Monday, January 20, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1986, Colorado celebrated its first official Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which was made possible after the passage of a bill introduced by State Representative Wilma Webb.

Frigid conditions continue across the state, as we cover in today’s Top Stories. As a result, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Marade in Denver has been delayed.

We're flying today with Energous, be sure to check them out in today's edition.

Polar Vortex to Grip Colorado Through Tuesday

A polar vortex has brought Arctic air to the state, resulting in dangerously low temperatures and wind chills since Friday.

Overnight into Sunday morning, temperatures plummeted to extreme lows, reaching -11°F at Denver International Airport, -17°F in Erie and Limon, and the coldest readings in Lake George, plunging to an icy -34°F.

The forecast promised today to be the coldest day yet, with morning lows below zero and daytime highs only reaching the single digits. Wind chills could fall to -25°F, and light snow is possible.

By Tuesday morning, temperatures are expected to remain below zero before finally climbing above freezing in the afternoon, marking the end of nearly four consecutive days of subfreezing conditions.

Coloradans Attend Trump’s Inauguration

Coloradans are in attendance at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration today.

Despite freezing temperatures, which have moved the event indoors to the U.S. Capitol for the first time in 40 years, Trump’s supporters remain undeterred.

Among those attending are former Republican gubernatorial candidate and founder of the Rocky Mountain Voice, Heidi Ganahl, who is attending her first inauguration with family and friends.

“I believe there's a bit of hope in the air, and I think that's what we're going to feel in D.C.,” said Ganahl.

Trump will officially be sworn in as the 47th president at noon ET (10 a.m. MST).

Teller County Woman Charged in Wildfire

Lowa “Lacey” Tillitt, 77, of Teller County is facing a felony arson charge after allegedly setting her house on fire, sparking the Highland Lakes wildfire that threatened 700 homes last fall.

Investigators say Tillitt had been in a prolonged dispute with her insurance company after her policy was canceled due to her home being deemed a fire hazard. She had reportedly threatened to burn her house multiple times in frustration.

In October, deputies arrived to find Tillitt’s home engulfed in flames. The fire spread to nearby grasslands, burning 166 acres and prompting evacuations.

Homeowners insurance is a growing concern for Colorado residents with premiums rising nearly 60% over five years and insurers increasingly dropping coverage or leaving the state.

Flying together with our sponsor

Say Goodbye to the Power Cord

Nikola Tesla said powering the world without wires was of “all-surpassing importance.” This technology wasn’t possible in Tesla’s time, but one company is helping to make it a reality today—and you can invest for a limited time.

Their patented technology is like Wi-Fi for power. It transmits power to devices through the air, eliminating the need for cables and batteries and providing a constant, reliable energy source for IoT devices that track and deliver data in real time.

It’s such a powerful innovation that it earned “IoT Innovation of the Year” honors.

Data is the oil that keeps retail, manufacturing, and logistics operations running smoothly. Thanks to these wireless power network transmitters, all of these industries could get a 24/7 flow of data without depending on batteries or cords—it’s potentially a combined $650B market opportunity.

That’s why this company has already landed a contract to supply wireless power network solutions to a Fortune 10 multinational retailer, opening them up to 4,700 retail locations across the U.S.

You now have a unique opportunity to invest in Energous by purchasing investment units that include one convertible preferred share (convertible into two common shares on Nasdaq: WATT) and three warrants to purchase additional common shares at a fixed price.

Sounds like it’s time to cut the cord and become an Energous shareholder as they work to scale nationwide.

➤ Statewide: Gov. Jared Polis has ordered Colorado flags to be raised to full-staff today for Donald Trump’s inauguration, temporarily pausing the mourning period for President Jimmy Carter. (More)

➤ Northwest Colorado: A small economic development group representing six counties bordering Utah is exploring hosting a nuclear waste storage facility, citing job creation and safety measures. (More)

➤ Fort Collins: Fossil Ridge High School teacher Brendan Gallagher was arrested on felony sexual assault charges involving a 2015 student. Police are seeking information on potential additional victims. (More)

➤ Northern Colorado drug bust led to eight arrests and the seizure of fentanyl, meth, firearms, and cash, with ties to a Mexican drug network. (More)

➤ Eastern Plains: Farmers have retired 10,000 acres of irrigated farmland with the help of $30 million in state and federal funding to meet Kansas water obligations, with 7,000 more acres set for dry-up. (More)

➤ Denver: New law bans Colorado lawmakers from carrying guns in the Capitol, but enforcement relies on an honor system without added security measures. (More)

➤ The Denver Broncos fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica despite the team posting an above-average season on special teams. (More)

➤ Nikola Jokić wowed fans on Friday night with an impressive no-look assist to help the Denver Nuggets defeat the Miami Heat 133-113. (Watch video)

➤ Two Colorado Avalanche players reached 100 career goals on Saturday as the team dismantled the Dallas Stars with a 6-3 win. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Keep your private information secure. Omni DataSafe is a revolutionary new encrypted USB drive that uses unbreakable AES-256 military-grade encryption and a physical keypad to keep your sensitive data 100% safe and secure. Now, anyone can protect their data & identity from hackers, thieves, and snoops! (See It Here)

➤ Otter Products in Fort Collins has confirmed layoffs due to organizational restructuring but has not disclosed the number of those affected. (More)

➤ New X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom is planning to expand the event into a global action sports league in 2026, starting with Aspen's Winter X Games on Jan. 23-25. (More)

➤ A Lumen-owned corporate campus in Broomfield, featuring 791,700 sq ft and a data center, is set for auction in February after a year on the market at $6.5 million. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Lightbulb That Protects Your Home—Introducing Sight Bulb™, the revolutionary security camera that easily screws into any socket like a lightbulb! It’s perfect for homeowners, parents, pet owners, and businesses. (See It Here)

Flying together with our sponsor

Charge Up Your Portfolio with This Tech Investment

What if our technologies could charge IoT devices wirelessly, just like we connect devices to Wi-Fi? One company is helping make this a reality for enterprises as we speak. Their patented wireless power network technology eliminates cables and battery replacements by sending energy through the air.

Between retail, manufacturing, and logistics industries, this company is looking at $650 billion in market potential. But what they’ve created could also revolutionize fields like health care, transportation, and the food industry—anywhere using trackers or sensors to collect data for the Internet of Things.

They’ve already been recognized as the “IoT Innovation of the Year” and landed a contract with a Fortune 10 multinational retailer, opening them up to 4,700 U.S. retail locations. Learn how to become an Energous shareholder today.

This is a paid advertisement for Energous’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energous.com for additional information on the company and the risk factors to the offering.

➤ A rare Somali wild ass foal was born at the Denver Zoo last week. A critically endangered species with fewer than 150 in the wild, the foal is the first of its kind born at the zoo. (See Photos)

➤ Mancos, Colorado, was named one of HGTV's 50 Most Charming Small Towns in America due to its Western heritage, proximity to Mesa Verde National Park, and ties to author Louis L'Amour. (More)

➤ A red fox was filmed diving headfirst into deep snow to capture prey in Aspen, with the video now gaining viral attention online. (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor