Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1991, President George H. W. Bush promoted the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden to national laboratory status, renaming it the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

The Michelin Guide announced its 2025 awards on Monday, giving four Colorado restaurants the coveted Michelin star—making one of them the first two-starred spot in the state. Find out more in our Top Stories.

Don't let history repeat itself. Discover how you can avoid missing out on the next big real estate disruptor that top investors are already backing from today's sponsor, Pacaso.

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.

House Minority Leader Resigns

House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, the top Republican in the Colorado House of Representatives, resigned from the legislature on Monday.

In a letter to friends and supporters, Pugliese, a single mother, said she wants to be more present for her two children. She also cited the overlapping tragedies of Charlie Kirk's assassination and the shooting in Evergreen.

The decision comes weeks after Pugliese publicly clashed with Majority Leader Monica Duran while debating a resolution to condemn former Rep. Ryan Armagost.

A vacancy committee will be convened in House District 14 to select Pugliese's replacement. House Republicans will meet as soon as this week to elect a new leader.

High School 'Assassin' Game Causes Concern

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about the risks of a nationally popular high school tradition linked to two "alarming" incidents in Highlands Ranch.

The game, known as "Senior Assassin," involves high school seniors trying to squirt one another with water guns. It's led to safety concerns and law enforcement warnings in the past.

This month, the sheriff's office received two reports related to the game, including one of someone pointing a gun out of a car. Performing a high-risk stop, police found teenagers with water guns that looked like real handguns.

Because the toy guns can look real, the game could lead to "tragic" outcomes, the agency said. It urged students to "think about the risks" and find safer ways to celebrate senior year.

Four Restaurants Earn Michelin Stars

A Denver restaurant became the first two-starred Michelin restaurant in Colorado when the Michelin Guide announced its 2025 awards on Monday.

The Wolf's Tailor earned its first star in 2023. According to the Guide, it serves contemporary international cuisine blending "creativity, attention to detail, and charm."

Additionally, the Guide awarded three Denver restaurants—Kizaki, Margot, and Mezcaleria Alma—with their first stars, bringing the total number of Michelin-starred spots in the state to nine.

See a list of Colorado's new and existing Michelin awards here.

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➤ Evergreen: Jefferson County police announced that Evergreen High School will have a full-time school resource officer when classes resume. The school will remain closed through this week. (More)

➤ Western Slope: State water officials will make a decision this week on a $99 million proposal to acquire Colorado River water rights for environmental use. (See Details)

➤ Loveland: A local family says vandals burned their memorial to activist Charlie Kirk—a sign they'd put up in their yard—and smashed the back window of their SUV. (See Details)

➤ Golden: Officials transferred all juvenile offenders at the Lookout Mountain youth detention facility to other state-run facilities, a move preceded by internal concerns of "basic safety" failures. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Seven Colorado counties will ask voters this November to double or triple the local lodging tax, allowed by a new law, to pay for roads, police, housing, and early childcare. (See Details)

➤ Larimer County: An Aurora man died after falling from a paddleboard in Horsetooth Reservoir on Sunday. (More)

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➤ The Baltimore Ravens wanted to draft former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, but he reportedly told them he didn't want to play there if he wasn't going to have a chance at immediate playing time. (More)

➤ Former No. 1 pick Mickey Moniak hit two home runs and three RBIs for the Colorado Rockies against the Padres on Sunday. The 27-year-old has broken out this season with career lows in strikeout percentage (24.2%) and career highs in hard hit rate (45.6%). (More)

➤ A heated sideline argument between Broncos head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Bo Nix went viral following the team's loss to the Colts on Sunday. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NFL | MLB | Soccer

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➤ Westracks, a multi-agency transit initiative aiming to bring shuttle service to Red Rocks Amphitheatre, will begin a pilot test in the late spring of 2026. (See Details)

➤ A grassroots effort to open a new ice rink in Eagle County, spurred by local rinks' struggle to meet rising demand, is close to reaching its $925,000 fundraising goal. (More)

➤ Neighbors of Denver Zoo are pushing back against the zoo's plan to reopen a defunct west entrance in City Park, citing traffic concerns. (See Details)

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➤ A 13-year-old recovering from a heart transplant at Colorado Children's Hospital spearheaded a "pickle petition," collecting 276 signatures to successfully put fried pickles on the hospital's menu. (Read Story)

➤ RTD Roadeo, an event where the district's bus drivers navigate an obstacle course to qualify for a national competition, took place over the weekend. (See Video)

➤ Saturday Night Live cast member and Aurora native Bowen Yang broke an Emmys record with his fifth overall nomination on Sunday night. (See Details)

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