Tina Peters Walks Free

Former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters walked out of La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo on Monday, June 1, after Gov. Jared Polis granted her clemency—cutting her sentence in half—last month.

Peters, now free on parole, served 19 months of a nine-year sentence for her role in breaching county voting equipment, something she says she did to uncover fraud in the 2020 presidential election.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold said the clemency decision sends a “dangerous message about accountability” and could embolden the “election denial movement.” Supporters of Peters applauded the release as long overdue.

Peters’ release closes the chapter on a criminal case that drew national attention, with repeated calls from President Trump to free the former clerk.

Hail Batters Plains

Severe thunderstorms pushed east from the Interstate 25 corridor onto the Eastern Plains yesterday.

Golf ball-sized hail fell in some parts of the Denver metro, with reports of hailstones as large as 1.75 inches in diameter. See photos here.

Storms swept across Denver around 2 p.m. and intensified as they tracked east, with the most dangerous conditions developing on the plains by late afternoon. Temperatures stayed in seasonal norms, capping in the low 80s.

Isolated, less severe thunderstorms will remain likely Tuesday through Thursday.

Tubing Season Starts Early

Clear Creek in Golden has opened for inner tubing weeks ahead of schedule thanks to calmer waters resulting from a historically dry winter.

Adventure West River Tubing opened on Memorial Day weekend, the earliest opening in the company’s history. “This is literally one of a kind in 20 years,” said owner Beth Battilla.

The outfitter typically doesn’t open until early July, when snowpack runoff slows enough to make the creek safe for tubers. This year, with no significant snowmelt, operators were able to open as the weather warmed enough to draw visitors.

The early start comes with a catch, as the low streamflow makes it uncertain how long the season can last.

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➤ Boulder: Monday marked one year since the Pearl Street Mall firebombing, which killed one person and injured 12 others. Attacker Mohamed Soliman is serving life in prison. (More)

➤ Grand Junction: A child nearly fell into the Colorado River after slipping off a cliff and holding onto a tree. Bystanders called 911, and the child was safely rescued. (More)

➤ Kiowa County: Colorado Parks and Wildlife is urging licensed anglers to fish at Nee Noshe Reservoir, which is drying up due to ongoing drought. Officials say the reservoir is unlikely to refill anytime soon. (More)

➤ Denver: Gas prices have dropped nearly 50 cents in the past week, fueled by talks of a potential U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement that could ease oil supply concerns statewide. (More)

➤ Aspen: A beloved backcountry gathering place known as Grant’s Cabin burned to the ground Saturday. The roughly 400-square-foot cabin was a decades-long hotspot for skiing, beers, and sunsets. (More)

➤ Castle Rock: An illegal immigrant was sentenced to 100 years in prison for child sexual abuse. He had cut off his ankle monitor after his verdict and fled toward the U.S.-Mexico border before capture. (More)

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➤ Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders earned a record $17.7 million in NFLPA group licensing income as a rookie, more than three times the value of his current four-year $4.6 million rookie contract. (More) 

➤ The Colorado Rockies gave up 19 runs and 25 hits in a blowout loss to the Giants on Sunday at Coors Field. San Francisco tied a Coors Field record with nine doubles. (More) 

➤ The Avalanche quietly explored trading forward Ross Colton ahead of the deadline this season as a potential cap casualty. Colton scored just nine goals in 73 games this year and carries a $4 million cap hit heading into the offseason. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | NCAASB | NCAAB | WNBA | Tennis

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➤  Invi MindHealth, a Denver startup, landed $4 million in federal grants to analyze psychedelic therapy outcomes for U.S. veterans treated at clinics in Mexico. (More)

➤ Colorado’s outdoor recreation office wrapped up a four-year federal grant program, distributing $3.6 million across 50 projects in 27 counties. (More)

➤ Dillon Companies, a Kroger subsidiary, purchased land in Aurora’s Green Valley Ranch East, with plans for a new King Soopers-anchored development at East 56th Avenue and Picadilly Road. (More)

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➤ A Longmont police dog got sprayed by an angry skunk while on a late-night patrol and had to be given a bath. (See Photos)

➤ Denver Greek Festival turns 60 this weekend at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral near Glendale, featuring a bigger footprint, multiple gyro stations, off-site shuttle parking, and live bouzouki music Friday through Sunday. (More)

➤ An orangutan at the Denver Zoo became a first-time mom on May 24, delivering a healthy Sumatran baby boy. The public can vote on the baby orangutan’s name. (See Photos)

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How often do you visit Colorado’s Western Slope (west of the Continental Divide)?

1. Never
2. Once in a blue moon
3. Every year or so
4. Every few months
5. Every month or more
6. I live there

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you doing anything to celebrate Colorado’s 150th anniversary this summer?

1. No: 73%
2. Yes: 27%

 In what year did Colorado experience its most expensive hailstorm?

Show me the answer