Monday, May 19, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, Denver’s first major flood struck overnight, when swollen waters from Cherry Creek and the South Platte River tore through town, killing at least eight, wiping out buildings, and destroying irreplaceable city records.

Firefighters in Fort Collins adopted a brood of ducklings. Read more in our Top Stories. Plus, an old-fashioned penny arcade is under new ownership, which made us wonder: what’s your favorite arcade classic? Vote below or hit reply to reminisce.

Today’s sponsor is Mode Mobile, offering a pre-IPO investment opportunity for The Colorado Flyover readers.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Two Dead in Broomfield Plane Crash

A small plane departing from Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport crashed shortly after takeoff on Saturday morning, killing both occupants.

The plane, a Beechcraft 95-B55, took off around 10 a.m. and crashed minutes later in a field north of US 36, investigators said. First responders quickly extinguished a small grass fire at the site.

The pilot had reported an open door and was attempting to return to the airport for an emergency landing before losing contact with air traffic control.

The cause of the crash remains undetermined. Officials are advising the public to avoid the area while the investigation is underway.

Polis to Withhold Grants Over Housing Laws

Gov. Jared Polis signed an executive order on Friday requiring Colorado cities and counties to comply with state housing laws or risk losing more than $100 million annually in state grants.

The order concerns a host of new regulations aimed at boosting housing affordability and capacity. Some have yet to take effect, and not all apply statewide.

Several local governments, including some home rule cities like Westminster, have pushed back, saying they won’t comply with laws requiring denser housing and less parking near transit.

Polis’ order has drawn criticism from local officials and lawmakers, who argue it—along with the housing laws—amount to government overreach.

Firefighters Rescue, Adopt Ducklings

The Poudre Fire Authority (PFA) rescued eight ducklings that had fallen into a storm drain in Fort Collins last week.

After removing the ducklings, the crew waited for the mother to return. When she didn’t, they contacted local shelters but found the brood had “nowhere to go.”

The ducklings briefly lived at PFA’s Station 1, where firefighters cared for them using heat lamps and food donated by Jax Farm & Ranch. See a video here.

Ultimately, Tower 1’s captain and engineer decided to adopt the brood, taking home four ducklings each. PFA said the baby ducks are “doing great” in their new homes.

Flying together with our sponsor

Motorola, Nokia, Apple… This Smartphone Innovator?

In the 80s, Motorola made phones mobile. In the 90s, Nokia gave them personality. In the 2000s, Apple made them smart—changing the industry forever.

But for years, the innovations dried up. Until Mode Mobile.

Mode’s EarnPhone flips the model entirely—paying users for everyday phone use instead of draining their wallets. With $325M+ earned and saved by customers, 45M+ users across 170+ countries, and $75M+ in revenue, Mode is leading the next evolution.

Now, with Nasdaq ticker $MODE reserved, they’re preparing for their biggest leap yet. And they’re inviting investors to get involved at a share price of just $0.30.

Limited room available—learn how you can get a piece here.

➤ Golden: The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office says it will recommend felony charges for three elementary school boys who allegedly threw large rocks from their school bus, striking a passing car and causing major damage. (See Details)

➤ Bailey: Camp IdRaHaJe, a Christian summer camp, filed a lawsuit against Colorado alleging new requirements for gender-based access to bathrooms, bunks, and other spaces violate its religious freedom. (See Details)

➤ Wiggins: Rep. Lauren Boebert requested $5 million in federal aid to clean up the town’s water, which contains a sludge that tested positive for radioactive lead and uranium. (See Details)

➤ Weld County: Chevron says it could take five years to clean up the oil and gas spill from last month’s well blowout near Galeton. Several evacuated residents remain unable to return. (More)

➤ Fort Collins: Poudre Fire Authority fought and extinguished two fires, one caused by spontaneous combustion, within a 12-hour period on Monday. (More)

➤ Statewide: A fourth gray wolf translocated to Colorado from Canada has died in a northwest part of the state, officials confirmed. (More)

➤ Colorado Springs: First responders biked from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins over the weekend for Tour de Shields616, a fundraiser honoring fallen Golden Police Officer Evan Dunn. (See Details)

Enjoy reading The Colorado Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ The Denver Nuggets’ playoff run ended in a 125–93 Game 7 blowout loss to the Thunder. Nikola Jokić scored 20, but Denver fell behind early and never recovered. (See Details)

➤ The Denver Broncos made several notable front office moves, headlined by the promotion of Reed Burckhardt to assistant general manager. (More)

➤ Colorado Rockies interim manager Warren Schaefer earned his first career win as the Rockies erupted for 14 runs in a 14–12 comeback over the Diamondbacks on Saturday. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Be prepared for any emergency with the Lone Survival Kit. This all-in-one medical kit includes essential supplies to treat injuries and handle urgent health needs when it matters most. Compact, reliable, and expertly designed—keep your family safe and ready for the unexpected. Get peace of mind today!

➤ Safta, a Denver brunch buffet serving Israeli and Mediterranean food, was named one of the best brunch buffets in the country on a list by TastingTable. (See List)

➤ King Soopers is overcharging an average of 18.4% on items with expired sale tags, according to an investigation by Consumer Reports. (See Details)

➤ The Manitou Springs Penny Arcade, a historic arcade founded by the Kerns family in 1933, is entering a new era under local ownership after more than 90 years of family stewardship. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Tired of heavy, tangled hoses? The Pocket Hose Copper Bullet is your lightweight, durable solution! It expands for full-size power, then shrinks down for easy storage. Kink-proof and built to last, it’s perfect for spring gardening, washing cars, and more. Make outdoor chores easier—grab yours today!

Flying together with our sponsor

#1 Software Company Shares Jump 15%

Deloitte’s 2023 #1 software company just raised $45M in their pre-IPO offering and their share price jumped to $0.30/share.

Their offering is almost fully subscribed, but there’s still a time-limited opportunity for investors to buy in at $0.30/share. With parabolic revenue growth of 32,481%, this company is leading a smartphone revolution that has enabled +45M users to earn +$325M from screen time.

We’ve seen it before when Uber turned cars into income streams and Airbnb turned homes into income-producing assets. Early investors in these companies earned significant returns, and Mode is following their playbook.

Invest in this breakout Nasdaq candidate at $0.30/share while there is still room.

Please read the offering circular at invest.modemobile.com. This is a paid advertisement for Mode Mobile’s Regulation A Offering. A reservation of the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that we will be listed on the NASDAQ. Any IPO timing is unknown, general steps to be accepted have not been undertaken at this point, and that listing is not guaranteed.

➤ Colorado is the second-best state in the country for tiny house living, according to a study that evaluated housing laws, public interest, and the number of tiny home communities. (See Study)

➤ Titanic: An Immersive Voyage—an exhibit where visitors can relive the shipwreck through 3D visuals, recreated rooms, and virtual reality—opened at the Exhibition Hub Art Center in Denver. (See Details)

➤ The top baby names in Colorado for 2024 were released by the Social Security Administration. Liam ranked No. 1 for boys, while Olivia topped the list for girls. (See List)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ These Are The Rolls-Royce Of Hearing Aids (And Under $100) Shoppers are going nuts over these low cost hearing aids that are virtually invisible. Discover how these affordable hearing aids are changing the lives of people everyday. (Learn More)