Tuesday, February 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1873, Fort Collins was incorporated. By the 1920s, it had grown from a frontier outpost to a prosperous agricultural community, thanks largely to expanded farming technology, the arrival of the railroad, and the founding of what is now Colorado State University.

Ready for winter to be over? If you answered yes, you're in luck, at least according to the stuffed marmot at the center of Boulder's unique Groundhog Day tradition. Find out more in today's Top Stories.

A young woman has been awarded millions by a New York jury after suing over a double mastectomy she received as a minor during a gender transition. The verdict, the first of its kind to reach trial, raises questions about medical standards of care. Host Ayla Brown explains on today's episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here.

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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.

Democrats Unveil ICE Bills

Democrats at the State Capitol plan to introduce a package of bills that would regulate how ICE operates in Colorado and further limit local law enforcement's cooperation with the agency.

Two forthcoming bills announced Monday would tighten data-sharing restrictions, increase detention facility oversight, limit enforcement action at certain locations, and prohibit law enforcement officers from wearing masks while requiring them to display identification.

One bill, already introduced, would allow Coloradans to sue federal immigration officers in state court for alleged constitutional rights violations and strip agents of immunity defenses that could otherwise shield them from liability.

SJR26-006, a resolution calling on the federal government to uphold "humane enforcement practices," passed on the Senate floor Monday on a party-line 20-12 vote.

Failed Transformer Leaves 195K Without Power

A power outage in the southeast Denver area left more than 195,000 customers without power Sunday afternoon, impacting everything from 911 calls to airport operations.

Just before 3 p.m., a transformer failed at an Xcel Energy substation, damaging other equipment and triggering the outage. A bystander's video appears to show a large electrical arc following the failure.

In Parker, police phone lines went down for roughly an hour, with 911 calls forwarded to the sheriff's office. Denver International Airport's trains lost power, prompting passenger evacuations.

Due to the grid's interconnectivity, the outage also impacted CORE Electric. Power was restored to all impacted customers by 5:47 p.m., Xcel said.

Flatiron Freddy Predicts Early Spring

Flatiron Freddy, a top-hat-wearing stuffed marmot serving as Boulder's very own Groundhog Day mascot, made his annual winter prediction Monday morning.

Each February, Freddy, with the help of his handlers, arrives at the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage in a surprising way—by canoe, bobsled, or even zipline.

Yesterday, after an Olympic curling-style entrance, the former nature center mount didn't see his shadow, meaning Colorado will get an early spring. See a video here.

Punxsutawney Phil, Freddy's national, living counterpart, did see his shadow, portending six more weeks of winter. Regardless of the weather, spring will officially begin March 20.

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➤ Denver: A coalition of transportation advocacy groups gave Mayor Mike Johnston a D on a report card assessing his record on transportation safety, access, and mobility, saying many of his commitments remain unmet two years into his term. (See Report)

➤ Fort Collins: A suspect is still on the run after allegedly kidnapping a woman at a local business, driving to Broomfield, crashing into a home, and fleeing on foot. (More)

➤ Douglas County: Commissioners removed general public comment from meetings, drawing backlash from residents. The county cited a desire to keep meetings focused, prevent intimidation, and prioritize "real outcomes." (See Details)

➤ Fraser: Police arrested two restaurant employees who allegedly followed a pair of diners into Winter Park after they left without paying. Authorities say the employees confronted the pair, assaulted them, and threatened them with a gun. The alleged dine-and-dashers were cited for petty theft. (See Details)

➤ Boulder County: Fire officials say Xcel Energy re-energized a downed powerline during power restoration amid high winds on Dec. 19, igniting a small fire after county dispatch reported the damage to Xcel. (See Details)

➤ Rocky Mountain National Park: The Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board declined to advance a proposal to change the name of Longs Peak to Beaver Mountain. The proposal was one of 97 peak-renaming requests filed last year by a Colorado attorney. (See Details)

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➤ Colorado women's basketball came back in the fourth quarter Sunday to force overtime and beat Kansas 69-66. (See Highlights)

➤ Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray was selected as an NBA All-Star reserve for the first time in his nine-year career. He'll play alongside Nikola Jokić, marking the first time since 2010 two Nuggets have participated in the All-Star Game. (More)

➤ Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph will remain in Denver next season as all NFL head coaching openings have been filled. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ The median household income from 1970 to 2023 grew more than 60% in Colorado, placing it among a small group of states with income growth above 50%, a new analysis found. (See Map)

➤ Denver-area governments launched a nearly $200 million program last week to offer incentives for electrifying homes and commercial buildings over the next four years. (See Details)

➤ A bipartisan bill would create two new incentives to help Coloradans better disaster-proof their homes in an effort to reduce soaring insurance premiums and boost affordability. (See Details)

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➤ A cat lost in blizzard conditions after a crash outside the Eisenhower and Johnson Memorial Tunnels has been reunited with her family following a six-day volunteer search in the high country. (Read Story)

➤ The SC Lady Flyers, a California girls youth hockey team, won the Western Girls Hockey League championship in Littleton after making the difficult decision to keep playing following a deadly crash on Interstate 70. (Read Story)

➤ The Colorado Symphony performed with Grammy-recognized artists in sold-out shows at Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall over the weekend. (See Details)

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