Hi. We've got foreclosures, flooding, Colorado's big budget question and also the Thomas Kinkade of ski maps in today's round-up, among other news. Sorry it's late - technical difficulties.
Are Colorado's foreclosures broken?
The Colorado Supreme Court is reconsidering how the state handles foreclosures. One central issue is whether lenders should actually have to prove that they have the right to seize a home, and whether they should have to affirm that they have personally seen the relevant documents. (DP)
6th and Grant is shut down.
Water main broke. It could ruin traffic all day. (Denverite)
Republicans don't seem very interested in expanding Colorado's budget.
Long story short, the Democrats still want to circumvent limits on spending set by TABOR and free up $700 million for roads. The Republicans see "better solutions," such as taking on $3.5 billion of debt. No sign of that changing after the elections. (DBJ)
A visual record of the anti-Trump protests:
You need to see Kevin Beaty's work on this. (Denverite)
Early details of the National Western plan:
"The core of the plan is a 250-acre campus that would house private companies and public organizations to stimulate collaboration." Potential sectors include water, beverages, cattle and agri-drones... and potato farming? (DP)
Freedom after 20 years:
Giselle Gutierrez-Ruiz was sentenced to life in prison in 1997 because he was driving when "someone he barely knew shot two people, killing one." The victim's family joined with jurors, investigators and lawyers in applauding the judge's decision to free him. (5280)
The guy who paints ski maps:
I've always kind of loved trail maps – they're a nice mix of practicality and little artistic touches. Washington Post has a profile today of the "Michelangelo of snow," although I'd argue he's more like a Thomas Kinkade and/or Bob Ross, given his love of pastels and pleasant details. An NYT art critic once said he had “a slightly primitive lucidity that calls to mind early American folk art.”
Anyway, the guy goes up in a plane to shoot reference photos, and then paints every tree by hand. His work has appeared at Vail, Winter Park and Breck, among others. (WaPo)
Power got cheaper.
Colorado electricity prices were down about 2 percent in the first half of the year compared to 2015. Why? Natural gas. (Inside Energy)
The next step for medially assisted death:
Colorado approved the "right to die," but terminally ill patients won't be able to get lethal prescriptions until next month, most likely. Here's a rundown of the continuing concerns and the next steps. (CPR)
