Hello Bucket Listers, and happy National Western Stock Show season! If you haven’t seen our new Tuesday newsletter, you need to check it out. It’s The Bucket Listicle and each week we’ll feature five fast facts about something unique going on in our community. We started with the National Western Stock Show, often referred to as “The Super Bowl of Stock Shows,” which kicks off tomorrow with 16 days of Western fun.
And speaking of new, we want to introduce you to the aspiring journalists and journalism entrepreneurs joining Bucket List this spring from CU Boulder and MSU Denver. We’re very excited to welcome Anika Seithoff (CU), Daniel Magaña (MSU), Brooklyn Miller (CU), Ella Berry (CU), Fabian Dierks (MSU), Linus Loughry (CU) and Sophia Collins (CU). They’ll be out and about in our neighborhoods sharing your stories, so say hello. Now, let’s dig into the news.
Summit County Starts Year With Record Low Snowpack
Despite having four world-class ski resorts, Summit County is currently running low on snow. The area entered 2026 at the zeroth percentile, the lowest level recorded since scientists began collecting data 44 years ago, in 1981. Learn more about why snowpacks are so low in Summit County and the surrounding areas from Ryan Spencer’s article, originally published by The Summit Daily and COLab.
Artists Make the Case For and Against AI in Tattooing
To AI or not to AI? That appears to be the question that workers in every industry are currently facing, including tattoo artists across Colorado. Our reporter, Khaleigh Reed, spoke with artists in Boulder and Colorado Springs who use AI, as well as those who despise it, to get a comprehensive picture of how the tech is having an impact on the art.
The Sheepadoodle Mayor of Niwot
Last summer, Niwot voters elected Onyx, a fuzzy six-year-old sheepadoodle, as mayor. While Niwot’s mayoral role is largely symbolic due to the absence of a formal municipal government, residents appreciate having a top dog. Sadie Gonzales went to Niwot Jewelry & Gifts, where Onyx collaborated with dad, Jason Scarbrough, who serves as campaign manager and spokesperson, to learn more about the city’s canine mayor.
Stuff We Noticed
Feds Helping Investigate Glendale Fire. Special agents from Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) have joined the investigation into an apartment complex construction fire that occurred on Jan. 2 in Denver near Leetsdale Drive and South Forest Street. The ATF has deployed its National Response Team (NRT) to investigate the cause of the fire, which destroyed a 283-unit apartment building, and remains unknown.
Flu Cases in CO Remain High. At the end of December, Colorado set a record of 791 flu hospitalizations reported in one week, the highest number since state health officials began tracking it in 2004. Although the most recent numbers, released earlier this week, show a decrease, hospitalizations remain high, with 737 cases reported through Jan. 3.
RiNo Approves Denver’s First Open Consumption Area. On Monday, the Denver City Council approved the River North Art District (aka RiNO) as the city’s first common consumption zone. This change will enable visitors to transport alcoholic beverages between businesses in the plaza near the Mission Ballroom.
That’s it for this week, Bucket Listers! We say it often, but it’s never enough, thank you for your interest in our work and for your support. Our publisher, Vicky Collins, wrote out our intentions for the new year and if you haven’t read them yet, you can find them here. Now, with a little money in the bank (which is also never enough), our team is ready to dive into 2026. We appreciate you joining us on the ride and hope you enjoy the stock show kickoff this weekend!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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