Author: reporter

You’ve carved your jack-o’-lanterns, sipped your favorite pumpkin beers and readied your costume. But it isn’t truly the spooky Halloween season until you’ve felt the rush of adrenaline and cortisol that comes from being frightened out of your wits.Sure, you could pop some popcorn and put on a horror movie, but does that really do the holiday justice? Grab your friends and head to one of these immersive Colorado haunted houses instead.A quick note: Our list of haunted attractions may not be exhaustive. Check the website of each spot for the most detailed, current information about pricing, dates and times.The…

A motorcyclist was seriously injured Wednesday near Berthoud after a white truck pulled out in front of the bike, caused a crash and fled the scene, police said.Around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, the motorcyclist was driving eastbound on Weld County Road 44 when a man driving a Ford Ranger pickup truck pulled out in front and caused the biker to crash, according to a Medina alert from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.The crash happened near the border of Weld and Larimer counties.The white truck had a blue/green logo on the driver’s side door and a ladder over the top of the bed,…

LA JUNTA, Colo. — Love is in the air on the Colorado plains — the kind that makes your heart beat a bit faster, quickens your step and makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.PHOTOS: In Southern Colorado, the tarantulas are out and about — and looking for loveIt’s tarantula mating season, when male spiders scurry out of their burrows in search of a mate, and hundreds of arachnophiles flock to the small farming town of La Junta to watch them emerge in droves.Scientists, spider enthusiasts and curious Colorado families piled into buses just before dusk…

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation launched an inquiry into the chief of police at the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo last week and the chief was removed from his position, The Denver Post confirmed Wednesday.Richard McMorran was escorted from the hospital’s sprawling 300-acre campus last week, sources with knowledge of the incident told The Denver Post. He declined to comment when reached by phone Wednesday. CBI spokesman Rob Low confirmed that agents launched a “possible criminal investigation” at the mental health hospital on Sept. 26 at the request of the Colorado Department of Human Services, which oversees the facility.…

Natural Grocers plans to close its store in the North Capitol Hill neighborhood at the end of the month, pointing to failed attempts to address theft and safety issues at the location.“Despite our investment in security and loss prevention strategies over the years, these factors have continued to challenge our ability to operate our store safely and sustainably, and we have made the difficult decision to close our doors at this location,” Kemper Isely, co-president of the Lakewood-based grocery chain, said in a release on Wednesday.Isely said the decision to close the store at 1433 N. Washington St., which opened…

The 35-year-old man accused of attempted murder in a June shooting spree in Aurora allegedly apologized to his first victim before driving off and shooting two more people, according to an arrest affidavit.After shooting a 49-year-old woman in her car outside her house, Austin Benson allegedly told her and other family members who had rushed outside, “I am sorry. You aren’t the only ones, I shot multiple people before this,” before driving off, the arrest affidavit stated.Benson was arrested in June and charged with attempted murder, assault, menacing and multiple gun-related crimes, according to court records. In total, the 35-year-old…

The intensity and physicality at Colorado Avalanche practice increased dramatically Wednesday, with the last two exhibition games looming and a few spots in the opening night lineup still up for grabs.Part of that was the Avs’ back-to-back poor performances in the previous preseason contests. But it’s also because time is running short for the guys on the fringe who are trying to make one final push for a spot before the official rosters are set Monday night.“It’s nice to still be here,” veteran forward Chris Wagner said. “Just taking it day-by-day, and being grateful for every day I’m here. Just…

The Broncos will be honoring the past on Sunday against the Raiders.Denver will debut its throwback uniforms — an ode to the 1977 design and years of the “Orange Crush.” It’s safe to say cornerback Pat Surtain II is digging the old-school vibe.“I’m not gonna lie, it’s my favorite uniform combo,” Surtain said after Wednesday’s practice. “I wish we (could) wear them more (often). I have to come out (with swagger) this week and put something together.”The Broncos unveiled their throwback uniforms in April along with their Mile High Collection, which they have worn throughout the season.Wide receiver Courtland Sutton…

A trio of business closures on a popular stretch of East Colfax Avenue has left devotees of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs, Fox Run Cafe and Enzo’s End Pizzeria wondering what will take their places.But their owners, and the leader of the Bluebird District — a nine-block stretch of properties along Colfax between St. Paul Street and Colorado Boulevard — say the timing is coincidental ahead of a major construction project on East Colfax expected to start this month.“It’s not because sales are hurting,” said Steve Ballas, the 70-year-old owner and founder of Steve’s Snappin’ Dogs, which will close later this month…

The promise of frequent fast buses on a friendlier Colorado Boulevard drew 140 residents out of rush hour jams along this often-overloaded state highway and into a Colorado Department of Transportation forum recently to examine plans for an overhaul.They hovered over a tabletop map of the route for CDOT’s proposed “bus rapid transit” (BRT) — high-capacity buses that zip to sleek stations along what typically are dedicated lanes — scrawling suggestions on bright-colored sticky notes: “Free rides for the older population.” “Bus service should be easy to use.” “Please keep three through lanes.” “Lower prices.” They surrounded CDOT’s project designers…