Jace DiCola

3 weeks ago | gjsentinel.com | Jace DiCola

Thomas Busick has been a dependable, diligent and delightful employee in the restaurant sector for more than 30 years. He said it’s easy work being a good employee since he loves talking with others, and making people laugh is his preferred pastime. But when a restaurant goes out of business, even its best employees have to find new work. Securing a new job shouldn’t take long for someone with experience, gumption and personality like Busick, and yet, he remains unemployed one year later.

3 weeks ago | gjsentinel.com | Jace DiCola

Mesa County residents who visited the Love’s Travel Stop and Carl’s Jr. at 748 22 Road last Wednesday could have been exposed to the measles. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s (CDPHE) Sunday advisory, anyone who was in the building between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. is at risk of developing the virus.

3 weeks ago | gjsentinel.com | Jace DiCola

Last week, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser issued a consumer alert regarding a “sharp rise” in risky youth behaviors, such as self-harm, encouraged by social AI chatbots. Social AI chatbots operate similarly to platforms like ChatGPT but differ in their emphasis on carrying human-like conversations. Social AI chatbots also stand out because they typically emulate real people, fictional characters or professionals — including therapists.

4 weeks ago | gjsentinel.com | Jace DiCola

Larry Robinson/The Daily SentinelDave White smiles while packaging potatoes during an afternoon volunteering at the Food Bank of the Rockies on Jan. 30, 2025. According to Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” report, approximately 13.7% of Mesa County residents (21,480 people) are food insecure, which is better than the nationwide estimate of 14.3% but notably higher than Colorado’s 12.7% assessment.

1 month ago | gjsentinel.com | Jace DiCola

With grocery prices and the economy dominating conversations over the past few years, it may not be a surprise that food insecurity has increased by 17% across the Western Slope between 2019 and 2023 (the most recent year with available data). However, Feeding America’s annual “Map the Meal Gap” report reveals interesting insights, especially as the country’s economy teeters and funding for food banks is reduced or endangered.