Trump Cites Colorado After Venezuela Strikes

President Trump, in a Saturday news conference, accused the now-deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of sending violent gangs to terrorize U.S. communities, specifically Colorado.

In his remarks addressing the early Saturday U.S. military raid that captured Maduro and his wife, Trump said Maduro sent “the bloodthirsty prison gang Tren de Aragua” to Colorado, where they “took over apartment complexes,” echoing claims he previously made about gang-linked crime in Aurora in 2024.

While hundreds in Denver protested the strikes, others in the city celebrated Maduro’s ousting. A Saturday night shooting—in which one person was killed and three others injured—occurred at one such celebration, police said.

U.S. intervention in Venezuela has polarized state leaders. Gov. Jared Polis issued a statement applauding Maduro’s capture, calling him a “brutal socialist dictator,” while other Democrats questioned the attack’s constitutionality.

Woman Killed in Likely Mountain Lion Attack

A woman who died while hiking alone in Larimer County last Thursday was likely the victim of Colorado’s first fatal mountain lion attack in more than 25 years, authorities said.

The attack occurred in the mountains northeast of Estes Park. Two hikers encountered a mountain lion near the woman’s body, and officials said evidence at the scene was consistent with a mountain lion attack.

Wildlife officials have tracked down and killed two mountain lions in the area and are still searching for a third. Necropsies will help determine if any of the animals killed the woman.

Though attacks are rare, mountain lion sightings in the area are common, particularly at this time of year. The last suspected fatal mountain lion attack in Colorado occurred in 1999.

Trump Vetoes Arkansas Valley Conduit Bill

President Trump recently vetoed a bipartisan, unanimously approved bill that would have eased loan terms for a filtered water pipeline in southeast Colorado.

The Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act would have given Colorado towns more time to repay federal loans for the still-incomplete, decades-old project, which will deliver clean drinking water from Pueblo Reservoir to 39 rural communities.

Rep. Lauren Boebert, who sponsored the bill, criticized the veto, saying Trump is “denying clean drinking water to 50,000” Coloradans. In his veto letter, Trump cited the project’s cost to taxpayers.

While the veto—the first of Trump’s second term—doesn’t halt the project, it does increase the financial burden on the counties involved. Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

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➤ Denver: More than 100 firefighters on Friday responded to a five-alarm fire that engulfed a city block-sized apartment project, prompting evacuations. One firefighter was hospitalized. Crews remained on scene through the weekend battling hotspots, while federal investigators worked to determine the cause. (More)

➤ Craig: The U.S. Department of Energy ordered Tri-State Generation and Transmission to keep its coal-powered Craig Unit 1 running through March, citing emergency grid reliability concerns. The plant had been scheduled to shut down Dec. 31 but is currently offline due to mechanical failure. (See Details)

➤ Denver Metro: Children’s Hospital Colorado and Denver Health have paused all sex-change treatments for minors, citing federal investigations and threats to their Medicaid and Medicare funding. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Colorado flags flew at half-staff Sunday to honor the life of U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who died last week at age 92. (More)

➤ Statewide: Flags were also lowered to half-staff Saturday in honor of former state Sen. Lewis H. Entz, who died Dec. 10 at age 94. (More)

➤ Fort Collins: Deputies early Saturday arrested six people after a pursuit in which one suspect fired a shot at law enforcement, striking a patrol vehicle. No injuries were reported. (More)

➤ Mesa County: A large rockslide closed the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 through De Beque Canyon Saturday morning. No injuries were reported. (See Video)

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➤ The Broncos clinched the AFC’s No. 1 seed with a 16-3 win over the Chargers yesterday, led by a dominant defense and Ja’Quan McMillian’s pick-six. Denver earns a first-round bye. (More)

➤ The Nuggets lost to the Nets 127-115 yesterday, with Christian Braun and Aaron Gordon returning from injury. Nikola Jokić and other key players are still sidelined. Michael Porter Jr. scored 27. (More)

➤ Eight Colorado Avalanche players will compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics, representing five countries as NHL players return to Olympic hockey for the first time since 2014. (See Players)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ Telluride Ski Resort announced it will partially reopen Monday as the ski patrol strike enters its second week. The resort also made a revised contract offer, which the patrollers’ union rejected. (More)

➤ Denver plans to end its e-scooter contracts with Lime and Bird, replacing the multi-operator model with a single provider, Veo, in an effort to reduce clutter, streamline oversight, and give the city more leverage. (See Details)

➤ A new law that went into effect Jan. 1 tightened emissions regulations on gas furnaces and water heaters, something experts warn will significantly raise prices for homeowners. (See Details)

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➤ A baby named Eliza, born on Jan. 1 at 12:21 a.m. in Castle Rock, is thought to be the first baby born in Colorado in the new year. (See Details)

➤ A yellow Labrador working as an explosives detection K-9 at Denver International Airport is one of the 13 poster dogs featured in the Transportation Security Administration’s 2026 calendar. (See Photos)

➤ Ice Castles in Cripple Creek plans to open for the season Saturday after warm temperatures delayed the ice sculpture attraction’s debut. (See Details)

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Yesterday’s Results:

Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?

1. No: 62%
2. Yes: 38%

What Colorado town is nicknamed the “Elk Hunting Capital of the World?”

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