New US Census Bureau data shows Colorado’s population continues to grow steadily.  Colorado had the seventh fastest growth rate in the nation from 2015 to 2016, according to the data. That’s mostly due to migration into the state rather than gross birth rate. Most of the fastest growing states were in the west.

Local governments have formally designated widening parts of Interstate 25 as a top priority.

A small fish native to Colorado and surrounding states is no longer a candidate for the threatened species list.  The US Fish and Wildlife service officially categorized the Arkansas darter as “not warranted” for federal listing as endangered after a 12-month study.

Pueblo Chile enthusiasts continue to collect signatures aimed at helping to create a license plate featuring the chiles. 3000 signatures are needed for the license plate to be considered at the capitol. Pueblo Democratic statehouse representative Daneya Esgar says as of late December, they still needed about 800 more.

Candidates for Colorado Springs City Council can begin circulating nominating petitions beginning today, January 3rd. The City Clerk’s office at the City Administration Building in downtown Colorado Springs is where candidates can pick up filing documents and nominating petitions. All six district-specific seats are up for election.

An inspection of the more than 40,000 roadway guardrails throughout the state is now complete. The investigation was prompted by safety concerns. CDOT uses two different manufacturers for guardrail materials. When both are used to create one guardrail instead of keeping each manufacturer specific, the safety measure can malfunction.

El Paso County Commissioner Sallie Clark called the state of the region strong and poised for continued growth and prosperity. The remarks came during an address in front of business and civic leaders. Clark spoke about the region’s recovery from the 2008 recession, and its trajectory from negative media headlines to best-of lists.

President Barack Obama recently signed a new law that could benefit Colorado hiking trails. The new National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act calls for a national strategy to utilize partnerships for trail maintenance.

Three varieties of industrial hemp seed are the first to attain certification from the state for widespread use.  They meet the requirements to produce mature plants with less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

Pearl Harbor survivor and Colorado Springs resident Lt. Jim Downing is visiting Hawaii to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the infamous attack.  In a presentation at Lewis Palmer Middle School before departing for Hawaii, 103-year-old Lt. Jim Downing said the first emotion he experienced as Pearl Harbor was attacked was surprise.

As the city works to stabilize the Sand Creek stormwater channel, engineers are looking for creative ways to make the structures even more useful. One idea is to create a trail for fat bikes. Those have particularly wide tires that can traverse sand and leave little impact.

The U.S. Air Force Academy is engaging in some friendly competition with the Naval Academy in Maryland to see who can become more energy efficient. It’s all part of a Department of Energy reality show called Better Buildings Challenge SWAP. Miranda Ballentine oversees energy use programs at Air Force installations.

A recent realignment means a regiment of the Colorado Army National Guard is now part of the historic 10th Mountain Division. The 10th Mountain Division was originally formed to prepare soldiers for alpine combat during World War II.

Colorado parks have seen an increase in traffic in recent years as the state population grows, and has scheduled several meetings to discuss the fiscal challenges that presents. Southeast region Parks and Wildlife spokesman, Kyle Davidson, says it can be difficult for state parks to keep up.

Colorado Springs now has the tagline “Olympic City USA,” branding that suggests it’s a haven for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The city has a reputation for being fit, but health indicators show that for many residents, that may not be the case.

The new National Cybersecurity Center’s first ever cybersecurity conference wrapped up Tuesday at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. About 300 people from around the country attended the two-day event. CEO Ed Rios says the goal of the conference is to share information and create connections among people and resources across the nation.