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5280 Contributor

Jay Bouchard

5280 Contributor

Jay Bouchard is a Denver-based writer and a former editor on 5280‘s digital team. He studied English and political science at Carroll College in Helena, Montana, and earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Previously, he worked as an editorial fellow at Outside magazine in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he covered a breadth of topics including the climbing season on Mt. Everest. He now works as content manager for the LOR Foundation.

Articles By Jay Bouchard

Fans holding signs at a Denver Broncos game

The 8 Best Gifts for Denver Sports Fans

Beyond game tickets, here are eight creative ways to mark the holiday season for the Mile High City sports fan in your life.

Can Adam Frisch Really Turn Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District Blue?

The Aspen Democrat chased Lauren Boebert out of western Colorado with a savvy, practical, centrist message. Now that he’s facing a practical Republican opponent in Jeff Hurd, his mission to flip the reliably red district has gotten a whole lot harder.

Peter Heller

Why Denver Author Peter Heller Hopes the Plot of His Latest Novel Remains Fiction

Released in August, Burn chronicles societal disruption.

The Oversimplified Guide to Panning for Gold

Tips and tricks for hitting the jackpot on Colorado’s creeks and streams.

The Highline Express (from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad) runs around Horseshoe Curve

It’s Your Last Chance to Ride the Highline Express Steam Train This Summer

From the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the evening train takes passengers on a short and scenic route hundreds of feet above the Animas River.

Meet Justin Schwartz, the New Chancellor at the University of Colorado Boulder

After a long career as a nuclear engineer and administrator at state universities across the country, Schwartz arrives at CU Boulder during a pivotal time.

Camping Yurts Are Coming Back to State Forest State Park

It’s been two years since the park’s previous yurt operator quit paying its bills and stole guests’ reservation fees.

11 Important Colorado Bills That Passed During the 2024 Legislative Session

The state’s regular session wrapped without much drama. These are the most noteworthy bills that passed—plus a few that didn’t make it across the line.

No, the “State of Colorado” Isn’t Buying the Stanley Hotel—Well, Not Really

The potential sale of the historic Estes Park lodge is complicated and somewhat mysterious, involving up to $475 million in bonds and plans for a massive film center. Here’s what we know so far.

Colorado Avalanche's Nathan Mackinnon advances the puck against the Winnipeg Jets.

5 Things Every Colorado Avalanche Fan Needs to Know Before the NHL Playoffs

The Avalanche begin another pursuit of Lord Stanley this weekend against the Winnipeg Jets. Here’s what you need to know.

A fan wearing a white Nikola Jokić jersey gets emotionally as he watches the Denver Nuggets clinch an NBA Finals berth for the first time in franchise history.

7 Things Every Nuggets Fan Needs to Know Before the NBA Playoffs

The Nuggets are one of the favorites to win it all again. Here, a breakdown of how they arrived and what it will take to go back to back.

CSU classroom during COVID

Meet the First College Graduates of the COVID-19 Era

College is often touted as the best years of your life. But what was it like for freshmen in 2020? We spoke with four students to find out.

5 Things We Learned From the World’s First Psychedelic Hotline

The informational phone line, a free service provided by Colorado Springs nonprofit Unlimited Sciences, offers guidance to people interested in using psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, and other psychedelics.

iStock

Should We Increase Registration Fees for SUVs? And Other Things Being Debated In Colorado’s 2024 Legislative Session

From property taxes to education, here’s an early look at what bills might be passed into law as the Colorado General Assembly gathers this week.

Denver’s first tiny home micro-community at 38th and Peoria streets

Mayor Mike Johnston Met His House1000 Goal—But What’s His Plan for Denver’s Homelessness Crisis in 2024?

Under Mayor Mike Johnston, the city moved more than 1,000 people off Denver’s streets and opened its first tiny home micro-community before the new year. But there’s more work to be done.

Fans line up outside of Empower Field in Denver for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.

From Deion to Taylor, These Were Among the 7 Biggest Economic Drivers in Colorado in 2023

Below, the biggest boosts to Colorado’s GDP last year. Plus: here’s how they compare to events of the past.

The Oversimplified Guide to Judging Cattle

A local livestock judge teaches us the basics of bovine beauty ahead of this month’s National Western Stock Show.

Ski Slope Etiquette 101: Basic Rules for Skiing and Snowboarding in Colorado

There’s plenty of snow out there for all of us, and the sooner we can all get along, the sooner we can enjoy it. In other words, here’s how not to be an A-hole.

Portrait of author Ben Goldfarb

Salida Author Ben Goldfarb’s New Book Explores The Intersection of Roads and Wildlife

Local journalist Ben Goldfarb has spent years mapping the impact highways have on the natural world. His new book offers a window into a less deadly future.

A Beginner’s Guide to Sailing in Colorado

Despite the fact that you’ll never lose sight of land, there is a surprisingly robust sailing community in the Centennial State.

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