Business & Entrepreneurship

Commercialization through Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder drives $8.7B impact nationwide

Megan M Rogers — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 17:31:35 +0000

Commercialization through Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder drives $8.7B impact nationwide Megan M Rogers Mon, 03/30/2026 - 11:31

Commercialization activities through Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder had an economic impact of $8.7 billion nationally and $5.1 billion in the state of Colorado over the last five years, according to a new report from the Leeds School of Business.

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Funny business: Humor scholars on whether jokes help or hurt at work

Katy Hill — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 15:11:39 +0000

Funny business: Humor scholars on whether jokes help or hurt at work Katy Hill Mon, 03/23/2026 - 09:11

Katy Marquardt Hill

Humor has long been seen as a “soft skill,” useful for easing awkward Zoom moments or sharing a laugh with colleagues. But �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder researchers Tony Kong and Peter McGraw argue it’s far more than that.

Tony Kong

Kong, a professor of organizational leadership and information analytics at the Leeds School of Business, views humor as a strategic leadership tool that can build trust, strengthen teams and even elevate status if used wisely. McGraw, a marketing and psychology professor and director of the Humor Research Lab, warns that most people overestimate their comedic skills, causing their jokes to backfire.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today sat down with Kong and McGraw to discuss their differing takes on workplace humor, including whether to use it at all, how to make it work and when it risks turning you into the butt of the joke.

Can you each explain your views on workplace humor?

Kong: Humor has a lot of relational benefits. People bond easily when they laugh together, and it builds trust. Research shows it boosts creativity, helps people think more divergently and strengthens commitment. But a bad joke can hurt your credibility or status. It’s a double-edged sword, but the benefits outweigh the risks when used wisely.

McGraw: I agree, and I’d add that humor helps people cope with challenges and unpleasant situations at work. Where we differ is in advocacy: I’m more cautious. Most people aren’t naturally skilled at humor. In our research, we developed the benign violation theory: People laugh at things that are ‘wrong, yet OK’—they’re threatening, but safe. Remove either element, and humor fails—it’s boring if the ‘wrong’ is missing and upsetting if the ‘OK’ is missing. Workplaces can be sensitive, so humor requires skill.

Kong: Context matters. To use humor effectively, you need to know your audience—what’s ‘wrong, yet OK’ varies across groups.

Peter McGraw

McGraw: Motivation matters, too. Benign violation theory says the ‘benign’ part is your intention, and the ‘violation’ is context-specific. Minor violations are tolerated if the motivation is understood; serious violations risk offense.

I like to frame it with two strategies: Seinfeld vs. Silverman. Comedian Sarah Silverman takes big violations but finds a benign aspect; if it fails, people get upset. Jerry Seinfeld takes minor violations and points them out cleverly; if it fails, no one is offended.

Kong: Humor requires skill. You need to know your audience and be aware of the intention you project. Unfortunately, most workplaces offer little training in this. Even the world’s funniest people weren’t naturally funny at 22—it takes decades to develop this skill.

McGraw: My concern is when people are told to be funny for all the benefits but don’t have the skill. That “funny guy” may not understand why others don’t get the joke. If it fails, the correct response is immediate apology: “I meant that as a joke; I’m sorry.” Not, “Relax, it’s just a joke.”

Kong: And frequent jokes from bosses can stress employees, who may fake laughter constantly, leading to emotional exhaustion.

McGraw: Exactly. That’s why humor should be judicious. Work and play aren’t opposites, but humor overuse makes someone a clown, not taken seriously.

Kong: My favorite humor points out experiences we all notice but rarely articulate — like Ali Wong. Ali is fearless, brilliant, and incisive in talking about relatable and important topics such as careers, motherhood, cultures and relationships. Insightful humor resonates more than just showing off intellect. And humor is culturally specific—the ‘violation’ differs across groups. That’s part of why I became fascinated with it.

How did you each get into studying humor?

McGraw: I came from behavioral economics, studying emotions like regret and embarrassment. Humor wasn’t on my radar until I gave a talk and my audience laughed unexpectedly. Curious, I started researching what makes things funny, and that led to benign violation theory.

Kong: I focus on humor as a resource—how it builds relationships, improves leadership, and enhances performance. So our research is complementary: Peter studies causes; I study consequences.

Can you give examples of humor that works at work—and when it’s best avoided?

McGraw: Humor works in close relationships, when joking about a common challenge or competitor, and when punching up instead of down—rather than the boss making the joke down to an employee, it’s nicer if the employee can make the joke up to the boss. And avoid joking about absent people; it becomes gossip.

Kong: Humor is also useful to relieve stress. Joking about tasks, deadlines or shared experiences works; joking about individuals without rapport may not.

McGraw: Emotional intelligence matters. Skilled people can leverage humor; less skilled people might focus on enjoying humor rather than performing it.

Why is it valuable to have opposing views on humor research?

Kong: Humor is controversial. Debate clarifies when to use humor and the skills required.

McGraw: Debate is part of science. Critique sharpens ideas and keeps you from lazy thinking. Disagreement raises the bar for clarity.

What should people know about humor in general?

McGraw: Understand what makes something funny to begin with. We laugh at things that are wrong but still OK. If you get that, it explains why jokes fail—because they’re either boring or just outrageous—why different people respond differently, and why it’s actually really hard to thread the needle.

Kong: Humor is social information—it signals something to others. How it lands depends on the context, the audience and who’s delivering it. That’s why perspective-taking is key: Put yourself in their shoes. Humor is risky, but when done for others’ benefit, it can be really powerful. And when a joke fails, the only recovery is a sincere apology.

McGraw: Or better yet, avoid telling bad jokes. Stop being unfunny, not stop being funny.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today regularly publishes Q&As on news topics through the lens of scholarly expertise and research/creative work. The responses here reflect the knowledge and interpretations of the expert and should not be considered the university position on the issue. All publication content is subject to edits for clarity, brevity and university style guidelines.

Leeds researchers Tony Kong and Peter McGraw agree humor has real workplace benefits, but pulling it off can be tricky.

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Gas prices are rising. Here's why and what drivers can expect next

Katy Hill — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 15:59:03 +0000

Gas prices are rising. Here's why and what drivers can expect next Katy Hill Thu, 03/19/2026 - 09:59

Katy Marquardt Hill

Sticker shock is hitting drivers as gas prices surge, with many Americans paying almost $1 more per gallon than just a month ago. The national average for regular gas climbed to $3.88 on March 19, according to AAA, its highest level in more than two years. Colorado matched the national average at $3.88.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today sat down with Edward Van Wesep, professor and chair of the finance division at the Leeds School of Business, to break down how the escalating conflict in the Middle East is affecting global oil markets, U.S. gas and diesel prices, and what drivers can expect in the months ahead.

Edward Van Wesep

Gas prices have jumped recently, even though the U.S. is the world’s largest oil producer. What’s driving this?

The price of oil is set in the world market. If U.S. prices stayed low and they rose elsewhere, then U.S. producers would export and chase higher prices, and importers would divert oil elsewhere. Gasoline prices can be regional because it's expensive to transport and not everyone lives close to a refinery, but they depend ultimately on the price of oil.

How do global conflicts, like the ongoing Iran war, influence what drivers pay at the pump?

Anything that disrupts the supply for oil will cause prices to rise. Iranian supplies are directly affected, and their apparent blockade of the Strait of Hormuz makes it more expensive to transport oil out of some middle eastern countries. A lower supply means a higher price for oil and therefore a higher price for anything refined from oil, like gasoline or jet fuel.

The U.S. both exports and imports oil. How does that affect domestic gas prices?

Oil independence means that the U.S., collectively, does not lose money when oil prices rise. In the not-too-distant past, high oil prices meant that we sent more money abroad and had less to spend here. Not anymore. However, there is still a shift within the U.S. at the expense of consumers and to the benefit of producers. There is an odd view that I've never understood that oil producers in the U.S. want high worldwide production of oil. That is not true. They want high prices. Events like this war are quite good for U.S. oil producers who get the benefit of high prices but don't bear a burden of production disruptions.

Diesel prices are rising too. How does that impact everyday goods and household budgets?

Diesel is critical for shipping, construction and agriculture. The price of diesel isn't as directly visible for consumers, but it affects prices indirectly by affecting production costs. If the war doesn't last much longer, consumers may not notice these costs as they won't necessarily be passed along. That remains to be seen.

Seasonal changes and refinery limitations seem to play a role. Can you explain how?

As long as refineries have room to ramp up production, the normal summer jump in driving shouldn’t overwhelm fuel supplies.

Oil prices are high because the supply of oil is lower, not because demand is higher, so I don't expect capacity to be a problem.

Higher oil prices can encourage investment in alternatives like EVs and solar. Is that likely to have a noticeable effect soon?

It takes a long time for changes like a shift to EVs and solar/wind/renewable production to affect oil and gas prices. I don't expect these to matter in the short run except to the extent that people are already shifting away from gas and oil. The U.S. is much less dependent economically on oil and gas than it was 40 years ago. That transition will continue, mostly because renewable generation is already cheaper than coal or even gas. Higher oil and gas prices, if they are expected to last for years, will encourage that transition but companies aren't deciding on installing new wind power based on what will hopefully be a short war. Will households buy EVs? Maybe, if they were already on the fence. I know that we are driving our EV and plugging in the plug-in hybrid more religiously.

Looking ahead, what should drivers expect at the pump over the next few months?

I can't predict gas prices better than markets, but if the Strait of Hormuz is mined, making tanker traffic unsafe, or blockaded for a significant time, that must translate to much higher prices. Attacks on production and distribution facilities for oil and gas will increase prices. I have seen estimates as high as $200 per barrel or more if there is a blockade for a month, but I do not personally have expertise in these predictions.

The critical question is how long the war will last. I hesitate to say it, but there is good evidence of insider trading at Polymarket and Kalshi, prediction markets that let users wager on future events. If there is a spike in betting that the war will end soon, I would take that as credible information and bet on a drop in prices at the pump.

Finance professor Edward Van Wesep explains why producing more oil doesn't shield drivers in the United States from higher prices.

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When climate risks hit home: What it means for housing, insurance and your wallet

Katy Hill — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 17:53:44 +0000

When climate risks hit home: What it means for housing, insurance and your wallet Katy Hill Wed, 03/18/2026 - 11:53

Katy Marquardt Hill

From low-snow winters to smoky summers, climate-driven stressors are becoming a more familiar part of life across Colorado and the West. While these events can feel like short-term disruptions, they’re starting to shape bigger decisions including where people choose to live, how businesses invest and what buyers are willing to pay.

Ryan C. Lewis, an associate professor of finance at the Leeds School of Business, studies how climate risks show up in housing markets, insurance costs and business decisions. �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today recently spoke with Lewis about how extreme weather affects local economies, why some risks are easier to measure than others and what consumers should keep in mind.

This winter’s low snowpack has raised concerns across Colorado. How do seasons like this as well as drought, wildfire and floods affect local economies?

There are two main channels. The first is the immediate impact—disasters disrupt business activity, damage infrastructure and housing, and slow or halt normal operations. With drought, farmers can’t grow crops and water costs can rise. In a low-snow winter, ski activity drops.

But there are also longer-term effects. In my research on wildfires, we find that even places not directly hit but exposed to smoke see lasting changes. People go out less at first, but even after the smoke clears, behavior shifts. Firms are more likely to exit than enter, and investment declines. We think expectations play a role—people start to see these events as signals of worsening conditions.

Are housing markets starting to factor in climate risks?

There’s some evidence they are, but it’s a difficult question. Climate risks are uncertain and often affect broad regions, which makes it hard to compare similar homes with different levels of exposure.

One exception is sea level rise, which is easier to pinpoint geographically. In earlier research, we compared very similar homes—same quality and current risk—but with different long-term exposure to sea level rise. We found that homes facing higher future risk sold at a discount, and that discount grew over time, especially after around 2012 when climate risks gained more public attention.

What about risks like wildfire or drought—are those showing up in home prices?

That’s trickier. Wildfire risk is somewhat localized, but the most exposed homes—like those in neighborhoods bordering wildland areas—are also very different in other ways from homes in town, which makes clean comparisons difficult.

That said, given the increased attention on wildfire risk, I’d expect some pricing effects are starting to emerge. They’re just harder to measure.

Insurance costs are rising. How much of that is tied to climate risk?

Climate risk is a big factor, though not the only one—there’s also inflation and better risk assessment. But higher disaster risk is clearly pushing costs up.

That has a direct effect on home pricing: When insurance gets more expensive, people are willing to pay less for a home. It raises the total cost of ownership.

There’s also an indirect effect. In research on flood insurance subsidies, we found that when subsidies are removed and premiums rise, prices drop more for homes exposed to future risk—not just current risk. That suggests higher costs push people to pay more attention to long-term exposure. In other words, rising premiums get people to do more homework.

Beyond housing and insurance, how do climate risks affect consumers more broadly?

At a high level, climate change makes places more expensive to live in and maintain. If ski resorts get less snow or cities face more smoke, those places become less attractive.

Over time, people adapt. They may move, travel elsewhere or invest in new infrastructure. For example, if skiing declines in Colorado but remains strong in Canada, you could see more travel or even migration there.

There’s also adaptation at a smaller scale. Air conditioning is a great example. Heat waves used to cause hundreds of deaths, but today far fewer people die because cooling has become widespread and affordable. So while climate risks do have real impacts, people and markets also adjust in meaningful ways.

What are some practical ways consumers can factor climate risk into financial or housing decisions?

There are more tools than ever. You can look up an address and see projections for flood, fire or heat risk, both now and in the future.

That said, it’s important to understand how uncertain these predictions are. Many models include wide ranges of possible outcomes. For example, snowpack in Colorado might be projected as stable on average, but some models predict significant declines while others predict increases. That information about the downside risk is very important for a person who wants to live where skiing is possible.

So it’s not just about the average forecast—it’s about the range of possibilities. Looking at those uncertainty bands can be just as important as the headline number.

Is there anything else people should understand about how climate risk is shaping markets?

One important area is how markets themselves may evolve. In the U.S., we don’t have very flexible systems for trading resources like water across regions, largely because of regulation.

That could change. More flexible markets for water, insurance or other climate-related risks could help allocate resources more efficiently. For example, if producing artificial snow becomes more valuable, ski resorts might eventually be able to purchase water more easily.

I’m somewhat optimistic that climate-related insurance markets for things like water and insurance can help people and businesses adapt. They’re not a perfect solution, and they need to be designed carefully, but these markets could eventually ease short-term disruptions and support long-term planning in a changing climate.

From insurance costs to home values, a Leeds finance professor explains how weather extremes are reshaping everyday financial decisions.

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Why walkable neighborhoods aren’t just about distance

Katy Hill — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:10:05 +0000

Why walkable neighborhoods aren’t just about distance Katy Hill Wed, 03/11/2026 - 11:10

Katy Marquardt Hill

Ever found yourself driving to the grocery store or a coffee shop even though it’s a 10-minute walk and perfectly nice day? New research suggests the reason isn’t just distance—it’s how the walk feels.

Traditional walk scores like the ones featured on real estate websites claim to measure how pedestrian-friendly a home is, but in reality, most just gauge how close you are to stores, cafes or parks. So a 10-minute walk counts the same whether it’s along a tree-lined street or a car-heavy road with little to see. But it’s the sights, street life and amenities along the way that strongly shape whether people decide to walk, according to preliminary research shared ahead of formal journal publication.

“Distance still matters a lot,” said Sentao Miao, an assistant professor of operations management at the Leeds School of Business and a co-author of the paper, which was posted online in July 2025. “But beyond that, the bigger factor is how interesting the walk is. A boring stretch of road will discourage walking, while a street lined with shops, cafes and parks—even if you don’t enter them—encourages people to walk instead of drive.”

Designing for walkability, Miao said, requires thinking about what people see, pass and experience on the way to their destination—not just how close that destination is.

Street experience

To figure out what makes a walk appealing, the researchers, who also included Haoran Guo and Wei Qi of Tsinghua University in Beijing, and Jian Cui and Zhenning Dong of Amap Alibaba Group, studied anonymized travel data from about 100,000 people in Beijing, covering roughly 3.4 million trips over one year.

The data tracked where people started and ended their trips, how long the trips took and how they got around (locations were rounded to 100-meter blocks to protect privacy.) The researchers looked at the trips alongside maps of nearby shops, cafes and parks to see how neighborhood layout affects walking.

“You want the walk to be interesting, with different types of facilities along the way,” Miao said. “Even if you don’t go into the stores, passing by shops, cafes or parks makes the street feel lively and increases the chances people will choose to walk.”

The researchers grouped pedestrians into two types: hedonic walkers, who stroll for fun or shopping, and utilitarian walkers, who walk with a purpose, like commuting or running errands. Hedonic walkers are drawn to shops, cafes and entertainment, while utilitarian walkers care more about easy stops, like a corner store or grab-and-go café.

Human-centered design

The way neighborhood amenities are arranged also influences whether people choose to walk, the researchers found. In already walkable neighborhoods, spreading shops and restaurants throughout several streets makes walking more enjoyable. In less walkable areas, clustering amenities along a single “main street” creates an attraction and encourages people to walk.

“If your neighborhood isn’t very walkable, clustering shops and services along a single street can create a real attraction,” Miao said. “People will go there because there’s a lot to do in one place—like a Main Street. But if the area is already pedestrian-friendly, adding everything to one street doesn’t help much. It’s better to spread things out so the whole neighborhood feels lively.”

The findings have practical implications for urban planners, real estate developers and city officials, Miao said. Rather than overhauling an entire city, small, targeted improvements like adding amenities along certain streets, improving pedestrian experience by adding trees or benches, or carefully locating parks, can make walking a more attractive option and potentially shift residents away from driving for short trips.

The research also points to the importance of human-centered design. What works in one city might not work in another, and cultural habits and personal preferences also influence whether people actually walk. Looking at what residents really choose to do, or simply observing how they move through their neighborhoods, can help planners design places that better fit how people live, Miao said.

“You want to understand what people actually need,” Miao said. “Designing a neighborhood should be human-centric. It’s not just about the map—it’s about the experience.”

New research finds that the experience of a walk plays a major role in whether people leave their cars behind.

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Record-low snowpack tests Colorado's recreation economy

Katy Hill — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:07:34 +0000

Record-low snowpack tests Colorado's recreation economy Katy Hill Wed, 03/11/2026 - 07:07

Katy Marquardt Hill

Colorado’s snowpack is at its lowest in over 40 years this winter, raising alarms not only for skiers but for the many communities whose economies depend on outdoor recreation. While the lack of snow is highly visible on ski slopes, its effects stretch far beyond lift lines and even beyond Colorado’s borders.

Natalie Ooi

Natalie Ooi, a teaching professor who is the director of the Masters of the Environment (MENV) program and leads the Sustainability in the Outdoor Industry specialization, studies sustainable tourism and recreation economies. �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today recently spoke with Ooi about why this season stands out, how towns built around outdoor recreation can adapt, and what longer-term conversations communities across the Mountain West and beyond should be having.

How unusual is this winter’s snowpack, and what makes it significant?

Mountain and recreation-dependent communities are seasonal by nature, so they expect some year-to-year variation and understand that weather influences visitation. But as Russ Schumacher, the state climatologist at Colorado State University, has reported, this winter’s lack of snow is the most severe since SNOTEL data began in the early-mid 1980s. (SNOTEL, which stands for snowpack telemetry, is a network of backcountry weather stations that gather and transmit snowfall data.)

One of the challenges in talking about the outdoor recreation economy is that while we often focus on mountain resort communities, there are recreation-dependent communities across the entire state. What’s unique about this season is that all of Colorado is effectively experiencing drier than normal conditions. Typically, you might see some areas below average, others at or above average. This year, it’s widespread. That scale is worth highlighting.

It’s easy to focus on mountain resorts because snow—or the lack of it—is so visible. But it’s just as important to think about river-based and other recreation-dependent communities and what this will mean for them in the spring.

Beyond skiing, which activities feel the impact of a low-snow winter?

River-dependent activities like rafting, tubing and fly fishing are also affected. At these record low snowpack levels, some rivers may limit recreation from a conservation perspective to protect aquatic species and overall river health if water levels drop too low. That creates a difficult dynamic for communities whose economies depend heavily on outdoor recreation and visitation. This isn’t just about ski towns—businesses tied to camping, backpacking, guiding, gear rental, retail and campground operations also feel the effects when visitation patterns shift.

In mountain resort and ski communities, there’s always season-to-season variation. Many ski industry managers will tell you average snowfall years are actually the best for business. Too much snow can create operational challenges and even deter some visitors. But in an average year, there’s enough snow to keep serious skiers happy while still being manageable for beginners and intermediates.

Why is this season particularly hard for ski resorts?

I think this season is more challenging because you have that double whammy of not just a lack of snowfall, but high temperatures as well. If it’s cold and there’s a lack of snowfall, most ski areas can make enough snow to build a solid base and open a good percentage of terrain that the majority of visitors and residents will use. They can still operate at a capacity where people continue to ski and aren’t canceling vacations.

This year, though, the combination of low snow and high temperatures makes that much harder. It’s just not feasible to make enough snow when it won’t stick around. The energy and water demands required to make snow that quickly melts simply aren’t a sound management decision.

What does low snowpack mean for spring and summer river economies?

Low snowpack affects not just total water levels but also runoff timing. Shorter, earlier runoff windows can compress rafting and fishing seasons, making it harder for outfitters to plan staffing and reservations.

How does wildfire complicate the picture?

Wildfire is a real challenge for Colorado and the West. One of the biggest issues is how far-reaching the impacts are because of smoke. There are legitimate public health and safety concerns about being outside and inhaling that level of smoke.

Even if Colorado doesn’t have a wildfire in a major tourism region, a fire in Wyoming, Utah or elsewhere can still affect the tourism season. As the climate warms and wildfire risk increases, that disruption could become more common across multiple states.

How do resorts try to adapt in the short and long term?

It’s hard to pivot in the short term. That kind of rapid adaptation is challenging. But over the years, many ski resorts have adopted diversification strategies to reduce their reliance on winter and ski tourism as their sole focus.

If you look at Alterra Mountain Company and Vail Resorts as examples, there’s a reason they own and/or manage resorts across the U.S. and internationally. This season, for instance, the East Coast is having a phenomenal year. That likely means above-average visitation and revenue there, which can help offset declines in places experiencing poor snow conditions. Geographic diversification is one key strategy.

What ripple effects are communities seeing beyond lift ticket sales?

Lift ticket revenue is obviously a key part of a ski resort’s business, but it’s not the only one. This season provides a clear illustration of that dynamic.

For example, Vail Resorts reported that season-to-date skier visits were down 20% compared to the prior year. But lift revenue was down just 1.8%. That gap is largely due to season pass sales, which provide more stable, upfront revenue.

At the same time, other categories saw much steeper declines: Ski school revenue was down nearly 15%, dining revenue down almost 16% and retail and rental revenue down about 6%.

So even when lift revenue appears relatively stable, the broader resort ecosystem is feeling much sharper impacts.

Lower visitation can also affect seasonal employment, reducing hours or shortening contracts for workers who rely on winter tourism income. That hurts resort companies, but it also impacts the supporting businesses—often mom-and-pop shops or other chains—that rely on visitation. When overall visitation drops, all of those businesses feel it. The ripple effect across the entire community is significant.

What conversations should communities be having right now?

Economic diversification is key. Outdoor recreation is a powerful way to bring in visitors and outside dollars, especially in rural places that can’t attract manufacturing or may never become the next tech hub. But communities need to think strategically about broadening their economic base and leveraging their outdoor recreation infrastructure as a quality of life attractor for other industries.

Some places are already doing this. Steamboat Springs, for example, has built out an entrepreneurial ecosystem that is rooted in outdoor recreation and the mountain lifestyle but is separate to the tourism economy. Grand Junction has leaned into mountain biking and its access to public lands, while also seeking to attract outdoor recreation brands to diversify its economy beyond traditional extractive industries. These kinds of investments help communities spread risk across seasons and industries.

It’s also about managing the visitation they do have and maximizing visitor spending. How do you encourage people not just to camp on adjacent BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land and leave, but to come downtown? How do you design trail systems so they start or end downtown, prompting visitors to buy an ice cream, a coffee or a meal?

Outdoor recreation expert Natalie Ooi explains how low snowpack is testing mountain and river communities, reshaping tourism strategies and raising questions about climate resilience.

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Research sheds light on unintended consequences of money laundering regulations

Megan M Rogers — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:34:07 +0000

Research sheds light on unintended consequences of money laundering regulations Megan M Rogers Tue, 03/10/2026 - 11:34

Colorado Arts and Sciences Magazine

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder economist Alessandro Peri finds that when authorities cracked down on offshore money laundering, criminals redirected that money into domestic businesses and properties.

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Tax rules are changing: What to know before filing in 2026

Katy Hill — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:34:29 +0000

Tax rules are changing: What to know before filing in 2026 Katy Hill Tue, 03/03/2026 - 09:34

Katy Marquardt Hill

A new tax law brings several updates that could affect your 2025 return and how you file in 2026, especially if you earn tips, are 65 or older, claim family credits, or own a home and itemize state and local taxes. Most changes take effect Jan. 1, 2026, while some apply retroactively to 2025 as part of last summer’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Nicole Lazzeri

“For many people, the biggest differences won’t be shocking,” said Nicole Lazzeri, assistant teaching professor at the Leeds School of Business. “But certain provisions, like how tips and overtime are treated, can have an immediate impact on your refund or tax bill.”

Lazzeri recently spoke with �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder Today to explain the changes to watch for, who is most affected and what steps taxpayers should take now.

What do taxpayers need to know about the recent tax law changes?

The legislation makes permanent many of the temporary tax changes from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and adds new provisions affecting tips and overtime, standard deductions, family credits, and benefits for seniors. Some updates apply retroactively to 2025, while most take effect Jan. 1, 2026. Certain provisions, like tax treatment for tips, overtime, and student loan benefits, can have an immediate impact on refunds or tax bills.

What’s the biggest change for taxpayers this filing season?

The biggest change affects people who itemize deductions, which is about 10% of taxpayers right now. But this could increase that number: The state and local tax deduction (known as SALT) has increased from $10,000 to $40,000, although there’s still an income threshold of $500,000. This is a big deal for middle-income homeowners who previously didn’t benefit enough to itemize, like someone who just bought their first home. This means a couple paying state income taxes, property taxes and mortgage interest could now exceed the standard deduction and reduce their taxable income by thousands more than before.

Will everyone benefit from this change?

Not necessarily. If you don’t own a home or you only pay state income tax, it’s less likely that you’d benefit. Charitable donations or other deductible expenses can make itemizing more worthwhile, but otherwise, many people will still just take the standard deduction.

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder VITA program at a glance

What: Free basic tax preparation
Who: Qualifying taxpayers, including those earning about $67,000 or less
Who prepares returns: IRS-certified �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder student volunteers
Cost: Free; Schedule your appointment here

Did the standard deduction change?

Yes, it increased by $750 for everyone. It’s a modest increase, so it won’t have a huge impact for most people.

Will this change how much tax I actually owe?

Potentially, but it won’t be a huge impact for most taxpayers. The tax brackets increased slightly, meaning you’ll pay a bit more or less in each bracket, but withholding estimates weren’t changed. If you’ve been over-withholding, you might get a bigger refund. If you’ve been under-withholding, you could still owe, just slightly less. So your refund will depend on how much you have already paid toward your 2025 tax liability.

Will the new rules affect tip income?

Yes. If your tips are included in your W-2 income—or if you’re self-employed, like an Uber driver—you could get a significant deduction, up to $25,000. The reporting requirement doesn't begin until 2026, but the tips need to be included in income. This is expected to impact a lot of service workers.

Are there any new tax breaks for older taxpayers?

There’s a $6,000 “senior deduction” for taxpayers over 65. It helps reduce the portion of Social Security that’s taxable. Social Security is still reported, but for many seniors with fixed incomes, this deduction can significantly lower their taxable income. The limits are $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly, so higher earners may not benefit.

Tax changes at a glance

Standard deduction: Slight increase lowers taxable income for most filers
SALT cap: Raised to $40,000, helping homeowners who itemize
Child tax credit: $2,200 per child, now indexed to inflation
Senior deduction: Extra $6,000 for taxpayers 65 and older; offsets Social Security income
Tips and overtime: Up to $25,000 (tips) / $12,500 (overtime) tax-free

Has the child tax credit changed?

The child tax credit increased from $2,000 to $2,200 and will now rise with inflation. It’s available to many taxpayers—up to $200,000 for single filers or heads of household, and $400,000 for married couples filing jointly. Part of the credit is refundable for lower-income families, and there’s an additional child tax credit of up to $1,700 per child that can give money back even if you owe little or no tax.

When should I consider getting help filing my taxes?

If your tax situation is more complex than just a W-2—like if you have tips, self-employment income, investments or multiple deductions—it’s a good idea to get help. Even if you don’t owe taxes, filing can get you a refund and protects against identity theft.

Free support is available through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, and certified or trained volunteers can ensure you claim all deductions and credits correctly. �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder students from the Leeds School of Business are offering free, in-person tax preparation through the VITA program from Feb. 20 through April 11, 2026. The program serves qualifying residents, including students, lower-income filers, seniors, people with disabilities and non-English speakers.

A Leeds tax expert explains how the new law changes deductions, credits and other tax rules.

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Startup brings cancer care technology to Lab Venture Challenge

Megan M Rogers — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 21:54:01 +0000

Startup brings cancer care technology to Lab Venture Challenge Megan M Rogers Thu, 02/26/2026 - 14:54

Doctoral student William Frantz is developing microscopic droplets designed to help doctors track radiation therapy in real time. His pitch at the Lab Venture Challenge highlighted how the technology could make cancer treatment more precise and less harmful, particularly for pediatric patients.

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Snow news day: The challenge of climate reporting as newsrooms cut back

Megan M Rogers — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 18:59:49 +0000

Snow news day: The challenge of climate reporting as newsrooms cut back Megan M Rogers Fri, 02/13/2026 - 11:59

College of Communication, Media, Design and Information

The College of Communication, Media, Design and Information's Water Desk has expanded the services it offers to resource-starved reporters who need help covering complex stories around the Colorado River and climate change.

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Business & Entrepreneurship

Commercialization through Venture Partners at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder drives $8.7B impact nationwide

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