Friday, August 14, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1874, U.S. explorers made the first recorded ascent of Blanca Peak, a fourteener in the San Luis Valley. Much to their surprise, the explorers found a manmade stone fortification at the summit, possibly left by the Ute people.

What's your favorite Colorado-grown produce? Vote in our Poll or hit reply to let us know. Then head to Business to learn about the new state law designed to crack down on out-of-state imitators.

What if the hours you already spend on your phone could actually earn you money? Today’s sponsor, Mode Mobile, is building technology to do just that, and more than 66,000 investors have already backed its vision. Learn more below, and watch for a special message later today about the technology behind its “EarnPhone” and the opportunity to invest.

Gun Law Faces Challenge

The Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA) filed a federal motion Tuesday seeking a preliminary injunction against the state's new firearm permit-to-purchase law.

Senate Bill 25-3 requires prospective buyers to pay for a background check, apply for an eligibility card with a sheriff, take a safety course, and pass a written exam.

The filing argues the permitting process is burdensome and rests on incomplete administrative infrastructure. Teller, Montezuma, and Bent counties are not accepting the required applications.

The group and five individuals have had a broader court challenge pending since last September. CSSA says 21 counties have no approved instructor for the required course.

New Bear Law Kicks in Amid Surge

A new state law took effect Wednesday making it a misdemeanor to knowingly leave food or edible waste in the open where it could lure a wild bear.

House Bill 26-1342 repeals the requirement that a first offense draw only a warning and raises the maximum fine for a third or subsequent violation from $2,000 to $5,000.

Gov. Jared Polis signed the measure in May, lowering the burden of proof from intentionally to knowingly luring bears with misplaced or mismanaged food and trash.

Mesa County bear reports jumped from 28 to 257 between April and early August compared with last year, and officials blame extreme drought for pushing bears into towns.

Stubborn Llama Refuses Rescue

Larimer County Sheriff's Office deputies recently responded to a report of an abandoned llama on Comanche Peak Trail.

Deputies found the llama lounging comfortably in a wooded area, where it had been hitched to a tree. Attempts to coax the llama down the trail were slow going—the animal frequently stopping to rest for long periods—and eventually put on pause for the night.

Returning the next morning, deputies encountered the owners, who explained how the llama had refused to budge mid-hike, forcing them to leave it hitched while they worked on a solution.

Working together, the llama’s owners and the deputies were able to lure the animal back to civilization. See photos here.

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➤ Statewide: Six traffic safety laws took effect Wednesday, including Magnus' Law, which requires officers to offer a voluntary breathalyzer test to drivers suspected of fault in serious crashes. (More)

➤ Fort Collins: The city has dropped plans to charge for downtown street parking after pushback. On-street spaces will remain free with a strict two-hour time limit. (More)

➤ Pueblo County: The Sikes Ranch Fire north of Colorado City was 100% contained at six acres Wednesday evening, roughly 15 minutes after mandatory evacuation orders were lifted. (More)

➤ Aurora: Officer Michael Gallagher resigned rather than be terminated after an internal investigation found he allegedly ingested narcotics seized as evidence during a traffic stop. (More)

➤ Alamosa County: Operation Sand Dune, a two-day operation targeting violent and wanted offenders Aug. 10 and 11, led to five arrests and 19 warrants cleared, according to a U.S. Marshals release. (More)

➤ Grand Junction: Police arrested a man on charges that he deliberately started a fire at a Mansfield Court home on Wednesday. (More)

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➤ The Colorado Rapids transferred 18-year-old defender Lucas Herrington to English Premier League club Hull City this week for a reported $17 million, the largest fee ever paid for a defender from an MLS club. (More)

➤ Colorado football opened practice to fans and media this week but banned all reporting, recording, and cell phone use. The school warned that violations could result in credential revocation. (More)

➤ Broncos backup center Michael Deiter suffered a season-ending quad injury in practice this week, leaving Denver thin at the position with both starting center Luke Wattenberg and top backup Alex Forsyth also banged up. (More)

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➤ A former Keenesburg coal mine now holds 16,000 solar panels expected to produce 7.2 megawatts and supply about 7% of the annual electricity demand at Molson Coors' Golden Valley operations. (More)

➤ City Market has completed an $18.5 million expansion in Montrose, adding 20,000 square feet and more than 20 jobs and bringing the store to 83,000 square feet. (More)

➤ House Bill 26-1031 took effect Wednesday, barring sellers from marketing produce as Colorado-grown or using the Colorado Proud logo unless the product is actually grown in the state. (More)

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➤ The Telluride Mushroom Festival, now in its 46th year, holds its Wild Foods Dinner today, honoring wild foods and the late lands advocate Katrina Blair. (More)

➤ Foolish Craig's Cafe in Boulder took the No. 1 spot on a list of the top Colorado restaurants once featured on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives—beating out The Sink and Bohemian Biergarten. (More)

➤ Eureka! McConnell Science Museum in Grand Junction is seeking local muralists to design and paint two murals along its playground walls. (More)

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➤ Johns Hopkins researchers identified a “silent epidemic” that may increase frailty risk by 230% in Americans over 50. The surprising solution isn’t another medication, but a forgotten superfood linked to Nobel Prize winning research. This nutrient dense food may support memory, muscle strength, and bone health, yet most Americans rarely eat it. Learn More

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:

➤ Hawaii's Big Island is under a hurricane watch as a strengthening Pacific storm threatens heavy rain and flooding. (Hear Details)

➤ Luigi Mangione is reportedly weighing a courtroom move that could upend his murder trial in New York. (Hear Episode)

➤ Tech executives are cloning themselves with artificial intelligence, and some of the digital doubles are already going rogue. (Listen Now)