Good morning, Denver.

Aurora offers a cultural week with events like the Prehistoric Aurora exhibit at Aurora History Museum (till April 5), a solo play about Bella Abzug at Vintage Theatre (through March 18) and a free spring art walk at Stanley Marketplace on March 14.

A recent watchdog report shows that investor-owned utilities like Xcel increased profits while customer bills rose over the last few years.

Colorado regulators will review its rate hike request by this summer (including a nearly 10% surcharge) amid debates over rising returns.

The Women’s Foundation of Colorado and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research released Status of Women: Colorado a Snapshot, showing nearly one in six women relied on Medicaid and one in five households led by women lived in poverty from 2019 to 2023.

Full-time female workers earned 80.9 cents per dollar compared to men (childcare challenges persist).

Colorado lawmakers rejected House Bill 1291 that would let nonprobationary teachers be evaluated every three years instead of annually; they voted 10-3 amid concerns over a ($528,000) cost and reduced oversight that some say could hinder support for all students.

Cherry Creek School Board announced Friday the appointment of a seventh independent member to chair its Internal Controls Audit Process Committee following a Denver7 investigation + the committee met on March 3 and will soon issue a request for proposal to hire a review firm.

Colorado lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill to launch an ibogaine research pilot program at five sites to study its use in treating addiction and mental health issues.

Introduced March 6 at the Capitol, the program aims to establish a safe — regulated framework despite potential cardiac risks.

Boulder community members and Colorado lawmakers have spoken out against plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, a key research hub whose public comment deadline passed Friday.

Locals call for a careful cost benefit analysis to keep NCAR open for essential weather and climate research.