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What’s considered a mobile home park in Colorado? Even judges can’t agree.

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

Over the past year, two lawsuits in Colorado sought to clarify the difference between mobile home parks and seasonal RV campgrounds that cater to out-of-state tourists.The difference involves more than semantics: If a park falls under the state’s Mobile Home Park Act, owners are obligated to fulfill a litany of additional regulations, from tree and snow removal to rent-increase restrictions. RV parks have far fewer rules.But as park owners and residents seek a better understanding of where their communities may fall, even judges can’t seem to agree.In October, a La Plata County judge sided with the state’s interpretation of the law, ruling even seasonal parks with five or more mobile homes that are closed during the winter can be considered mobile home parks.This month, however, a Denver District Court judge issued a completely different ruling in a similar case. Judge Sarah B. Wallace, in a case pitting a Grand Lake park against the state’s Department of Loc...

Colorado takes new swing at reducing ozone pollution from oil and gas, but critics say it’s not enough

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

Colorado’s oil and gas industry will need to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, which contribute to smog along the Front Range, under new rules that state air-pollution regulators are calling a bold plan.However, critics of the new regulations say they don’t go far enough in requiring the oil and gas industry, which is one of the largest sources of nitrogen oxides, to cut emissions. And as a result, Colorado once again will fail to meet federal air quality standards and will face the consequences imposed on residents and businesses.And those who advocated for more stringent regulations on behalf of people who live and work in the most polluted areas of the state said the new rules fail those communities.The new emissions rules, approved Friday by the state’s Air Quality Control Commission, will require oil and gas companies to reduce nitrogen oxides emissions during the summer months when pollution is at its highest levels. Companies also will have to reduce emis...

Experts stress caution during holiday season as mystery dog illness continues to circulate in Colorado

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

Since a mysterious, potentially fatal respiratory disease started spreading through Colorado’s dog population in September, veterinarians from more than 15 states have reported cases.The disease, which is unique in both how many dogs are being affected and how long symptoms last, has still not been identified and its unclear if transmission rates are slowing down for Colorado.“Contagious respiratory disease in dogs … is common and there are multiple viral and bacterial causes,” said Michael Lappin, a board-certified veterinarian at the Colorado State University’s teaching hospital, in a Dec. 4 news release. “However, in recent months, cases are being diagnosed more frequently and the course of disease is different than usual, surprising both pet owners and veterinary health care providers.”Experts still aren’t sure if the illness is viral or bacterial, but in the release CSU veterinarians said that the infection has been linked to cases of severe pneumo...

Denver Book Club: “The Bookbinder” and more short reviews from readers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. Sure, you could read advertising blurbs on Amazon, but wouldn’t you be more likely to believe a neighbor with no skin in the game over a corporation being fed words by publishers? So in this series, we are sharing these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email [email protected].“The Bookbinder of Jericho,” by Pip Williams (Ballantine Books, 2023)“The Bookbinder of Jericho,” by Pip Williams (Ballantine Books, 2023)Related ArticlesBooks | “Time Shelter,” by Georgi Gospodinov, and more short book reviews from readers Books | Two new mysteries from Colorado authors Books | “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” by James McBride, and more short reviews from readers Books | “Starkweather” r...

Bakery responds to customer’s “cardboard” comment in the best way

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

‘Tis the season for giving, and in the case of one local bakery, that means serving sass to an unhappy customer.Over the weekend, Poulette Bakeshop in Parker grabbed some attention by responding to a commenter on Instagram who didn’t approve of the eclairs.“I got an eclair here once, paid $10 or something for just one, it tasted like cardboard. Whole Foods has better eclair’s (sic),” the commenter said.So the bakery responded:“Here at Poulette, we pride ourselves on using only the highest quality cardboard for our eclairs. This commitment to excellence is characterized by our use of only the best *freshly corrugated* cardboard available from our local cardboard manufacturers. Our cardboard products are crafted from premium materials, ensuring it withstand pressure without losing its structural integrity. Thanks so much for taking the time to write.”Related ArticlesRestaurants, Food and Drink | With an explosion of new bakeries, Denver is fina...

Are there really more rats in Denver this year?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

Denver residents are not alone in moving inside to evade the cold winter weather.Community members in Denver have taken to social media in recent weeks to share their shock and unease at what seems to be an increase in rat sightings within the city compared to previous years.But according to Denver Department of Public Health and Environment Public Information Officer Amber Campbell, this increase is not necessarily due to growth in the rat population. A greater awareness of rats in public spaces, Campbell said in a Dec. 13 email, has driven an increase in the number of complaints received by the department.And some of these rats are far larger than the typical field mouse. According to Wilson Christner, owner and vice president of Whitmore Pest & Wildlife Control in Littleton, the size of the rat is directly correlated with its ability to easily access an abundance of food.“Close to downtown, we’ve had some pretty good size rats taken out,” Christner said on a...

First of 2 storms brings rain to Southern California; flood watches issued

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

The wet weather has arrived! Southern Californians got a taste overnight of what to expect this week as the first of two storms brought showers to the region.This first storm, expected to be the weaker of the two, generally brought less than a tenth of an inch of rain overnight. La Cañada Flintridge did receive .20 inches and Northridge reached .13 inches, according to the National Weather Service. The second storm is expected to arrive Tuesday night but we could continue to see some wet weather through the morning. Interactive Weather Radar “Still some isolated areas of very light rain. Some sprinkles, some mist across the Southland this morning,” KTLA's Kirk Hawkins said.Forecasters are already preparing for the next system, issuing a flash flood watch for all of Los Angeles And Ventura counties beginning Tuesday evening and continuing through late Thursday night. Rainfall estimates for most of Los Angeles County remain in the 2 to 4-inch rain. The Weather Service posted an imag...

Recognize Sha EK

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

Recognize Sha EK: Bronx drill rapper She EK has released new single and video “Recognition.”The short but sweet song clocks in at under two minutes, but Sha EK fits a lot into that time. He blasts in and blasts out again, relentlessly spitting lines at ya.“A violin loop writhes across a sparse beat on the track, while Sha EK’s inexhaustible high-energy flow kicks into overdrive,” reads the press release. “He tenaciously rips through the production at a relentless pace, holding nothing back. This track comes in fast and furious on the heels of the incendiary ‘Gun For Gun.’ Listen HERE and watch HERE. His momentum proves as uncontainable as ever as “Gun For Gun” served as the loaded follow-up to ‘EBK.’ Sha EK is simply delivering one anthem after another at a prolific pace, and he shows no signs of slowing down or stopping.”The video sees the artist on the streets and in what looks like a convenience store, either alone or wi...

Prep roundup: Mitty, O’Dowd girls basketball cruise at Nike Tournament of Champions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

No. 1 Archbishop Mitty 62, Miami Country Day 35Archbishop Mitty made a Florida powerhouse look like just another CCS team in the opening round of the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, defeating Miami Country Day by 27 points. Sophomore forward McKenna Woliczko scored 25 points, and had seven rebounds and five assists to lead the way. Senior UConn commit Morgan Cheli scored just three points, but played a great all-around game. Elana Weisman joined Woliczko in double-figures with 11 points. Although the Monarchs are in the top bracket, they won’t play any of the top three teams in the country until the championship. No. 4 IMG Academy, which was on Mitty’s side of the bracket, was upset by Lone Peak 61-60.No. 1 Long Island Luthern and No. 2 Montverde are both on the other side of the bracket. Mitty will play Xavier College Prep-Arizona at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Related ArticlesHigh School Sports | Monday Morning Lights: Can anyone slow down sizzling De La Salle, Sales...

Bullfrog to become California’s amphibious illegal alien

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:10:48 GMT

California will take steps to ban the importation and sale of bullfrogs, halting century-old commerce that has introduced deadly disease to the state’s native frogs.The decision, which ends a battle over animals that are traditional cuisine in the Bay Area’s Asian communities, will take time to implement. It is part of a much larger strategy to manage problems caused by the invasive frog, with its huge leap and dangerous appetite.“It’s exciting to be moving forward, finally, to try to walk back the damage that’s been caused by bullfrogs,” said Erika Zavaleta, an ecology professor at UC Santa Cruz and co-chair of the California Fish and Game Commission, which sets policy for the state’s Department of Fish and Game and voted on Wednesday to start work on regulatory and legislative steps to fend off the importation and sale of the frog.The step echoes California’s 2011 ban of the sale of shark fins, a delicacy in a traditional Chinese soup.This Feb. ...