

Colorado work group fails to reach consensus in anti-speculation report
By Heather Sackett | August 18, 2021
The lack of consensus or recommendations underscores how difficult it is to answer the thorny question at the heart of the issue: How can the government balance protecting a public resource from profit-seeking investors without infringing on private-property rights?
Data dashboard: Occupancy rates in Aspen and Snowmass hit new July record
By Laurine Lassalle | August 20, 2021
• The Roaring Fork through central Aspen ran at 32.76 cfs on Aug. 18, up from 8.8 last week.
• 2021 July occupancy rate hits record high in Aspen and Snowmass

Tracking the Curve
By Laurine Lassalle | August 20, 2021
In the Garfield County Public Health update sent on Aug. 19, the county said that its youth vaccination rate increased by 16%, reaching the 50% benchmark for the first and second doses to 12-to 15-year-olds.

Tourists are flocking to Colorado this summer — and they’re bringing COVID with them
“’This underscores the fact that we are seeing a dilution of our vaccination rate when individuals are coming here and they are not fully vaccinated,’ Vance said.”
Source: coloradosun.com | Read more
Forest Service: Uphill fee within Aspen Skiing Co.’s rights as permit holder
“Uphillers who don’t like the pay-to-play policy can opt not to pay the fee and skin up slopes outside the ski area,” he noted, “but they won’t have services such as avalanche control or groomed slopes.”
Source: aspentimes.com | Read more
CD3 Rep. Boebert discloses husband’s work for energy firm
“Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert’s husband made $478,000 last year working as a consultant for an energy firm, information that was not disclosed during Boebert’s congressional campaign and only reported in her financial disclosure forms filed this week.”
Source: apnews.com | Read more
Opinion: What to do about the Colorado River’s megadrought ‘code red’
“While some will fall back on divisive politics of the moment — focusing on water conflicts between states or pitting farmers against cities as rivals — it would be more productive to lean into evidence of cooperation between the federal government, the seven Colorado River basin states, Mexico and Native American tribes in recent years.”
Source: washingtonpost.com | Read more
Masks in schools key to controlling delta variant spread and maintaining in-person classes, public health advises
“ … Roaring Fork Re-1 schools in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt are requiring all students to wear masks indoors. … The Garfield Re-2 and District 16 schools in New Castle, Silt, Rifle and Parachute are strongly recommending masks, especially for students who are not vaccinated. But it’s voluntary.”
Source: postindependent.com | Read more
Aspen airport operations up 20% for first half of 2021
“For the first six months of this year, the number of landings and takeoffs at ASE — the three-letter identifier for Sardy Field — totaled 23,182. That’s a 20% increase over the 19,321 recorded during the pre-pandemic January-to-June period in 2019.”
Source: aspendailynews.com | Read more
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