Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2009, Michael Bennet was appointed to the U.S. Senate, filling the vacancy left by Kenneth L. Salazar, who resigned to become Secretary of the Interior.

Coloradans had a rare chance to see the northern lights on Monday. Just one day earlier, a different kind of light in the sky bewildered stargazers across the state. Find out more in Et Cetera.

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Tina Peters Involved in Altercation

Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk who is serving a nine-year sentence for breaching election data, was involved in an incident with a fellow inmate on Sunday, officials said.

Footage shows an inmate entering the same doorway as Peters, who then appears to push the inmate away. A press release on Peters' behalf claims she acted in self-defense, stating that the inmate began "striking her in anger."

The release also says Peters was placed in what it described as solitary confinement and "told she is being charged with Felony Assault." A prison spokesperson said no one was injured, stated that La Vista Correctional Facility does not use solitary confinement, and said any charges are still under review.

Peters is currently appealing her sentence in state court. Earlier this month, Colorado's attorney general accused President Trump of a "revenge campaign" meant to punish the state for her imprisonment.

Thousands Gather for MLK Day

Thousands gathered in Denver on Monday for the city's 40th annual Marade, a march and parade in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Among the speakers at the event were Wellington Webb, Denver's first black mayor, as well as Mayor Mike Johnston, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Reps. Jason Crow and Joe Neguse.

Following the speeches, which touched on everything from King's legacy to federal immigration enforcement, attendees marched roughly 2 miles from City Park to the State Capitol.

Other events in Colorado included Montrose's second annual MLK Jr. Day celebration and a Colorado Springs event at which King's only granddaughter, 17-year-old Yolanda King, spoke.

Northern Lights Seen in Colorado Again

Aurora borealis, or the northern lights, could be seen Monday night across more than 20 U.S. states, including Colorado. See photos here.

Auroras appeared in Canada and much of the northern U.S. following a major disturbance in Earth's magnetic field. Experts say the Planetary K-index, a 0-9 scale measuring geomagnetic activity, peaked at 8.67.

The lights have made several far-south appearances in recent months. In November, a severe G4 solar storm brought vibrant auroras to the state. Parts of Colorado also saw auroras in October 2024.

You can track northern lights forecasts using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Aurora Viewline.

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➤ Statewide: A proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of drivers who received diesel-contaminated gas in a fuel mix-up earlier this month. Attorney Frank Azar says repair estimates range from $8,000 to $16,000 per vehicle, not accounting for potential long-term losses. (See Details)

➤ Pueblo County: The sheriff's office released an update on its investigation into a Jan. 8 home explosion near Boone. Investigators say the explosion, which killed two people, was likely caused by a water heater installation. (More)

➤ Berthoud Pass: A Sunday afternoon avalanche caught and carried a skier 200 yards. Grand County Search and Rescue called the skier, who was uninjured, "extremely lucky." (More)

➤ El Paso County: School District 49 voted to pause enforcement of a policy requiring students to use bathrooms and lockers based on biological sex. A final vote on the rule is expected Jan. 27. (More)

➤ Eagle County: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet introduced legislation seeking to block federal funding for a road serving a controversial proposed luxury home community near Vail. The effort failed after his amendment was removed from an appropriations bill. (More)

➤ Denver: Police arrested Charles Christopher Martinez, a convicted bank robber turned crime novelist, for allegedly robbing a U.S. Bank on Jan. 5. (More)

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➤ Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin missed Monday afternoon's game after being involved in a car crash on his way to Ball Arena. He sustained minor injuries and was evaluated by team medical staff. (More)

➤ Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokić was voted into the NBA All-Star Game's starting lineup for the sixth consecutive year. He's now made eight total All-Star appearances, tied with Alex English for the second most in franchise history. (More)

➤ Broncos tackle Mike McGlinchey said he has the "utmost confidence" in backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham as he prepares to start in the AFC Championship Game. "Not everybody has a quarterback waiting in the wings as talented as Jarrett," McGlinchey said. (More)

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➤ A new study examined the economic impact of agriculture in five Western Slope counties: Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Garfield, and Rio Blanco. (See Study)

➤ Wings Pier—a Greeley seafood restaurant known for seafood boils, seafood baskets, shrimp, catfish, oysters, and chicken wings—opened a second location in Aurora on Saturday. (More)

➤ Seven GameStop locations in Colorado—including locations in Aurora, Fort Collins, Broomfield, Colorado Springs, and Loveland—have closed amid a company-wide restructuring. (More)

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➤ The Cowboy Downhill, a longtime Steamboat Springs tradition where professional cowboys race in a slalom skiing event with a rodeo-style twist, took place Monday. (See Video)

➤ An unusually friendly rabbit was seen trying to hop into several visitors' cars at Copper Mountain. Officials, while unable to capture the rabbit, confirmed it was a wild animal and not an escaped pet. (More)

➤ A bright, slowly moving object could be seen in the sky across Colorado Sunday evening, sparking viral videos and wide-ranging theories. Experts say it was most likely a SpaceX rocket. (See Video)

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