Colorado
Coloradans struggling to pay monthly utility bills, agencies say
Natural gas prices are lower than a year ago, when many Coloradans saw big jumps in their heating bills, but the need for help to pay utility bills remains high, say agencies that offer assistance.
For the week ending Jan. 21, the nonprofit Energy Outreach Colorado fielded 555 applications for assistance and spent $333,229, said spokeswoman Denise Stepto.
“The need is just unprecedented. These numbers are bigger than we’ve seen them before,” Stepto said.
She attributes the ongoing need to overall elevated costs. And Stepto said she’s bracing to see the fallout from the recent stretch of frigid weather when temperatures dropped into the single digits and below zero.
“We are anticipating an increase then because people were doing what they needed to do try to stay warm,” Stepto said.
The organization that provides assistance is getting its own help from the Colorado Avalanche and Xcel Energy-Colorado. The utility is donating $1,000 for every Avalanche home assist this NHL season.
So far, the Avalanche have made 171 assists at home, racking up $171,000 for Energy Outreach Colorado. Stepto said the money contributed to date will support 245 households.
Xcel is also encouraging Avalanche fans to donate directly by going to https://www.energyoutreach.org/assist/.
At Colorado’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, or LEAP, 98,814 applications were submitted as of Tuesday. The total was 96,102 at the same point in 2023, said Vanessa Pena, LEAP program coordinator.
The money for LEAP comes from the federal government. The program, in the Colorado Department of Human Services, accepts applications from Nov. 1 to April 30.
Last winter, a spike in wholesale natural gas prices coupled with cold weather drove up people’s heat bills across the state. Typical gas bills increased about 75% in late 2022 and early 2023, the staff at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission reported.
In late 2022, wholesale natural gas prices soared above $5 per unit but have decreased since then. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the price to average $2.70 per unit in 2024.
But many people continue to struggle to pay their utility bills along with higher grocery and housing costs, Stepto said.
“The cost of everything is up. It’s not just energy,” Stepto said. “The cost of living, rent, food and medication, all these things are higher.”
A state help line that people can call for about their bills or problems with their heating systems has already gotten about 83,760 calls this winter. Requests go to both LEAP and Energy Outreach Colorado and can be made by calling 1-866-HEAT-HELP or 1-866-432-8435.
In 2023, LEAP received a total of 137,341 applications for benefits. Out of those, 88,938 households received assistance. The average benefit paid last year was $559.29, compared to this season’s average of $458.80.
To qualify for LEAP, Coloradans may have an income up to 60% of the state median income, equating to a household income of less than $71,112 a year for a family of four.
“LEAP can only cover so much because it’s a one-time assistance,” Pena said.
Energy Outreach Colorado, a nonprofit started by the Colorado General Assembly in 1989, helped a total of 26,561 households with their bills in 2023. Of those, 6,053 households included older people; 7,677 included people with disabilities; and 15,120 included children.
Altogether, Energy Outreach served 38,289 households through its programs, including crisis intervention, community solar gardens and making homes more energy efficient. The organization’s money comes from donations, corporate partnerships with corporations and federal, state and local governments.
Donors include renewable energy companies Namaste Solar and Pivot Energy. In late 2023, Namaste’s monthlong Keep the Lights on Colorado campaign raised $50,000 from individual donors and corporate sponsors to provide 116 families with subscriptions to solar gardens. It was the fourth year the Boulder-based company has raised money for the subscriptions, which will cut families’ electric bills through credits for solar power.
Energy Outreach received $85,000 from Pivot Energy, a national solar power provider, in December to support its work electrifying households in Boulder County. The money will go to the organization’s Colorado Affordable Residential Energy program for heat pumps.
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Colorado
Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one
A man already driving with a suspended license from a DUI is now accused of intentionally plowing into three people on a sidewalk in Colorado.
This happened near the intersection of East Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Willowbridge Way in Highlands Ranch around 10:30 a.m. Monday.
Witnesses say that after the crash, the driver made a U-turn, went back to the scene, slowly drove past the wreckage, then left. That allowed another witness to follow him 5.5 miles down to Daniels Park, where just 15 minutes later, 28-year-old Adam Bauserman was taken into custody.
Bauserman’s demeanor was described by deputies as “unusually quiet.” At one point, he apparently asked, “Do you know if I killed the man?”
As it would turn out, the man survived, but his girlfriend did not. Flowers are piling up at the scene of a morning walk that turned deadly.
Right now, investigators don’t believe the driver knew any of those victims.
“You expect to be safe when you’re walking on the sidewalk,” said neighbor Beth Chitel, who lived just yards from the crash site until she moved last month. “These are very highly trafficked pathways around here; it could have happened to any of our friends, any of our neighbors, any of our children.”
“This was a horrific scene,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.
Thirty-five-year-old Corrine More died in the crash. Her sister tells CBS Colorado she lived in the neighborhood and was out on a walk with her boyfriend. She describes Corrine as a nursing student with a big heart who was loved by everyone who knew her, and who was beautiful inside and out.
Corrine’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Kyle Vasey, was seriously injured. He has undergone multiple surgeries and was described by a doctor in the affidavit as being at substantial risk for permanent disfigurement or death.
The other victim is 72-year-old Dianne Windes. The sheriff says she was walking in the opposite direction from the couple. She was also hospitalized with serious injuries.
Witnesses believe the driver who crashed into the three pedestrians did so on purpose.
“If we can prove that, we’ll certainly do that, but at this point we have no indication of that,” Weekly said.
It was thanks to a witness who followed that truck that deputies arrested Bauserman, who was driving with a revoked license after a DUI last year.
“Mr. Bauserman has had several revocations and suspensions of his license over the last 10 years,” Weekly said. “He should never have been on the roadway, and as a result of that, somebody is now deceased.”
Deputies did not detect immediate signs of intoxication but are waiting on blood test results.
Right now, investigators believe Bauserman was only traveling 3 mph over the speed limit, at about 48 mph in a 45 mph zone. That will need to be confirmed in the investigation.
“He should never have been on the roadway, period. And so, the fact that somebody in our community has been lost in such a tragic, horrible way. How many lives have been destroyed by this selfish act?” Weekly asked.
“I want to express my sympathies to the families, and yeah, we’re here to support you as a community, and we’re by your side,” said Chitel.
Neighbor Beth Chitel started an online fundraiser for the victims.
“The last thing that the family should be having to worry about right now is the bills that are coming,” said Chitel.
The sheriff says that 15 to 20 community members stepped up to help in the aftermath of this tragedy.
Chitel says the community has been hurt by other recent tragedies, like the death of 13-year-old Alex Mackiewicz, who was hit while in the crosswalk on his way to school. That fatal crash happened just over a mile away from this one.
“Something really needs to be done. The community is well aware of the safety issues posed there, of course. Again, we don’t expect them on the sidewalk,” said Chitel. “We need more crosswalks; we could use more stoplights. We need more safety measures put in place because, in general, it’s really not a safe road. People speed on it.”
“It’s absolutely horrible. As the sheriff, I have done a lot to increase traffic enforcement. We’ve almost doubled the size of our traffic unit. I expect my folks to be out there and be productive and ensure the safety of our citizens. These tragedies, certainly back to back, are heartbreaking for everybody involved, it shouldn’t happen,” Weekly said.
Three families are forever changed, a community is left with questions, and the investigation is just beginning.
“We need to make sure that we do our job well, and that we get justice for all these victims,” Weekly said.
Bauserman is being held on charges including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Preliminary charges Bauserman is facing include the following seven felonies and one misdemeanor:
- Vehicular homicide
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury (two counts)
- Vehicular assault (two counts)
- Assault in the second degree – crimes to at-risk persons
- Driving a motor vehicle with a license is under restraint (express consent refusal/DUI conviction)
These charges could change based on the results of the blood tests and additional information that is garnered through the investigation.
A judge set Bauserman’s bond at $100,000.
As the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office says anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Pereira at bpereira@dcsheriff.net or call (303) 660-7537.
Colorado
Eagle Rock Ranch
When Dave and Jean Gottenborg met as teenagers wrangling horses in Estes Park, they dreamed of one day running a ranch together. That dream fell by the wayside for decades until 2012, when the couple purchased Eagle Rock Ranch in the Tarryall Valley.
Talking about the Gottenborg’s ranch means deliberately avoiding words like “owners” and “ownership.” The couple “manage” their land — their preferred term — through the conservationist lens of thinkers like Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold. Visitors are welcome on the land (see some basic guidelines here), and they sell their beef by the cut, box and share at their family-owned mercantile in Fairplay.
Colorado
Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Colorado Rockies visit the Los Angeles Angels.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels?
First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.
How to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
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