Xcel Defends Shutoffs at Hearing

In an hours-long hearing Friday, state lawmakers questioned Xcel Energy executives over their decision to perform Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) during severe fire weather in December.

Robert Kenney, Xcel Colorado’s president, said the company is confident it “made the right decision” and denied that “litigation avoidance” motivated the PSPS, which impacted more than 100,000 customers on the Front Range at its peak.

Much of the hearing concerned the shutoffs’ financial toll, with Boulder businesses losing an average of $25,000, according to a Chamber of Commerce survey. Kenney said Xcel doesn’t typically compensate for such losses.

Xcel is working to improve communication and to lessen the “time, scope, and impact” of PSPS events, Kenney said. The utility is expected to begin burying 50 miles of power lines in high-risk areas this spring.

State regulators are taking public comment on planned power shutoffs at a Public Utilities Commission meeting Wednesday.

Disaster Declared for Bird Flu

Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera has issued a verbal disaster declaration for a suspected outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a large commercial egg farm in Weld County.

This is the first commercial outbreak of avian flu detected since mid-2024. Under state orders, Colorado farms have culled millions of chickens to contain outbreaks in the past few years.

Though human crossover is rare, a small number of people in the state contracted the virus in 2024. The same year, Colorado suffered the nation’s worst crossover of the flu to dairy herds.

The declaration will support a coordinated response effort. Officials expect confirmation of the outbreak from U.S. Department of Agriculture labs today.

Community Supports Hockey Team in Crash

Colorado’s hockey community is coming together to support the SC Flyers, a California girls youth hockey team involved in a deadly crash on Interstate 70.

A snowplow collided with the team’s van as they were driving to a tournament in Littleton last Thursday. The driver, one of the players’ fathers, died at the scene, while eight others, including several children, were hospitalized with a range of injuries.

In the wake of the tragedy, local hockey parents helped set up a fundraiser supporting the families. Within a day, it gathered more than $10,000 in donations.

After the crash, the team made the difficult decision to keep playing in the tournament, prompting gestures of solidarity from opposing teams and fans. They can still advance and have more games scheduled in Littleton.

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➤ Denver Metro: Aurora Public Schools and Adams County School District 14 canceled classes Friday, the same day as a nationwide anti-ICE shutdown, due to a high number of staff absences. (More)

➤ Statewide: The seven Colorado River states’ governors, including Gov. Jared Polis, expressed cautious optimism after meeting in Washington, D.C., on Friday ahead of a Feb. 14 deadline to reach agreement on new management rules for the water supply. Polis called the meeting “productive.” (More)

➤ Statewide: Colorado’s roads ranked 10th worst in the country with 19% in poor condition, according to a new study. (See List)

➤ Statewide: Colorado faces a $50 million annual shortage of funds for water projects and will need to consider additional funding options, including possible new taxes, according to a new report by a state task force. (See Report)

➤ Denver: A man accused of fatally stabbing two people and injuring two others along 16th Street last January has been found incompetent to stand trial and ordered to undergo treatment aimed at restoring competency. (More)

➤ Estes Park: Wildlife photographers and enthusiasts are mourning the reported death of Split 5, also known as Atlas, a famous bull elk long seen in and around Rocky Mountain National Park. He was known for his imposing size, rut dominance, and unique personality. (See Photos)

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➤ Nikola Jokić returned from injury and made history Friday, posting 31 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists in 25 minutes as the Nuggets beat the Clippers 122-109. It was his first game since a hyperextended left knee sidelined him in late December. (More)

➤ Nathan MacKinnon scored twice, including his 40th goal of the season, as the Avalanche beat the Red Wings 5-0 on Saturday night in Detroit. Mackenzie Blackwood stopped 28 shots for his third shutout. The win came after Colorado lost four of its previous five games. (More)

➤ The Broncos are losing assistant head coach Jim Leonhard, who was hired Saturday as the Bills’ defensive coordinator. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer | Golf | Australian Open

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➤ Colorado’s Medicaid program overpaid transportation providers tens of millions of dollars over five years due to a billing code error, lawmakers learned last week. Fixing the mistake is expected to save roughly $90 million over the next year and a half. (More)

➤ Ava Health will open a new behavioral health facility in Grand Junction on Feb. 9, aiming to fill longstanding gaps in addiction treatment and mental health care on the Western Slope. (More)

➤ Monarch Mountain officially opened its long-awaited No Name Basin last week, adding 377 acres of new terrain and making it one of the few North American ski resorts to straddle the Continental Divide. (See Details)

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➤ Pea Green Saturday Night—a series of monthly variety shows combining live Americana, bluegrass music, sketch comedy, and potluck meals—kicked off its 20th season in rural Montrose County last weekend. (More)

➤ Saddleland, a museum run by Elbert County rancher Don Bailey, features a collection of nearly 500 handcrafted saddles and counting. (More)

➤ A Vail composer with a love of seafaring is sailing around the world in a 60-foot sailboat for musical inspiration. (Read Story)

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How would you rate the condition of Colorado’s roads?

1. Excellent
2. Good
3. Fair
4. Poor
5. Terrible

Friday’s Results:

What do you think of IKEA?

1. Never been: 26%
2. Fun to explore: 26%
3. Love it: 17%
4. Assembly is too hard: 16%
5. I just go for the meatballs: 15%

What Colorado interregional bus system—whose name is a horse-themed portmanteau—launched in 2015 to connect Denver, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, and Glenwood Springs?

Show me the answer