Monday, December 15, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1873, the Colorado Central Railroad arrived in Black Hawk.

Colorado is home to two of the nation’s top 10 holiday markets, according to a new list. Find out more in Business. And if Christmas shopping snuck up on you, this roundup of shipping deadlines could save your holiday.

Tune into today’s Flyover Podcast, where host Ayla Brown shares simple ways you can spread joy in your community through donations during a busy holiday season. Even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way in making someone’s holidays brighter. Watch the episode here.

If you’ve been straining to catch the moments that matter, this holiday season may finally feel different thanks to a new hearing-aid technology from today’s sponsor, Hello Hearing Studios, designed to make voices clear and devices practically invisible.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

DOJ Sues over Voter Info

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is suing four more states, including Colorado, for refusing to provide unredacted voter data and other election information.

The DOJ has now sued 18 states and one county over similar refusals. Federal officials describe the lawsuits as an effort to ensure election security by identifying ineligible voters.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold declined to send the information earlier this month, citing concerns over how it would be used and protected.

In response to the lawsuit, Griswold reaffirmed that her office won’t provide the data, saying the Trump administration “does not have a legal right to the information.”

Regulators OK Stream, Wetlands Rules

Colorado water regulators last week approved an extensive set of rules designed to protect wetlands and streams, making Colorado one of the first states in the nation to do so.

The rules require state permitting for development and other activities—including construction, homebuilding, and agriculture—that may disturb roughly 250,000 acres of wetlands and streams.

The permitting program follows a 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision that limited federal oversight to certain waters, leaving others to state control.

Business and agricultural leaders clashed with environmentalists over several key provisions in the program, which ultimately represented a compromise between the two sides.

Fantasy Flight Takes Kids to North Pole

United Airlines hosted its annual Fantasy Flight at Denver International Airport on Saturday, benefiting more than 100 Denver-area children facing serious illnesses or medical challenges.

After a roughly 45-minute flight, the children arrived at the North Pole—a United hangar—where they were greeted by Santa, his helpers, and other holiday characters, all played by United volunteers.

Many of the 200-plus volunteers describe the event, a tradition more than 30 years strong, as the highlight of their year, offering a rare opportunity to create lifelong, magical memories for children who are often unable to travel.

Denver is one of 12 U.S. cities where the flights are taking place this December. See a list here.

Flying together with our sponsor

Nearly Invisible Hearing Aids With Speech Clarity That Feels Like Magic

The holidays are about being together, hearing the laughter, the stories, and the moments that matter. But for years, hearing aids solved one problem by creating another. You could hear more, but not better, and many devices were bulky and uncomfortable.

Signia IX changed that.

This new generation uses dual processors that separate the voice you want from the noise you do not. The result is crisp, effortless speech clarity even in busy holiday gatherings. The design is also incredibly discreet, whether you choose the nearly invisible in-ear option or the very slim behind-the-ear style. People will not see anything, and you will barely feel them.

At Hello Hearing Studios, we stay independent so we can recommend what truly performs best. And right now, The Colorado Flyover readers can try Signia IX at no cost with no pressure and no commitments.

If you want to enjoy conversations again and feel present during the season and beyond, this is your moment.

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➤ Mesa County: President Trump said on social media Thursday he’s granting a “full pardon” to former clerk Tina Peters. Several state leaders assert that Peters, convicted on state charges, can only be pardoned by Gov. Jared Polis. (See Details)

➤ Grand County: A gray wolf from the Copper Creek pack wandered across state lines into New Mexico. Wildlife officials, under a multistate agreement, captured it and re-released it in the county. (More)

➤ Denver: A judge handed down the minimum eight-year sentence to a man who, in a drug-induced psychosis, broke into the Colorado Supreme Court in 2024, set three fires, and caused an estimated $25 million in damage. (See Details)

➤ Grand Junction: One of the teens involved in the Central High School wrestling team’s Dec. 6 bus crash has died in the hospital. Lakewood police arrested the driver of the other vehicle on charges including reckless driving, vehicular assault, and speeding. (See Details)

➤ Fort Morgan: Police arrested a student who allegedly brought a handgun in his backpack to Fort Morgan High School on Thursday. (More)

➤ Statewide: Colorado is the second-most likely state to benefit from so-called “Trump accounts”—a new federal program establishing savings funds for eligible newborns and children—based on its fertility and replacement rates, a report found. (See Report)

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➤ Bo Nix threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns as the Broncos beat the Packers 34-26 Sunday, extending their winning streak to 11 games and securing the first playoff berth of the NFL season. (More)

➤ Metro State University Denver upset the top seeds to win its first NCAA Division II Volleyball Championship Saturday, beating Concordia-St. Paul 3-1 and capping the season with a 23-game win streak. (More)

➤ The Avalanche defeated the Predators 4-2 Saturday, extending their home winning streak to 11 games. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Stay warm no matter how cold it gets with Solana Gear Heated Gloves—featuring advanced carbon-fiber heating, three adjustable heat levels, and up to 5 hours of continuous warmth. These weatherproof, touchscreen-friendly gloves keep your hands cozy and comfortable whether you’re skiing, commuting, or working outdoors this winter. (SHOP NOW)

➤ Cuchara Mountain Park in Huerfano County aims to reopen Chair 4—a long-dormant chairlift—by Jan. 1, bringing lift-powered skiing back to the area after clearing a key regulatory hurdle. (See Details)

➤ Talnua Distillery in Arvada won the award for America’s Greatest Whiskey at the 2025 International Spirits Competition. (See Details)

➤ Two holiday markets in Colorado, the Georgetown Christmas Market and Denver Christkindlmarket, are among the top 10 in the country, according to a new reader-voted USA Today list. (See List)

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Hear the Holidays More Clearly With Nearly Invisible Hearing Aids

Many clinics stopped accepting insurance to maximize profits. We do the opposite. At Hello Hearing, we use top technology, focus on real speech clarity, and work with almost all insurance plans. Our nearly invisible designs are perfect for holiday parties, family dinners, and moments when you want to hear clearly without drawing attention.

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➤ A dog-themed dive bar—featuring dog-themed cocktails and decor, adoption days with local rescue partners, and free beer served in dog bowls—is set to open in Denver early next year. (See Details)

➤ Santa Claus visited a Denver hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, giving families of newborns receiving advanced medical care the chance to take their first holiday photos. (See Details)

➤ The 37th Annual Christmas Train Show, a showcase of scale models replicating Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, and other cities as they appeared in the 1950s, runs every Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 28. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ A new video reveals a surprising kitchen-made mixture that may help support healthy blood sugar. They say just one tablespoon of this simple blend—made from a few inexpensive supermarket items—has helped thousands feel more in control and enjoy their favorite sweets again. Watch the video to see the ingredient everyone is talking about.