Blog
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Fish for free this weekend in Colorado, June 4-5
Pictured at John Martin Reservoir State Park
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife invites resident and nonresident anglers of all ages and skillsets to participate in its annual Free Fishing Weekend on June 4 and 5.
Free Fishing Weekend is a great way to get outside with family and friends and take advantage of Colorado’s extensive opportunities to fish for a variety of cold and warm water fish species.
No license is required this weekend to fish. All other rules and regulations apply. To learn more about fishing season dates and license fees, visit cpw.state.co.us.
From reservoirs, lakes and ponds to rivers and high-altitude streams, Colorado is a highly-regarded fishing destination. The state features nearly 9,000 miles of trout streams -321 miles of which are designated Gold Medal waters – and over 1,300 angling locations, all managed for high-quality fishing. Angling in Colorado equals opportunities to catch some 35 species of warm-water and cold-water fish.
In 2021, over one million fishing licenses were sold in Colorado. The sale of fishing licenses allows CPW to maintain and conserve fish habitat that promotes better fishing in the state.
For more information on fishing in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/Fishing or read the 2022 Colorado Fishing Brochure – Pesca en Colorado (En Español)
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USDA Celebrates National Homeownership Month
Biden-Harris Administration Highlights Programs to Help People Buy, Build, Repair and Rent Homes in Rural, Tribal and Underserved Communities
WASHINGTON, June 1, 2022 – Today, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack kicked off National Homeownership Month. As part of this nationwide celebration, USDA is highlighting programs that help people in rural, Tribal and underserved areas buy, build and repair affordable homes and to pay their rent in America’s smallest towns and communities.“Rural America is a place everyone can call home,” Vilsack said. “Whether you own or rent a home, you’re invested in and connected to the place you live. While homeownership is a good fit for many, renting also helps people invest in their communities and build wealth for their families and generations to come. This kind of support is critical now more than ever, as people in rural communities face rising housing costs. Through single family, multi-family, rental assistance, home repair and other programs, USDA Rural Development is here to improve rural livability across the United States.”Expanding opportunities for homeownership and rental assistance strengthens rural communities and helps families and individuals build wealth and achieve financial stability. This month, the Department is highlighting the ways the Biden-Harris Administration has invested $26 billion to help nearly 150,000 families and individuals in rural and Tribal communities buy, repair and build homes through USDA Rural Development’s single family housing programs. More than 35,000 families and individuals living in socially vulnerable communities have achieved homeownership.In addition, USDA works to increase access to affordable multifamily rental housing opportunities in rural America. The Department is currently helping nearly 300,000 tenants afford to pay their rent through rental assistance. This assistance ensures low-income and elderly tenants pay no more than 30% of their income in rent. For more information, visit Multifamily Housing Programs | Rural Development (usda.gov).USDA is also highlighting ways it is working with lenders and community partners to open the door to homeownership for rural Americans who have been unserved or underserved for far too long. USDA is hosting events across the nation to showcase affordable housing programs for lenders, community partners, families and individuals. USDA’s single family housing programs are:- The Single Family Housing Direct Home Loan Program provides loans directly to families and individuals so they can buy or build homes in rural America.
- The Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program enables USDA to partner with private lending institutions, backing their loans to help families and individuals buy homes in rural areas.
- The Home Repair Loan and Grant Program provides loans and grants to help families and individuals repair their homes to make them safer, healthier places to live.
- The Mutual Self-Help Housing Grant Program provides grants to qualified organizations to help them carry out local self-help housing construction projects.
Visit the Single Family Housing program webpage or contact a Rural Development State Office to learn more about USDA homeownership programs near you.Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov. -
CPW launches Keep Colorado Wild Pass public outreach campaign for income-eligible resident input and education
DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced today the launch of a public outreach campaign to engage with Colorado residents, in particular disproportionately impacted communities, and educate the public about the availability of a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Annual Pass during their annual vehicle registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). CPW will host small focus groups around the state and accept submissions on an online comment form (in English and Spanish) to understand the use and affordability of state parks for income-eligible residents.
“Colorado has beautiful state parks that should be accessible to anyone in the state who wants to be in nature,” said Lauren Truitt, Assistant Director for Information and Education with CPW. “The Keep Colorado Wild Pass and the proposed income-eligible pass is a win-win because it allows more residents to get out and enjoy the great outdoors while also supporting the protection of our lands, waters and wildlife.”
CPW will host 23 in-person focus groups and two virtual focus groups this summer. The schedule and registration links can be found on the calendar here. Participants in the in-person focus groups will receive a $25 gas or grocery gift card. For those who are unable to attend a focus group, residents can provide feedback on the comment form, open until Aug. 15, 2022.
About the Keep Colorado Wild Pass:
In 2021, Colorado legislative leaders and Governor Polis signed a bill that will allow Coloradans to easily access state parks and invest in Colorado’s wildlife and great outdoors. Senate Bill SB21-249Starting on Jan. 1, 2023, Colorado residents can buy a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass during their annual vehicle registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Residents will have the option to buy or decline the pass every year when registering a passenger vehicle, light truck, motorcycle and/or recreational vehicle.
The Keep Colorado Wild Pass is an annual state park that includes:
- Entry to all Colorado state parks
- Protects wildlife, lands and water
- Supports search and rescue programs
- Funds trails and local community projects
- Helps make the outdoors safe and available to all
Money raised from the pass will be used to protect wildlife and healthy habitats, search and rescue programs, avalanche education and outdoor equity learning programs. For more information, read the 10 Keep Colorado Wild Pass funding goals.
DENVER – La división de Parques y Vida Silvestre de Colorado (CPW) anunció hoy el lanzamiento de una campaña pública para involucrar a los residentes de Colorado, en particular las comunidades afectadas de manera desproporcionada, y educar al público sobre la disponibilidad del pase anual Mantenga a Colorado Silvestre y el proceso de registro durante el registro anual de su vehículo a través de la División de Vehículos Motorizados (DMV). CPW organizará pequeños grupos de enfoque en todo el estado y aceptará presentaciones en un formulario de comentarios en línea (en inglés y español) para comprender la accesibilidad y la asequibilidad de los parques estatales para los residentes elegibles por ingresos.
“Colorado tiene hermosos parques estatales que deberían ser accesibles para cualquier persona en el estado que quiera estar en la naturaleza”, dijo Lauren Truitt, Subgerente de Información y Educación de CPW. El pase anual Mantenga a Colorado Silvestre y el pase con descuento elegible para residentes con ingresos elegibles es beneficioso para todos porque permite que más residentes salgan y disfruten del aire libre al mismo tiempo que apoyan la protección de nuestras tierras, aguas y vida silvestre”.
CPW organizará 23 grupos de enfoque en persona y 2 grupos de enfoque virtuales este verano. El horario y los enlaces de registro se pueden encontrar en el calendario aquí. Los participantes en los grupos de enfoque en persona recibirán una tarjeta de regalo de $25 para gasolina o tarjeta para el mandado. Para aquellos que no puedan asistir a un grupo de enfoque, los residentes pueden brindar comentarios sobre el formulario hasta el 15 de agosto de 2022.
Acerca del pase anual Mantenga a Colorado Silvestre :
En 2021, los líderes legislativos de Colorado y el gobernador Polis firmaron un proyecto de ley que permitirá a los habitantes de Colorado acceder fácilmente a los parques estatales e invertir en la vida silvestre y el aire libre de Colorado el proyecto de ley es conocido como SB21-249.A partir del 1 de enero de 2023, los residentes de Colorado pueden comprar el pase Mantenga a Colorado Silvestre de $29 durante el registro anual de su vehículo a través de la División de Vehículos Motorizados (DMV). Los residentes tendrán la opción de comprar o rechazar el pase todos los años al registrar un vehículo de pasajeros, camioneta, motocicleta y/o vehículo recreativo.
Mantenga a Colorado Silvestre es un pase estatal anual que incluye:
- Entrada a todos los parques estatales de Colorado
- Protege la vida silvestre, las tierras y el agua.
- Admite programas de búsqueda y rescate
- Financia senderos y proyectos comunitarios locales.
- Ayuda a que el aire libre sea seguro y esté disponible para todos.
El dinero recaudado con el pase se utilizará para proteger la vida silvestre y los hábitats saludables, los programas de búsqueda y rescate, la educación sobre avalanchas y los programas de aprendizaje de equidad al aire libre. Para obtener más información, lea los 10 objetivos de financiación del pase Mantenga a Colorado Silvestre.
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States With the Most Diverse Millennial Populations
U.S. Census data puts the number of millennials in the United States at roughly 72 million, surpassing Baby Boomers to make millennials America’s most-populous generation. While not as racially and ethnically diverse as the up-and-coming Generation Z, millennials are more diverse than the population as a whole, and increasingly so; according to the Pew Research Center, immigration is adding more numbers to the millennial population than it is to any other demographic group in the United States.
The ascendance of the millennial population is happening in tandem with the decline of America’s majority white population. According to U.S. Census data, about four out of 10 people in the United States identify as non-white, a proportion that has been increasing for decades. But the period from 2010 to 2020 marked America’s first-ever decade with both a decline in the white population proportion and a decline in absolute numbers. This means that all of the nation’s population growth over the past decade was attributed to racial and ethnic minorities.
America’s overall shift away from a majority-white country is all but certain. The U.S. Census forecasts that the United States will be “minority white” in the year 2045 with a demographic makeup of: 49.7% whites, 24.6% Hispanics or Latinos, 13.1% Blacks, 7.9% Asians, and 3.8% multiracial populations. America’s up-and-coming generations will be the most diverse in the nation’s history.
At the state level, diversity among the millennial population and among the general population track similarly. In 2020, data computed by the Census Bureau using a Diversity Index, which measures the probability that two randomly chosen people will be from different ethnic and racial groups, showed that Hawaii had an overall DI score of 76%, the highest among the states. Employing the same methodology to determine the makeup of the millennial population here, Hawaii also ranks the highest among U.S. states, with a DI score of 78.4% for millennials.
Hawaii was followed by Western states—California (69.7% overall, 69.1% millennial) and Nevada (68.8% overall, 69.1% millennial). The lowest collective DI scores—the states with the least amount of diversity—are found in a cohort of Northeastern states that includes New Hampshire (23.6% overall, 25.5% millennial), Vermont (20.2% overall, 19.9% millennial), and Maine (18.5% overall, 17.6% millennial). West Virginia and much of the Midwest and Mountain West also report some of the least diverse populations.
At the metro level, from 2010 to 2020, white population proportions declined in 381 of America’s 384 metropolitan areas, according to the Brookings Institution. And 2020 Census data shows there were minority-white populations in 32 of America’s 100 largest metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas. Among the 100 largest metropolitan areas, Honolulu, Hawaii had the highest DI score for millennials, 77.9%, followed by cohorts of urban locales that are spread out across the United States.
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 ACS PUMS 5-Year Estimates. To determine the locations with the most diverse millennial populations, researchers at HireAHelper calculated a Simpson’s Diversity Index for the millennial population (aged 26–40 in 2020) using the demographic groups listed below.
The analysis found that Colorado has a DI score of 51.7% for its millennial population. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:
- Diversity index: 51.7%
- Hispanic or Latino: 311,323
- White alone non-Hispanic: 903,151
- Black or African American alone non-Hispanic: 61,881
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone non-Hispanic: 7,395
- Asian alone non-Hispanic: 50,497
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone non-Hispanic: 1,735
- Some Other Race alone non-Hispanic: 2,882
- Multiracial non-Hispanic: 41,913
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
- Diversity index: 62.8%
- Hispanic or Latino: 14,683,791
- White alone non-Hispanic: 39,345,611
- Black or African American alone non-Hispanic: 9,452,537
- American Indian and Alaska Native alone non-Hispanic: 466,138
- Asian alone non-Hispanic: 4,827,317
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone non-Hispanic: 143,112
- Some Other Race alone non-Hispanic: 218,701
- Multiracial non-Hispanic: 1,957,067
For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results,* you can find the original report on HireAHelper’s website: https://www.hireahelper.com/lifestyle/cities-with-the-most-diverse-millennial-population/
*Please interpret small numbers and/or zeros with caution. The data used in this study is derived from Census survey data, which due to chance, could miss individuals in small population groups.
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The Countdown is on… CCA’s 2022 Annual Convention is in Two Weeks
ARVADA, Colo. – Colorado Cattlemen’s Association’s (CCA) 2022 Annual Convention is rapidly approaching in two weeks and we want to see you “steak your claim” in Colorado Springs! This year’s event will be June 13-15, at the Colorado Springs Marriott in Colorado Springs, Colo. This event will be one to remember as industry members gather to network, work for the industry, and create plans to tackle some of the most serious issues Colorado agriculture has had to face. For added fun, expect a full evening of special presentations and an evening reception with live music!
CCA has all the details worked out for you and we are here to help. CCA members, non-members, and allied stakeholders are all invited to attend. Registration is still open for the event so call the CCA office at 303-431-6422 to get registered or register online for the event.
On the first day of Annual Convention, CCA members will engage in the formation of grassroots policy development through the 10 different steering committees. Share your perspective and help form policies to shape the future of the association and the broader industry. On the second day, attendees will spend the morning networking in the trade show before attending the 5th Annual Ranching Legacy Symposium. This year’s symposium sessions will feature critical updates on critical issues from industry experts, and then explore the campus of connections at the National Western Center with a panel of invited partners at the new center. The evening will conclude with the Masquerade in the Mountains reception and banquet with live music, reconnecting, special presentations, and a delicious beef dinner! Wednesday will wrap up the event with a current issues and awards breakfast and the CCA business session.
As always, these events would not be possible without CCA’s sponsors! We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support. -
Global Running Day
Whether you run to stay healthy or to train for another marathon, there’s nothing like hitting the trails after a breezy morning stretch.
But where you go for a run can make or break your stride.
To mark Global Running Day on June 1, Lawn Love compared over 180 of the largest U.S. cities to rank 2022’s Best Cities for Runners.
We looked at dozens of metrics, such as access to parks and running trails, trail difficulty, and environmental conditions. We also considered access to running groups, foot specialists, footwear spending, and gym affordability.
Check out the 10 fastest (and 10 slowest) cities for runners below, followed by key insights from our report.
Key insights:
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Golden trails in the Golden State: Run for the hills — California leads the way in our ranking, with San Francisco (No. 1) bringing home the gold.
San Fran raced to the peak, thanks to its abundant running communities and access to high-quality trails and running supplies. This city’s varied (and often hilly) terrain gives runners of all levels an opportunity to test their endurance and strengthen their knees.
San Diego (No. 3) and Oakland (No. 5) follow slightly behind, with Los Angeles (No. 10) rounding out the top 10. Nice weather, strong running communities, and quality routes brought these Golden State cities to the top. -
Runner’s high: Elevated terrain is often a challenge for runners, but that doesn’t stop high-altitude cities from reaching the top of our ranking. With an elevation of more than 4,000 feet, Salt Lake City (No. 4) rises to the summit of our ranking by providing access to challenging, top-quality running paths.
Go even higher in Colorado Springs (No. 6), where the elevation is nearly 6,000 feet. This city soared to the top with a strong running community and the most running trails to explore out of all the cities in our ranking. -
Catching your breath in Arizona: Poor air quality and stifling heat make Arizona a challenging state to train for a race. Many runners seem to embrace the difficult environment in Phoenix (No. 17) and Tucson (No. 18), where runners can explore abundant trails with numerous running groups.
Phoenix suburbs Gilbert (No. 161) and Chandler (No. 155) didn’t fare so well. The lack of quality running paths, foot specialists, and running communities, in addition to extreme heat, slowed down these cities.
Our full ranking and analysis are available here: https://lawnlove.com/blog/best-cities-for-runners/
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Where Colorado Ranks Among Fastest-Growing Economies
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, experts have struggled to understand exactly what is happening with the U.S. economy. In the spring of 2020, many observers feared massive job loss and economic hardship, but robust federal stimulus helped stem the worst effects. Through much of 2021, the labor market experienced an unprecedented combination of relatively high unemployment, high numbers of job vacancies, and record numbers of job switches. Better-than-expected economic performance throughout the pandemic has given more households the means to spend on big purchases like houses or durable goods—leading to massive price increases in many categories. Looming over it all was the pandemic itself, as waves of COVID-19 could suddenly depress demand in categories like hospitality and travel or snarl the supply chains that the economy relies on.
Today, the economy does show some worrying signs. Since the start of the year, the U.S. stock market has suffered staggering losses. Inflation has dominated headlines for almost a year, with the Consumer Price Index rising at its fastest rate in decades. The U.S. Federal Reserve has embarked on a series of interest rate hikes to cool demand in the economy, which should reduce inflation but could also send the economy into a recession. Global events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and a recent wave of COVID cases in China could continue to disrupt global supply chains and make it harder to find certain goods. Amid all this news, consumer confidence in the economy has fallen in recent months and remains below pre-pandemic levels.
But by many other key indicators, the overall economic picture is strong. Real GDP grew by 5.7% over 2021, powered by strong consumer demand and a rebound effect for many industries after a difficult 2020. The unemployment rate has fallen to 3.6%, just above the pre-pandemic level of 3.5%, and the tight labor market has helped push workers’ wages higher. Thanks to increased savings and strong investment returns during much of the pandemic, more entrepreneurs have had the resources to start new businesses.
In some ways, these factors suggest that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was a significant but temporary disruption to a strong run of economic growth. Business applications are up 60% over their numbers in early 2017, while total GDP has risen by 27.3% over the same span, and per capita income is up by more than a quarter, from $50,765 to $63,759. All of these positive signs for economic growth have happened despite relatively flat growth in the overall population and number of Americans who are employed, which suggests that businesses and their employees are becoming more productive over time.
While population growth has slowed at the national level, states with increases in population and employment growth are seeing an extra boost to their economies. A greater number of residents and workers means more entrepreneurs are available to start businesses and more workers are around to help companies grow. The region that has seen this effect most directly is the Mountain West, where states such as Nevada, Idaho, Utah, and Montana have seen rapid growth in both population and employment recently.
These locations join prospering Sun Belt states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina in enjoying growth across a number of economic indicators. The states with the fastest-growing economies all have more people, more workers, and more business creation contributing to greater incomes and GDP.
Researchers at Filterbuy combined these factors to determine the states with the fastest-growing economies between 2020 and 2021. The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and U.S. Census Bureau. Researchers calculated a composite score based on the following factors, all weighted equally:
- GDP growth
- New business growth
- Employment growth
- Per capita income growth
- Population growth
Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:
- Composite score: 53.44
- GDP growth: +10.3%
- New business growth: +18.5%
- Employment growth: +3.5%
- Per capita income growth: +7.7%
- Population growth: +0.5%
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
- Composite score: N/A
- GDP growth: +10.1%
- New business growth: +23.4%
- Employment growth: +2.8%
- Per capita income growth: +7.2%
- Population growth: +0.2%
For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Filterbuy’s website: https://filterbuy.com/resources/states-with-fastest-growing-economies/
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Public health officials have identified a presumptive monkeypox case, awaiting CDC confirmation: Risk to public remains low
STATEWIDE (May 26, 2022) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Public Health Laboratory has confirmed a presumptive monkeypox case and is awaiting CDC confirmation. The person who acquired the virus recently traveled to Canada where an outbreak of monkeypox is occurring and is cooperating with state and local public health epidemiologists who are investigating and notifying people who may have been exposed. There are currently no other presumptive positive monkeypox cases in Colorado.The risk to the public continues to be low. While anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected monkeypox case can acquire monkeypox, people who have recently traveled to a country where monkeypox has been reported, or men who have sex with other men, are currently at a higher risk for monkeypox exposure.The presumptive case is a young adult male who sought care in the Denver area, and is a man who has sex with men. He is now isolating at home with his condition improving. Coloradans should be aware of monkeypox symptoms and prevention. Monkeypox often begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion. Typically a rash develops within one to three days after the onset of fever, often beginning on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. In recent cases, the rash often starts in the genital or perianal area. The associated monkeypox rash can look similar to other infections like syphilis or herpes. The incubation period for monkeypox is usually seven to 14 days, but can range from less than five to 21 days. Most people recover within two to four weeks. Coloradans can help prevent the spread of monkeypox by avoiding close physical contact with individuals who have acquired monkeypox, wearing a high-quality mask if they will be spending time in close contact with someone experiencing symptoms of monkeypox, and contacting a health care provider as soon as possible if they experience symptoms.“We want to reassure Coloradans that the risk to the public is low, but we also want them to know of the symptoms so that we can catch other cases as soon as possible,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of the CDC, local public health agencies, and health care providers in learning about, treating, and investigating this case.”Two vaccines are available for the prevention of monkeypox, and Colorado is requesting vaccines from the federal government. The vaccines can be used to prevent infection or decrease the severity of infection among those who have had a high-risk exposure. An example of a high-risk exposure would be unprotected contact between a person’s skin or mucous membranes and the skin, lesions, or bodily fluids from a person known to have active monkeypox virus in their body. The determination of risk and the need for vaccination following an exposure is made by a medical provider with consultation from public health.Monkeypox outbreaks are currently occurring in Canada, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, and other European countries. Monkeypox is rare in the United States, but has happened in people with international travel or people who had contact with animals from areas where the disease is more common. In 2021, there were two monkeypox cases in the United States associated with international travel, and there was a monkeypox outbreak in six states involving 47 cases associated with contact with infected animals that had contact with small mammals from Ghana in 2003. Neither of these outbreaks included cases in Colorado.In parts of the world where human cases of monkeypox more commonly occur, people are typically exposed through bites or scratches from infected rodents and small mammals, preparing wild game, or having contact with an infected animal or possibly animal products. Monkeypox does not happen regularly in animals that live in the United States. The virus can also spread from human to human through large respiratory droplets, but this likely requires prolonged face-to-face contact. Other human-to-human ways of spreading the virus include direct contact with body fluids or broken lesions, and through contaminated clothing or linens. There are two known types of monkeypox.
