Shutdown Hits Colorado

The federal government has shut down after Senate Democrats, including Colorado’s two senators, voted to block a short-term funding bill Tuesday night.

More than 54,000 federal workers in Colorado will be furloughed or work without pay during the shutdown, with impacts also expected for the state’s major federal contractors. Gov. Jared Polis warns the shutdown will heighten the state’s risk of recession, already estimated at 50%.

National parks will remain open with reduced staffing. Polis said his top priority is staffing Rocky Mountain National Park, citing its importance to the state economy.

Because a prolonged shutdown may put food assistance benefits at risk, Colorado lawmakers approved $7.5 million to backfill the WIC program for women, infants, and children for up to a month.

Here’s a list of the shutdown’s expected nationwide impacts.

CBI Reviewing Hunter S. Thompson’s Death

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is conducting a case review into the death of Hunter S. Thompson, a journalist and author who died near Aspen more than 20 years ago.

Thompson is known for pioneering an unconventional, first-person style of reporting known as gonzo journalism, and for his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He unsuccessfully ran for Pitkin County Sheriff in 1970.

Thompson died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound in Woody Creek, a town north of Aspen, in 2005, at the age of 67. CBI launched the review at the request of his widow, Anita.

The reason for her request is unclear. Sheriff Michael Buglione said there’s no new evidence suggesting foul play, though he hopes CBI’s review will answer “any lingering questions” and “offer peace of mind.”

Denver’s DDA to Buy Pavilions Mall

Denver’s Downtown Development Authority plans to buy the Denver Pavilions, a multi-level open-air mall on 16th Street, for $37 million, city leaders announced Tuesday.

The two-block complex houses a movie theater, a bowling alley, 11 shops, and a few restaurants and bars. According to Mayor Mike Johnston, the mall was valued at $140 million about a decade ago, but now has a storefront vacancy rate of about 40%.

The DDA said it will create a master plan and hire an international retail specialist to help with a “renaissance of the Pavilions,” drawing comparisons to Union Station’s revitalization.

Johnston said the “most important thing to know” about the deal is that it won’t impact the city’s budget, from which he cut about $200 million in September.

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➤ Colorado Springs: A small plane made an emergency landing on Powers Boulevard early Wednesday. None of the three people on board were injured. (See Details)

➤ Fort Collins: The city is dismissing 477 speed-camera traffic citations that were misprinted and initially mailed out with missing information between Sept. 4 and 17. (See Details)

➤ Montrose: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed an age-discrimination lawsuit against Montrose Regional Health, alleging the hospital discriminated and retaliated against older staff. (See Details)

➤ Interstate 70: The Colorado Department of Transportation unveiled a renovated Vail Pass Rest Area. The updated site has expanded parking, a dozen restrooms, observation decks, and trail access. (See Video)

➤ Denver: Police conducting a drug bust near the University of Denver found narcotics, a flame thrower, two crossbows, and a semiautomatic shotgun. (More)

➤ Statewide: A new report by Colorado’s Child Protection Ombudsman found over 1,000 policy violations in strip searches of juveniles at Colorado’s juvenile correctional facilities. (More)

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➤ Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt resigned yesterday after a 43-119 season and three straight 100-loss years. The team has begun an external search to rebuild its front office. (More)

➤ The Big 12 fined the University of Colorado $50,000 for “hateful and discriminatory” language during its matchup with BYU football, including crowd-wide chants deriding Mormonism. (More)

➤ Broncos coach Sean Payton praised the Eagles’ controversial tush push play ahead of their matchup this weekend, saying that health concerns related to the play are overblown. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Project 70, a new music venue underneath an Interstate 70 overpass in Denver, opened for its first concert on Tuesday. Its next event is this Saturday. (See Details)

➤ Copper Mountain began its snowmaking operations—using snow guns to create artificial snow above the tree line—after temperatures dropped near freezing, as it prepares to open for the 2025-26 ski season. (More)

➤ Yelp compiled a list of Denver’s top 10 rooftop bars and restaurants, spotlighting everything from a mountain-view pizzeria to a 20th-story cocktail lounge. (See List)

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➤ Castle Rock is the 14th best small city in the U.S., according to a new study comparing over 1,000 cities with populations between 25,000 and 100,000. Four other Colorado towns ranked in the top 10%. (See List)

➤ Three Colorado cities made a list of the top 40 U.S. cities where paychecks go the furthest based on median income and cost of necessities. (See List)

➤ The City of Boulder is inviting pre-K to 12th-grade students to help name the 17 snowplows it will use this winter. Past winning names include “CTRL-SALT-DELETE” and “Mac n’ Freeze.” (See Details)

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Where would you rather live?

1. Small town
2. Big city
3. Something in between
4. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you fly in a supersonic fighter jet?

1. Yes: 31%
2. No: 25%
3. Maybe: 23%
4. Only if I can drive: 21%

What is the lowest-elevation point in Colorado?

Show me the answer