Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, Black Hawk Point was incorporated as the City of Black Hawk, the Colorado Territory's second incorporated city after Denver. First established as a gold rush-era mining camp, Black Hawk underwent a "second gold rush" in the 1990s when limited-stakes gaming was legalized.

Speaking of trying your luck, a formerly homeless Alamosa man caught a lucky break when he won $1 million on a spur-of-the-moment lottery ticket. Read the story below.

As reported, Erika Kirk has been appointed to the Air Force Academy's Board of Visitors, taking the seat once held by her late husband, Charlie Kirk. Host Ayla Brown dives into the story on today's Flyover Podcast. Tune in here.🎧

Today's sponsor, FemiCore, is sharing a free video featuring Dr. Shetty explaining the real causes of bladder leaks and simple habits that may help support pelvic floor health.

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.

Energy Secretary Stops in Colorado

U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright, joined by Republican Rep. Gabe Evans, stopped in Weld County on Monday to tour Xcel Energy's Fort St. Vrain Generating Station in Platteville.

Wright, a Colorado native and former Denver energy CEO, and Evans, who represents the 8th Congressional District, said they share a goal of rolling back state and federal regulations to boost production.

During the tour, Wright spoke about the Iran conflict's effect on gas costs, suggesting the price crunch will last "weeks, not months." In Colorado, the price of gas jumped to $3.41 per gallon Monday, up from $2.89 a week ago.

Asked about the possibility of leveraging Weld County's energy resources to lower costs, Evans called state-level regulations the "biggest barrier."

Fire Danger Returns Amid Drought Worries

Forecasts call for critical fire weather on the Front Range this week, with the most widespread conditions on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Xcel Energy said it will likely activate Enhanced Power Safety Settings on Thursday, raising the possibility of wind-triggered shutoffs, and that residents should prepare for outages.

Besides posing fire risks, the dry, warm winter has led Thornton to propose a Stage 1 Drought Response, which would prohibit watering turf before May 1. Denver Water, similarly, is urging homeowners not to use sprinkler systems until mid-May.

Drought is also a key concern on the Western Slope, where low snowpack and dry conditions could ripple through the heavily agricultural economy.

Formerly Homeless Man Wins Lottery

An Alamosa man working as a cellphone sales representative won $1 million on a $20 scratch-off lottery ticket, according to the Colorado Lottery.

The winner, Jonathan G., said he'd faced serious financial hardship in the past, including periods of unemployment and time living in a homeless shelter.

During a break on what he called a "tough" day at work, Jonathan bought a $20 ticket for the 200X Scratch game, which carries odds of about 1 in 1,080,000 for the $1 million prize.

"My reaction was total disbelief," he said, adding that he plans to use the money to give his girlfriend and children a life he "never thought was possible."

Flying together with our sponsor

Here's a quick truth: bladder leaks aren't normal, no matter your age or how many children you've had.

Many women are told they just have a "small bladder" or that it runs in the family. Most of the time, that isn't the real reason.

And surgery isn't the only solution.

In this free video, Dr. Shetty explains why bladder leaks happen and simple habits that may help improve pelvic floor health.

Click below to watch it for free today.

➤ Statewide: Colorado is set to issue $306 million in taxpayer refunds this year. Budget analysts say the payment stems from a tax revenue timing issue caused by federal tax cuts, but budget officials say there's no legal basis to recover the funds. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: A bill that would have fully decriminalized prostitution will be abandoned today, according to its main sponsor, who says it lacks the votes to clear its first committee hearing. (More)

➤ Castle Rock: A Douglas County judge gave a local 62-year-old woman the maximum three-year prison sentence for committing voter fraud—submitting ballots for her deceased ex-husband and her son in addition to her own—during the 2022 general election. (More)

➤ Summit County: Investigators are still working to determine the cause of a vehicle explosion that killed one man, the vehicle's occupant, at the Straight Creek Trailhead early Friday. (More)

➤ Statewide: The Colorado Department of Agriculture is warning the public not to plant unsolicited seeds received in the mail, which often come from outside the U.S. and could give rise to invasive species, pests, and plant diseases. (See Details)

➤ Mesa County: A visitor died after falling off the Colorado National Monument on Sunday night. An investigation is ongoing. (More)

➤ Denver: Security footage shows a thief stealing two statues of Saint Paul and Saint Rita from outside Holy Ghost Catholic Church. The suspect hasn't been caught. (See Video)

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➤ The Broncos have focused on re-signing several of their own players during NFL free agency, but lost defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers to the Tennessee Titans. (See Moves)

➤ Colorado State and Air Force men's basketball kick off conference tournament action today in Las Vegas. The Rams come in with hopes for an NCAA tournament bid, while Air Force just wants to snap its 24-game losing streak. (See Schedule)

➤ RJ Petit, a Colorado Rockies pitching prospect, will miss an indefinite amount of time with a UCL sprain. (More)

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➤ The Weight-Loss Patch everyone is suddenly talking about. What if weight loss didn't require injections, strict diets, or complicated routines? The Akemi Slim Patch is getting attention for a surprisingly simple idea: a small patch designed to help curb cravings, support metabolism, and make staying on track feel easier. Curious how it works and why so many people are trying it? See the full details here. (LEARN MORE)

➤ A strong sewer odor in Denver's Lowry Town Center has driven several businesses to leave. The shopping center now has a 31% vacancy rate, according to business owners and elected officials. (See Details)

➤ Handel's Ice Cream, an Ohio-based ice cream chain, will open a new location in Thornton tomorrow, offering 48 flavors and free ice cream for a year to the first 50 guests. (See Details)

➤ Warehouse Urban Grocer plans to open in downtown Colorado Springs this spring, according to permits filed with the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. (More)

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➤ The Plug-In Device people say could change how you think about your power bill. Electricity bills seem to keep creeping higher every month. That's why many homeowners are curious about StopWatt... a small plug-in device designed to help stabilize the flow of electricity in your home and potentially reduce wasted energy. Wondering how it works and why it's getting so much attention? See the details here. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Quick truth: peeing your pants isn't normal, no matter your age or how many kids you've had.

Many women are told they just have a "small bladder" or that it runs in the family. In most cases, that's simply not true.

And surgery isn't the only option.

In this free video, Dr. Shetty explains why bladder leaks happen and simple habits that can help improve pelvic floor health.

Click below to watch it for free today.

➤ Five Irish pubs in Colorado—including the oldest Irish bar in the state—rank among the top 200 in the U.S., according to a new study. (See List)

➤ Lockheed Martin is giving Colorado students a behind-the-scenes look at the spacecraft and planning of Artemis II, a manned mission around the moon expected to launch this April. (More)

➤ A nearly century-old Denver home, built in the Tudor style by famous architect Burnham Hoyt in 1929, is on the market for $4.895 million. (See Photos)

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