Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, the U.S. Congress passed the Homestead Act, accelerating settlement in the West by granting up to 160 acres of public land for a minimal filing fee and five years of residence.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Amy Hess shared why researchers say two to three cups of coffee a day may quietly support one of the body’s hardest-working organs. Dietitians say growing evidence suggests coffee could help reduce inflammation and protect this vital organ from long-term damage. Listen here!

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free guide on seven retirement income strategies for investors with $1 million or more. It’s a simple way to compare your options.

If you’re trying to be more thoughtful about the media you consume, social media probably isn’t the best place to get your news. Most platforms are designed to provoke reactions, not encourage perspective. That’s why some of us read The Pour Over. It delivers the news in a balanced, easy-to-read format while incorporating a Christian perspective that many readers appreciate.

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Polis Under Fire for Clemency

Several state Democrats, including more than 400 elected officials, candidates, and party members, have signed a formal complaint seeking to censure Gov. Jared Polis over his decision to commute Tina Peters’ prison sentence.

Peters had been serving a nine-year sentence for her role in a breach of Mesa County election equipment. Polis commuted her sentence to four-and-a-half years, making her eligible for parole June 1.

The complaint alleges the governor’s decision, which followed pressure from President Trump, undermines the party’s efforts to combat election denialism. It calls for Polis to be reprimanded and banned from speaking at party events.

Polis has also drawn criticism for granting clemency to Brandin Kreuzer, a man convicted in a 2008 crime spree that included shooting a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy, in a move local law enforcement officials called “appalling.”

Unaffiliated Voters Let in GOP Primary

A judge has rejected three Republican primary candidates’ request to block unaffiliated voters from participating in the June 30 Republican primary election.

The candidates’ lawsuit argued non-party voter participation dilutes the votes of registered Republicans and violates the GOP’s associational rights under the First Amendment.

Judge Jon J. Olafson declined to issue a preliminary injunction against Colorado’s semi-open primaries, saying the plaintiffs lacked standing and waited too long to file, with some ballots already mailed.

State Rep. Scott Bottoms, one of the plaintiffs and a gubernatorial candidate, argued in a hearing last week that the system “will hurt Republicans all down the line in many different elections throughout the state.”

Jamestown Tops Snow Totals

Several parts of Colorado’s mountains reported significant snow totals this week as a late-season storm brought winter-like weather to the high country.

Jamestown, northwest of Boulder, topped the list, with 8.6 inches, followed by Aspen Springs (6.6), Walden and Nederland (6), Sawpit (5.8), and Estes Park (5.5).

The snow arrived too late for Colorado’s ski resorts, which ended the season Sunday when Arapahoe Basin finally closed.

Forecasters say snow could fall in the mountains through Friday, with more rain in urban areas, including Denver, through Saturday.

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➤ Statewide: The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that Children’s Hospital Colorado should resume sex-change treatments for children, which the hospital stopped providing in January amid threats to federal funding. (More)

➤ Larimer County: The U.S. Board of Geographic Names approved a citizen group’s request to rename Pingree Park and Pingree Hill to Soule Park and Soule Hill over George Washington Pingree’s ties to the Sand Creek Massacre. (More)

➤ I-25: A driver reversing on the shoulder of Interstate 25 caused a deadly crash Friday near Happy Canyon Road, killing one person and injuring two others, Colorado State Patrol said Monday. (More)

➤ Windsor: The town closed Windsor Lake to motorized boating for 2026 as officials project rapidly declining water levels due to low snowpack and irrigation demands. (More)

➤ Longmont: Meanwhile, the swim beach at Union Reservoir will be closed all summer due to low water levels, though wading and certain other activities will be allowed. (More)

➤ Wolcott: A local climber who survived a 40-foot rock climbing fall late last year credits Eagle County paramedics and recently added whole blood units with saving her life. (More)

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➤ The Colorado Avalanche open Game 1 of the NHL Western Conference Finals against the Vegas Golden Knights tonight at Ball Arena, coming off an 8-1 playoff record. (More)

➤ The Denver Nuggets are expected to part ways with center Jonas Valanciunas this offseason, potentially waiving him to save around $8 million. The 14-year NBA veteran could return to Europe, where EuroLeague clubs pursued him last summer. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Nuggets lead assistant Jared Dudley interviewed with the Trail Blazers for their head coaching vacancy. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | MLB | NCAAB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Denver City Council unanimously approved a one-year moratorium, effective Thursday, on new data center construction projects while a task force studies impacts and drafts regulations over the next 12 months. (More)

➤ Gov. Jared Polis is expected to sign a revegetation bill pushed by Arkansas Valley communities, which say it provides valuable protections against cities’ “buy and dry” practices for agricultural water. (More)

➤ The College Ave. shops at Fort Collins’ Foothills Mall were sold to two real estate firms, CenterSquare and Spark Properties Group. The properties include buildings housing tenants such as Nordstrom Rack, Lululemon, and LongHorn Steakhouse. (See Details)

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➤ Post Oak Barbecue in Denver, billed as the “most down-to-earth Texas barbecue you'll find anywhere in Colorado," is the state’s most iconic barbecue joint, according to a new state-by-state list. (See List)

➤ Adele, a Denver police dog, is retiring after serving eight years as a Narcotics Detection K9 and helping to seize over $1 million in narcotics. (See Photos)

➤ Opera Colorado is inviting local singers to audition on June 4 and 6 for its upcoming season’s chorus, which will perform productions of Verdi’s Macbeth and Mozart’s School for Lovers (Così fan tutte). (See Details)

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