Reporter

Noelle Phillips

Noelle Phillips is an award-winning, 30-year veteran of newspapers. She has covered everything from local government in rural Kentucky to combat in the Middle East. At The Denver Post, Noelle writes about air quality, wildfires and other topics impacting the quality of life in Colorado. She is a Nashville native so that's the accent you hear during interviews. She's a proud Western Kentucky University journalism school graduate. Noelle believes in holding the powerful accountable and that strong journalism is the best hope for democracy.

Featured Stories

Suncor's Commerce City oil refinery is pictured on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Environment |
Secrecy surrounds Suncor’s shutdown, but experts say it’s a sign the company’s invested in Commerce City

January 13, 2023 at 8:34 a.m.

While Suncor has said the refinery won't be fully operational until the end of March, work at the site is ongoing as crews repair damaged equipment and work on maintenance...

As the one-year anniversary of Colorado's most destructive wildfire approached, survivors have shared feelings of anger, grief and fear that it could happen again. They also continue to navigate a long slog toward rebuilding that can be frustrating and test the patience of almost anyone.

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Environment |
Marshall fire survivors rely on kindness, generosity, therapy as they recover from trauma: “I can’t do it alone”

December 30, 2022 at 6:03 a.m.

As the one-year anniversary of Colorado's most destructive wildfire approached, survivors have shared feelings of anger, grief and fear that it could happen again. They also continue to navigate a...

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Environment |
Colorado is producing some of the world’s best female athletes 50 years after embracing Title IX

June 21, 2022 at 3:35 p.m.

Title IX is "the 37 words that changed the world.” Here’s a look at how Colorado embraced women’s sports and produced some of the world’s best female athletes.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission will consider two proposals -- including a potential ban on the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment along the Front Range -- as part of its efforts to clean the air.

Environment |
Colorado wants to curtail use of gas-powered lawn equipment in bid to clean the air. But how far will state go?

December 11, 2023 at 5:36 p.m.

On Wednesday, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission will consider two proposals -- including a potential ban on the sale of new gas-powered lawn equipment along the Front Range --...

A documentary series on the Love Has Won cult, which was based in Colorado until its leader died in 2021, is bringing increased attention to its bizarre teachings about 5D ascensions, galactic communications from Robin Williams and the dangerous use of colloidal silver to cure diseases.

Entertainment |
Love Has Won documentary drew attention to Colorado cult. But does it make light of cult dangers?

December 7, 2023 at 8:50 a.m.

A documentary series on the Love Has Won cult, which was based in Colorado until its leader died in 2021, is bringing increased attention to its bizarre teachings about 5D...

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Transportation |
Free RTD rides reduced Front Range air pollution in July and August. But is that enough?

December 1, 2023 at 10:56 a.m.

People who chose to ride the Regional Transportation District's buses and trains in July and August likely reduced the number of vehicle miles traveled by 145,393 a day, or 9...

Crime and Public Safety |
Medical procedure or a crime? Trial opens for paramedics who gave Elijah McClain fatal dose of ketamine

November 29, 2023 at 6:01 p.m.

Jurors will be asked to decide whether two Aurora paramedics violated the law when they injected Elijah McClain with a maximum dose of the sedative ketamine in a trial that's...

Once Nathan Woodyard completes reintegration at the Aurora Police Department, he will be given a duty assignment at the chief's discretion.

Crime and Public Safety |
Officer who put Elijah McClain in neck hold returns to Aurora Police Department, will get $212,546 in back pay

November 28, 2023 at 6:07 p.m.

Once Nathan Woodyard completes reintegration at the Aurora Police Department, he will be given a duty assignment at the chief's discretion.

The Christmas Eve fire that injured two workers at Suncor Energy's Commerce City refinery began when a vapor cloud leaked from an unused pump valve and exploded as the facility was being shut down after extreme cold caused equipment failures, according to a federal investigation.

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Crashes and Disasters |
Vapor leak from unused pump caused Christmas Eve explosion and fire at Suncor refinery, OSHA finds

November 28, 2023 at 2:43 p.m.

The Christmas Eve fire that injured two workers at Suncor Energy's Commerce City refinery began when a vapor cloud leaked from an unused pump valve and exploded as the facility...

State regulators informed AdventHealth Porter on Oct. 12 that one of the Denver hospital's two 50-year-old boilers was in such disrepair that it was no longer safe to operate and gave the health system 60 days to fix it or risk civil and criminal penalties.

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Health |
Failed inspection shut down one of Porter hospital’s boilers 18 days before second unit broke, state records show

November 20, 2023 at 6:00 a.m.

State regulators informed AdventHealth Porter on Oct. 12 that one of the Denver hospital's two 50-year-old boilers was in such disrepair that it was no longer safe to operate and...

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Transportation |
Spirit Airlines will pull out of Denver airport in early 2024

November 2, 2023 at 8:57 p.m.

Spirit Airlines is departing Denver International Airport early next year as the budget carrier struggles financially.

Colorado's power companies can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 98.5% by 2040 without new government policies or programs that would increase costs to consumers, according to a new modeling report from the state.

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Environment |
Colorado’s electricity sector can cut greenhouse gasses by 98.5% by 2040, new analysis says

November 2, 2023 at 6:03 a.m.

Colorado's power companies can reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 98.5% by 2040 without new government policies or programs that would increase costs to consumers, according to a new modeling...

Last November, the EPA announced that seven local governments and non-profit agencies would receive $2.9 million to conduct air pollution monitoring across Colorado, including in Metro Denver and the Northern Front Range, which are in severe violation of national air quality standards. The grants were part of President Biden's Inflation Reduction Act and were among 132 projects in 37 states receiving at total of $53.4 million.

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Environment |
A Colorado nonprofit turned down $500,000 from EPA to monitor air pollution. Here’s why.

October 23, 2023 at 11:10 a.m.

Last November, the EPA announced that seven local governments and non-profit agencies would receive $2.9 million to conduct air pollution monitoring across Colorado, including in Metro Denver and the Northern...

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