Tuesday, January 21, 2025

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.

The cold air is finally moving out of the state, just as the next phase of gray wolves makes its way into Eagle and Pitkin counties. Read more in our Top Stories. We'd love to hear your thoughts on the state's wolf reintroduction program—hit reply and let us know.

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20 Gray Wolves Released in Colorado

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has released 20 gray wolves into Pitkin and Eagle counties as part of the second phase of the state's wolf reintroduction program.

The group included 15 wolves from British Columbia and five members of the Copper Creek pack, which had been held in captivity since September after preying on livestock in Grand County.

The releases took place on Jan. 12, 14, and 16, following the 2020 voter-approved initiative to restore wolves west of the Continental Divide. All wolves were fitted with GPS collars and received medical care before release.

The reintroduction effort continues to face challenges, including opposition from ranchers, who recently filed $580,000 in compensation claims for livestock losses attributed to wolves.

First Republican Enters Governor's Race

State Representative Scott Bottoms, a Republican from Colorado Springs, has announced his candidacy for governor in the 2026 election.

The announcement was made Sunday during a service at the Church at Briargate, where Bottoms serves as lead pastor. Known for his steadfast conservative views, Bottoms is the first major Republican to enter the race.

Colorado hasn't had a Republican governor since Bill Owens, who left office in 2007. Other potential Republican contenders include state Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer and Mark Baisley.

On the Democratic side, Attorney General Phil Weiser has already declared his candidacy, and several others are rumored to be considering a run. The race will follow Democratic Gov. Jared Polis's term-limited departure.

Officials Seek Info on TV Tower Jumper

Weld County officials are seeking information about a man who parachuted off a TV tower near Frederick on Jan. 15.

In a Facebook post, the Weld County Sheriff's Office reported that the man lost his camera while deploying his parachute.

Authorities emphasized that jumping from a TV tower is not only extremely dangerous but also constitutes trespassing.

Anyone with details about the man's identity or whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Weld County Sheriff's Office.

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➤ Statewide: The three-day Arctic blast ends today as cold air moves out, with temperatures rising into the 30s. Winds may gust up to 50 mph in the Front Range Mountains and Foothills. (More)

➤ Castle Rock: A former bus driver is facing negligent child abuse charges after dropping off elementary students at a Castle Rock intersection against protocol in November. (See Details)

➤ Clifton: A man was arrested after a hammer attack at a trailer park sparked a SWAT standoff. The suspect faces multiple charges, including kidnapping and sexual assault. (More)

➤ Denver: A 23-year-old Montana bull rider was knocked unconscious on Saturday after being bucked at the National Western Stock Show. He is recovering from a concussion. (More)

➤ Statewide: Democratic lawmakers have introduced a bill to curb price gouging on necessities like groceries and diapers, extending protections beyond disasters. (See Details)

➤ Colorado Springs: Wildlife officials have begun relocating 20 Rampart Bighorn Sheep to form a new herd southwest of Pueblo in order to re-establish native species in their historic habitat. (See Photos)

➤ Legendary NFL running back Marshall Faulk is reportedly one of the Colorado Buffaloes’ top targets to become the team’s new running backs coach. (More)

➤ Nikola Jokić recorded double-digit stats in three different categories for the 18th time this season, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 113-100 win over the Orlando Magic Sunday night. (More)

➤ Denver Broncos pass rusher Jonah Elliss suffered a broken scapula during the team’s Wild Card loss to the Buffalo Bills. The injury is not expected to affect Elliss’s status for 2025. (More)

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➤ Lunar Outpost, an Arvada-based space company, featured its lunar terrain vehicle prototype in Monday's Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. (More)

➤ Sunrun, a publicly traded solar company, has laid off 100 Colorado employees and halted new projects statewide, citing market challenges and shifts in key retail partnerships. (More)

➤ Colorado ranks eighth among the best states for startups in 2025, according to a new study, excelling in business environment and resources despite higher operational costs. (See List)

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➤ Pueblo hot sauce maker PexPeppers won two third-place awards at the 2025 Scovie Awards in New Mexico for its Pueblo chile-based Salsa Verde and Roasted Chile Condiment. (More)

➤ Maxfund’s Adoption Center in Denver is aiding displaced animals from the LA wildfires, transporting nearly a dozen large dogs over 1,000 miles to safety while preparing them for adoption. (See Dogs)

➤ A large female moose startled skiers in Steamboat Springs, wandering onto a ski slope and alarming visitors with her aggressive behavior. (Watch Video)

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