Latest news with #AxiosDenver
Axios
6 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Sky-high observation tower pitched for downtown Denver
A spiraling 673-foot observation tower could soon twist its way into Denver's skyline — if the city gives it the green light. Why it matters: The structure would be unlike anything else in Denver or the state, rivaling iconic landmarks like Seattle's Space Needle (605 feet) and Dallas' Reunion Tower (561 feet). Zoom in: Plans submitted this week — first reported by the Denver Business Journal — outline a sculptural, lattice-wrapped spire with an orb at the top. It would be located at 1546 California St., less than a block from 16th Street. Developer Ephraim LLC is behind the project, per city records reviewed by Axios Denver. The parcel is currently a parking lot. What they're saying: The applicant, Barry Gilbert with Denver-based construction real estate firm NAI Shames Makovsky, declined Axios Denver's request for comment. By the numbers: At 673 feet, the tower would become Denver's fourth-tallest building, trailing only: Republic Plaza (714 feet) 1801 California St. (709 feet) Wells Fargo Center, known as the Cash Register Building (698 feet) The fine print: Because the site is within a designated historic district, or possibly a landmark itself, records show the city's Landmark Preservation office must sign off on the design before any permits are issued — meaning it will face extra scrutiny.
Axios
24-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
How much Colorado is losing in federal funding
Colorado has lost $76 million in federal grants in the first half of the year, and the state is at risk of forfeiting $56 million more in the near future, according to the governor's office. Why it matters: The potential $132 million hit, charted in a new dashboard, is leading to the termination of state programs related to climate change, food assistance, environmental justice and boating safety, an Axios Denver review finds. State of play: The single largest take-back from the Trump administration so far is $36 million to build out electric vehicle charging stations across the state. The other major loss is $19 million to assist farmers with climate-smart production of crops, a priority for the Biden administration. What they're saying: "This is federal funding that has already been allocated to states by Congress, and now the administration is working to take it away," Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said in a statement. "We are doing everything in our power to protect this funding … including pursuing legal action when necessary The big picture: For every dollar in federal taxes paid by Colorado residents, the state received 90 cents in federal grants, a losing proposition compared to other states, a recent study shows. Yes, but: The Polis administration is celebrating the restoration of $282 million in federal money revoked but later reinstituted. Colorado nearly lost $173 million to track infectious diseases and another $33 million to boost immunization rates. Other renewed programs include mental health and substance abuse treatment, funding for AmeriCorps and a Federal Emergency Management Agency initiative to reduce flood damages. What we're watching: At risk is $52 million from Homeland Security and FEMA, including grants to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks and other major threats.
Axios
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Colorado braces for heightened threats after strikes on Iran
Colorado leaders are on high alert after Saturday's U.S. airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and Monday's retaliatory missile attacks on an American military base in the Middle East. Why it matters: Colorado is home to some of the U.S. military's most critical infrastructure, including Space Force bases, satellite command centers and missile warning systems — all of which could be viewed as strategic targets if tensions escalate. What they're saying: The state "has not been made aware of any Colorado-specific threats" but is working with local and federal agencies to monitor for "suspicious activity" to the state's infrastructure and military assets, Gov. Jared Polis' spokesperson Shelby Wieman told Axios Denver on Monday. State of play: On Sunday, Polis and other U.S. governors were briefed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem following the release of a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin outlining a heightened national threat environment. As of Monday, Denver International Airport remains in business-as-usual mode, a spokesperson told Axios Denver, with no changes to operations or security protocol. Context: That's because the U.S. State Department's new " Worldwide Caution" alert issued in the wake of Saturday's strikes is focused on potential threats to Americans and U.S. interests abroad, not domestic travel. DIA said it "will adhere to federal guidance should conditions change." Meanwhile, Denver's Office of Emergency Management is "actively monitoring the situation," spokesperson Loa Esquilin-Garcia told Axios, and encouraging the public "to be prepared, vigilant [and] aware of their surroundings, and to report suspicious activity to state and local law enforcement." Threat level: U.S. officials have warned of cyber attacks, travel disruptions, demonstrations and heightened security following the strikes. Zoom in: Colorado is a hub for national security assets, including: Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, which houses the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) — the eyes and ears of the U.S. missile warning system. Schriever and Peterson Space Force Bases near Colorado Springs, which manage satellite operations, global communications and defense tracking. The Cheyenne Mountain Complex, a Cold War-era bunker that's still active as a secure backup for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Between the lines: Colorado's high-value military footprint makes it a strategic asset — but also a potential vulnerability — in any conflict where space-based systems and communications infrastructure may be in the crosshairs. What we're watching: Any signals of increased security in sensitive areas, including places of worship, and growing protest activity. Already, at least one rally denouncing the U.S. strikes took place Sunday outside the state Capitol in Denver.
Axios
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Scoop: Colorado pauses campaign finance database after Minnesota shootings
The Colorado Secretary of State temporarily removed its public campaign finance database from the internet Saturday amid concerns it could reveal home addresses and other personal information about state lawmakers and other officials. Why it matters: The unannounced decision — first learned by Axios Denver — comes after a gunman targeted at least four Minnesota state lawmakers at their homes over the weekend, killing one Democratic representative and her husband and injuring another and his wife. Driving the news: The state's Transparency in Contribution and Expenditure Reporting database, known as TRACER, posts candidate filings that often include home addresses and personal phone numbers. Elsewhere in the system, it lists campaign contribution data that requires donors — including lawmakers — to list their names, full addresses and occupations. Secretary of State Jena Griswold ordered the removal after consultation with state and legislative leadership, a spokesperson said. The database went offline Saturday afternoon. It is expected to return after interested lawmakers file a request for the redaction of personal information, which is currently permitted in law. What they're saying: "In light of the weekend's tragic events in Minnesota and out of an abundance of caution for the safety of Colorado's elected leaders, the Department of State made a determination to take the public-facing campaign finance reporting website (TRACER) down briefly," spokesperson Jack Todd told Axios Denver in a statement. The big picture: The Minnesota shootings exposed the delicate balance between public safety and the personal privacy of state lawmakers and other top officials. Other states moved quickly to increase security by adding patrols near the homes of state lawmakers and removing online personal information, according to multiple media reports. The Minnesota state representative who was killed Saturday listed her home address on her campaign website. The other lawmaker who was injured put his home address on an official legislative web page. Flashback: In 2013, a parolee assassinated Colorado corrections chief Tom Clements at his home in Monument. Zoom in: The home addresses and contact information for Colorado lawmakers are not listed on the Legislature's website, which only discloses official phone numbers and email addresses. And many don't list home addresses on their campaign sites.
Axios
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Polis sued over ICE data handoff involving migrant child sponsors
In the same week that activists sounded the alarm over a recent uptick in ICE arrests at Denver's federal immigration court, a senior state official sued Gov. Jared Polis, accusing the Democrat of aiding the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The big picture: The whistleblower lawsuit — filed Wednesday by Scott Moss, one of the governor's top labor officials — alleges that Polis ordered state employees to hand over personal information on residents sponsoring unaccompanied migrant children, despite laws the governor signed explicitly prohibiting such cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. According to the lawsuit, Polis' contested directive ordered staff to comply with a Department of Homeland Security subpoena or risk termination. Why it matters: The governor now stands further at odds not only with the legislature and local leaders who have long resisted federal immigration enforcement, but with his own record. Just weeks ago, Polis increased protections for immigrants. Now he is accused of undercutting them. Catch up quick: On April 24, Homeland Security Investigations subpoenaed the state of Colorado for wage data, leave filings, home addresses and more on 35 sponsors of unaccompanied minors. Polis' office initially resisted. Weeks later, however, the governor allegedly reversed course and ordered compliance, despite a 2025 law barring such disclosures without a court order. What they're saying:"Colorado is not a sanctuary state," Polis spokesperson Eric Maruyama told Axios Denver in a statement. "Helping our federal law enforcement partners locate and, if necessary, rescue children being abused and trafficked is not only in line with the law but also a moral imperative." Polis' office told The Lever, which first reported the lawsuit, the subpoena falls under a narrow legal exception for criminal investigations, and the law allows cooperation in such cases. Flashback: In January, Polis told reporters that Colorado's role was to assist with federal criminal investigations, not act as an "extension of the (U.S.) government" on immigration enforcement. The other side: In a statement to Axios Denver, Moss' attorney Laura Wolf countered claims made by the governor's office. "ICE never claimed nor showed evidence of crimes against children," Wolf said. "ICE admits it wants the state's help finding children" it already apprehended "to make sure they're 'cared for' and not 'exploited,'" but that "does not turn civil immigration proceedings into criminal investigations," she said. Zoom out: The alleged cooperation comes as ICE has ramped up arrests in Denver's immigration courthouse. There were at least eight in the past week, including a toddler and a 6-year-old, Jennifer Piper of the American Friends Service Committee told reporters Thursday. Piper and several immigrant advocates said ICE agents have been waiting in hallways, often in plain clothes, to apprehend people attending court. "What we are seeing here I have not seen in the 20 years that I have been a part of the immigrant rights movement," Piper said. What's next: Moss is seeking an emergency injunction to block the data release, while advocates are urging the state to strengthen its immigrant safeguards.
