Bottoms, Marx Advance to GOP Primary Ballot

Colorado Republicans chose two Colorado Springs pastors to advance to the governor’s primary ballot Saturday after a daylong state assembly in Pueblo. State Rep. Scott Bottoms won the top spot on the June 30 primary ballot with 45% of delegate support, while Victor Marx also qualified with nearly 40%.

More than 2,100 delegates gathered at Colorado State University Pueblo for the assembly, where gubernatorial candidates needed at least 30% support to qualify through the convention. State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, who skipped the assembly and submitted petition signatures instead, could still join the Republican primary if her signatures are verified.

The event stretched late into the evening after technical problems and paper ballot delays slowed voting. Party officials also addressed an 80-vote discrepancy before delegates voted to accept the results and move forward.

Eastern Colorado Drought Deepens

Drought is worsening across eastern Colorado, where farmers say winter wheat and other crops are already drying out weeks earlier than normal. State climatologists say scattered moisture in the forecast may offer short-term relief, but significant rainfall is still needed to improve conditions, consistent with the latest U.S. Drought Monitor data.

The dry stretch is raising financial concerns for producers who rely on healthy crops to cover operating costs. Farmers say current conditions could affect yields, income, and planning for the rest of the growing season, as impacts begin spreading beyond farms into the broader economy.

The Small Business Administration is now offering low-interest disaster loans to small businesses, agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and nonprofits affected by drought losses dating back to November. The loans can help cover payroll, bills, and other operating expenses, with applications open through Dec. 7.

Broncos Owners Buy Rockies Stake

Denver Broncos owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner have purchased a reported 40% stake in the Colorado Rockies after Major League Baseball approved the deal Friday. Penner Sports Group becomes the club’s largest minority owner.

The Rockies said the investment will allow the team to retire all outstanding debt and put more money toward improvements at Coors Field. The deal comes after the team made several offseason front-office changes following a third straight 100-loss season.

Dick and Charlie Monfort will remain in their current roles, with Walker Monfort continuing as team president. The Penners said they plan to be long-term partners with the franchise while keeping their main focus on the Broncos.

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➤ Aurora: A 14-year-old boy with multiple warrants was arrested after police say he crashed a stolen car into a tree during a chase. Three others were in the vehicle, and the teen initially gave officers a false age. (More)

➤ Yuma County: A wildfire near Idalia was reported contained after briefly closing part of Highway 36 near the Kansas border, with crews continuing to monitor for hot spots. (More)

➤ Centennial: An Arapahoe County sheriff’s K-9 helped find a missing 7-year-old girl in 12 minutes last week after tracking her scent from a pair of shoes. (More)

➤ Superior: A woman struck by lightning along a walking path Thursday remains in critical condition after bystanders performed CPR. Officials say her family is now by her side. (More)

➤ Florence: State crews have extinguished a coal mine waste pile that had been smoldering for about 20 years after completing a months-long mitigation and reclamation project. (More)

➤ Vail: An area water district has declared a water shortage and imposed new outdoor watering limits and surcharges for high-use customers as drought conditions worsen. (More)

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➤ University of Denver ice hockey rallied past Wisconsin 2-1 to win the NCAA championship, securing its third title in five years and 11th in program history. Kyle Chyzowski’s go-ahead goal with under six minutes left broke the tie, while freshman goalie Johnny Hicks made 29 saves and was named most outstanding player. (More)

➤ The Avalanche signed forward T.J. Hughes to a one-year entry-level contract for the 2026-27 season. He will finish the remainder of this season on a tryout with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles after recording 57 points in his senior year at Michigan. (More)

➤ Jared Bednar suffered facial fractures after being struck by a puck and will miss a road trip to Edmonton and Calgary, though the Avalanche coach is expected to recover without surgery. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: Masters | NBA | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Tennis | NASCAR

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➤ UFCW Local 7 reached a tentative agreement with Greeley’s Swift Beef plant after a weekslong strike over wages, health care costs, and alleged labor violations. (More)

➤ The Air Force has selected Buckley Space Force Base as a preferred site for a planned nuclear microreactor aimed at strengthening energy reliability for critical military operations. (More)

➤ More than 200 Colorado business and civic leaders have urged state officials to address competitiveness concerns after nearly 100 companies reportedly left, expanded elsewhere, or canceled plans in the state since 2019. (More)

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Individual investors can get in before Qnetic scales to 3,500 deployments worldwide by 2030.

➤ A Colorado engineer who helped develop Orion’s flight software said years of testing came down to Friday’s Artemis II splashdown as the capsule returned from its lunar mission. (More)

➤ Guanella Pass will reopen Thursday, about six weeks earlier than usual, after low snow levels allowed crews to clear the scenic byway ahead of schedule. (More)

➤ A Denver brewer in 1876 marked the nation’s 100th birthday by rolling out a special Centennial bock beer as the territory’s brewing industry expanded alongside its mining towns. (More)

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➤ Six “Healthy” Foods Secretly Raising Your Blood Pressure. 70% of Americans will face blood pressure concerns—most without knowing it. Common foods like cottage cheese and frozen fish make it worse. Experts now point to one unique Antarctic fatty acid that relaxes blood vessels and soothes inflammation naturally. Learn More

What do the Rockies need most to turn things around?

1. Better pitching
2. A big-name free agent
3. New ownership entirely
4. More patience
5. A miracle

Friday’s Results:

Would you live in a building known for being haunted?

1. Not a chance: 31%
2. Only if the rent’s cheap: 25%
3. Sign me up: 19% 
4. Other: 13%
5. Already living in one: 12%

Guanella Pass is one of Colorado’s most popular scenic byways, connecting Georgetown to Grant. Which 14er’s trailhead sits right at the top of the pass?

Show me the answer