Monday, August 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1876, The Boulder Banner reported on the kidnapping of a federal judge between Golden and Boulder—a rare instance of Colorado’s mostly litigious "railroad wars" exploding into armed conflict.

The U.S. Supreme Court has set a date for a religious discrimination case brought against Colorado by Catholic preschools. Read the details in our Top Stories.

How does the military decide who's tough enough to become a Navy SEAL? Why does it take a full year to train someone to fly a plane that never leaves the ground? And what exactly happens inside the school that teaches Americans how to survive being captured? The military doesn't advertise most of this, but the answers are out there, buried in Navy attrition reports, Army training records, and firsthand accounts from the people who made it through. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla digs into what that paper trail reveals about how America really forges its warfighters. Tune in here!

Car insurance has become one of those bills that seems to creep higher every renewal, even if nothing about your driving has changed. That's why today's sponsor is Insurify, a free comparison tool that helps drivers quickly see if they're paying more than they need to.

Supreme Court Sets Date for Preschool Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Nov. 3, which is also Election Day, in a clash between Catholic preschools and Colorado over the state's universal preschool program.

St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy asks whether excluding a Catholic preschool from the program is religious discrimination that violates the First Amendment.

Colorado requires participating schools to offer an equal opportunity to enroll regardless of sexual orientation. The parishes and the Archdiocese of Denver say that forces an impossible choice.

A district court and the 10th Circuit both sided with Colorado, citing a 1990 precedent that neutral, generally applicable rules do not violate the Constitution.

Fired Fire Chief to Sue City

Former Golden Fire Chief Kasey Beal is pursuing legal action against the city over his termination, which followed an incident at a fire station in March.

A black novelty doll was found hanging by a rope in a station stairwell. The employee responsible was demoted and suspended rather than fired at the time.

Beal was terminated two days after City Council fired City Manager Scott Vargo. Deputy Chief Sean Jones is serving as interim chief.

Beal says he was never interviewed during the internal investigation and determined discipline based only on an oral summary from the city's human resources director.

Torrential Rain Strands Drivers

Torrential rain flooded roads across the south Denver metro Saturday, stranding drivers in feet-deep floodwater and contributing to more than 550 flight delays at Denver International Airport.

South Metro Fire Rescue said about two feet of hail fell on parts of Meridian Boulevard, and much of the Front Range sat under a severe thunderstorm watch.

A flash flood emergency was declared Sunday afternoon for Beulah in western Pueblo County, with residents urged to seek higher ground away from the burn scar.

Today and tomorrow are forecast to be warmer and drier.

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➤ Park County: A 28-year-old man drowned at Eleven Mile Reservoir Friday after he and another man fell off a shared paddleboard. Neither was wearing a life jacket, and it was the second death there in nine days. (More)

➤ Larimer County: A dive team recovered a car that crashed into the Poudre River along Highway 14 last weekend. The driver reached shore on his own and was treated for minor injuries. (More)

➤ Loveland: State investigators substantiated a family's complaint that Bethesda Gardens neglected a 75-year-old resident who died six days after a fall. The facility did not respond to requests for comment. (More)

➤ Lamar: Local police arrested Alexei Munive-Rodriguez on Sunday morning after a day-long manhunt. He is accused of fatally stabbing a person in Northglenn late Friday night. (More)

➤ Clear Creek County: Deputies and Idaho Springs police clocked seven supercars doing 85 in a 45 zone on Highway 103, issuing $1,680 in fines and a court summons for the lead driver. (More)

➤ Aurora: Irma Palmer, one of Colorado's oldest residents, has died at 109. She turned 109 in late February and had joked that she was too ornery to ever get old. (More)

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➤ Former Cherry Creek High School star running back Jayden Fox is joining Colorado State and is expected to be able to play this season after flipping his commitment from UCLA. (More)

➤ Denver Broncos roster hopeful Levelle Bailey reportedly broke his leg in the team’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons. Bailey is expected to undergo surgery and miss extended time. (More)

➤ Colorado Rockies trade deadline addition Connor Norby snapped a 0-for-9 skid on Saturday to record his first hit with the team in a 7-1 loss to the San Francisco Giants. (More)

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➤ Colorado Treasurer Dave Young says tariffs are squeezing craft brewers and winemakers, with his office estimating that aluminum cans cost roughly 40% more this year than in 2025. (More)

➤ Dick's Sporting Goods opened its first Colorado House of Sport on Friday at Larkridge in Thornton, featuring indoor golf simulators, batting cages, and a climbing wall. (More)

➤ A mystery buyer offered the full $42.5 million asking price for Boulder County's San Lazaro Mobile Home Park, and its 800-plus residents are racing to assemble a competing bid. (More)

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➤ Wish for Wheels and Kroenke Sports Charities built and delivered more than 200 bikes and helmets to second graders at three Title I schools in Thornton and Commerce City. (More)

➤ A young bear tore through a screen at the Colorado Cherry Company north of Lyons and helped itself to a blueberry pie. A bear ate 28 pies at the same shop back in 2015. (More)

➤ A Colorado woman told the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization that she watched a 7- to 9-foot figure take four or five "gliding" steps through the woods near Lake City in late July. (More)

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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:

➤ Navy SEAL candidates cover more than 200 miles on roughly four hours of sleep, and most still don't finish. (Hear Toughest Training)

➤ Two million American raccoons have taken over Germany, and the Nazi commander blamed for it didn't do it. (Hear Real Culprit)

➤ Your beach read reveals which of four anxieties is quietly driving you. (Hear Your Type)