Megan Verlee

Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, with her short, moussed hair and armloads of religious tattoos, is a bit of a Lutheran rock star at the moment (although the term makes her cringe). Her new book — a memoir on faith and her religious experience — recently made the New York Times best-seller list.

The Waldo Canyon fire destroyed more than 300 homes in June. Some former residents are now preparing to move back — others just want to move on. One woman who lost her home is still holding on to charred relics that she recovered from her home, including a blackened Christmas ornament.

The city is surprisingly diverse, with more than 90 languages spoken in its public schools. Local officials and residents are working to turn that diversity into an economic advantage — but creating a sense of community among such diverse groups is no small challenge.