Friday, December 20, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1875, the Colorado Territory’s Constitutional Convention began at Denver’s Odd Fellows Hall. Over the course of 87 days, 39 delegates drafted a constitution modeled after the U.S. Constitution.

We’re breezing into the Friday edition of The Colorado Flyover with a story about the powerful winds that recently swept through the state. Test your knowledge with our trivia question.

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Today’s sponsor is the Voice of Martyrs, who are helping provide aid to Christians in hostile territories.

Colorado Winds Hit 102 MPH

Parts of Colorado experienced strong winds overnight Wednesday into Thursday, with gusts wreaking havoc across the Front Range, foothills, and mountains.

Gusts exceeded 60 mph in many areas, with the highest recorded at 102 mph in Boulder County. Other significant gusts included 97 mph in Jefferson County and 85 mph in Gilpin County.

The strongest winds occurred between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., but conditions began to calm by Thursday morning.

The storm caused power outages for nearly 4,000 customers in Clear Creek and Gilpin counties.

Border Czar Demands Migrants from Aurora

President-elect Donald Trump’s newly appointed border czar Tom Homan has urged Aurora police to turn over suspected migrant gang members to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following arrests related to a violent home invasion and kidnapping earlier this week.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain described the crime as brutal, noting that the victims were “terrorized” and subjected to physical abuse.

Homan’s remarks followed a meeting with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who emphasized a shared goal of targeting violent offenders.

State Ranked Top for People With Disabilities

Colorado was recently ranked the best state for individuals with disabilities.

The state earned 149.04 points across 12 categories, outperforming second-place California by nearly nine points.

Colorado excelled in areas such as digital accessibility laws (ranked No. 2), employment rates for individuals with disabilities (No. 4), and the percentage of disabled individuals with a four-year college degree (No. 1).

Gov. Jared Polis and Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera celebrated Colorado’s top ranking, attributing the achievement to initiatives like expanded job opportunities, improved access to education, and the creation of the Colorado Disability Opportunity Office.

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Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world’s most hostile and restricted nations.

His mission? To meet the courageous men and women who have faced persecution for their unwavering faith in Christ. Todd has traveled far and wide to hear their powerful stories firsthand and to bring their voices to the world, sharing their extraordinary testimonies of faith and resilience.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes-difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ Denver: The Biden administration has reported that rent-setting algorithms may inflate housing costs, with Denver rent prices up $136 monthly. (More)

➤ Western Colorado: Congress has renewed funding for endangered fish recovery programs, which supports species protection and water management efforts in the Colorado and San Juan River basins. (See Details)

➤ Boulder: A hiker’s body was recovered near Boulder’s Third Flatiron, marking the second death in the Flatirons this week. Search efforts took 8.5 hours. (More)

➤ Mesa County: Tina Peters, a former Mesa County clerk convicted of election violations, has been transferred from the Mesa County Detention Facility to the Larimer County Jail due to safety concerns. (More)

➤ Statewide: Xcel Energy’s proposal to extend peak electricity rates until 9 p.m. in summer and winter has sparked mixed reactions. (More)

➤ Boulder: Researchers at the University of Colorado are studying cannabis impairment with a mobile lab called the “Cannavan” to standardize roadside tests and develop next-generation cannabis breathalyzers. (See Details)

➤ The Denver Broncos fell to the Chargers 34-27 on Thursday, dimming their playoff hopes. The team’s chances now depend on how other teams do. (See Details)

➤ The Colorado Buffaloes signed former Liberty quarterback Kaidon Salter on Thursday. Salter could potentially step in as a replacement for Shedeur Sanders, the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. (More)

➤ The Colorado State men’s basketball team concluded its non-conference schedule with a 78-68 victory over Radford, improving to 6-5 on the season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ ALLCITY Network, a Denver-based sports media startup, laid off 16 employees nationwide, including two in Denver, affecting 7% of its workforce. (More)

➤ A Fort Collins man has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for co-founding “8 Figure Dream Lifestyle,” a pyramid scheme that defrauded approximately 2,800 victims of $23.5 million. (More)

➤ United Airlines will offer nonstop Denver-to-Rome flights from May 1 to Sept. 25. This expands its international network to 22 destinations, including recently added Istanbul and Dublin. (More)

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Flying together with our sponsor

Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world’s most hostile and restricted nations.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes-difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ Beyond skiing, a recently released list from Thrillist highlights hidden gems and adventurous activities across the state, such as Rocky Mountain stargazing, Denver’s craft breweries, and oxygen therapy spas in Vail. (See List)

➤ A man plunged into a frozen pond at Chatfield Dog Park to rescue a drowning dog. Witnesses praised his quick and selfless actions. (Video Report)

➤ Santa rappelled down the side of Children’s Hospital in Aurora, trading his sleigh for climbing rope and spreading holiday cheer to patients as part of the hospital system’s annual holiday parade. (See Photos)

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