Monday, June 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1881, Denver Union Depot—a railroad gateway that turned Denver into a commercial hub—opened at Wynkoop and 17th.

The 150th anniversary of Colorado’s statehood is this summer, and Breckenridge is planning to “party like it’s 1876.” Find out more in Et Cetera—and hit reply to tell us how you’ll be celebrating the sesquicentennial.

Flyover Updates officially launches today, bringing the day’s biggest developing stories straight to your phone. Each update is designed to be quick, easy to read, and brief, giving you the most important news happening after your morning edition lands without cluttering your inbox or taking up your day. If you’d like to stay informed between editions of The Flyover, sign up today.

Today’s sponsor, the knēNest Pillow, is designed to relieve nighttime pain and improve sleep by keeping your body properly aligned for deeper, more restorative rest.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Brent Metz Trial Closing Arguments Today

Closing arguments begin today in the trial of Brent Metz, a former Mountain View council member accused of nonfatally shooting a then-17-year-old in the face during a September 2024 confrontation on his Jefferson County property.

Metz took the stand Friday and testified his gun fired accidentally. In his account of the shooting, his finger was on the side of the weapon—not the trigger—and he was not deliberately pointing at the teens.

The victim, Jack Howard, testified Thursday that he believed he would die from his injuries. Howard said he and a friend had been on Metz’s property to scout locations for a homecoming photo shoot when the confrontation occurred.

Metz faces charges of second-degree assault, menacing, and illegal discharge of a weapon. The defense rested Friday after Metz’s testimony.

Republicans Elect New Chair

The Colorado Republican Party elected Craig Steiner, a software engineer, as its new state chairman Saturday at a central committee meeting in Buena Vista.

Steiner fills a vacant chair position just over a week before primary ballots go out to voters, with the general election five months away. Colorado Republicans are competing in a June 30 primary that includes a contested race for the party’s gubernatorial candidate.

Steiner said he plans to focus on rebuilding and unifying what he described as a divided party. In addition to the governor’s office, Democrats currently hold most major statewide positions.

Midwives Sue State

A group of direct-entry midwives has filed a class-action lawsuit against state regulators, alleging Colorado’s oversight model is discriminatory and pushing practitioners out of the profession.

The suit targets the Division of Professions and Occupations and its program director, a lawyer with no medical background. Colorado is the only state that uses a single non-clinician director, rather than a licensing board, to regulate midwives.

A state records request found midwifery complaints stay open 500 days on average—twice as long as other professions—and midwives face suspension during investigations at seven times the rate of physicians.

More than a third of Colorado’s counties are considered maternity care deserts. Four hospitals have shuttered their labor and delivery units since 2020, leaving midwives as the only birth option in many rural communities.

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➤ Denver: One person died Saturday after being struck by an RTD A Line commuter train in north Denver. Shuttle buses replaced train service during the disruption, and Denver Police are investigating. (More)

➤ Statewide: A new bill signed into law will soon require first-time DUI offenders to hold an interlock-restricted license. (More)

➤ Southern Colorado: The state health department issued an Air Quality Health Advisory Saturday, warning residents with respiratory conditions to limit outdoor exertion. The advisory, driven by elevated ozone levels, expired at 8 p.m. (More)

➤ Rocky Mountain National Park: Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous paved highway in the U.S., opened for the summer Friday, giving visitors full cross-park access for the first time since winter. (More)

➤ Palisade: The Grand Valley Yoga Fest concluded this weekend with all proceeds benefiting mental health and suicide awareness programs in the Grand Valley. (More)

➤ Aurora: A 2-year-old girl is safe after suffering two rattlesnake bites and being airlifted to Children’s Hospital Colorado, where she received more than 30 vials of antivenom, a blood transfusion, and emergency lifesaving care. (More)

➤ The Colorado Rockies took down the San Francisco Giants 8-3 on Saturday to earn their first series win since April. (More)

➤ Denver Broncos legendary quarterback John Elway joined country music singer Morgan Wallen on stage in a recent concert at Mile High Field, the home of the Broncos. (More)

➤ Former Colorado football stars Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders reportedly earned more licensing money during the 2025-2026 NFL season than any other players in the league. (More)

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➤ The Denver Downtown Development Authority is investing $2.7 million in Denver Pavilions, directing the funds toward parking garage upgrades and public space improvements at the downtown shopping center. (More)

➤ Dry Dock Brewing has opened a new brewpub in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood. (More)

➤ Red Robin, the Arapahoe County-based national burger chain, is selling 30 restaurants in Washington and Idaho for $23.5 million. (More)

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➤ A young bear climbed a tree in a Colorado Springs neighborhood Saturday. Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers safely relocated the animal. (More)

➤ The Freedom Plane landed in Denver last week, carrying nine historic documents pulled directly from the National Archives for a rare traveling exhibit on a national tour. The exhibit is in the state through mid-June. (More)

➤ Breckenridge is celebrating Colorado’s sesquicentennial with a four-day community event featuring live music, food, dancing, theater, and history, with the slogan “Party Like It’s 1876.” (More)

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