his first-hand experience.

Public transit needs to provide reasons why someone who owns a car would choose not to use it. One way is to make the major stations themselves into attractions. This can be done by building transit stops with shops, restaurants, and convenience stores and reducing the amount of parking spaces. This creates a human-centric experience. Coupled with interesting architecture, public art, and free spaces that invite riders in rather than push people away, stations can be buzzing hubs of activity rather than just a parking lot. More riders, plus shoppers and employees, mean the areas would be busier, discouraging crime that plagues many isolated transit stops.

al-Sabouni explained what an inviting, free, and open public space can look like: “We feel safe when the city offers its abundance not in the form of price-tagged experiences, but in an accumulation of details that are perhaps redundant, but at the same time thoughtful and delightful: a balustrade fixed on a wall next to a steep step, a bench under a willow tree, drinking water flowing from a street fountain, a shaded corner, a fruit tree, an aromatic rose, a running canal, a molding with birds on it, a decorated window frame or niche for a potted plant.” 

This may seem a bit esoteric for a train station, but the idea that cities should have inviting spaces of interaction rather than soulless hubs stands true. Humans need spaces to exist, interact with one another, and connect to their community without driving to a location or paying for an experience.

Denver, Colorado, USA. Amtrack train ready for departure at the Denver Union Station.

Additionally, Amtrack is studying a nationwide expansion in the near future by connecting Denver to places like Dallas, Seattle, and Las Vegas via rail. This could create a new transportation, business, and tourism hub in a way that Denver International Airport does, but for train travel. Although it is likely a long way away, cities that are not Denver can take advantage of this by also offering a reason for business and leisure travelers alike to stay there instead.

Finally, there needs to be reliable public transportation to and from major transit hubs and future train stations. The Park-and-Ride model of expecting riders to drive to transit stations and then switch to public transit still puts cars on the road without increasing access to those without an automobile, who would typically be the prime demographic for train ridership.

This will not work for every station, and not every city, but those that do develop stations that have reasons for people to stop and stay for a while can see increased tourism, economic growth, and create a place for humans to interact and exist. Access to transportation increases equity. Tafoya explained how public transit allows access to opportunities like jobs and healthy food that may not otherwise be realistic for residents who cannot afford a personal automobile. He also noted that many employees and workers who serve areas like Aspen simply cannot afford to live in town. Even the wealthiest areas of Colorado rely on public transportation to function, even if many do not realize it.

Like many things, the hardships of the way the systems were designed — in this case as car-centric cities — fall mostly on the shoulders of Black and Brown people and those in lower-income neighborhoods. Increasing the usability of public transit helps reduce inequality in opportunity among those who live here.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

With countless studies showing that highway expansions do not help traffic flow, why do governments continue to invest so heavily in new auto lanes rather than trains, trolleys, or buses? Tafoya stated one reason is that contracts for expansion projects are lucrative and construction lobbies are powerful.

“I mean, billions of dollars for a couple of miles. Think of what we could do for the housing crisis, to further the education system. There’s a lot of other ways we can spend those resources, and we can extend the life of our roads,” Tafoya shared his frustrations with adding more lanes to congested highways, which only add more cars.

There is very little incentive for massive corporations to take cars off the road. Reduction in car travel would hurt the bottom line for the oil giants and car companies. The aim to replace public transit with car use is not a conspiracy, both Denver and sprawling Los Angeles used to have popular trolley lines but they were removed in favor of the automobile.

The cities of Fort Collins, Longmont, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo may all soon be connected via light rail. With a rail line breaking ground between Los Angeles and Las Vegas earlier this year, the United States will finally have its first high-speed train option after years of lagging behind many parts of the developed world. High-speed rail has the possibility to transform travel, with a trip from L.A. to Vegas projected to only take about two hours. Although the Front Range rail line will be a single track shared with freight trains, there is good reason to plan for the future of increased rail options by making Colorado’s stations user-friendly, inviting, and well-connected to the towns they serve.

The post Build Colorado for Humans, not Cars appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Examining Puebloan peoples’ responses to environmental change and growing agriculture can inform modern conservation efforts, but it still may not be enough.

Watering the desert

The Colorado River has brought life to an arid land for millennia. It’s not the largest river in the United States but its continuous and persistent flow has irrigated the desert, carved canyons, and provided life to countless millions of humans across the ages.

Native Americans used its life-giving properties to survive for thousands of years, construct vast cities, and grow crops in the Southwest desert long before the arrival of any Europeans. Numerous Native American nations have called the river home and used the geographical features the river has created as markers on the land, showing them sacred spaces, guiding migrations, and observing seasonal transitions. For many of them, the land and their people are inseparable. The story of the Colorado and its surrounding tributaries, vast landscapes, and otherworldly canyons is directly tied to their history, memories, and identity.

We must be careful not to fall into the racist trope of the pristine wilderness and “noble savage” that has plagued European thought well before Jean-Jacques Rousseau ever coined the term. Native Americans used resources to their advantage, building empires and vast networks spanning the continent. The Pueblo were one of the most successful groups to do so.

For countless generations the Colorado River has been used as a mercurial yet constant source of water for the mobile groups of hunter-gatherers that lived here. There is some truth to the fact that the original inhabitants of this continent do have a deeper connection to the land and the water that runs through it. Unfortunately, when white settlement reached this region they did not respect it as it deserved. Failing to understand the long history of ebbs and flows, times of abundance and times of scarcity, and the sustainable ways to survive off water in the desert has led to some of the modern issues surrounding the use of the Colorado’s water today.

The story of the overuse of the Colorado River has its origins in farming. Around 9,000 years ago a small wild plant called teosinte, commonly found in Mexico and Central America, was ingeniously domesticated. Mexico is one of the few places on Earth that archaeologists and botanists have determined agriculture independently arose. Mesoamericans relied on this plant to supplement the gathered crops and hunted animals for food. Over time and with direct human involvement, teosinte transformed into maize, or corn.

Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, USA. The Colorado river behind the dam, surrounding by red rocks, desert, and mountain. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

The power of agriculture did not reveal itself immediately. Most hunter-gatherers did not make an immediate or dramatic transition to farming. From China to Mesopotamia to Mesoamerica, people likely used crops to supplement other wild food sources, becoming increasingly reliant on growing their own food as opposed to gathering it. This transition reduced the mobility of early farming groups. They could no longer pack up and leave land easily after investing time, energy, and hope into farming.

Settled life led to an increased population. Hunter gatherers have lower fertility rates than agriculturalists, possibly because multiple young children can be cared for at once in a farming community whereas carrying multiple small children across vast terrain is much more difficult.

Crop surpluses from farmed plants necessitated storage, ownership, and distribution of food to ensure the community’s survival through the seasons. It eventually meant that not every member of society had to hunt or gather. This allowed the formation of power hierarchies and classes not seen in mobile societies, which are inherently more egalitarian. We see the rise of monumental architecture, permanent cities, and population increases in regions where farming developed.

Maize in the Four Corners

Maize, or corn, agriculture spread slowly from southern Mexico up through the Southwest into the Four Corners region of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado. The Pueblo people living in the northeast corner of this area, including southern Colorado, became expert desert farmers. “Histories of Maize” by John Staller, Robert Tykot, and Bruce Benz compiles evidence of this transition via pottery, architecture, and oral traditions. Puebloans constructed “great houses”, likely to store excess food and seeds in case of crop failures. The unknowable nature of rainfall may have propagated the rise of new classes of priests and belief systems. By 900 A.D. the Pueblo peoples had built incredible cities, established vast trade routes, and brought agriculture to the desert.

Pueblo Bonito, Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

“Pueblo” means home in Spanish. Today many people have an idea of what a pueblo looks like, but in fact the wattle and daub adobe buildings that the word conjures up would not appear until much later on. The first structures to be identified were called pit houses — half underground, half above ground. These homes used the natural cooling properties of being partly underground to create comfortable living spaces. “Kivas,” large circular ceremonial buildings, soon appeared in the archaeological record. The size of settlements gradually increased over time, with “great kivas” reaching up to 65 feet in diameter.

One of the first human developments to place a strain on the natural resources in this region was Chaco Canyon. Chaco Canyon, in what is now New Mexico, features twelve massive complexes, the largest of which was over five stories tall with hundreds of rooms. An archaeologist once quipped that Pueblo Bonito, the largest building in Chaco Canyon, was only surpassed in size once New York City constructed its massive tenement housing in the late 1800s.

Evidence of intricate pipe networks, massive storage units, and countless cobs of corn points towards an agricultural and architectural explosion. We do not know how many people lived here full time. It was likely a ceremonial center full of symbolism. Road networks emanated from the canyon, spanning hundreds of miles across the terrain. Some roads paralleled each other and some ended not long after they beain. These roads may be symbolic entryways of different groups of Pueblo peoples into what is known as the Chaco system. As corn production grew, so did the influence, size, and power of this central storage city. Entire mountains may have been deforested to construct the great buildings in Chaco Canyon.

In the epic book “One Vast Winter Count,” Colin G. Calloway states, “Between about 900 and 1150 the people of Chaco built a dozen towns, or ‘great houses,’ and scores of small settlements. They used at least two hundred thousand timbers in these construction projects.” Calloway adds, “Tree-ring-dating techniques applied to the beams allow archaeologists to establish detailed chronologies of construction.”

More and more innovative and complex ways to sustain this settlement are seen in the archaeological record. Controlling water became important. Calloway informs us that “Chacoans also built dams, ditches, canals, and reservoirs to collect water and transport it to their fields.” Strategies we use on the Colorado River today were pioneered over a thousand years ago. However, it did not last forever.

Colorado River, Lake Powell and Trachyte Canyon looking down aerial view from above – Bird’s eye view Colorado River, Utah, USA. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Geography or history?

By the time European settlers arrived, Chaco had been abandoned for centuries. The numerous trees used to construct the canyon also tell a grave tale. Using tree rings as biological evidence, scholars are able to estimate when these buildings were constructed but also reveal that persistent drought struck this region in the mid 1100s. Calloway explains, “Prayers for rain went unanswered, and drought gripped the region for several years. Tree rings show that drought struck the San Juan Basin in 1130 and persisted until about 1180.” Maize-based agriculture continued to flourish in areas further south like Mexico, but Calloway adds, “Farmers who had extended their communities and fields to areas where soil and growing conditions were marginal for corn cultivation were hard hit.”

What our modern minds conceive of as catastrophe may not have been perceived as such by the Puebloans who built Chaco Canyon. We actually see populations rise after Chaco fell. It seems the Pueblo peoples adapted to the overuse of resources in one area by fanning out, building numerous smaller settlements and not over-straining the canyon that had once been the center of their world. Instead, the inhabitants likely realized that incorporating elements of hunting and gathering, living in less dense settlements, and allowing the land to recover from deforestation and overuse of water was the solution to environmental degradation.

“There is little evidence of people fleeing their homes in blind panic and clear evidence of planned movements. People made choices based on the alternatives available; they knew where they were going and why,” Calloway writes.

“There is little evidence of people fleeing their homes in blind panic and clear evidence of planned movements. People made choices based on the alternatives available; they knew where they were going and why.”

Drought, crop failures, and other environmental factors have played an incredibly important role in shaping human history, yet we would rarely say something like the Roman Empire fell solely because of drought. Historians also point to forced movements of populations and political instability as reasons empires fall. This narrative helps reinforce human agency but reduces the role of geography and climate.

Farming is shown to have spread at a much faster rate in the Old World compared to the Americas likely because of the orientation of the landmasses. It is easier for crops and animals to be transported laterally, across a wide continent, because the climate does not vary as much along latitude as it does longitude. The shift in climate from the heart of Mexico to the mountains in Colorado is much greater than the shift from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the western side. Similar climate and geography facilitate the spread of farming and animals, but it does not determine the course of history.

Taking things too far the other way, stating that geography is the reason why humans developed the way they did, is also a known fallacy experts call “geographical determinism.” The popular book “Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies” by Jared Diamond has been accused of this. Somewhere between the constraints of geography and human agency lies our history.

Adapting to the reality of prolonged drought, the Pueblo peoples created new survival strategies. Although evidence of warfare and destruction does not exist in Chaco, across the Four Corners we start to see a dramatic shift in architecture. Pit houses and great houses gave way to cliff dwellings located at staggering heights on mountain faces. Defensive settlements, like Mesa Verde, developed as the main architectural features. Stone watchtowers and rock art demonstrate an increase in violence. New peoples, also affected by widespread environmental change, appeared in the region.

Although drought occurs regularly in the Colorado River’s past, today’s challenges are vastly more complicated in that humans are causing global climate change. The Puebloans reacted to overuse of water in a drought by changing their ways. Today’s challenge is deeper than a local, regional, or even continent-wide drought.

“A monument to man’s arrogance”

The first white settlers to lay eyes on Chaco Canyon were themselves less than one hundred years away from their own water crisis. Abandoned cities in the desert could have served as a warning sign that water availability and precious resources can and will change course.

American settlers and farmers also recognized the importance of the Colorado River to their development plans. By the 1880s this new wave of settlement was becoming more and more reliant on the river’s water to sustain their farms. Increased water use led to disputes over who has rights to access the river’s flow. In 1922 negotiations began among the several states that depend on the river. In a shortsighted and cruel twist of fate, the water allocations agreed to during the Colorado River Compact were unsustainable from the start.

“It’s now known that the years on which the original estimates were based on, in the early twentieth century, were the wettest since the 1400s,” writes David Owen in his book about the Colorado River, “Where the Water Goes.”

“It’s now known that the years on which the original estimates were based on, in the early twentieth century, were the wettest since the 1400s.”

Regulators, land-owners, and politicians were basing their decisions off of incredibly recent history, with little to no understanding of lessons from the deep past. The fact that the Colorado River had not been that full in over 600 years — and that the river has a history of fluctuating quite a bit — never played a role in that early decision-making process.

The term “paper water” is used to refer to water allocations that exceed the actual flow of the Colorado River. Today more water is legally granted for use than actually exists. Arid megapolises like Las Vegas and Los Angeles can only thrive because of the Colorado River’s series of dams, canals, and reservoirs.

“It supplies water to more than 36 million people, including residents not just of Boulder, Denver, and Colorado Springs, but also of Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Tucson, San Diego, and Los Angeles … it irrigates close to six million acres of farmland,” Owen states, yet the water use is unsustainable, and our modern society is highly unlikely to be able to adapt to changes the way the Pueblo peoples did. We also face a globe that has been altered, almost irreparably, by industrialization and population growth on a scale nearly unimaginable just a hundred years ago.

Recent news of shrinking reservoirs outside of Las Vegas exposing old mob hits and sunken boats serve as a dire warning that water is running out. Despite recent “atmospheric rivers” hitting California, a series of storms will not solve what is inherently an unsustainable allocation of water resources. It remains to be seen if mega-cities and suburban sprawl can weather the changes that our dramatic climate will throw at them in the not too distant future.

Record low water level of shrinking Lake Mead. The lake is key reservoir along Colorado River. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

The past is the future

The Pueblo peoples are still here. Often Native Americans are talked about only in the past tense, as a relic of older times. This could not be further from the truth. Lessons from those who still live on the land of their ancestors cannot be ignored.

Efforts to return the management of land back to Native American groups have grown in popularity in recent years. These programs are an attempt to return stewardship of land, animals, and precious resources like water to people with a long history of adapting to them. It won’t be enough to solve the Colorado River water crisis on its own, however. Overpopulation and global climate change have driven water usage in the West to epidemic proportions that ancestral Pueblo would have never imagined.

The history of the Pueblo farming the Southwest desert is ultimately one of success, adaptation, and realizing the carrying capacity of nature when living in harsh, arid environments. To look towards our future we must consider the deep past. Architecture that takes advantage of natural heating and cooling properties can reduce energy consumption. Basing new development in the West on actual flowing water, not paper water, will have dramatic effects but may ultimately be necessary. Today we also have to contend with forces like political corruption via oil and gas companies, unrestricted pollution by the military which has a massive presence in this part of the nation, and the sheer scale of damage already wrought by globalization and industrialization. There are lessons to learn from the Puebloans of the past and the Puebloans of today, but we as a society must be willing to make herculean efforts and rethink what success means in order to cope with a changing landscape.

The history of the Pueblo farming the Southwest desert is ultimately one of success, adaptation, and realizing the carrying capacity of nature when living in harsh, arid environments.

Where has all the water gone?

1. Drought has always played a role in who can live in the West, we have entered uncharted new heights with population growth and urban development 
2. The Colorado River was at its highest point in centuries when an agreement to divide up the waters was signed in the 1920s
3. The series of dams, reservoirs, and canals built in the 20th Century allowed more development West of the Rockies
4. Major cities in arid regions, like Los Angeles and Las Vegas, are users of the Colorado River’s waters
5. There is now more water allocated to use than actually exists in the River itself 
6. The River no longer flows into the ocean, it depletes itself somewhere near the Mexico border

When Systems Fail

1. The Pueblo adapted to drought by dispersing into smaller settlements and shifting reliance away from agriculture
2. The entire modern West runs on Colorado River water, from drinking, to irrigation, to use as an energy source
3. If the River dips low enough, intake in crucial dams will drop below functioning level and the dams won’t generate power
4. Massive cutbacks on water usage will be needed, some restrictions are already in place

The post Drought, Famine, Overpopulation, and a Lack of Water: What the Puebloans and the Colorado River Can Teach Us appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

[WORLD]

• Earthquake strikes Turkey killing over 20,000 people. President Erdogan has been heavily criticized for his response to the disaster and has arrested over 100 contractors despite himself being caught on camera bragging about relaxing building codes.
• February 24th marks the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine. Slava Ukraini!
• President Biden makes a surprise visit to war-torn Kyiv in a demonstration of support to the Ukrainian resistance.

[NATIONAL]

• The U.S. military shot down multiple objects attempting to enter North American airspace in wake of a high-profile Chinese balloon making its way across the continent. It probably wasn’t aliens.
• Train that likely should have been labeled as Highly Hazardous derails in East Palestine, Ohio leaking toxic chemicals into the environment killing wildlife and farm animals – with deep concerns for human health as well.
• SNAP benefits to help provide food for those in need during the COVID pandemic have ended on February 28th, many food banks are anticipating increased demand.
• Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 16 years in prison for his sex crimes.
• Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for a “national divorce” to separate the Red and Blue states, essentially calling for the dissolution of the United States.

[LOCAL]

• Multiple local schools across the state, including Boulder High, were evacuated after an elaborate fake gun threat.
• Members of Dacono City Council oust long term City Manager A.J. Euckert in a surprise vote during the February 13th meeting. 
• Black farmers in Aurora County have been stalked and harassed by their neighbors in what is believed to be a racially motivated community effort to drive them off their land.
• Pueblo County Sheriff’s sued for the wrongful death of Richard Ward, who was killed while he was with family picking up his little brother from middle school.
• Boulder County law enforcement used money from opioid settlements to purchase controversial surveillance equipment.
• CBS News report reveals a New York-based hedge fund has been buying Colorado River water rights over the last five years, sparking debate over who should have access to limited river resources.
• Adam Frisch announces he will run to unseat Lauren Boebert, Colorado’s national embarrassment, in 2024.

Small Talk

“The time is now for Democrats to take the lead when it comes to fulfilling our promise to create safer communities and pass real solutions that will cut down on gun violence in our communities today.” – Colorado Senate President Steve Fenberg (D-Boulder) affirmed while introducing four new gun safety bills

“The physics of the air in our buildings and the climate in which we live affect things that can make us sick and how long they persist. Now we have conservative indications of how long coronaviruses like the one that causes COVID-19 can stick around in the air and be an infectious disease threat.” – Professor of Engineering Mark Hernandez said about CU Boulder’s research on airborne diseases

“The commissioners’ decision to approve these new positions is a first step in building the capacity required to advance our wildfire mitigation efforts.” – Boulder County Commissioner Claire Levy on adding twelve new wildfire mitigation staff positions

“[We need] more flexible zoning to allow more housing, streamlined regulations that cut through red tape, expedited approval processes for projects like modular housing, sustainable development, and more building in transit-oriented communities.” – Governor Polis on Colorado’s efforts to create more walkable cities

By the Numbers:

The post Month in Review | March 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

via Shutterstock

A listing of Martin Luther King Jr Day events throughout Colorado

photo: Jose Silva, via Facebook

2023 MARADE, Denver CO

Welcome to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commissions “Marade.”

This parade is the Only one of it’s kind in the nation.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Colorado Holiday Commissions “Marade

Photo via: Visit Denver

National Western Stock Show, Denver CO

MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo, Western Stock Show, Denver Colorado 

MLK Jr Day Community Celebrations, Boulder County CO

2023 MLK Jr Day Community Celebrations, NAACP Boulder County, Colorado

courtesy City of Lafayette website

MLK March, Lafayette, CO

Annual MLK March for Peace Event, Lafayette, Colorado

Martin Luther King Jr Day Events, Fort Collins CO

VOICE (Violence. Oppression. Isolation. Cannot. Endure.), Fort Collins, Colorado

The day’s activities begin with a morning service project at 8 a.m. and the march starts at 11 a.m. at Washington Park, 301 Maple St., in downtown Fort Collins. 

MLK Day Events, Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado College People’s Breakfast/Unity March Pikes Peak Diversity Council, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Multiple MLK Events, Pueblo, CO

Martin Luther King Day Events, Pueblo CO

Martin Luther King Jr Events, Greeley, CO

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Greeley, Colorado

The post Colorado Martin Luther King Jr Day events, 2023 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

We’re online! There was just too many things we wanted to fit in print. Check out all of these places where you and your child can learn.

Schools

Art Schools

Charter Schools

Colleges, Universities, and Trade Schools

Daycare/Preschools

Districts

K-12 Schools

Driving

Homeschool

Montessori

Online

Private

Religious

Waldorf

Camps: Outdoors

Tutoring

Extracurriculars

Dance/Gymnastics

Language

Music

Theater

Art

Rock Climbing

Soccer

Swimming

Equestrian

Martial Arts

Miscellaneous

Government Services

Recreation Centers

Libraries

Services — Family Support

Play Places

Sciences

Museums

The post YS Back to School Directory 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

This month: Five fall festivals we’re fawning over!

The post French’s 5 | August 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

• On May 19, Rita Gutierrez-Garcia’s remains were found in Weld County, Colo. after a four-year-long investigation into her disappearance. The mother of three was last seen alive on March 18, 2018. Juan Figueroa, Jr., was charged with her murder and kidnap in June 2021 even though a body had not been recovered at that point.
• A temporary halt has been put in place on Boulder’s controversial ban on car camping. The ban was stopped after residents and advocates for the unhoused spoke out against the ban at a town hearing that was held on May 19.
• The Supreme Court of the United States is set to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, allowing states to decide the legality of abortion. On May 3rd, a draft of the court’s decision was leaked to the public, sparking outrage and protests across the country.
• Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ claims that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump were debunked by the Mesa County District Attorney’s Office on May 19. Peters released a report in March claiming that “potentially unauthorized and illegal manipulation of tabulated vote data” had occurred. District Attorney Daniel P. Rubinstein completely refuted Peters’ claims stating that there was “extensive evidence” that Peters’ claims were unequivocally false.
• Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo will be closing its in-person psychiatric care facility. The closure is due to “decreased utilization by payers for inpatient psychiatric services…” The exact date of the facility’s closure is yet to be determined.
• After 47 years of operation, the Cripple Creek Care Center will be closing its doors this June. The closure comes as a result of nearly 40% of the nursing home’s staff leaving the facility in the past two years.
• On May 4, Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine attempted to introduce a resolution that would establish Weld County as the Colorado’s first “human life sanctuary,” an anti-abortion designation designed to limit local access to the procedure. The resolution has been tabled for the time being.
• Colorado Democratic State Representatives have reached out to federal officials to increase funding for the Front Range rail project that has been in the works for years. The representatives’ letter read, “The population among the Front Range is expected to grow by 35%, increasing the pressure on Colorado’s transportation system. This project will help ease the burden on our roads, improve safety of commuters, and create jobs across the state.”
• Republican Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert will resign from his roles as both a state Senator and the leader of the chamber’s minority party. Holbert served as a state Senator for eight years and as the leader of the Colorado Senate Republicans for six.
• Colorado District Judge Marcia Krieger has blocked drilling by Bill Koch’s Gunnison Energy. Krieger’s decision has prevented Gunnison Energy from creating 35 fracked gas wells across 30,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land between Gunnison and the Grand Mesa.
• The United States has officially passed a $40 billion spending package to aid Ukraine in its defense against Russia. This financial aid will be used for economic support, the seizure of assets from Russian oligarchs, weapons, and to supplement the extreme food shortage in Ukraine.
• The Superior Historical Museum is to rebuild after being completely destroyed by the Marshall Fire. The museum will be moving to Grasso bungalow in Grasso Park. Museum curators are asking Superior residents for the donation of artifacts to help replace those lost during the fire as they prepare to reopen the museum.
• Former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey has been inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. McCaffery considers the induction “an honor.”
• An 18-year-old gunman killed 19 children, two teachers, and injured 17 others at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas on Thursday, May 26.  The massacre marked the deadliest US school shooting in nearly a decade. This is the 30th school shooting at a K-12 school in 2022. Officers took 30 minutes to an hour to enter the school stop the 18-year-old murderer.

Small Talk

By the Numbers

The post Month in Review | May 2022 appeared first on Yellow Scene Magazine.

Daytrip
Denver:
Front Rangers are blessed with world-class art at our fingertips. Start at the Denver Art Museum and don’t miss the permanent collection of pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial art and this summer’s exhibit of psychedelic rock posters. Next, visit the Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, which features Colorado’s most notable artists. Wrap up your day with a show at any of the theaters in the Denver Center for the Performing Arts—anything from classical music to comedy to a Broadway show. denverartmuseum.org, vancekirkland.org

Red Rocks:
See one of the most iconic Colorado views…and make sure you make it to Red Rocks for a show at least once a summer. redrocksonline.com.

Colorado Shakespeare Festival:
The 2009 season includes Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing and To Kill a Mockingbird. coloradoshakes.org.

Weekend

Film Festival:
You don’t need an excuse to get away to the mountains in the summer, but if you’re looking for a convenient one, mountain film festivals are it. MountainFilm takes place in Telluride May 22–25, with a motto of “celebrating indomitable spirit.” The festival offers  films, a symposium, talks, a gallery walk and a picnic. In June, the Breckenridge Festival of Film offers a variety of independent films, premieres, receptions, programs and retrospectives. More film festivals take place throughout the fall. See the web site in the resources section for more information. mountainfilm.org, coloradofilm.org/coloradofilmfestivals.htm

Jazz Aspen Snowmass:
This not-so-jazzy music fest is a Labor Day favorite. This year, check out the Allman Brothers, Black Eyed Peas and Citizen Cope. jazzaspen.org.

Cherry Creek Arts Festival:
July 4-5. This world-class artsy event attracts hundreds of thousands of moseying art-lovers. cherryarts.org.

Week
State Art Gallery Tour:
For a real taste of Colorado’s art scene, plan a week of shopping and browsing the state’s numerous art galleries. Colorado boasts nine of art critic John Villani’s “100 Best Art Towns in the United States.” Start your tour at Denver’s Art District along Santa Fe Avenue. The first Friday art walks are one of the oldest art walks around, but the area’s 40 galleries are open year-round. Don’t miss Tennyson Street’s Cultural District and its hip, vibrant array of galleries, restaurants and boutiques. Old Colorado City in Colorado Springs should be your next stop, offering more than 120 galleries, specialty shops and restaurants in the historic area that was the first capital of the Colorado Territory. After a stroll and leisurely lunch, press on to Pueblo and the Sangre de Cristo Art Center. Try to catch one of the center’s Festival Fridays with concerts and a first Friday art walk.

Head west on Highway 50 to Salida, an artists’ haven that offers theater, concerts, classes and receptions in addition to regular gallery shows and events. Nearby, the Buena Vista historic Courthouse Gallery and Museum hosts always-changing exhibits and shows by local artists. Continue west on Highway 50 to Montrose and then head south on 550 for one of the most beautiful drives in the state to the mountain hideaway of Telluride. The town hosts monthly art walks on the first Thursday of every month, but the streets of this resort town are always welcoming to visitors. From Telluride, head north and west to Grand Junction, a town that prides itself on one of the largest sidewalk sculpture galleries in the nation in the quaint downtown district. See more than 100 public works of art as you make your way along the streets of galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

Heading back east on I-70, be sure to take your time and stop in the vacation destinations of Aspen, Vail and Beaver Creek. Each boasts a collection of high-end art, furniture and jewelry galleries in beautiful mountain settings. And when you return to the Front Range, don’t forget to explore the art galleries right here in your own back yard. artdistrictonsantafe.com, telluridearts.com/artwalk.html, visitgrandjunction.com

Northern New Mexico:
Soak in the Southwestern arts and culture meccas of Taos and Santa Fe. Don’t miss the Georgia O’Keefe Museum or Fuego at La Posada.

Strings Music Festival:
Between June and August, the hills are alive with—yes, you know it—the sound of music. Steamboat’s Strings Music Festival brings in genre-bending talent from across the globe for 85 different performances. stringsinthemountains.com.

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