State officials grapple with predictions that Colorado could be looking at another devastating wildfire season...
Good morning and TGIF, Denver—
Temps have dropped to the 50s today with partly cloudy skies ⛅️ Tomorrow we'll shoot back up to 70, and on Sunday we'll return to the 50s. If you've lived here for a while, are you really surprised? If you're new here, this is always what it's like.
Yesterday, Gov. Jared Polis and state fire agencies addressed the Colorado's 2021 wildfire outlook and preparedness plan. Last summer, our state's forest lands and wilderness areas were ravaged by the some of the worst wildfires in Colorado history. Now, there are several factors indicating we might be in for a repeat of 2020.
According to reporting by CBS4, the prolonged drought we've been experiencing across the state has not improved. The Front Range's water situation is still ranked "moderate" to "severe" despite the recent snow and rain. The Western Slope is still ranked "extreme" and/or "exceptional" — not good. Add Global Warming and our wildfire risk is through the roof. Polis is going so far as to say that wildfires are no longer a "season" but a year-round concern for Colorado. In response to this grim outlook, the governor recently signed two bills, setting aside $40 million to prepare for potential fires.
Watch the entire wildfire outlook conference here.
[9News;CPR;CBS4]
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P.S. I'd like to wish a very happy birthday to my wonderful dad 🎂 (Perks of being the newsletter writer 😉) Here's a photo of Dad and baby Peyton.
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In Other News...
🙅 Starting next week, Colorado's color-coded COVID dial will be no more. State officials are handing the reins over to local authorities. From now on, it will be at the discretion of individual counties and cities to impose restrictions. [KDVR]
☢️ The Denver Housing Authority has set aside $250,000 for a year-long effort to test all of its public housing units for radon. Testing begins this month, and comes as a result of tests conducted in February 2020 that found radon levels above EPA safety limits in some Denver public housing complexes. [CBS4]
👉 What can you do? Educate yourself about radon testing here.
🙈 Formal city signage was installed Tuesday, officially declaring Columbus Park's new and community-approved name: La Raza Park ... then it was taken down. Turns out Denver Parks and Rec employees got a little too excited and jumped the gun. City officials want to have an accompanying celebration when the signs go up on a TBD date. Oops. [9News]
🏥 Anyone with a public-facing job now qualifies to receive free at-home COVID-19 testing kits. This program, from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, was initially created for educators. Last month it was extended to restaurant workers. The program now includes those who work in hotels, banks, gyms, movie theaters, grocery stores, construction, and several other industries. [CO Politics]
👉 What can you do? If you think you qualify for a testing kit, you can apply here.
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🎙️On the Podcast:
Today, we're talking Denver-style Mexican food. What is it exactly? We've got Den-Mex experts Gustavo Arellano and Patricia Calhoun on the show to talk about wonton-wrapped chile rellenos, smothered burritos, and of course, green chile. Listen now.
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🏙️ Only in Denver
Image: @the_funkyflame via Instagram
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A Thing to Do:
What: Shop locally-created brands at the aptly-named Local AF Spring Market.
Where: Dairy Block
When: April 9-11
The market is free, but pre-registration is required due to COVID restrictions.
A Business to Support:
Who: Funky Flame
What: An artisan bread subscription service. Follow on Insta for drool-inducing bread pics.
Learn more: From our friends at 303 Magazine
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🤗 Moment of Joy:
🦌🏕️ A rare white deer dropped by Cherry Creek Campground with some pals this week. White deer, scientifically known as leucistic, are pretty uncommon. Colorado Parks and Wildlife says the condition only affects one in 30,000 mule deer. Watch a video of the deer captured by a camper here 👉 [KDVR]
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Once again, happy Friday, y'all! Have a great weekend, and I'll be back with you Monday morning.
Happy birthday, dad! Love you 😘
— Peyton Garcia (@peytonmgarcia)
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