PERA Paid Bonuses While Pensions Shrank

Colorado’s public employee pension fund was rewarding its own staff with millions in bonuses even as retiree benefits were being cut, a Colorado Sun investigation found.

On average, PERA’s investment staff more than doubled their pay through performance incentives—in some years paying out bonuses regardless of whether the fund actually hit its targets. Meanwhile, the pension benefits that hundreds of thousands of Colorado teachers, state employees, and local government workers depend on have been quietly shrinking.

PERA manages retirement funds for more than 700,000 current and former Colorado public workers. The Sun found that top investment staff earned incentive pay totaling millions annually, a structure that pension governance experts say raises serious questions about conflicts of interest.

Critics are urging the Colorado Legislature to examine PERA’s compensation structure as concerns about the pension system’s financial health continue. According to the Reason Foundation, Colorado PERA School Division ranked 24th among the nation’s most indebted pension plans last year, carrying $17.35 billion in unfunded liabilities, while the Colorado PERA State Division Fund ranked 49th and had $9.52 billion in unfunded liabilities. 

Cigna Is Leaving Colorado’s Market

More than 40,000 Coloradans will need to find new health insurance after Cigna Healthcare announced it is exiting the state’s individual market effective January 1, 2027.

Cigna’s plans are sold in 12 Front Range counties—stretching from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs—as well as in Routt County. As recently as 2024, Cigna was Colorado’s third-largest individual market carrier, so its departure leaves a significant gap in coverage options.

The company is pulling out of the Affordable Care Act marketplace nationwide, citing market instability. Colorado’s Division of Insurance confirmed Cigna filed formal withdrawal notice last month, triggering a requirement that affected policyholders be notified in time for open enrollment.

People with Cigna plans through their job or through a Medicare Advantage plan will not see their coverage affected.

Where to Find a World Cup Watch Party

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off Thursday, and even though no games will be held in Colorado, you’ll have lots of viewing opportunities to choose from, from watch parties hosted by Grey Rock Sports Grill in Fort Collins to District Pour & Provisions in Westminster.

Denver isn’t a host city, but the city is bringing the party downtown. A Soccer Celebration at Skyline Park runs through the tournament, featuring watch parties with giant screens, youth soccer clinics, gaming lounges, and live entertainment throughout the summer.

Several Denver bars are also getting in on the fun, including Ay Papi, DNVR Bar, and Maria Empanada, while Colorado Springs’ party lineup includes The Brit Pub, Trainwreck, and Jack Quinn’s.

The first matches are Thursday, and the Final is set for July 19. In addition, take a look at the full rundown on Colorado Springs’ connection to the tournament before the opening whistle.

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➤ Berthoud: Health officials are warning of tularemia, a serious bacterial infection transmitted by dead rabbits and other wildlife, after a case was detected in Larimer County. (More)

➤ Moffat County: Multiple Colorado law enforcement agencies, including the Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, responded to an active shooter incident in Baggs, Wyoming, just over the state line, where a deputy was injured, launching a manhunt. (More)

➤ Statewide: Near-record heat, dropping humidity, and gusty winds brought critical fire danger Tuesday—just one day after the Front Range was hammered with hail as large as 2.75 inches during severe Monday storms. (More)

➤ Front Range: Colorado’s annual miller moth migration—the beloved and/or dreaded seasonal invasion—has been unusually quiet this spring, with far fewer moths than normal invading homes. (Details)

➤ Fort Collins: The city’s Urban Renewal Authority is pursuing eminent domain to acquire the former El Palomino Motel after inspections found methamphetamine contamination, asbestos, and groundwater pollution at the blighted North College Avenue site. (More)

➤ Denver: Denver Public Schools’ board voted unanimously to ban personal electronic devices bell-to-bell, requiring students to keep phones and other devices turned off and put away throughout the school day. (More)

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➤ Broncos linebacker Jonathon Cooper pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor domestic violence charges in a Douglas County courtroom. A jury trial is set for July 22, just before the start of training camp. (More)

➤ Colorado football ranks 24th nationally in returning roster experience heading into the 2026 college football season, according to CBS Sports. (More)

➤ Denver-area native and Patriots linebacker Chad Muma hosted a football camp this week for kids with Type 1 diabetes, a condition Muma has lived with since seventh grade. The camp was held at his old high school in Parker through his Muma Movement foundation. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NHL | MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Atrevida Beer Co. will close its Colorado Springs taproom on June 28 after eight years, the brewery announced on social media Monday—another closure in a tough season for the state’s craft beer industry. (More)

➤ Vail Resorts reported Q3 earnings on Monday showing skier visits fell 15.5% and revenue dropped 7% to $1.21 billion as historically poor snowfall punished the 2025–26 ski season. Season pass sales for next year are also slowing. (More)

➤ Colorado-based manufacturer Durango Machining Innovations is expanding into Farmington, New Mexico, renovating an existing building for machining operations and building an 11,000-square-foot facility to house specialized manufacturing equipment.  (More)

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The Lithium Boom is Heating Up

Lithium stock prices have more than doubled in the past year in response to ballooning costs and shortages. $ALB climbed 185%. $SQM, 133%.

But the real winner may be a private stock, EnergyX. Their tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods, leading General Motors to invest. Now, they hold rights to up to 13M tons of lithium across the Americas. 

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➤ Boulder’s wildlife rescuers are overwhelmed with baby animals this spring, with Greenwood Wildlife Rehabilitation Center seeing a surge in admissions last month as orphaned squirrels, foxes, wood ducklings, and even an opossum flooded in. (See Photo)

➤ The second annual Colorado Senior Games took place in Colorado Springs this past weekend, featuring athletes over 50 competing in sports ranging from powerlifting to softball. Competitors included an 80-year-old powerlifter and a 92-year-old softball player. (See Video)

➤ Colorado’s Great Time Capsule project, billed as the largest community time capsule in state history, is now on display in Colorado Springs as part of its statewide tour in honor of Colorado’s 150th anniversary. (See Video)

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Have you ever put something in a time capsule or participated in opening one?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I plan to

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your take on replacing your lawn with drought-friendly “Coloradoscaping”?

1. Open to it: 28%
2. Already done it: 21%
3. My lawn stays green: 21%
4. What’s Coloradoscaping?: 18%
5. Planning to this year: 12%

Colorado’s famous “Pikes Peak or Bust” rallying cry dates to which historical era?

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