Thursday, April 30, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2002, the Rockies beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 10-0, marking the third time in franchise history the team scored 10 or more runs while pitching a shutout.

A brand-new area of Water World debuts this summer, featuring the park’s tallest point, a drop-capsule slide, and more. Speaking of theme parks, Disneyland’s first-ever host—a Coloradan living on the Western Slope—still remembers welcoming guests on opening day more than 70 years ago. Read the stories below in Et Cetera.

Jimmy Kimmel and President Trump are feuding again. But how far back does this actually go and how did it start? What happened when Trump was first booked on Kimmel’s show? And what roles are ABC, the FCC, and major news affiliates playing? It’s a story nearly a decade in the making, and host Ayla Brown breaks down the entire feud, what started it, what they have said and where it stands in today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Listen here.

Our 2026 Mother’s Day Gift Guide has great picks for every mom on your list, and a few you’ll want to keep for yourself. No judgment.

Car repairs are one of the most unpredictable expenses drivers face, and they rarely come at a convenient time. That’s why today’s sponsor, CarShield, is here to help. As vehicles age, even minor issues can turn into major, costly fixes. That’s why more drivers are turning to options like CarShield to plan ahead and avoid surprise repair bills.

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.

Sheridan Teacher Strike Ends

The Sheridan Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to ratify a new agreement with the Sheridan Educators Association (SEA), officially ending Colorado’s longest educators strike in 40 years.

Teachers in the Denver metro district went on strike April 1 after working without contracts since August. The SEA ratified a tentative agreement April 24, and teachers returned to classrooms Monday while awaiting the school board’s vote.

The new agreement includes key wins for educators, such as a path to recognize classified staff, major changes to negotiating policies, and a reinstated contract through December.

The board also unanimously opposed a proposal to consolidate the struggling district with another district, possibly Denver Public Schools, as state lawmakers have since backed off the effort for now.

$100K New Middle Class: Report

Colorado is one of a dozen states where the top household income that qualifies as lower-middle class exceeds $100,000, according to a new study.

The study defines a middle-class household as one earning two-thirds to double the state’s median income. The lower-middle class covers the bottom third of that range.

The analysis identified 12 states where a household earning $100,000 or more can fall into the lower-middle class. Colorado ranks No. 8, with a maximum lower-middle-class income of $107,903 and an estimated cost of necessities of $60,157.

Massachusetts ranks No. 1 at $116,476, followed by New Jersey, Maryland, Hawaii, and California. See the full list here.

Loveland Distillery Wins Whisky of the Year

The London Spirits Competition last week honored Root Shoot Spirits, a Loveland distillery, with three prestigious awards for its American single-malt whiskey.

In addition to a double gold medal, Root Shoot’s single-malt won international Whisky of the Year, U.S. Spirit of the Year, and—for the second year in a row—American Single-Malt Whiskey of the Year.

Other Colorado distilleries recognized by the competition include Stranahan’s, a Denver whiskey brand, which also earned a double gold medal, and Archetype in the Vail Valley, which earned silver medals for its flavored spirits.

Todd Olander, farmer and co-founder of Root Shoot, called the awards a testament to the power of Colorado agriculture. “This is a special place that produces special malts and whiskies,” he said.

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➤ Statewide: The legislature on Tuesday finalized the state’s $48.6 billion budget, sending the plan to Gov. Jared Polis’ desk after making cuts to programs and services, including Medicaid, to address a $1.5 billion shortfall. (See Details)

➤ Boulder County: A man who had just been released from jail allegedly stole a fire engine outside the county jail, leading police on a highway chase and significantly damaging the vehicle. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Polis signed a revised Safe Haven law, allowing parents to turn over newborn babies up to 30 days old—up from 72 hours old—without facing abandonment charges. The updated legislation passed with bipartisan support. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: A federal judge rejected the Colorado GOP’s effort to block unaffiliated voters from participating in the party’s June 30 primary elections, ruling the last-minute change would create too much confusion. (More)

➤ Park County: A plan is moving forward to expand Montgomery Reservoir, potentially doubling its capacity under a broader effort to modernize aging infrastructure, capture unused water, and shore up supply amid drier conditions. (See Details)

➤ I-70: Crews will begin resurfacing a part of the interstate from Rulison to West Rifle next week, May 4, causing single-lane closures Monday through Friday. Work is expected to finish by mid-September. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Tick season is starting earlier this year due to warmer conditions, public health officials warn. (More)

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➤ Broncos All-Pro tackle Garett Bolles went viral this week after pulling over on a Denver freeway to help a stranded motorist change a tire. (More)

➤ The Nuggets travel to Minnesota tonight facing NBA playoff elimination against the Timberwolves. Denver hasn’t won on the road in the series, and a knee injury will keep star Anthony Edwards out. (More)

➤ Colorado lawmakers are advancing a bipartisan bill to curb problem gambling and add new consumer protections to the state’s booming sports betting industry. (More)

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➤ Gas prices in Colorado surged to a statewide average of $4.13 per gallon Tuesday, up from $3.99 Monday, amid continued geopolitical volatility and decreasing refinery capacity. (See Map)

➤ The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance appointed Cristal Torres DeHerrera to be its new CEO. DeHerrera, an attorney with a history of working with the city, formerly served as the zoo’s COO and interim CEO. (More)

➤ Mesa County is working on an update of its land development code, last updated in 2023, to comply with new state regulations and address a regional housing crisis. (See Details)

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➤ Disneyland’s first VIP host, 93-year-old Bob D’Arcy of Cedaredge, spoke about welcoming guests on the park’s opening day, meeting Walt Disney, giving tours to celebrities, and other fond memories of the Happiest Place on Earth. (Watch)

➤ A sleepy bear got stuck in a tree in a Colorado Springs neighborhood. Fire crews and wildlife officials safely rescued and relocated the animal. (See Video)

➤ Water World’s new area, Summit Canyon, is set to debut this season, replacing the retired Calypso Cove. The outdoors-themed area will have a children’s zone, four new waterslides, the tallest point in the park, and the park’s first-ever drop-capsule slide. (See Photos)

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