Thursday, August 14, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1874, U.S. explorers made the first recorded ascent of Blanca Peak, a fourteener in the San Luis Valley. The expedition was surprised to find a manmade stone fortification at the summit, possibly left there by the Ute people.

Speaking of fourteeners, an annual report on Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks—all 58 of them—revealed which peaks were the most and least popular in 2024. Find out more in our Top Stories.

We're thrilled to share some big news: our reader-owned campaign has surged past $800,000! Later today, you'll get a note from Cole, our CEO, with more info.

Learn about these 11 weird little hacks Costco shoppers should know about, from today's sponsor, FinanceBuzz.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

New ICE Facility Expected in Hudson

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is expected to open a new detention center in Hudson, a small town about 30 miles from Denver, by the end of 2025.

The facility is set to repurpose the Hudson Correctional Facility, a 1,250-bed private prison closed since 2014. ICE says its Aurora facility has run out of room due to a surge in arrests.

Before it closed, the prison was an economic driver in Hudson, a town of about 1,600 residents. In July, Mayor Joe Hammock said Hudson welcomes and "will support" the ICE facility as it would any business.

Rep. Brittany Pettersen, a Democrat, says she learned of the plan during her visit to the ICE facility in Aurora. ICE has yet to confirm the final decision.

Former K-9 Kills Police Chief's Daughter

A non-active police dog attacked and killed Burlington Police Chief Nathan Hill's 3-year-old daughter on Monday, the Kit Carson County Sheriff's Office announced.

The attack occurred in the backyard of Hill's home. Deputies found the child unresponsive and rushed her to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Hill had been housing the dog, once a narcotics detection K-9, since the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office ended its K-9 program. It was not trained as an attack dog, making the behavior "uncharacteristic," Sheriff Travis Beldon said.

The dog was later humanely euthanized. Officials haven't said what led up to the attack, which remains under investigation.

Report Shows 14ers Uptick, Favorites

The estimated number of people who climbed Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks rose by 1.9% in 2024, according to a report from the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI).

CFI estimates 265,000 hiker use days for 2024, up about 5,000 from 2023—the first increase since the pandemic-era high of 415,000 in 2020. The uptick is credited to the DeCaLiBron Loop's reopening and revised usage calculations.

The report also named the most and least popular Colorado fourteeners in 2024. Mount Bierstadt ranked No. 1, followed by Quandary Peak and Mount Blue Sky. See a list here.

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➤ Denver: All eight of Colorado's U.S. House members joined a panel Tuesday hosted by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, covering topics like tariffs, the budget deficit, energy policy, and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. (Read More)

➤ Rocky Mountain National Park: Rangers are searching for a 23-year-old Nebraska man last seen Aug. 7 in the Upper Beaver Meadows area, where a rideshare service dropped him off. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: A parent advocacy group has started a petition calling for lawmakers to amend or repeal state competency laws that have led to charges being dropped against violent offenders deemed unfit for trial. (See Details)

➤ Boulder County: The Boulder Valley School District approved a policy change allowing students and parents to opt out of curriculum with controversial themes, such as race, gender, and religion. (See Details)

➤ Grand Junction: A speeding driver crashed into a local furniture store Monday night, causing an estimated $200,000 in damage. Three people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. (More)

➤ Western Slope: A grand jury indicted seven alleged members of a "complex" auto theft ring, accused of stealing $870,000 worth of vehicles across Mesa and Garfield counties and parts of Utah. (More)

➤ Larimer County: Poudre School District announced it will release all elementary and middle school students two hours early today and tomorrow, the first two days of school, due to hot weather. (See Details)

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➤ CSU Pueblo football landed at No. 6 and Western Colorado came in at No. 10 in the DII preseason coaches poll. Colorado School of Mines was unranked but received votes. (More)

➤ Colorado Rockies pitcher Kyle Freeland recorded his 900th career strikeout on Tuesday night while leading Colorado to a 3-0 win against the St. Louis Cardinals that snapped the team's eight-game losing streak. (More)

➤ The Denver Nuggets' former mascot is suing the team's ownership for disability discrimination, claiming he was fired in 2024 because of hip replacement surgery. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | LLWS

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➤ Denver International Airport announced it will delay its feasibility study on installing small modular nuclear reactors following pushback from City Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore. (See Details)

➤ Cicis Pizza, a national all-you-can-eat pizza buffet chain, plans to reopen its shuttered Aurora and Lakewood locations under new ownership by the end of the year. (More)

➤ The Western Slope's $99 million plan to buy Colorado River water rights tied to the Shoshone Power Plant is largely supported by the public, according to input gathered by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. (See Details)

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➤ The Tipple House—a $13.5M Crested Butte home styled after an old mine and built with materials from one—is up for sale. (See Photos)

➤ An unusual traffic sign on a Castle Rock trail has been causing double takes among residents. Town officials say it's part of a rotating series of humorous signs that carry on the spirit of a popular art installation. (See Signs)

➤ Five pools and water parks across Colorado are hosting dog day events this and next month, letting guests bring along water-loving dogs to play, swim, and cool off. (See Details)

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