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The 7 best amusement park rides in Colorado

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

The Mind Eraser clocks speeds up to 50 miles per hour. Garrett W. Ellwood, provided by Elitch Gardens Theme and Water ParkSetting out to discover (or rediscover) some of Colorado’s most iconic theme park attractions this summer? Buckle up: You’re in for a wild ride.From Lakeside Amusement Park’s neon-lit nostalgia to animatronic dinos roaring in a dim cave at Water World plus mountain-top thrills that come with stunning views that will take your breath away, here are seven of the state’s most iconic theme park attractions, ranked according to our research and subjectivity.No. 7: Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens Theme and Water ParkElitch Gardens has several contenders for uniquely Colorado rides. Take the 100-foot-tall, multicolored Ferris Wheel that lights up Denver’s skyline. Or how about the Tower of Doom that ascends 200 feet in the air, showing off panoramic views of the Mile High City before its abrupt plunge? There’s also the Kaleidoscope, which was created in collaboration with...

Will “truly embarrassing” drug use and other problems undercut RTD’s summer of free fares?

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

This weekend’s launch of an expanded two-month summer promotion offering free fares on the Regional Transportation District’s buses and trains comes as the agency still struggles with problems and open drug use on its system.Several train and bus operators underlined that challenge when they confronted RTD’s elected board Tuesday night with stories of repeated fentanyl exposure, attacks by unruly riders and messes left behind — including, one light-rail operator said, soiled underwear and a cup of urine.They spoke up alongside frustrated riders and community advocates. Most supported an expanded code of conduct and suspension policy that RTD leaders later approved in hopes they would help address more of the safety problems.But without greater enforcement, several speakers said, those policies likely won’t do much — and at least one bus driver suggested the problems could harm efforts to attract new riders during the state-supported Zero Fare for Better...

Colorado Springs’ $55M Sunset amphitheater campus inks AEG deal, sets official groundbreaking

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

JW Roth has long admired the business savvy of Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, whose AEG Presents Rocky Mountains dominates the region’s live-music industry.Roth also knew that the ambitious, nationwide projects under his Notes Live umbrella — which at the moment have crested $1 billion in anticipated construction costs — could not click into place without a major corporate booking partner.Only then could his $55 million Sunset Amphitheater project thrive in a market like Colorado Springs, which usually plays second fiddle to the nationally ranked Denver concert scene, and serve fans along the Front Range’s ever-growing live music circuit.“It was the hole in my business plan of ‘How do I put butts in seats?’ ” said Roth, whose upscale, 8,000-capacity Sunset amphitheater this week set a July 12 date for its official groundbreaking. “It was also a hole in (tour) routing for AEG Presents, and Colorado Springs is now at the point...

A leaking gas line destroyed their home. Now farmers-turned-activists pushing for stronger safety rules.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

Mark and Julie Nygren didn’t set out to be activists, but they are suggesting changes to the oversight of Colorado’s oil and gas pipelines based on their experience of losing their home and seeing part of their farm contaminated by a leaking gas line.More than four years after discovery of the leak, the Nygrens are still renting a house in Johnstown, just north of their Weld County property, and remain embroiled in a lawsuit against DCP Midstream Operating Co., which owned the pipeline. As the Colorado Public Utilities Commission considers new pipeline-safety rules, the Nygrens want to share their hard-won insights with regulators.“We’re farmers, we don’t want to be activists. But we also want our neighbors and our communities to be safe and we are concerned that not enough attention has been paid to our situation to correct it from happening to someone else,” Julie said in a recent interview.The PUC was set to hear from the public Thursday on proposed rules ...

Here’s where to find Colorado’s best wine bars, according to Wine Spectator

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

Coloradans looking to wine and dine – with an emphasis on the wine – know about proven stalwart restaurants they can hit for a night on the town.That’s according to Wine Spectator magazine, which honored more than 3,500 establishments globally on its annual Restaurant Awards list, including 91 in Colorado. The publication ranks restaurants in three categories based on how robust their wine selections are.The top accolade is the Grand Award, which showcases places that feature more than 1,000 different selections and display “immense depth and breadth of regions, producers, vintages and bottle formats, excellent harmony with the menu, and superior presentation,” according to judging criteria.Three restaurants – Barolo Grill in Denver, Element 47 in Aspen and Flagstaff House in Boulder – made the cut for the Grand Award in 2023. For those who follow these awards, these spots won’t come as a surprise since they earned the accolade in 2021, as well.While the Restaurant Awards often feat...

Xcel Energy’s $145 million bid to build electric vehicle chargers sparks opposition from private sector

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

Supporters of speeding up the move to electric vehicles see investment by utilities as essential, but business groups say it will be hard for them to compete with utilities on providing charging stations for the public.In its second plan on electric vehicles filed with regulators, Xcel Energy proposes spending $145 million to build a public charging network over the next three years in addition to offering rebates and other programs. Charge Ahead Partnership, a national coalition that includes retailers that want to build EV charging stations, opposes proposals by Xcel and other utilities to install and operate chargers.Coalition spokesman Ryan McKinnon said regulated utilities like Xcel Energy would have an unfair advantage in the emerging market because they can use ratepayers’ money to invest in the infrastructure and they get a certain rate of return on their investments.“We’re advocating for policies that will make it more of a level playing field for private busine...

Over 200 years after the famous battle, Napoleon and Wellington lock horns once again

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

Fancy a blast of history and a reminder of what some call Britain’s finest ever military victory?If so, make a beeline this weekend to the Domain de la bataille de Waterloo 1815 for a host of historical events. You will find yourself back in the middle of the 19th century at the time of the Empire Wars.Throughout the weekend, troops of re-enactors will camp out like the armies on both side did back over 200 years ago in 1815.In addition to the traditional bivouac for over 300 soldiers, a large civilian village will be held at the Hougoumont farm. Craftsmen and tradespeople will be on hand, just as they were back in the day. It also includes a theatre, street singers, instrument makers, clog makers, basket makers and weavers.Children can try their hand at period games or join the ranks of the Grande Armée while a surgeon will explain the methods used during the Empire Wars.You can also discover the soldiers' camp life (including the cavalry), as well as the Emperor's tent, with Napol...

Fiery crash leaves 1 dead on 101 Freeway in Studio City; prompts Sig Alert

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

A fiery crash that left one dead on the 101 Freeway prompted a SigAlert for four eastbound lanes through Studio City Thursday morning.The incident was reported around 3 a.m. when a vehicle struck a construction truck and caught fire just west of the 134 Freeway, according to the California Highway Patrol's traffic incident log.The vehicle became fully engulfed in flames with the driver still inside.Authorities respond to a fatal crash on the 101 Freeway in Toluca Lake on June 29, 2023. (KTLA)A coroner's vehicle was sent to the scene to recover a body after the fatal incident, according to the CHP. Two people working in the construction vehicle, which was described as a striper truck, were apparently taken to the hospital.Officials issued a SigAlert that closed all lanes but one on the eastbound 101 Freeway.The SigAlert was expected to remain in place until about 6 a.m.

Fireworks thrown in Hermosa Beach crowd may be a hate crime

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

Police are searching for a man who threw an exploding firework into a large crowd at an LGBTQ+ Pride event in Hermosa Beach.On June 17, the suspect was near a silent disco event at a bar/restaurant called Vista around 9:45 p.m. when he pulled out a firework, lit it and threw it into the crowd. The incident was captured on a video shared by police.Fragments of fireworks struck multiple people at the crowded restaurant, located at 11 Pier Ave., police said. Despite the "significant explosion," victims' injuries were not life-threatening.Video released by the Hermosa Beach Police Department shows a man throwing a lit firework into a crowd on June 17, 2023. (Hermosa Beach Police)Jeremy McDermott, the manager of Vista, said hundreds of people were attending the event celebrating LGBTQ+ culture and Pride month when the explosion went off."We had 400 people already here,” McDermott said. “It was pretty rough and a rude awakening for everyone enjoying a silent disco here. It was an unfortun...

San Jose’s mayor wants to rid the city of open-air drug markets. It won’t be easy.

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 11:00:17 GMT

San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is the Bay Area’s latest elected official to take a harder line against open-air drug use and dealing, urging city police to ramp up arrests and more seriously tackle a vexing problem that has exasperated residents and businesses.Following calls for more enforcement around blight, homeless encampments and RV dwellers, Mahan held a recent impromptu press conference to stress San Jose’s “zero tolerance policy” for public drug crimes, saying “some people will need to be arrested and some people need treatment.”“We will respond appropriately and we will respond immediately to prevent any congregation of drug use and sales,” Mahan said in front of a 7-Eleven in downtown. “We’re going to send a message that if you’re coming to San Jose to deal drugs, you will be arrested. If you are using drugs on the street, we will do everything in our power to get you into treatment.”The mayor’s law-...