For the worst of the worst criminals, there’s one prison in the mountains of Colorado that they won’t be able to break out of. Isolated from the rest of the world, this prison is the only supermax in the country, and is a life sentence to all who go there.
What pumpkin spice item each state is searching most
Fall means changing leaves, sweaters, football and pumpkin spice. Most people either love or hate it, but no matter what, it gets a lot of buzz. Google Trends dug into search data to see what each state is talking about in the world of pumpkin spice this year.
Things like pumpkin spice latte are out of the running — everyone looks those up. Here are a few weird ones. How many do you want to try?
Alaska – Pumpkin Spice Cheerios: Making an encore appearance this year, these Cheerios have won the hearts of folks not just in Alaska but also in Utah, Missouri, Massachusetts and Maine. Honestly, pretty good idea.
Colorado – pumpkin spice donut: Folks in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas and Tennessee love Krispy Kreme’s seasonal donut. Move fast if you want one; they’re in stores till Oct. 8.
Arizona – pumpkin spice SPAM: I … what? Why? Come on, Arizona! “Hints of cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg give this new, limited edition variety a subtle sweetness.” Ahem, I’ll pass.
Hawaii – pumpkin spice dump cake: A dump cake is easier to make than a standard recipe — you just dump all the ingredients in one bowl and mix it up. Adding a little pumpkin spice? No prob.
Delaware – pumpkin spice deer jerky: Not a food everyone is craving — it’s a meme. It’s basically tough guys poking fun at the pumpkin spice fanatics. “Forget your pumpkin spice; it’s deer jerky time!” No kidding, you can find merch online.
Ah, the vast landscape of pumpkin spice across the U.S. I know, not my normal hard-hitting news, but I bet you’re going to tell someone about pumpkin spice SPAM.
Bye-bye fireworks? The drones are here
They’re mesmerizing, a little magical and … pretty dangerous. That’s why a handful of cities are going high-tech this year, replacing their Fourth of July fireworks with drone shows.
In California, Lake Tahoe, La Jolla and Ocean Beach are going the drone route this year. The same goes for Salt Lake City, Utah, and Boulder, Colorado. That is not surprising, given how dry those states are. Utah is one of the states most prone to wildfires, with 800 to 1,000 yearly.
WTH? The Colorado Department of State posted a spreadsheet with partial passwords to its voting machines on its website. No biggie, they say, since each machine has two unique passwords, needs physical access and is stored in an ID-only area. Someone needs to get fired — now.
$1 million
For a starter home. That’s the new norm in 237 U.S. cities, up from 84 cities just five years ago. Metros in Wyoming, Colorado and Connecticut are new on the list.
Cities and states that pay the most for IT and cybersecurity jobs
When I say I host a national tech radio show, you can imagine the questions I get. “Can you help me get my PC to turn on?” “Why is my phone doing this weird thing?” Sorry, my friends. I’m here for all your digital lifestyle questions, but leave the IT work to those pros.
U.S. counties with the longest life expectancy
Do you work with multiple windows open on your computer? Here’s how that hurts your health.
Do you want to live longer? Move to Colorado. Eight of the 25 top U.S. counties with the longest life expectancy are in the Rocky Mountain state.
Love this idea: Two Colorado sisters launched a dating app designed for people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. Users can tap “X” or “❤️” to sort through matches, and there’s a “Dateability Deets” section where you check off terms that describe your condition. Check it out on iOS and Android.
$44.6 million
For a stegosaurus named “Apex.” The 27-foot-long skeleton sold on auction for 10 times more than expected, making it the world’s most valuable fossil. Apex was discovered in Colorado just two years ago and is thought to have lived well into old age. Must’ve been taking his Flintstones vitamins …
Keanu believe this story: A 65-year-old Colorado woman is convinced she’s been in a relationship with actor Keanu Reeves since 2022. It’s a romance scam, and she’s already in for over $5,000. Her “proof”? A fake driver’s license. She says she’ll only stop believing if Keanu himself walks through her door. If you know this woman, tell her to call me — I know Keanu.
Piece of mind: Colorado just became the first state to pass a brainwave privacy law as part of the Colorado Privacy Act. Any company with mind-reading gadgets needs your consent before snooping through your thoughts. Sounds good, but, in reality, how would we know?
No phones in schools: That’s the goal, but parents want 24/7 access to their kiddos. Colorado’s Brush School District (paywall link) thinks it has the solution: Keep phones out of sight, and only use them with a teacher’s approval. And if the kids get caught, they have their phones taken away for the remainder of the school day. Share this one with a teacher.
How to bet on the Big Game online without breaking the law
When is the Big Game this year? It’s going down on Sunday, Feb.12th, and we’re ready to party hard. Online sports betting is a popular way to make things more interesting. It’s not legal in all states, however. If you’re not careful, you might run into trouble.
Fall is coming! Use this map to see where the leaves are changing
The changing of seasons usually brings with it a beautiful display of colors. Going from winter to spring or summer to fall, the myriad of hues can transform the landscape overnight.
But few seasonal changes are as dramatic as when it shifts from summer into the bright yellows, oranges and reds of fall. It can be a spectacle to behold, and many people travel around the country to see it up close. Tap or click here for seven travel hacks to save you time and money on your next trip.
Data breach alert: Unemployment applicants at risk for identity theft
COVID-19 may decimate the health of at-risk patients, but those of us who aren’t getting sick are still feeling the economic sting of the deadly virus. Since March, more than 30 million jobs have been lost in the U.S., leaving many Americans to rely on unemployment benefits to make ends meet.
Dozens of mysterious drones swarm same area every night
Technology touches most facets of life these days. From making everyday home appliances “smart” to robot vacuum cleaners handling tedious chores, tech has definitely made things better.
It’s even changing the world of toys. Instead of children finding a boring old doll under the Christmas tree, there’s a good chance they received something more exciting like a drone. You just need to be careful which drone you gift. Tap or click here to find out how some Chinese-built drones could be spying on you.