DENVER – The Denver City Council wants marijuana businesses in Colorado to be granted access to federal banking institutions now that the drug is legal for commerce.

The Denver Post reported the council voted unanimously on the proclamation Monday night, five days after marijuana became legal for recreational use in the state.

Although Colorado has allowed legal marijuana use for adults, the drug remains illegal under federal law, meaning banks are reluctant to offer services. For the most part, pot shops in Colorado deal in cash only, which council members say raises multiple safety and legal concerns.

Councilman Charlie Brown called the lack of bank options for the industry “absurd” and “ridiculous,” saying no business can sufficiently operate on a cash-only basis.

Cakemaker appeals order to serve gays

DENVER – A conservative Christian organization is appealing a ruling against a suburban Denver baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex ceremony.

Alliance Defending Freedom filed an appeal Monday on behalf of Masterpiece Cakeshop. A judge last month ordered the shop to stop discriminating against gay couples.

The American Civil Liberties Union had filed a complaint against shop owner Jack Phillips on behalf of Charlie Craig and David Mullins, who were married in Massachusetts and wanted a wedding cake to celebrate in Colorado.

ADF attorney Kristen Waggoner says “forcing Americans to promote ideas against their will undermines our constitutionally protected freedom of expression.”

Deep freeze strands airport passengers

DENVER – Airline passengers have been stranded up to three days at Denver International Airport because of freezing temperatures gripping much of the East.

Some people have been there since Saturday, when cancelations that began on Friday escalated.

Airport spokeswoman Laura Coale says 41 flights have already been canceled for Tuesday, most of them commuter flights headed East. Coale says it could take days to clear the backlog in Denver once the weather clears. The airport handles more than 1,600 flights a day.

JetBlue Airways stopped all scheduled flights to and from New York and Boston on Monday. The airline planned to resume some flights Tuesday morning, and some Southwest Airlines operations in Chicago resumed Monday night.

Aspen airport reopens after deadly crash

ASPEN – Flights have resumed at the Aspen airport after the wreckage of a jet that crashed Sunday was removed from the runway.

An airport official says private and commercial flights resumed Tuesday morning after airlines worked out details on staffing and operations.

Two men from Mexico were being treated for serious injuries and another was dead after a fiery plane crash at the airport, where wealthy visitors shuttle in and out on private flights.

Sheriff’s spokesman Alex Burchetta says the plane went off the right side of the runway, flipped over and burst into flames on Sunday afternoon while landing.

Associated Press