Friday, May 2, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1982, an oil shale boom in Garfield County came to an abrupt end when Exxon, the area’s largest employer, shut down its operations. Thousands immediately lost their jobs, and other companies followed suit in the coming years. The date became known locally as Black Sunday.

The Nuggets and Avalanche don’t just share a playoff season—they share a home. Both teams play at Ball Arena, where the Avs’ ice rink is converted into a basketball court between games. Watch a timelapse of the transformation here.

Did you know that the team that makes The Colorado Flyover also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

If you’re an Amazon Prime subscriber, be sure to check out today’s sponsor, Brad’s Deals, with nine Prime perks you may be missing out on.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

ICE to Fine Denver Businesses Over $8 Million

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said Wednesday the agency intends to fine three Denver businesses more than $8 million for employing illegal migrants.

The announcement follows worksite audits that uncovered “widespread employment eligibility violations,” including numerous cases involving missing or mismatched Social Security numbers.

The businesses include CCS Denver, Inc., PBC Commercial Cleaning Systems, Inc., and Green Management Denver. CCS Denver, a cleaning and maintenance company, faces the largest fine—$6,186,171—for allegedly hiring and employing at least 87 non-citizens.

“The employment of unauthorized workers undermines the integrity of our immigration system and puts law-abiding employers at a disadvantage,” Steve Cagen, Special Agent in Charge, said in a statement.

Trump Endorses Rep. Gabe Evans

President Trump took to social media on Monday to endorse Rep. Gabe Evans, a first-term Republican in Colorado’s highly competitive 8th Congressional District.

Trump praised Evans as an “America First Patriot” and declared on Truth Social, “HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!”

Trump previously endorsed Evans, along with Rep. Lauren Boebert, during the 2024 election cycle when Evans unseated Democratic Rep. Yadira Caraveo. Caraveo launched her bid for a rematch last month.

Election analysts rate the district as a tossup, with targeted campaigns by both parties in play ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

World’s Largest Passenger Plane Lands at DIA

The world’s largest passenger aircraft touched down at Denver International Airport (DIA) on Wednesday, marking its first-ever scheduled commercial flight to Denver from Munich.

The Airbus A380 is a double-decker airliner with 509 seats, four engines, and a 262-foot wingspan. It landed at DIA thanks to the airport’s 16,000-foot runway—the longest in North America.

Phil Washington, DIA’s CEO, described the milestone as “the opening of the Rocky Mountain region to the rest of the world,” as Denver joins an exclusive group of global airports able to support the airliner’s service.

Lufthansa will operate daily flights aboard the Airbus between Denver and Munich through Sept. 30.

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➤ Statewide: John Elway spoke out about the death of his longtime agent and friend, Jeff Sperbeck, who died Wednesday from injuries suffered in a golf cart accident over the weekend. (See Details)

➤ Colorado Springs: The FBI arrested a Fort Carson staff sergeant suspected of running private security at an underground nightclub raided Sunday. The club was allegedly linked to drug and weapons trafficking tied to the Sinaloa cartel. (See Details)

➤ Summit County: Deputies launched an investigation after a body was found in Dillon Reservoir near Frisco on Tuesday. (More)

➤ Statewide: A Senate committee passed House Bill 25-1312, a transgender rights bill, after removing a clause that would have classified calling children by former names or pronouns as abuse. (See Details)

➤ Mesa County: The county treasurer’s office is warning of a text-message scam in which scammers impersonate the office and send fake property tax bills. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: The Real ID travel requirement takes effect next Tuesday. Airline passengers will need a Real ID-compliant license or other approved ID to pass through airport security. Colorado’s been compliant since 2013, but many residents still have questions. (See Details)

➤ The Denver Nuggets lost to the Clippers in Los Angeles 111-105 last night in Game 6 of their first-round NBA playoff series. The winner of Saturday night’s Game 7 in Denver will move on to the second round. (More)

➤ The Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars 7-4 last night at Ball Arena in Game 6 of their first-round NHL playoff series. The winner of Saturday night’s Game 7 in Dallas will move on to the second round. (More)

➤ The Colorado Rockies snapped their eight-game losing streak on Wednesday by defeating the Atlanta Braves 2-1. However, despite the victory, the Rockies still finished the month of April with the worst-ever April record in MLB history. (More)

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➤ The Fort, a historic adobe-style steakhouse in Morrison, was named Colorado’s best under-the-radar steakhouse on a national list of hidden gems. (See Photos)

➤ Blackouts in Xcel Energy’s service territory more than doubled in 2024, amid a surge in customer complaints, according to state regulators. (See Details)

➤ Federal Boulevard businesses are gearing up for this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations, which will include live music, street vendors, and cruising along the corridor. (More)

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➤ The Furry Scurry, an annual two-mile dog walk to raise money for Humane Colorado, will be held Saturday in Denver’s Washington Park. (See Details)

➤ Thirty-one calves—and counting—have been born into the bison herd at Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, bringing the estimated herd size to about 220. (More)

➤ A baby African penguin hatched at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Visitors have a chance to see (or hear) the new chick at the Water’s Edge Africa exhibit. (See Photos)

➤ Phillip Anschutz was named the richest Coloradan—with an estimated worth of $16.9 billion—on Forbes’ 2025 list of the richest person in every state. (See List)

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