New Laws to Take Effect

Several new state laws go into effect July 1, impacting everything from gun sales to tax credits.

Under one of the laws, firearm retailers must keep ammunition behind the counter and only sell to buyers 21 or older, with limited exceptions for military members and hunter-education graduates.

Property insurers that use wildfire risk models will face new requirements, including offering discounts to policyholders who take mitigation steps. Insurers must also allow customers to appeal their risk scores or classifications.

Gov. Jared Polis also signed two tax-credit extensions before the deadline. One extends until 2037 the childcare-contribution credit, allowing donors to claim 50% of their gift—up to $100,000 annually. The other extends the Job Growth Incentive Tax Credit through 2034.

State National Guard Breaks Rescue Record

A Colorado Army National Guard (COARNG) Black Hawk crew pulled off the highest-known hoist rescue in state history on June 13, retrieving an injured climber from Crestone Peak in south-central Colorado.

The UH-60L Blackhawk maintained a peak hover at 14,380 feet with 180 feet of cable extended, hoisting the patient at 14,356 feet. The climber had fallen 30 feet, suffering head and other injuries.

The rescue required painstaking power calculations, the crew burning fuel so they could lighten the aircraft enough to hover safely. Two Alpine Rescue hoist specialists were lowered to package the patient before extraction.

The injured climber was airlifted to ground transport at Loveland Ski Area. The COARNG performs more backcountry search-and-rescue missions than any other state’s guard unit in the lower 48.

‘Colorful Colorado’ Sign Destroyed in Crash

A sprinter van towing a cargo trailer veered off westbound I-70 near mile marker 1, just inside the Utah border, and crashed into the iconic “Leaving Colorful Colorado” sign on Saturday.

The driver, a 70-year-old New Mexico man, claimed a blown tire caused the loss of control, which investigators confirmed. He was not seriously injured in the crash but was later hospitalized after a slip and fall at the scene.

The wooden signs were crafted by CDOT employees in the 1950s. CDOT’s senior historian called them “part of our highway history.”

The Lower Valley Fire District, which responded to the scene, posted on social media: “RIP Leaving Colorado Sign. You served travelers well.”

No replacement timeline has been announced.

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➤ Evans: Police are asking for help locating two siblings—Eliyah Parras, 15, and Naomie Parras, 12—who have been missing since June 11. They’re believed to have run away together. (More)

➤ Mesa County: A California man who impersonated an FDIC official and tricked a resident into shipping $11,000 in cash has been arrested and extradited to Colorado. (More)

➤ Summit County: Drought has dried up the wells at five campgrounds in the Dillon Ranger District—including Lowry, Prospector, and Windy Point—leaving campers without running water. (More)

➤ Delta County: The Lawhead Fire near Hotchkiss was 80% contained at 35 acres as of Saturday, with mop-up operations underway. (More)

➤ Douglas County: The Log Jumper Fire, which prompted a since-lifted 3-mile evacuation warning, was roughly 80% contained at about 1 acre Saturday evening. (More)

➤ Grand Junction: Police shot a knife-wielding man who allegedly stabbed a customer at a local Dairy Queen on Friday. He was pronounced dead after fleeing in his vehicle and crashing into multiple cars. (More)

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➤ Rockies outfielder Jake McCarthy hit a leadoff inside-the-park home run off former Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes on Saturday, helping lead the Rockies to a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. (Watch Video)

➤ The Nuggets were projected to take Arizona forward Koa Peat in ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo’s final mock draft ahead of the NBA Draft tomorrow. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | U.S. Open | NASCAR | WNBA                

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➤ Denver Water is raising water tap fees by as much as 32% starting July 1, the first increase since 2013. A tap fee for a single-family home within city limits will rise from $7,930 to $10,450. (More)

➤ The Bureau of Land Management has put more than 156,000 acres in northwestern Colorado up for lease in the state’s largest modern oil-and-gas sale. (More)

➤ Boulder City Council unanimously approved two new ordinances ahead of the city’s first Sundance Film Festival. One creates a new large-event permitting process and updated sign code; the other establishes a $150 fee for temporary liquor licenses. (More)                

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➤ Maverick, a wild-born mustang who became a pillar of the Denver Police Department’s Mounted Patrol Unit, is heading into a well-earned retirement. (More)

➤ These nine spots to cool off and beat the heat include everything from the summit of Pikes Peak to the 54-degree Cave of the Winds near Colorado Springs. (See List)

➤ UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital is piloting a program that gives lifelike robotic cats, dogs, and birds to dementia patients. (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:

➤ An e-bike battery exploded while charging inside a Philadelphia home, and what happened next is every family’s nightmare. (Hear More)

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What’s your favorite way to beat the heat?

1. Lake/river
2. Pool
3. Water park
4. Leaving the state
5. Staying inside
6. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

How are you celebrating Father’s Day?

1. Backyard cookout: 19%
2. Out to a restaurant: 15%
3. Fishing or the lake: 11%
4. Golf or a ballgame: 11%
5. Keeping it low-key: 29%
6. Still figuring it out: 15%

Hotchkiss, a town on the Western Slope, is known by what nickname?

Show me the answer