🌱 Don't Pack Your Pet + CO School Of Mines Goes Solar + Metro Rents Up

Hello again, everybody! It's me, Brad K. Evans, your host of the Lakewood Daily. Keep reading for the most important things going on these days in town, including updates on...

• Golden's School of Mines is putting its mouth where its money is.
• Airline passengers are packing pets in their luggage.
• Those pesky Public Improvement Fees are showing up on more receipts.

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Thursday's weather: Cold with partial sunshine. High: 30 Low: 14.

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Here are the top stories today in Lakewood:

1. Solar power arrays being added to the Colorado School of Mines campus. The engineering university in Golden has installed a new set of solar arrays as part of the campus' goal of developing clean energy. The cost of the system was around $4.8 million. (CO Sun)
2. According to TSA, airline passengers are packing pets in their luggage. If you're planning on traveling from DIA this holiday season, the TSA is asking everyone not to pack their pets in their bags. TSA agents have been trained to see through the carry-ons and spot all sorts of threats, including pets. (FOX31)
3. Metro Denver rents are increasing faster than national rate. The most recent figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor, provide a snapshot of the huge increases that renters are having to pay. On a positive note, the U.S. inflation rates are cooling off. In November, the Consumer Price Index had risen more than 7 percent from the previous year. (KDVR)
4. Those pesky Public Improvement Fees are showing up on more receipts. The question is what are you paying for? PIFs are increasingly being used to offset construction and development costs, and retail shoppers are footing the bill, over and above regular sales taxes they're already paying, like the ones charged at Belmar. (7News)
5. Colorado's backcountry has too many hikers leaving their poo behind. Figuring out how to keep hikers from leaving their poop behind has outdoor recreation groups jumping into action by handing out poop-disposal kits and spurs group in Crested Butte to develop new concept.. (CO Sun)

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Today in Lakewood:

• Pilstes mat class: At MOVE! Dance Space & Arts Center. (8-9 a.m.)
• Hard Times Writing Workshop: Belmar Library. (3 p.m.)
• Merry Makers: Lakewood Library. (3:30 p.m.)

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From my notebook:

• New omicron boosters available at Jeffco Public Health Clinic. The holidays are full steam ahead. 'Tis the season to protect one another from COVID-19 and not bring the virus home. Just like the virus has evolved, so has the vaccine. Getting the updated vaccine gives targeted protection from the COVID-19 variants circulating right now. (Colorado)

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Thanks for following along and staying informed. I'll see you soon! — Brad K. Evans

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Lakewood Daily? Contact me at lakewoodpatch@gmail.com