Thursday, April 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1851, Hispano farmers established the town of San Luis. Now 175 years old, it’s considered Colorado’s oldest continuously occupied town.

Colorado’s past is showing up in new ways—from hands-on history projects to a growing conservation effort on the northern prairie. You can find these stories and more in Et Cetera.

Twenty-one months ago, Tucker Carlson told America that President Trump surviving an assassination attempt was “divine intervention.” Today, he’s calling Trump’s latest post “vile on every level.” Trump’s response? “I like dealing with smart people, not fools.” This isn’t a subtle disagreement. This is open warfare between two of the most influential voices in conservative media and politics. In today’s Flyover Podcast, CEO Cole Strehlow walks through exactly what happened, what they’ve said, and how we got here. Listen here.

Later today, keep an eye out for a message from our partner, Frontieras, exploring how new technology is reshaping domestic energy by transforming coal into high-value fuels, an approach that’s gaining traction quickly.

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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.

Denver Water Implements Drought Pricing

Denver Water will begin charging higher rates for outdoor water use starting in May after officials approved temporary drought pricing in response to low snowpack and dry conditions.

The added charges will appear on customer bills starting in June and continue through at least April 2027. The pricing applies only to higher tiers of water use tied to outdoor consumption, adding fees per 1,000 gallons while exempting essential indoor use.

Officials say the move is intended to encourage conservation as Stage 1 drought restrictions remain in place across the region.

Snowpack levels in key basins are near record lows, raising concerns about limited runoff. Denver Water says the pricing tool has not been used since the early 2000s drought and may be extended depending on conditions.

Lawmakers Weigh Cuts to Teacher Program

Colorado lawmakers are considering a proposal to eliminate the statewide Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation program as they work to close a budget shortfall estimated at up to $1.5 billion.

The proposal could impact hundreds of students planning to use the program to pay for college coursework. The program, created in 2021, allows high school graduates to remain enrolled while districts cover tuition costs for college classes.

Lawmakers say ending the program would save about $1.6 million next year, though current participants would be allowed to finish. At the same time, lawmakers are moving to preserve other teacher pipeline programs, particularly those focused on rural areas, citing their effectiveness.

Students and families say the potential cuts leave them scrambling to find alternative funding options, while some districts explore replacement pathways. The proposal remains under debate as legislators finalize the state budget.

Colorado State University Program Ranked No. 1

Colorado State University’s occupational therapy doctoral program is ranked No. 1 in the nation, tying with three other universities in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

The program has steadily climbed from No. 7 in 2024 to the top spot this year. University officials said the ranking reflects strong faculty, research, and hands-on training opportunities that prepare students for careers in occupational therapy.

CSU’s veterinary medicine doctoral program also maintained its No. 3 national ranking. The recognition places CSU among a small group of universities with multiple graduate programs ranked near the top nationwide.

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➤ Statewide: Colorado became the first state to prohibit arrests based solely on common field drug tests, requiring lab confirmation amid concerns about false positives. (More)

➤ Statewide: Colorado lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow residents 72 and older to opt out of jury duty, as supporters say current rules can place burdens on seniors seeking exemptions. (More)

➤ Denver: Xcel Energy said a malfunctioning transformer caused last month’s Denver International Airport outage, which disrupted nearly 500 flights and left passengers stranded during a widespread power loss. (More)

➤ Breckenridge: Police are investigating a break-in at a local museum where a suspect stole $100 and a one-of-a-kind 1800s artifact considered historically significant and irreplaceable. (See Details)

➤ Durango: City officials are considering a proposed ordinance that would limit how police use automated license plate readers, including requiring warrants and restricting how long data can be stored. (More)

➤ Larimer County: Mandatory evacuations were lifted near Carter Lake after a small wildfire was quickly contained, with crews responding to a roughly 10-acre blaze. (More)

➤ Boulder County: Evacuation warnings were also lifted northwest of Boulder after a small wildfire was quickly contained at under two acres, with crews reporting no active flames and only remaining hotspots. (More)

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➤ The Avalanche beat St. Louis 3-1 Tuesday to clinch the West’s top seed. Coach Jared Bednar said the focus remains on securing the Presidents’ Trophy and building consistency before the playoffs. (More)

➤ The Denver Pioneers hockey team faces Michigan in the Frozen Four semifinals tonight in Las Vegas. They’re riding a 15-game unbeaten streak and seeking a record 11th national championship. (More)

➤ Colorado ranked first in the country for disc golf availability, according to a new report, with more than 320 courses statewide. (More)

➤ Deion Sanders responded to comments from former Colorado players, saying “we’re not gonna be provoked” and wishing them well. He added that some players “play the victim” after leaving the program. (More)

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➤ Memorabilia from Boulder’s longtime Dark Horse bar will be auctioned online starting today, with proceeds going toward employee severance after the business closed in March. (More)

➤ Nexstar is seeking a $150 million bond from states, including Colorado, as a court reviews its merger with Tegna, a deal critics say could reduce competition in local TV markets. (More)

➤ A new 9,000-square-foot workspace called The Hub has opened in Gunnison to support small businesses with production space, aiming to help companies grow and create local jobs. (More)

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➤ Local historians in Castle Rock are building scaled replicas of 1870s-era buildings as part of Colorado’s 150th anniversary celebrations, using grant funding to recreate the town’s early history. (More)

➤ A bison herd in northern Colorado is expanding through a partnership with Colorado State University, supporting conservation and ongoing efforts to restore the species on the landscape. (More)

➤ A photo gallery with side-by-side comparisons shows Colorado’s snowpack at record lows, just 12–41% of normal, after a warm, dry winter and early melt. The snowpack peaked about a month early, with conditions statewide among the lowest ever recorded. (See Photos)

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