Thursday, August 6, 2026

Good Morning! Today is National Root Beer Float Day. Frank J. Wisner of Cripple Creek, Colorado, is credited with inventing the classic beverage, which he named a “Black Cow Mountain,” in August of 1893. As the story goes, Wisner, then producing a line of soda waters, got the idea by looking at the snow-capped Cow Mountain, which reminded him of a scoop of ice cream.

Some debates polarize a family faster than almost anything else, and this is one of them. Do adult children owe their aging parents care, or is it entirely a choice? Some Americans say kids have a responsibility to step up. But in 29 states, it's more than a moral question. The law can actually force you to pay, and one son learned that the hard way when a court handed him his mother's $93,000 nursing home bill. So where does obligation end and choice begin? Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla breaks down both sides of the fight. Tune in here!

What if coal could be transformed into cleaner fuels instead of being burned? Later today, keep an eye out for a message from our partner, Frontieras, about its technology and today's investment deadline.

Today's sponsor is hear.com, introducing AI-powered Horizon IX hearing aids designed to deliver clearer conversations by separating speech from background noise.

All 64 Counties Under Smoke Advisories

All 64 of Colorado's counties were under an air quality alert Wednesday as wildfire smoke from Oregon and Washington drifted across state lines.

The smoke combined with higher-than-usual moisture to leave the Front Range hazy after a run of 100-degree days.

State health officials expanded a Monday advisory to cover Rifle, Vail, Aspen, Breckenridge, Fairplay, Cañon City, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo, warning of moderate to heavy smoke.

Ozone is compounding the problem along the northern Front Range, and forecasters expect smoky skies to linger a few more days as triple-digit heat returns Friday.

Democrats Target New Red Districts

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added 12 Republican-held seats to its target list Wednesday, bringing the total number of GOP districts in play to 58.

The additions include two Colorado seats—the 3rd District, held by Rep. Jeff Hurd, and the 4th District, held by Rep. Lauren Boebert—both long considered out of reach.

Hurd won by five points in 2024, and an internal poll from Democrat Dwayne Romero showed the race statistically tied. Boebert won by roughly 11 points.

Republicans dismissed the expansion as wishful thinking, and Colorado Democrats separately said they hope to flip four state House seats and one Senate seat to reach supermajorities.

Submissions Open for Time Capsule

Coloradans have until Sept. 10 to submit letters, photographs, and keepsakes to a statewide time capsule that will stay sealed until 2076.

Visit Loveland leads the project, which replaces a much smaller capsule buried during Colorado's 1976 centennial celebration and opened for the sesquicentennial on Aug. 1.

The capsule is a seven-foot section of high-density polyethylene water pipe with 50 cubic feet of space, repurposed from a renovation at The Ranch Events Complex.

A selection committee will review and vacuum-seal submissions before the capsule is buried this fall. It will be opened in 50 years to mark America's 300th and Colorado's 200th anniversaries.

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➤ Statewide: Bear reports year over year have risen 68% for the first seven months of 2026, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). (More)

➤ Grand County: CPW lethally removed an uncollared yearling male wolf from the One Ear Pack on Tuesday after four confirmed calf depredations since late June. (More)

➤ Jackson County: The new Indian Creek Fire forced evacuations along County Road 53 on Tuesday night. No structure losses or injuries were reported. (More)

➤ Statewide: Colorado State Patrol investigated 267 crashes involving school buses over five years, most caused by other drivers, with inattentive driving ranking as the top causal factor. (More)

➤ Denver: New rules took effect this month allowing the city to fine owners of neglected properties $5,000 every two weeks, replacing a $1,000 annual penalty capped at $15,000. (More)

➤ Leadville: A new relief fund has launched to help local residents facing the economic fallout of the Willow Fire. (More)

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➤ The Denver Broncos released updated renderings for Burnham Yard, their preferred site for a new stadium and mixed-use neighborhood in Denver. The plans include a tree-lined trail and 11 football fields' worth of public green space. (More)

➤ Colorado State signed a multi-year deal with adidas as its official apparel partner, replacing Under Armour ahead of the Rams' first season in the Pac-12. (More)

➤ Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak agreed to a two-year, $16.25 million extension after the team opted not to trade him at the deadline. He’s hitting .278 with 19 home runs this season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer | Little League Softball World Series

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➤ The Town of Monument urged El Paso County commissioners to reject classifying a proposed Buc-ee's as a convenience store. The county said the town mischaracterized its staff determination. (Read More)

➤ PopUp Bagels, an East Coast bagel chain, plans to open its first-ever Colorado location at 1247 Pleasant St. in Boulder. (More)

➤ A Racer's Edge, a ski equipment shop in Breckenridge, is facing bankruptcy after one of the warmest winters on record. The owner launched an online fundraiser to try and save the shop. (Read Story)

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➤ A new species debuted at the Denver Zoo: two four-year-old Indonesian babirusas, also known as "deer pigs," a type of rare swine found on Indonesian islands. (See Pigs)

➤ A European circus, Finland's Circus Golden Star, wraps its first American tour with shows in Pueblo from Thursday through Sunday, featuring live music, aerialists, jugglers, and high-risk acts. (More)

➤ An Alpine Bank fundraiser has collected nearly $250,000 from more than 1,000 donors for the families of four firefighters killed and one injured in the Snyder Fire. (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:

➤ Do you think adult children owe their aging parents care? Tune in to hear both sides of the debate. (Hear Debate)

➤ German authorities scrambled a bomb disposal robot after an explosive-laden drone was found beside a Ukrainian cargo plane. (Hear Episode)

➤ Investigators are searching for answers after a famous influencer was shot and killed in public while livestreaming. (Listen Now)