Monday, June 29, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the law creating Mesa Verde National Park. It was the first national park set aside not for scenery, but to protect the cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo people.

Nearly 1,000 people came together in Denver to celebrate something truly extraordinary. As we report below, the gathering set a Guinness World Record while highlighting the life-changing impact of organ donation.

Today’s sponsor, Lemonade Pet Insurance, helps pet owners manage rising vet costs with affordable plans starting around $10/month and flexible coverage designed to protect both your pet’s health and your budget.

Snyder Mesa Fire Kills Three Firefighters

Three federal firefighters were killed and two injured Saturday when the Knowles and Gore fires overran their crew near the Colorado-Utah border. The fires later merged into the Snyder Mesa Fire.

Wind-driven fires crossed from Utah into Colorado west of Fruita and Grand Junction. By Sunday the Snyder Mesa Fire had grown to more than 28,000 acres and remained uncontained.

Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency and authorized the Colorado National Guard to support the fight. The Bureau of Land Management closed the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area, and Mesa County ordered pre-evacuations near Glade Park.

The firefighters, with the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Wildland Fire Service, deployed fire shelters as the flames overtook them. Federal officials had not released their names by Sunday.

New Modular Housing Rules Take Effect

On June 30, new regional building standards for factory-built homes replace the patchwork of local rules Colorado builders now navigate.

The rules carry out Senate Bill 25-002, which Gov. Jared Polis signed in 2025 to lower housing costs. They cover modular homes, tiny homes, and other structures built in factories.

Under the old system, a manufacturer had to submit and win approval for plans address by address, even for identical homes. Now an approved design can generally be reused across jurisdictions within the same region.

The state's Division of Housing developed the standards with a technical advisory committee representing local building officials and industry stakeholders. Local governments generally must follow the standards, though they still retain authority over land use, zoning, and certain site-built components. Regional standards account for local climatic and geographic conditions, as well as regional fire safety needs.

Colorado Mails $27.7M in Payback Checks

Colorado is mailing nearly 88,000 checks totaling $27.7 million to residents with unclaimed property, with no paperwork required.

The checks go to people the state Treasury has already verified as the rightful owners, so recipients can cash or deposit them right away. The mailing runs from April through June.

The money comes from forgotten accounts that businesses and other organizations turn over to the state, including final paychecks, utility deposits, and uncashed checks. The Treasury holds about $2.2 billion in unclaimed property.

An estimated 1 in 10 Coloradans has unclaimed property. Anyone can search the Great Colorado Payback database by name for possible claims.

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➤ Ouray County: A state of emergency has been declared as the 570-acre Gold Mountain Fire burns north of Ouray. Mandatory evacuations, highway closures, and the cancellation of the city's Fourth of July fireworks highlight the growing wildfire threat. (See Details)

➤ Lake County: Mandatory evacuations were ordered Sunday after a wildfire west of Leadville broke out near Twin Mounds below Mount Massive. The fire was estimated at 5 to 20 acres, with no injuries or structural damage reported. (More)

➤ Centennial: A family is considering legal action after their 3-year-old daughter was struck by a city-operated golf cart near the splash pad at Centennial Center Park. She was hospitalized and later released. (More)

➤ Loveland: Larimer County confirmed its first human West Nile virus case of 2026 after an adult was hospitalized and is now recovering at home. The county also launched a West Nile surveillance dashboard. (More)

➤ Colorado Springs: Howard, a tortoise stolen from outside a pet store on North Academy Boulevard, is back home after a community-fueled search. Police arrested Justin Edwards, 37, and later recovered Howard, a store fixture since 2011, with help from public tips. (Read Story)

➤ Grand Junction: Mesa County deputies arrested Koleman Barns, 21, of Utah, on a felony indecent exposure charge after he allegedly exposed himself to several grade-school-age girls inside a home along Highway 340. The sheriff's office said Barns, a door-to-door salesman, returned to the home and asked to use the bathroom. (See Details)

➤ Gunnison County: Falling water levels at Blue Mesa Reservoir closed the Lake Fork boat ramp to trailered boats, shifting launches to Elk Creek. Hand-launching remains open as the Park Service moves marina infrastructure into deeper water. (See Details)

➤ Westminster: Firefighters teamed up with the city's animal management unit to return a fallen fledgling to its high nest. Crews reminded residents that a person's scent won't cause parent birds to reject a baby returned to its nest. (See Details)

Yesterday, we asked a simple question: if The Colorado Flyover has earned a place in your morning, would you chip in to help keep it free? If you meant to give yesterday and the day got away from you, here's your nudge.

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➤ Colorado Rockies designated hitter Hunter Goodman hit three home runs Saturday in the team's 8-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins. (See Home Runs)

➤ The Colorado Avalanche acquired forward Fabian Lysell from the Boston Bruins in exchange for forward Ivan Ivan. Lysell recorded 42 points in the AHL last season. (More)

➤ Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said during mandatory minicamp that he believes new receiver Jaylen Waddle will add a level of explosiveness the offense has lacked in his first two years as the team's starter. (More)

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➤ Your gums do more than protect your teeth. They play a major role in your overall oral health. Great Gums is a daily formula designed to support healthier gums, fresher breath, and stronger teeth from the inside out. See how it works and why so many people are adding it to their daily routine. (More)

➤ Copper Kettle Brewing Company poured its last pints Saturday, closing after 15 years in southeast Denver. The brewery, known for its Mexican Chocolate Stout and community fundraising efforts, cited rising costs, declining revenue, and a failed lease negotiation as reasons for closing. (See Details)

➤ King Soopers opened a 135,500-square-foot Marketplace store in Louisville, the largest in the company's portfolio. The Kroger-owned chain said the store employs more than 200 people and includes a fuel center, drive-thru pharmacy, and expanded grocery offerings. (More)

➤ United Airlines will launch nonstop flights from Denver International Airport to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, on Dec. 19, giving Colorado travelers direct access to the Caribbean destination. The route will make DIA the westernmost airport with nonstop service to the islands. (See Details)

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➤ As we get older, gripping a toothbrush and reaching every tooth gets harder. Sonic Glow does the work for you with powerful sonic cleaning that reaches your entire mouth in just 30 seconds. It's a faster, easier way to brush with less effort. See why so many people are switching to Sonic Glow. (More)

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FIND AFFORDABLE CARE

➤ Transplant Games of America set a Guinness World Record in Denver by gathering 966 living organ donors and recipients at the Colorado Convention Center. The biennial, Olympic-style event featured competitions ranging from cycling and swimming to darts and trivia. (See Details)

➤ Fort Garland Museum and the Harwood Museum in Taos debuted a new exhibition exploring the centuries-deep history of adobe. Timed to Colorado's 150th anniversary and the nation's 250th, the show frames clay, fiber, and the work of many hands as a tradition far older than the state itself. (Read Story)

➤ A bear climbed into a man's truck in Steamboat Springs and rummaged through the front seat before fleeing when the owner grabbed a wooden plank and shooed it away. (Watch)

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➤ Viral "Eye Detox" Ritual Clears Vision 5X Faster Than Drops. A 12-second bedtime ritual discovered by a retired Air Force vision specialist is helping people ditch drops and glasses. It targets blur and floaters fast, so you can wake up seeing clearer. Simple "Eye Detox" Ritual Clears Vision 5X Faster.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A "perfect storm" of falling birth rates and high prices could shrink the U.S. auto market by 2040. (Listen Here)

➤ A mother's decision to leave her daughter behind after she forgot her passport has sparked a heated online debate. (Episode Available)

➤ The common habit of washing strawberries right after buying them is the main reason they spoil so fast. (Hear Details)