Friday, June 27, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1882, Silverton residents heard the first train whistle from the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a much-anticipated rail line connecting the remote mining town to the outside world.

Speaking of railroads, transit officials are exploring the feasibility of the Front Range Passenger Rail, a proposed passenger line that would run parallel to I-25. Read more about the project in Around Colorado.

You're one of 105,000 Coloradans who trust The Colorado Flyover to kick off the day—and we love that you're here.

Today's sponsor is Pacaso, offering a unique opportunity to invest in second homes through co-ownership, making luxury real estate more accessible than ever.

Don't feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Soliman Charged with Federal Hate Crimes

Mohamed Soliman, the man accused of using a makeshift flamethrower to attack pro-Israel demonstrators in Boulder, now faces 12 federal hate crime charges after an indictment was unsealed Wednesday.

Soliman was previously charged in federal court with one hate crime. In Colorado state court, he was charged with 118 counts, including attempted first-degree murder.

The new indictment alleges Soliman attacked Run for Their Lives, a group calling for the release of Israeli hostages, because of their perceived national origin, citing several of his verbal and written statements as evidence.

Soliman faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. He is expected to appear in court to enter a plea at 9:30 a.m. today.

Judge Rules Against ICE Compliance

A Denver judge ruled Wednesday that Gov. Jared Polis can't order a top labor official or his staff to comply with an ICE subpoena seeking personal information on 35 sponsors of unaccompanied minors.

In a whistleblower lawsuit, Scott Moss, the director of Colorado's Division of Labor Standards and Statistics, alleged Polis ordered him and his team to turn over the records, violating state laws signed by Polis in 2021 and 2025 that prohibit such cooperation.

Polis argued the subpoena related to a criminal investigation—in this case, into possible child exploitation—and therefore triggered an exemption to the statute.

The judge issued a preliminary injunction in favor of Moss, ruling the exemption doesn't apply, but said he wouldn't block Polis from finding other ways to comply with the subpoena.

Unique Tower Proposed in Denver

The concept plan for a new 30-story observation tower in Denver is drawing comparisons to everything from the Eye of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings to an old-fashioned barber's pole.

Though its details are sparse, the plan shows a structure unlike anything else in Denver's skyline: a tall, twisting column dotted with orbs, crowned by a large, possibly rotating orb or starburst. See the images here.

At 673 feet, the tower would become the fourth-tallest structure in Denver, not far behind the Republic Plaza at 714 feet. Its proposed site is a vacant lot just off 16th Street.

Although the plan has been submitted, development is still in its earliest stage. It would need to clear several hurdles, including a landmark preservation review, to get city approval.

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➤ Statewide: Several new state laws take effect July 1, including stricter requirements for firearm dealers and concealed carry permits. (See Laws)

➤ Front Range: The Regional Transportation District (RTD) is joining other transit officials to develop a plan for the Front Range Passenger Rail, a proposed rail line along the I-25 corridor. (See Details)

➤ Aurora: Tow trucks were called to assist stranded motorists Wednesday night after a thunderstorm left several inches of hail on the roads, piling up in what looked more like snowdrifts. (See Details)

➤ Highlands Ranch: All northbound lanes of South Broadway were temporarily closed early Thursday after a water main break near Dad Clark Drive. (See Details)

➤ Denver: Police arrested a man accused of threatening and chasing people with a machete at two parks in downtown Denver. (More)

➤ Pitkin County: Two 19-year-olds visiting from North Carolina were rescued via helicopter after becoming stranded overnight on Capitol Peak. (More)

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➤ Colorado Rockies team president Greg Feasel, who had been a member of the team's front office since 1995, has announced that he is stepping down from his duties. (More)

➤ Colorado State star Nique Clifford, who began his college career at CU, was drafted No. 24 overall by the Sacramento Kings via a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder. (More)

➤ Denver Nuggets owner Josh Kroenke recently floated a hypothetical scenario where injuries and cap issues could force a trade involving three-time MVP Nikola Jokić. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Summer heat waves are no joke—stay ahead of dehydration with LMNT. Zero sugar, science-backed electrolytes, and a new Lemonade Salt flavor that's perfect for sweaty days. Flyover readers get a free sample pack! (More)

➤ Del Taco announced it will begin the phased reopening of 17 Colorado locations that suddenly closed in February. (More)

➤ Denver is now accepting licensure applications for psychedelic healing centers that use psilocybin in regulated mental health therapy. (More)

➤ Three restaurants in Colorado were among the 97 winners of Wine Spectator's Grand Award, recognizing elite wine programs worldwide. (See List)

Thank you to everyone who supported The Colorado Flyover yesterday—your generosity keeps us going. We rely on readers like you to power independent journalism, so if you haven't yet, please consider chipping in today to help us keep bringing you the news without the noise.

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➤ Colorado will implement a new 748 area code in the 970 region starting July 7, as growing demand for phone numbers strains the existing supply, state regulators confirmed. (See Details)

➤ X Games CEO Jeremy Bloom launched a Boulder-based venture to develop Owl AI, a sports-judging technology first tested as "The Owl" at the Winter X Games in Aspen. (See Details)

➤ A blood drive held in Denver in collaboration with Metallica, its nonprofit foundation, and the American Red Cross reportedly set a record as the largest blood drive in Denver Red Cross history. (More)

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