DENVER – The Colorado Symphony says a series of marijuana-themed fundraising concerts will be invitation-only in an attempt to address concerns that audiences were going to break the law by smoking weed in public.

In a statement Tuesday, the symphony also said it was removing information about the three events scheduled to start later this month from its website and refunding tickets already purchased. The events at a Denver art gallery will now be open to a list of VIP guests by invitation.

After the symphony announced the concerts in April, the Denver city attorney warned they could violate laws against public marijuana consumption. The symphony says it worked out its new rules in consultation with the city attorney, who did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Satellite getting final tests in Boulder

BOULDER – Commercial satellite company DigitalGlobe’s new, higher-resolution imaging satellite is undergoing final tests ahead of its projected August launch date, officials said Tuesday.

DigitalGlobe and builder Ball Aerospace Corp. showed off WorldView-3 at Ball’s Boulder facility. The initial launch window is Aug. 13-14 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

From its planned orbit of about 383 miles, the satellite will be capable of capturing images of objects as small as 1 foot across, although government security regulations prevent the company from selling images with resolution finer than about 20 inches.

DigitalGlobe officials are hoping for federal approval to sell higher-resolution images, said Walter Scott, founder and chief technical officer of the Longmont-based company.

Spike strips found in Pike National Forest

COLORADO SPRINGS, – The U.S. Forest Service is warning hikers and bike riders on Rampart Range trails that spike strips have been found hidden underneath trails in the Pike National Forest.

Forest officials say strips studded with nails were buried in a trail bed so that wheeled vehicles would be damaged and unsuspecting hikers could be injured.

A warning posted on one trail said the hidden spikes caused five flat tires on three bikes and one rider suffered an ankle injury.

The Forest Service is asking for help finding those responsible.

Kitty litter explored in nuke radiation leak

CARLSBAD, N.M. – A mysterious radiation release that has indefinitely shuttered the federal government’s only permanent nuclear waste dump may have been caused by a change in the type of kitty litter that is mixed with the toxic waste.

That’s one of the theories that officials are exploring as they investigate the Feb. 14 leak at the Waste Isolation Pilot Project in southeastern New Mexico that contaminated 21 workers with low levels of radiation, The Carlsbad Current-Argus reported Tuesday.

Snowbird ski area changes ownership

SALT LAKE CITY – Ownership of Utah’s Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort is changing hands.

Resort co-founder Dick Bass announced that majority interest is going to a Wyoming businessman whose family owns a series of Utah ski areas.

Ian Cumming, a co-founder of Park City-based Powdr Corp., is taking ownership.

But the agreement won’t involve Powdr Corp., which owns Park City Mountain Resort, Summit County’s Gorgoza Park and seven other resorts across the country.

The price and terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Associated Press