Hi Bucket Listers! It has been an eventful week with President Trump’s inauguration, and now we wait to see how the new administration will impact the Denver area. Our team at Bucket List has an eye out, so you can count on us to keep you informed with free community journalism. With change comes opportunity, and our new multimedia journalists are up to speed now on reporting stories. This week, they bring you articles on Dry January, how local influencers are dealing with TikTok’s uncertainty and a program at the Stock Show that introduces teens to veterinary medicine.
Lessons From The Marshall Fire
As firefighters continue to battle raging blazes in Los Angeles, we recently commemorated the third anniversary of the Marshall Fire. Our Ryland Scholes spoke with a Coloradan who relocated to California and is now dealing with wildfires there too. He also caught up with Allison James, Superior’s Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Manager, about the area’s rebuilding efforts and advice on what Californians and Coloradans should know next time.
Local Influencers React to TikTok Uncertainty
After the Supreme Court ruled that Congress’ ban on TikTok was legal, the video-based social media platform’s future looked dire. President Trump signed an executive order allowing the app to remain online for an additional 75 days with the intention of keeping it legal in America. One of our new reporters, Myra Kirk, interviewed Colorado content creators about the extension and the app’s precarious future.
Kicking Alcohol in Dry January
If bars appear to be less crowded than usual, it could be due to Dry January. This trend of using the first month of the year to detox after an often indulgent holiday season is gaining popularity, particularly among young people, with almost 30% of those under 30 abstaining. Lina Woelk, another new member of our team, chatted with several people who are currently alcohol-free and shared how some businesses are catering to those participating in Dry January.
Denver’s Got Game!
Board games are more than a pastime—they’re a growing industry and a beloved community tradition in Denver. From Adrian Richardson’s casual weekly meetups at local breweries to ambitious plans for new board game bars, the city’s board gaming culture is thriving. Our Daniel Montoya delved into how Denver’s enthusiasts are finding new ways to connect, compete and carve out a niche in this thriving industry and why it could make good business sense.
Last Call for the National Western Stock Show
For those who want to check out the Stock Show’s champion steer in an unconventional location, you can do so during tea time at the Brown Palace today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s free but you need to get a ticket. This is the final weekend of the National Western, and Khaleigh Reed, one of our new multimedia journalists, got the golden ticket to cover the event this year. She writes about Vet 101, a program designed to pique the interest of high school students for veterinary medicine.
Stuff We Noticed
In the wake of President Trump’s return to office and promises of mass deportations under “Operation Aurora,” Colorado attorneys are stepping up. On Jan. 17, approximately 100 non-immigrant lawyers completed training hosted by the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network (RMIAN) to represent detained immigrants pro bono. RMIAN’s efforts, which include volunteer legal observers and translators, aim to secure bond and release for those detained at the ICE facility in Aurora.
Big changes are coming to Southwest Denver with a $20 million EPA grant fueling the creation of a climate resiliency hub at the historic Loretto Heights Campus. Led by the nonprofit Commún, this ambitious project will transform the aging Machebeuf Hall into a community center with solar panels, EV charging stations, a donation-based grocery store and much more. Designed to serve in both good times and natural disasters, the hub aims to provide resources, build climate resilience and foster community connections.
News from our dog correspondent, Daphne! The Colorado Avalanche has a new teammate named Maxy, who is just over a month old. Freedom Service Dogs will ensure that this black lab puppy is ready to work when called into the game. Maxy was the nickname of long-time color analyst and Hall of Famer Peter McNab, and it was the most popular moniker in a puppy-naming contest. Good girl, Maxy!
Have you checked out our guides that come out every Sunday morning? One of our readers sent us a text that said, “The top 5 guides are bangers!” It’s fun to see you all sharing them with your friends and neighbors. Let folks know they can see them on Sunday by subscribing to our website. We release them to the general public on the following Wednesday, but subscribers get a sneak peek. How’s that for a perk? If you appreciate what we’re doing, please contribute to help make us sustainable and support community journalism. See you next week!
Warmest Regards,
Toni Tresca
Editor/Bucket List Community News
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