The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade’s training will take place from Thursday until mid-May. Aviators will fly Blackhawk, Apache and Chinook helicopters.

Fort Carson officials say they and the visiting commanders will work with local communities to address noise and environmental concerns.

Officials say noise complaints should be directed to the Fort Carson Public Affairs Office at (719) 526-9849.

Army pilots train in Colorado because the mountains resemble the terrain in Afghanistan.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The deal includes residential and commercial property at the base. Kirkwood will continue to be involved in the property development.

If the deal goes through, Vail Resorts would operate three world-class mountain resorts in the Lake Tahoe region, including Heavenly Mountain Resort in South Lake Tahoe, Northstar California on the north shore and Kirkwood Mountain Resort.

Vail Resorts said Heavenly and Northstar pass holders will have access to Kirkwood and Kirkwood pass holders will be able to ski and ride Heavenly and Northstar.

Vail Resorts expects to close the deal next month, contingent on transfer of the U.S. Forest Service permit.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The Lightning acquired a first-round pick in this year’s draft and minor league defenseman Sebastien Piche after exchanging Downie for Quincey with the Avalanche. Tampa Bay then dealt Quincey to the Red Wings for a first-round pick and Piche.

Quincey was drafted by Detroit in 2003, and played a role as the Red Wings reached the Western Conference finals in 2007. He played in 13 playoff games, helping fill a void left by injured defenseman Mathieu Schneider.

“Obviously a guy who can play a lot of minutes, can play real well, should help on the penalty kill, should help even strength and on the power play,” Detroit coach Mike Babcock said. “He’s a good player. We’re thrilled to have him back.”

The Central Division-leading Red Wings have been looking to add defensive depth before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 27.

Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman, whose team is well outside playoff position as the season heads into its final month and a half, has made a series of trades over the past week.

The Lightning also sent defenseman Pavel Kubina to Philadelphia for a pair of draft picks and a minor leaguer, and obtained a 2012 second-round pick from San Jose for center Dominic Moore and a seventh-round draft pick this year.

“These moves are made to make us better in the future,” Yzerman said. “We’re excited about the future. These draft picks give us options. They don’t help today, no question, but again my goal is to get a Stanley Cup here, and I think we have to do some tough things along the way to do that.”

The Lightning have two first-round picks in 2012 along with a maximum of four and a minimum of three selections in the second round.

“We could hang on to some of those picks and still, if a move comes up that a team is looking to move a player, there’s a lot of options for us,” Yzerman said. “Draft-related or potentially trade-related, we’ve got some flexibility.”

Downie had 12 goals and 28 points, along with a team-high 121 penalty minutes in 55 games for the Lightning this season.

“Our organization believes that Steve Downie will add grit and skill to our lineup offensively,” Avalanche general manager Greg Sherman said in statement. “He plays the game with an edge, and we look forward to seeing the immediate and future impact he can bring to our team.”

Tampa Bay also made an additional deal involving minor league forwards with the Chicago Blackhawks, obtaining Brandon Segal for Matt Fornataro.

Piche has been assigned to the Florida Everblades of the ECHL. Segal will join Norfolk of the AHL.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

The incident happened near Mississippi and Peoria. A young child that was with the man is safe and with Aurora police.

The complex was evacuated for several hours. Police tried negociating with the man for several hours before he surrendered.

Police came to the apartment to respond to a domestic violence complaint at about 3 a.m.

La Plata County sheriff’s spokesman Nathan Harris said Wednesday the Upper Pine River Fire Protection District was called Tuesday night to put out the fire.

Harris said the explosion is still under investigation and the extent of injuries was not known.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

While Japanese food fans have their own respected restaurant of choice, it can often be difficult for those looking for new options to know where to start. So start out with these picks for top spots for Japanese food in Denver.

With a focus on using only the freshest ingredients imported from the northern countryside of Japan, Domo offers its guests an enormous amount of options of over 120 different types of fresh seafood, meat and vegetables. Second only to the food is the atmosphere. With its Japanese country museum and traditional Japanese garden, Domo provides an ambiance that cannot be matched. In the fall and summer months, be sure to dine on the gorgeous patio.

(credit: izakayaden.net)

Meaning “Sake house with small plates,” Izakaya Den lives up to its name by serving up traditional Japanese dishes in tapas form. By using this small-plate serving style, guests are able to enjoy a variety of the brilliant dishes from the menu while sipping on specialty cocktails and Sake. Izakaya Den is an excellent example of the modern culinary scene developing in Denver, and is sure to make a fitting choice for any diner in search of creative Japanese food.

Related: Top Asian Noodle Shops In Denver

With the motto “fresher sushi, bigger portions, better price,” Namiko’s offers its customers some of the best sushi the state has to offer. This Japanese restaurant specializes in preparing tempura, always using only the best ingredients and top-notch soybean salad oil. Those who don’t take kindly to raw fish can choose from udon noodle dishes, curries, teriyaki plates and donburi options. With outstanding service and a lower price tag than similar restaurants in town, Namiko’s is a must-visit for sushi lovers and Japanese food pursuers alike.

(credit: iFish/Facebook)

This newer restaurant prides itself on its chefs’ expert experience, casual yet modern dining atmosphere and use of the freshest ingredients possible. This combination results in a menu of wonderful dishes that can be enjoyed either at the bar or in the intimate setting of the dining room. Not only does iFish use many local ingredients for its dishes, it also serves local brews. This is the perfect restaurant in which to experience how great Denver and Japanese culture combine.

Related: Top New Hotspot Restaurants In Denver 

(credit: sushisasadenver.com)

Since sushi is such a key staple in Japanese cuisine, it is no wonder that Sushi Sasa has quickly climbed to the top of the list of must-visit Japanese restaurants in Colorado. With a desire to stay traditional but also the willingness to welcome modern culinary influences, Sushi Sasa offers something for culinary conservatives and gastronomic adventurers alike.

Zack Christofferson is a freelance writer living in Denver. He is a self proclaimed beer geek and enjoys tasting and discussing Colorado’s wide selection of wonderful beers. His work can be found here

Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat and Sun – Closed

Rocky Mountain Bathrooms, Inc. is a Colorado-based business that will help you design your new dream bathroom. This company specializes in maximizing the space that is available. One great addition to maximize space is a pedestal sink. These elegant sinks allow for extra storage space that a traditional vanity doesn’t provide. Rocky Mountain Bathroom can also help give the impression that your bathroom is larger than it really is, and when sharing a bathroom, the more space the better.

Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat and Sun – Closed

Timberline Kitchen and Bath will help you maximize your storage space as well as your budget. The specialty here is cabinets and the company can help you decide what is best for each individual situation. Custom creativity and a selection of fine woods sets Timberline apart from the competition. Timberline has been helping residents of Denver for over 30 years and the design and installation teams are highly experienced.

Hours: Mon to Fri – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun – Closed

Bud’s Home Improvement Thrift Store is the perfect place to go if you are living on a tight budget or just want to save some money. The shop offers over 20,000 square feet of new and antique home improvement supplies, which are all donated by area contractors, builders, suppliers, and homeowners. You will be able to find bathroom items such as fixtures, plumbing supplies, and cabinet doors. Bud’s is a not-for-profit training program whose mission is to help rebuild lives through their career and life-skill development programs for employees.

Related: Green Remodeling Resources Help Homeowners, Contractors

Hours: Mon to Fri – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sat and Sun – Closed

Hutter Wholesale Hardware has been a tradition in Denver for 30 years. If your bathroom is disorganized, Hutter Wholesale will help you fix it. The store offers many types of hardware and racks to help organize towels and other bathroom items. Hutton sells many brands of racks for any style or budget. Rusticware is one line of decorative hardware that the store carries. Deck your bathroom out with cottage-style, robe hooks, euro tissue holders, standard tissue holders, towel racks, towel rings, and a double bar set. Collections such as these come in different styles ranging from traditional to modern.

Hours: Mon to Fri – 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun – Closed

Affordable Closets has been a locally owned, family run business since 2001. They can help you better organize and maximize your space. Once you talk to the company about what you are looking for, they can help you choose accessories, which include hampers, racks, and other items, used for storage. Storage solutions can be mounted on the wall to maximize space, and will work with any style or budget.

Related: Tackling Do-It-Yourself Projects By Learning New Skills

Michelle Humphrey is a freelance writer living in Denver. Her work can be found here.