New ICE Center to Open in Hudson

GEO Group announced Monday it signed a five-year contract with ICE to open a new immigration detention center at the former Hudson Correctional Facility, renamed the Big Horn Facility, northeast of Denver.

The 1,200-bed facility, dormant since 2014, will nearly double Colorado’s ICE detention capacity beyond the 1,500-bed Aurora facility, also operated by GEO Group.

The Town of Hudson says it has no authority over the privately owned site but is preparing for water, wastewater, and traffic impacts.

Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Democrats, vowed to keep fighting to stop the facility from opening.

Colorado Drops in Business Rankings

Colorado has plunged to 25th in CNBC’s Top States for Business rankings, down from 11th last year and its lowest showing in the list’s 20-year history. See the list here.

The state fell to 32nd for infrastructure and 38th for cost of doing business. It also ranked No. 49—second worst—for cost of living, trailing only California.

A Colorado Chamber-commissioned study found Colorado is the sixth-most regulated state. Researchers say regulatory burdens have cost tens of thousands of jobs and raised consumer prices.

Colorado did post gains in technology and innovation, climbing to No. 6 nationally, and Chamber Foundation director Rachel Beck said business groups are pushing reforms to reverse the slide.

Artemis Astronauts Coming to Red Rocks

NASA’s Artemis II astronauts—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen—will appear at Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Aug. 3 to share highlights from their moon mission.

The astronauts spent nine days in space in April, traveling farther from Earth than any humans before them, then splashing down in the Pacific and returning home to cheering crowds in Houston.

At Red Rocks, the crew will describe their roughly 700,000-mile voyage around the moon, including a close-up view of the lunar far side and a solar eclipse witnessed in deep space, then take audience questions.

Tickets are free with a $1 processing fee and go on sale at noon Friday. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for a STEM fair on the venue’s Top Plaza.

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➤ Huerfano County: The Aspen Acres Fire has burned 99,077 acres at 36% containment as of Tuesday. The sheriff’s office issued mandatory evacuation orders for all areas within U.S. Forest Service land and along Williams Creek. (More)

➤ Statewide: Turnout in Colorado’s June 30 primary hit about 35.9% of active voters, roughly 10 points higher than 2024, with nearly 1.5 million ballots cast amid competitive statewide and congressional races. (More)

➤ Ouray County: The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory that includes Dexter and Cutler Creek along Highway 550, warning of flash flooding and debris flows over the Gold Mountain Fire burn scar. (More)

➤ Fort Collins: A brush fire in the Fox Hills neighborhood briefly triggered mandatory and voluntary evacuations Monday before crews contained the 2-acre blaze. (More)

➤ Denver Water said reservoirs remain below average for July even as customers cut usage under Stage 1 drought restrictions, while Aurora Water reported similar conservation gains as its own reservoirs stay low. (More)

➤ Castle Rock: The community is demanding answers after a mother bear frequently seen with her cubs in the Terrain neighborhood was shot near the area. (More)

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➤ Reigning PBR bull riding world champion John Crimber overcame an injury to ride Dirty Honey for 91.90 points, clinching a win for the Florida Freedom at the PBR Teams season opener in Fort Collins. (More)

➤ Eleven Division I athletes filed a federal class-action lawsuit in Colorado challenging the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule, arguing it unfairly excludes athletes who used up eligibility in 2025-26. (More)

➤ The Denver Nuggets are reportedly signing EuroLeague wing Alpha Diallo to a one-year contract. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Ouray officials say July tourism is down 40% from last year as the nearby Gold Mountain Fire deters visitors, though local business owners insist the town remains safe and open. (More)

➤ Colorado joined 11 other states in a federal lawsuit seeking to block Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, with Attorney General Phil Weiser warning the merger would harm competition in film and TV. (More)

➤ Bass Pro Shops will celebrate the grand opening of its sixth Colorado store, a 130,000-square-foot Outdoor World in Loveland, with a ribbon-cutting and conservation event on July 22. (More)

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➤ A woman hiking in the high country had an eerie encounter when she noticed two moose were following her along the trail. (See Video)

➤ A local artisan crafted Colorado’s third giant troll sculpture, a metal creation now sitting beneath the Palmer Lake Pedestrian Bridge as part of a community art project. (More)

➤ This list spotlights six animals that were successfully reintroduced to Colorado, including river otters, which were brought back 50 years ago in 1976. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Hearing specialists say once hearing fades, it’s gone for good, making a few simple habits the only way to protect it. (See Habits)

➤ Newly released records show a former special counsel’s team accessed texts from dozens of lawmakers in both parties, drawing constitutional accusations. (Hear Episode)

➤ A state just cleared the way for seniors in assisted living to raise a glass together, no liquor license required. (Listen Now)

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