Hello, Bucket Listers! It’s finally time to dig out your winter coats because an Arctic chill has arrived in Colorado for what feels like the first time this season. Wind chills will reach -20 in parts of the Eastern Plains, while the Denver metro area will see low single- and double-digit temperatures throughout the weekend. Brrr! Stay inside and watch the Broncos on Sunday and kick off your Friday connecting with community news. Our team has been hard at work this week reporting on our top stories.
Colorado Reacts to Denver Hospitals Ending Gender-Affirming Care
When Denver Health and Children’s Hospital Colorado announced that they would no longer provide gender-affirming care to patients under 18 in January 2026, it sent shockwaves throughout Colorado. Some Coloradans opposed the decision, including State Representative Brianna Titone and families of transgender youths that are suing the hospitals, while others supported it, like former Protect Kids Colorado founder Kevin Lundberg. Our reporter Rowen Kennedy spoke with people on all sides of the issue about its implications and trans rights in 2026.
Downtown Bars Prepare for Broncos Playoff Game This Weekend
If you missed out on tickets to see the Denver Broncos play the New England Patriots this Sunday, don’t dismay. Denver’s downtown sports bars are working hard behind the scenes to provide “the type of energy you would get if you were in the stadium.” To learn more about how bars are preparing for the big game and its impact on business, Kathryn Cronin spoke with Ballpark District bars and fans who can’t wait to raise a glass to Jarrett Stidham and the Broncos.
Motorcycle Crashes on the Rise in Colorado
Motorcycle crashes have increased by 57% across the state in the last decade. Despite accounting for only 3% of all vehicles on the road, motorcycles account for nearly one-quarter of all traffic fatalities in the state. One of our new team members, Brooklyn Miller, a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, investigates the increase in motorcycle crashes by speaking with riders who have crashed, law enforcement and the families of those killed in crashes.
Bienvenidos Food Bank Turns 50 in 2026
Did you know that Bienvenidos Food Bank in Northwest Denver is older than Feeding America? I certainly didn’t before editing our reporter Diego Simental’s piece on the food bank’s 50th anniversary this year. In his story, Diego interviews Greg Pratt, Bienvenidos’ current executive director, and volunteers about the organization’s survival since 1976, the changes it has seen and its plans for the next 50 years.
Stuff We Noticed
CDOT Greenlights $800 Million I-270 Highway Widening. After the public comment period ended on Jan. 20, the Colorado Department of Transportation announced that it would proceed with its plans to widen and add express toll lanes to Interstate 270 in the north Denver area. I-270 is a critical corridor for shipping trucks and commuters. The state plans to add an express lane in each direction to reduce congestion. The plan is expected to cost $806 million, start in 2027 and last five years.
Colorado Pauses Reintroduction of Gray Wolves. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials announced on Wednesday that their efforts to reintroduce gray wolves would be postponed indefinitely. The move by Gov. Jared Polis’ administration comes as the Trump administration has threatened legal action, including taking control of wolf management and revoking the state’s special permit for reintroduction. Of the 24 wolves reintroduced since the program began in December 2023, 11 have died, including one earlier this week. Although it is too early to say what the delay in introduction will mean for Colorado’s wolf population, it is a significant setback for the voter-approved initiative.
District 10’s Experimental Pet Deposit Pilot Program. District 10 is testing a new program to assist residents in acquiring pets in collaboration with Denver Animal Protection and Councilman Chris Hinds’ council budget. For those with ZIP codes in District 10, the pilot program provides up to 100 eligible tenants with one-time assistance of up to $300 toward their pet deposit. The program will also cover spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchipping and pet registration fees if necessary, with no application deadline.
As we head into the weekend, all eyes are on the Denver Broncos playoff game against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. The game will determine whether or not the Broncos advance to the Super Bowl. After Bo Nix’s shocking ankle injury late in last Saturday’s playoff game, the team is going to be relying on their backup quarterback, Jarrett Stidham, to seal the deal. If you want to know more about Stidham ahead of the game, our production manager, Ryland Scholes, put together a Bucket Listicle with five fast facts about this weekend’s starting quarterback. Thank you for reading, and go Broncos!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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