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Governor Polis touring the HyperLoop Test Facility in Pueblo (Photo courtesy SwissPod). April 18, 2025 | NORTHERN COLORADO’S WEEKLY LOCAL INDEPENDENT | Vol. 33, N. 1 SWISSPOD EYES NORTHERN COLORADO FOR FUTURE HYPERLOOP EXPANSION SEE THE STORY: PAGES 8-9 InnovateApril 18, 2025 week of Daffodils (Photo by Hilary Halliwell, Pexels.com)© 2025 North Forty News New SCENE Weekly All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, incluiding photocopying or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the editor, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by the copyright law. For permission requests, write to the editor, addressed “Permissions”, at the address below. info@northfortynews.com NorthFortyNews.com The views expresses in this publication are those of the respective contributor and are not necessarily shared by the company or its staff.What a difference a week makes. I wanted to start with a heartfelt thank you to everyone who reached out after my note last week. Your kindness means more than you know. I’m relieved to share that my dad and stepmom are doing fine. We’ve taken steps to get both of them the care they need, and my aunt even made the trip from Salt Lake City to lend a hand. Family and community support like this reminds me why I do what I do. Now, on to what’s happening across Northern Colorado—spring is in full swing and so is local life! Here are three of our most-read stories this week: Northern Colorado’s Top 25 Easter Events in 2025 We’ve pulled together the most comprehensive list of Easter events in the region, categorized by city and popularity—from family egg hunts to Easter Sunday brunches. Sonny Lubick Steakhouse: Where Fort Collins Tradition Sizzles In this week’s “Top Eats” feature, I visited this iconic downtown spot where fine dining meets Ram pride. A must-read if you haven’t been in a while. Spring Plant Sale Returns to The Gardens on Spring Creek Gardeners, rejoice! This beloved sale is back with perennials, herbs, and veggies grown right here in our community. At North Forty News, we publish new stories daily at northfortynews.com, and our weekly e-edition is available every Friday at northfortynews.com/this-week. Want news delivered to your inbox? Daily emails go out to our subscribers at northfortynews.com/subscribe. Weekly emails come with the full digital e-edition and can be subscribed to from the first page of each issue. Thanks for being part of this community. I’ll keep sharing stories, updates, and a bit of life along the way. Warmly, Publisher, North Forty News PUBLISHER’S LETTER BY BLAINE HOWERTON Your support helps us provide coverage of Northern Colorado communities. Support North Forty News in the following ways: • Advertise - ads@northfortynews.com • Donate - northfortynews.com/donate-now • READ - northfortynews.com/this-week Community, Family, and Spring Events Shine in Northern ColoradoCrocus can be divided easily in the summer after they have flowered and the leaves are spent. Simply dig up the bulbs and move them around your yard. They love sunny locations, but they can grow pretty much anywhere in Colorado. (PHOTO BY BLAINE HOWERTON)Content Fort Collins Fort Collins, at the foothills of the Rockies, is Northern Colorado’s vibrant heart. Known for its historic Old Town, craft beer scene, and outdoor recreation, it blends urban energy with small-town charm. Home to Colorado State University, it’s a hub for innovation, culture, and community. SWISSPOD EYES NORTHERN COLORADO FOR FUTURE HYPERLOOP EXPANSION 8-9 SPRING PLANT SALE RETURNS TO FORT COLLINS MAY 17–18 10-11 WHY LOCALS LOVE SONNY LUBICK STEAKHOUSE IN OLD TOWN 16-17 EGG-CITING EASTER CELEBRATIONS: NORTHERN COLORADO'S TOP 25 EVENTS FOR 2025 18 EPIC LOVE STORIES COME ALIVE AT FORT COLLINS SYMPHONY CONCERT 19 FORT COLLINS FUNERAL HOME NOW OFFERS HUMAN COMPOSTING OPTION 23 COMEDIAN-TURNED-VET BRINGS ARTISTIC TOUCH TO EMERGENCY PET CARE 27 We Love your Photos! Send yours to photos@northfortynews.com. We will share them.Loveland Loveland blends creativity with small-town charm. It’s the Northern Colorado hub for Larimer County’s events. BUILDING CUSTOMER TRUST THROUGH TRANSPARENCY 12-13 GRAND OPENING: NEW LOVELAND HEALTH CENTER EXPANDS LOCAL ACCESS 24 DRIVER HIT WHILE FLEEING POLICE, SHUTS DOWN I-25 25 Content Northern Colorado’s Weekend Forecast: Spring Snow Returns: Cold, Wind, and Winter Travel Ahead If you've already packed away the winter gear, you may want to grab it again. Friday brings a strong pattern shift. Daytime highs will struggle to reach 36°F across the I-25 corridor, with snow likely from the morning through the evening. Expect 1–2 inches in the lower elevations, and up to 13 inches in the high country. Saturday stays cloudy and cold, with snow tapering off by late morning. Expect a high near 48°F. Finally Sunday, we catch a break. There will be partly sunny skies and a welcome warm-up, with highs reaching around 62°F in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor. (Source: NOAA) It's not just news. It's your neighborhood. Be Informed. NorthFortyNews.com/subscribe Greeley Greeley, a dynamic city in Northern Colorado, is rich in agricultural heritage and cultural diversity. FREE SOIL LEAD TESTING OFFERED AT GREELEY FARMERS’ MARKET 14 JUSTIFIED FORCE: DA RULES IN MARCH 3 GREELEY SHOOTING 15 MAN GETS 156 YEARS FOR FIRING 33 ROUNDS AT EATON OFFICERS 29 SEVERANCE DECOMMISSIONS TORNADO SIRENS, SHIFTS TO MODERN ALERTS 30 Windsor Known for its small-town charm and rapid growth, Windsor offers a perfect blend of modern amenities and a welcoming atmosphere. WINDSOR HOSTS SPRING CLEAN-UP EVENT MAY 9 AND 10 22 Wellington Wellington, a charming town located just north of Fort Collins, offers a close- knit community. STRUCTURE FIRE CONTAINED NEAR WELLINGTON HOME 28NorthFortyNews.com Page: 8April 18, 2025 Swisspod Eyes Northern Colorado for Future Hyperloop Expansion CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – A bold transportation innovation could be headed to Northern Colorado. Swisspod Technologies, a Swiss-American company pioneering high-speed, zero-emission Hyperloop systems, is expanding its footprint in the state—bringing the promise of next-generation transit closer to our region. Governor Jared Polis, alongside the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), announced Swisspod’s latest investment: a new manufacturing and R&D hub in Colorado Springs. This expansion supports the state’s Transportation Vision: 2035, a plan focused on cutting air pollution and improving mobility by reimagining transit infrastructure—including a potential Hyperloop route through Northern Colorado. “Swisspod will bring good-paying jobs and help power the future of transportation in Colorado,” said Governor Polis. “This is a big win for innovation and for our state.” Swisspod is already building a full-scale prototype in EDITORIAL | BLAINE HOWERTON (Rendering provided by SwissPod)NorthFortyNews.comPage: 9April 18, 2025 Pueblo. Now, with operations growing in Colorado Springs, the company has set its sights on Northern Colorado as a potential link in its high-speed transportation network. “We’ve built deep ties to Colorado, including our test track in Pueblo,” said Swisspod CEO Denis Tudor. “Our technology is built to connect cities—Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, Denver to Greeley—in minutes, not hours.” The company plans to create 107 new jobs in Colorado, with roles in engineering, production, and operations. The average annual wage will be $67,952—above the El Paso County average. But it’s the long-term vision that has many in Northern Colorado taking notice. “Imagine being able to commute from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs in under 30 minutes,” said a local resident in Wellington. “This is the kind of innovation we need to stay connected and competitive.” To support Swisspod’s expansion: • The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $918,000 in tax incentives over eight years. • Colorado Springs City Council granted $5,250 in performance-based incentives. • El Paso County contributed $1,041,609 in additional support. Swisspod was internally referred to as Project Chocolate during OEDIT’s review. “Projects like this are putting Colorado—and potentially Northern Colorado—on the map for transportation innovation,” said Johnna Reeder Kleymeyer, President of the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC. Hyperloop systems use magnetic levitation and pressurized tubes to move pods at speeds exceeding 600 mph. Swisspod’s technology is already protected by multiple patents, and its broader vision is to connect major U.S. cities via carbon-neutral corridors. Northern Colorado—with its fast-growing population, major university hubs, and proximity to I-25—could become a future node in Swisspod’s proposed network. Learn more at swisspod.com and follow them on LinkedIn, X.com (Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.Next >