Friday, March 28, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, the First Colorado Volunteers—part of a Union force including New Mexico troops—helped repel Texas Confederates at the Battle of Glorieta Pass, effectively ending the Confederate New Mexico Campaign and securing the Southwest for the Union.

Whether you're a film buff or a casual moviegoer, you've likely heard of the Sundance Film Festival. Since launching in Utah in 1978, it's become the largest independent film festival in the country. Now, after more than four decades, it's moving to Boulder. Read more in our Top Stories.

We're sponsored today by Sam's Club, offering a special deal on new memberships for The Flyover readers.

Wolves Recorded Near Denver Area

At least one of Colorado's wolves explored western Clear Creek County in the last month, a first since wolf reintroduction began in 2023, according to a new Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) map.

The map shows wolf activity in watersheds between Feb. 25 and March 25, though CPW does not disclose exact locations or how long the wolves remained in each area.

In addition to Clear Creek County, wolves were tracked in watersheds extending into northern Park County toward the Jefferson County border—some of the closest areas to the Denver metro where the wolves have been tracked so far.

CPW also updated its list of confirmed wolf depredations, which now shows an incident involving a dog in Jackson County on March 9.

Rent Algorithm Ban Passes House

House Bill 25-1004, a measure to restrict the use of rent-setting algorithms by landlords, passed the House of Representatives in a party-line vote on Wednesday.

The bill cites a Biden-era White House report that claims Denver renters paid an extra $136 in rent each month in 2023 to landlords who used rent-setting algorithms. Data for 2024, conversely, shows a 2% drop in the median cost of an apartment.

Opponents of the ban worry about its unintended effects, warning it could distort the free market and impact small-business landlords.

The bill passed 43-22 with an amendment narrowing the scope of landlords' liability. Its next stop is the Colorado Senate, where a similar bill died last year.

Boulder to Host Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival will relocate to Boulder in 2027 after more than four decades in its current home of Park City, Utah.

Last April, Sundance announced it was entertaining proposals by viable cities to host the festival. Boulder was one of three finalists, competing with Cincinnati and a bid to keep it in Utah.

In choosing Boulder, festival leadership cited its status as a college town as well as its natural beauty, calling it an "ideal location" for the future of Sundance.

The festival will utilize venues in downtown Boulder and select spots on the University of Colorado campus. It's expected to be an economic boon to both the city and state, having generated about $132 million for Utah in 2024.

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➤ Douglas County has initiated the process to become a home rule county, which would broaden its powers of local governance and reduce the impact of state laws. (See Details)

➤ Erie: Regulators have approved Civitas Resources' plan to drill 26 oil wells from a site just outside city limits, near a planned housing development. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Colorado was among the states with the most expensive hail damage claims in 2024, ranking number four nationally, according to a report from State Farm Insurance. (See List)

➤ Morgan County: A multi-agency federal task force arrested a Wyoming fugitive on Wednesday who had been hiding at a rural property west of Fort Morgan. (More)

➤ Centennial: Two people died in a fire at an assisted living facility yesterday morning. Investigators determined the fire was caused by improper disposal of smoking materials outside. (More)

➤ Statewide: The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention & Control is sending a crew of wildfire specialists to help fight three ongoing wildfires in North Carolina. (More)

➤ Grand Junction: American white supremacist Jared Taylor spoke at Colorado Mesa University yesterday, prompting backlash from students and a counter-protest on campus. (More)

➤ Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić recorded 39 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists in his return Wednesday night, leading Denver to a 127-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Jokić's best play came on this no-look pass to set up a wide-open dunk. (Watch Video)

➤ The Colorado Rockies have signed former MLB No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak to a one-year contract. (More)

➤ Colorado State has named Ali Farokhmanesh as its next men's basketball head coach. Farokhmanesh gained national attention during the 2010 NCAA Tournament when he hit a clutch three-pointer to help Northern Iowa upset top-seeded Kansas. (Watch Video)

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➤ WinCo Foods, an Idaho-based grocery chain known for its low-cost, warehouse-style stores, is set to build an 84,000-square-foot location in Thornton, marking its first expansion into the Denver metro area. (More)

➤ The Kohl's at Arapahoe Crossing in Aurora is one of the dozens of underperforming locations to be shuttered by the department store chain, with Saturday marking its final day of business. (More)

➤ The Winter Park Express, an Amtrak train that runs from Denver to Winter Park Resort, more than doubled its ridership this season after lowering fares by nearly 50%. (See Details)

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Beat rising costs with a membership designed to save more.

Sam's Club is offering a $45 discount on a Plus Membership, now just $65 (regularly $110), along with a free 16" pizza to kick off the savings, now through March 31.

Plus Members enjoy free delivery, early shopping hours, and the ability to skip checkout lines with Scan & Go.

With low prices on name brands and exclusive Member's Mark products, Sam's Club helps members get more for their money—especially when prices are rising everywhere else.

➤ After 71 years apart, three long-lost sisters—separated by adoption after World War II—will reunite for the first time at Denver International Airport in April after a years long search and a DNA match. (Read Story)

➤ The oldest operational chairlift in Colorado, which has been running for nearly 70 years at Sunlight Mountain Resort, will be retired at the end of this ski season. (More)

➤ The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative will use a grant of $250,000 to reconstruct, restore, and maintain the summit trails of 12 of Colorado's 14,000-foot peaks. (See Trails)

➤ An Aurora 7th-grader preparing to compete in the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee was honored by the city's mayor during an assembly on Tuesday. (See Details)

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