Fewer Colorado Kids Skipping School

Colorado’s chronic absenteeism rate fell to 27.5% last school year, down from 28.4% the year before, according to state data released Thursday. Still, 233,281 students missed more than 10% of the school year, more than one in four kids statewide.

Most of the state’s 178 districts held steady or improved, but rates have still not dipped to pre-pandemic levels. 

High school remains the trouble spot, where 12th graders top a 40% chronic absence rate. Homeless students are highest overall at 57.5%.

Education Commissioner Susana Córdova said the numbers show “steady, broad-based progress,” while noting that chronic absenteeism remains a problem.

Road Funding Measure Pulled from Ballot

Backers of Initiative 175 are pulling the road funding measure off the November ballot after cutting a deal with Democratic lawmakers.

The proposed constitutional amendment would have locked all transportation revenue into roads, bridges, safety work, and State Patrol operations. Nonpartisan analysts said that would open a $264 million hole in this year’s general fund.

Restore Our Roads, the construction-industry coalition behind the initiative, negotiated with Attorney General Phil Weiser and two Democratic lawmakers. Jeff Keller of the coalition said the framework goes beyond what the ballot measure contemplated.

Democrats had passed House Bill 1430, which would have temporarily cut the state gas tax had voters approved the measure. 

Colorado Springs Lands Olympic Lacrosse Qualifier

Colorado Springs will host the first World Lacrosse Sixes Championships in October 2027, the primary qualifier for lacrosse’s return to the Olympics.

The tournament runs Oct. 4-10 at Weidner Field in downtown Colorado Springs. Sixteen men’s and 16 women’s national teams will compete for five of the six Olympic spots in each bracket.

Sixes is a scaled-down version of the game: six players a side instead of 10, on a smaller field. Lacrosse returns to the Olympic program at Los Angeles in 2028 after more than a century away.

Organizers say it’s the first major Olympic qualifying event the city has hosted in recent history. Colorado Springs is home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and more than 50 national sports organizations.

➤ Teller County: The coroner identified Robert Rudolf Richards Jr., 51, of Loveland, as the man killed after he allegedly shot two state troopers during a Tuesday traffic stop near Woodland Park. Troopers Clark Tinan and Skylar Hoehn have both since been released from the hospital. (More)

➤ Colorado Springs: Republican Rep. Jeff Crank and Democratic challenger Jessica Killin debated Thursday at the Pikes Peak Center, clashing over tariffs, the economy, Iran, and the border. Both said they want Social Security strengthened. (More)

➤ Denver: Chief U.S. District Judge Daniel Domenico ordered the government to bring back Marco Uriel Rodriguez Hernandez, whom ICE deported to Mexico in violation of his restraining order. Prosecutors said the removal was inadvertent and that they “greatly regret the error.” (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Colorado regulators are set to adopt new rules Monday under House Bill 1258, the state’s latest funeral-industry overhaul. The law folds funeral home and crematory licenses into one funeral establishment license and requires funeral directors, embalmers, and cremationists to be licensed starting Jan. 1. (More)

➤ El Paso County: Commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday to classify a proposed Buc-ee’s near I-25 and County Line Road as a convenience store allowed under C-1 zoning, after more than eight hours of testimony. The vote doesn’t approve construction; a site development plan comes next. Opponents say they’ll keep fighting. (See Details)

➤ Greeley: Police identified two Commerce City men, Dustin Bueno, 35, and Danny Lovato, 47, as suspects in the May theft of The Prize Catch, a 150-pound bronze statue taken from Glenmere Park. Rocky Mountain Recycling spotted the sculpture and alerted police. (More)

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➤ The Colorado Avalanche extended defenseman Cale Makar to an eight-year deal at $20.4 million annually, making Makar the highest paid player in NHL history. (See Details)

➤ The Colorado Rockies’ farm system climbed to 13th in baseball in the latest prospect rankings from analytics site FanGraphs, up from 24th a year ago. They’ve now got five players in the top 100 rankings. (More)

➤ The Denver Nuggets will spread the $2 million still owed to center Jonas Valanciunas over three seasons after waiving the 14-year NBA veteran earlier this summer. The move saves them roughly $8 million in luxury tax. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | U.S. Open | Golf | WNBA | Soccer

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Devastating floods in Nepal! You can respond

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The Flyover is matching the first $4,000 donated to Convoy of Hope to provide emergency food and essential aid for flood victims in the devastating natural disaster. Your compassionate gift now offers relief and hope in a desperate moment!

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➤ Mountain Dogz, the Woodland Park hot dog stand where troopers Clark Tinan and Skylar Hoehn were regulars, is running a name-your-own-price weekend, with every cent going to the two men. Thursday’s sales alone brought in $1,332. (Read Story)

➤ Target’s Pueblo distribution facility marked 40 years of operation Friday. It employs 870 workers and restocks 60 stores, and its crews recently helped sort and distribute supplies for Aspen Acres Fire victims. (More)

➤ NASA’s newest telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, whose camera was built by BAE Systems (formerly Ball Aerospace) in Boulder, launches Sunday from Kennedy Space Center. It carries 100 times Hubble’s field of view and will beam back 1.4 terabytes of public data a day. (More)

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➤ A Duke University doctor is drawing attention to one often-overlooked nutrient that may play an important role in heart health—and it’s not Omega-3s. Dr. Rick Cohen explains why standard blood work may miss this deficiency and shares a simple pre-shower technique designed to support a strong heart. Discover the #1 “Heart Strong” nutrient >>

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ The 10 most common coffee orders ranked from healthiest to worst, with one surprising twist. (Hear More)

➤ Dolly Parton’s music is surging across streaming platforms following her death this week at age 80. (Listen Now)

➤  Two men bought tickets to a Vienna museum, then smashed a display case and walked out with a 200-carat diamond necklace. (Podcast Available)

Have you ever stopped at a Buc-ee’s?

1. Yes
2. No
3. What’s a Buc-ee’s?

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you going to the state fair this year?

1. No: 82%
2. Maybe: 13%
3. Yes: 5%

Which Colorado peak is the highest in the entire Rocky Mountain range?

Show me the answer