Colorado designates Agaricus julius as state mushroom
Denver Botanic Gardens reports that Colorado has a state mushroom as of February 2025. The official species is Agaricus julius, a saprotrophic mushroom that feeds on dead plant material such as leaf litter, sticks and woody debris. It grows in the southern Rocky Mountains under spruce and is distinguished by its large size, brown cap scales and almond odor.
Initial discussion about naming a state mushroom began around 2021. Alex Merryman, a volunteer at Denver Botanic Gardens and a member of the Colorado Mycological Society, led the effort. Former CMS president Greg Sanchez then began working with his Horizon High School civics class in Thornton, Colorado, on discussing the process for introducing a state mushroom. In the latter half of 2024, it was decided that Agaricus julius would be the species proposed to the Colorado General Assembly.
After testimonies on Feb. 3, 2025 by a group of mycology enthusiasts, including the Gardens’ Andrew Wilson and Horizon High School students, the bill was approved by the House committee.
Colorado Mycological Society handle: @colomycosociety.
| May 8, 2026 at 9:03 AM | Community |
Rocky Mount, NC
Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway Opens for summer
Denver Botanic Gardens says Mount Blue Sky Scenic Byway in Colorado is open for the summer after last year’s road work closure, with access tied to a Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area ticket, timed-entry reservations at recreation.gov, free passes at Denver and Clear Creek Public Libraries, and free access for registered tribal members, as the highest paved road in North America climbs about 7,000 feet over 28 miles to 14,130 feet and offers views of the Continental Divide, wildlife and alpine scenery.
| May 23, 2026 at 1:16 PM | Community |
Stolen Glenmere Park statue recovered, returned to Parks Department
The Glenmere Park statue "The Prize Catch" was recovered and returned to the Parks Department in Greeley, Colo., as detectives continue the investigation.
| May 17, 2026 at 10:08 AM | Police |
Bustang Returns to Estes Park with Wi-Fi; Timed-Entry Permit Exempt
Colorado Department of Transportation's Bustang service to Estes Park is back with Wi-Fi and comfortable rides, and visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park who ride Bustang are exempt from the park's timed-entry permit; tickets are 25% off for the first two weekends with promo code ESTES25 at Tickets.RideBustang.com for travel May 23–31.
| May 14, 2026 at 5:02 PM | Gov |
Denver Art Museum highlights Jenny Morgan's "Mother" for Mother's Day
DENVER — The Denver Art Museum is highlighting Jenny Morgan's 2013 painting "Mother," which will soon be on view in the Modern and Contemporary galleries for Mother's Day, as the Brooklyn-based artist known for realistic figuration—who studied in Denver decades ago—blends portraiture with spiritual elements and a bold red mother-and-child connection, a trajectory she has pursued across the United States since 2005.
| May 10, 2026 at 12:03 PM | Art |
Colorado families weigh kids' thru-hikes in the mountains
Colorado families who love the mountains may consider a kid-friendly thru-hike, but Dennis Coonan of Children's Hospital Colorado says aside from the risk of injury there’s little downside if they’re well prepared.
| Apr 6, 2026 at 10:54 AM | Hospital |
Quander Commends Seattle District on JBLM Projects for National Security
Maj. Gen. Mark Quander toured Joint Base Lewis-McChord on March 31, 2026, to review Seattle District projects and their role in national security, including a Mass Timber Pilot Program barracks project at JBLM, and praised the district’s efforts to build faster, more efficient projects with partners.
| Apr 1, 2026 at 1:27 PM | Gov |
CSU Highlights Rocky Mountain Throwback Landmarks
Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., says it has a Rocky Mountain throwback highlighting historic sites such as the CSU Mountain Campus (1919), Rocky Mountain National Park (1928), Estes Park (1924-1952), Fern Lake (1928), Longs Peak and Mt. Ypsilon (1941), and the Deer Ridge Highway (1931).
| Mar 21, 2026 at 1:10 PM | College |
Liess to perform at Boise Brewing March 14
BOISE, Idaho — Connor Jay Liess, an Idaho singer-songwriter and balladeer who sings about the railroad, mining, hunting and fishing tales and adventures in the Rocky Mountain wilderness, will perform Saturday, March 14, at 6 p.m. in the Boise Brewing taproom.
| Mar 14, 2026 at 11:57 AM | Restaurant |
Eighth Graders Explore Healthcare Careers at Get Into the Guts
Eighth-graders from Heath Middle School, Franklin Middle School, and Tointon Academy of Pre-Engineering learned about healthcare careers at Get Into the Guts, a program at the Aims Community College Welcome Center that connected students with healthcare professionals and educators to explore medical career paths, supported by a dozen partners including Aims Community College, Banner Health, Centennial Area Health Education Center, UNC Nursing & Health Professions, The Academy of Natural Therapy, Rocky Mountain Physical Therapy, Good Day Pharmacy, UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Center, UCHealth Radiology, Maxim Healthcare, AIMS Allied Health Sciences and Peake Wellness Center.
| Feb 19, 2026 at 1:11 PM | School |