Friday, August 1, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1876, Colorado entered the Union, becoming the 38th U.S. state. Colorado is known as the Centennial State because it achieved statehood 100 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Looking for a way to celebrate Colorado’s 149th birthday? Here’s a list of things to do across the state this weekend, from rodeos and county fairs to balloon festivals and duck derbies.

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Deputies Disciplined After ICE Arrest

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office has disciplined five deputies in the wake of a June traffic stop that led to a Brazilian national’s immigration arrest, Sheriff Rowell announced Tuesday.

Alexander Zwinck, the deputy who pulled over Caroline Goncalves, has been placed on three weeks of unpaid leave and reassigned to patrol. Four other deputies were given lesser punishments.

In a lawsuit filed last week, Attorney General Phil Weiser alleged Zwinck shared Goncalves’ information in a Signal chat with federal officers, aiding in her detention and violating a state law that limits such cooperation.

In Tuesday’s release, Rowell criticized Weiser’s lawsuit, calling it “political” and arguing Weiser should apply the law consistently or let agencies handle discipline internally.

Disability Advocates Push Back on RTD Proposal

The Regional Transportation District (RTD) has delayed a vote on proposed changes to Access-on-Demand (AOD), a popular paratransit program for people with disabilities.

RTD’s board of directors met on Tuesday to discuss a proposed fare increase, subsidy reduction, and other changes to AOD, which provides taxpayer-subsidized rideshare and taxi services in the Denver area.

Dozens gathered outside the RTD building to protest the proposals. Some called it ironic that RTD voted the same day to rename Civic Center Station after Rev. Wade Blank, a local disability rights icon.

Ultimately, RTD opted to lower the fare instead of raising it, sending a revised proposal back to the committee for reanalysis.

QR Code Scam Targets Drivers

A new scam in Denver uses fake QR code stickers to steal payment information from drivers who try to pay for parking.

Scammers place the stickers on parking meters to make them look legitimate. If scanned, they open a website resembling a parking payment portal, instructing users to enter credit card and other personal information.

According to city officials, legitimate QR codes have green dots in the center and will either open the PayByPhone app or prompt users to install it.

While officials have been proactively searching for and removing the fake QR codes, they warn that the stickers may reappear as no arrests have been made.

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➤ Capitol: Rep. Jason Crow filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging he was unlawfully denied access to the ICE facility in Aurora while conducting an unannounced oversight visit. (See Details)

➤ Custer County: A rare high-elevation tornado touched down near Westcliffe on Wednesday. No damage or injuries were reported. (See Video)

➤ Centennial: Colorado Skies Academy, an aviation and aerospace-focused charter school, abruptly announced its closure last week. Parents say they’re scrambling to find alternatives before the school year begins. (See Details)

➤ Montrose County: The North Rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, closed since July 10 due to the South Rim Fire, reopened on Wednesday. The South Rim Fire has burned 4,200 acres and is 41% contained. (See Details)

➤ Jackson County: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed there are at least six pups in the One Ear Pack, one of three gray wolf packs formed this spring. (Watch Pups)

➤ Colorado Springs: City councilors agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Jeffrey Melvin, who died after officers repeatedly tased him in 2018. (See Details)

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➤ CU football ranked as the most expensive game day in the country, with fans spending an average of $302 per person. (More)

➤ Former Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe was let go by ESPN this week following a tumultuous months-long sexual assault saga that he settled out of court. (More)

➤ Nikola Jokić’s agent Miško Ražnatović was seen on a boat with LeBron James and was reportedly discussing the creation of a European basketball league separate from the NBA. (More)

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➤ The City of Denver will invest more than $100 million in 10 projects aimed at revitalizing the downtown area. The projects include new space for small businesses, office-to-residential conversions, and public space improvements. (See Details)

➤ Silver Bullet Shooting Range in Wheat Ridge is working to soundproof its building using city funds in response to noise complaints from neighbors. (Read Story)

➤ Electric vehicle sales in Colorado declined in 2025 amid threatened cuts to state subsidies and plans to end a federal tax credit. (See Details)

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➤ The Denver Zoo is welcoming a pair of Rocky Mountain bighorn lambs born at the zoo’s West Sheep Mountain habitat earlier this month. (See Photos)

➤ The Unicorn Festival, a summer kids’ festival featuring unicorns, mermaids, fairies, and more, will be held at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds on Aug. 23 and 24, promising expanded activities and new attractions. (See Details)

➤ The Zoppé Italian Family Circus, a world-renowned circus dating to 1842, performs today through Monday in Parachute, about a three-hour drive west from Denver. Tickets start at $28, and locals get a 30% discount. (See Details)

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