Thursday, December 18, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1888, two men searching for cattle in what is now Mesa Verde National Park stumbled upon Cliff Palace, a 150-room cliff dwelling built by Ancestral Puebloans in the 13th century.

A community rallied to save a giant inflatable Santa after a homeowners association said it had to come down. Read the full story below. Do you have a favorite Christmas decoration—a cherished heirloom, a beloved yard figure, or a reliable classic? Vote below or hit reply to share yours.

📣 Major Flyover Announcement! We’ve completely reimagined The Flyover Podcast—still delivering the same fact-based, unbiased coverage—but now in a faster, high-energy format with new features that make the news more engaging. If you are a podcast viewer, you are going to love it. If you haven’t watched before, today is the day to do so! Watch today’s new episode here, and reply to let us know what you think!

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Trump Admin to Dismantle Climate Lab

The Trump administration says it plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, the largest federal climate research lab.

Russ Vought, President Trump’s budget chief, confirmed the plan Tuesday, calling the lab a source of “climate alarmism” and adding that vital activities like weather research will be moved elsewhere.

Gov. Jared Polis said Colorado hasn’t been formally notified of the decision but that, if true, it would jeopardize public safety, citing NCAR’s role in modeling severe weather events. Some Democrats have vowed to fight the closure.

The announcement coincided with the cancellation of $109 million in federal transportation grants awarded to Colorado for environmentally focused projects.

Xcel Shutoffs Impact 50,000

Xcel Energy cut off power to 50,000 customers in Boulder, Clear Creek, Jefferson, Larimer, and Weld counties yesterday to protect public safety amid severe fire weather.

The Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) began around 10 a.m. By 10:23 a.m., more than 100,000 customers statewide were without power as unplanned outages overlapped with shutoffs.

Many schools, including the University of Colorado Boulder, Jeffco Public Schools, and Clear Creek School District, canceled classes, and several roads closed due to high winds. The Red Cross set up community centers for those without power.

Crews began working to restore power at about 6 p.m. Xcel warns a second windstorm Friday may require additional shutoffs, possibly leaving some areas without power for more than three days.

Severance Santa Saved

A 28-foot-tall inflatable Santa Claus in one Severance backyard led to a holiday dispute and outpouring of public support after a homeowners association (HOA) told the family to take it down.

Dora Flores put up the decoration on Dec. 1, and it soon became a neighborhood attraction. Days later, a letter on behalf of the HOA called the Santa “excessive in height,” instructed her to remove it, and warned of possible fines.

When Flores shared the warning on Facebook, it went locally viral, as neighbors pledged support and offered to pay fines. Some put up signs—one reading, “We stand with Santa”—or their own inflatables in protest.

By Tuesday morning, Flores received a call on behalf of the HOA, saying a mistake had been made and the Santa can stay—a reversal she called a win for the neighborhood.

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➤ Douglas County: The Greenland Wildlife Overpass, the largest wildlife overpass in North America, is now open, allowing elk and other large animals to safely cross Interstate 25 near Larkspur. (See Details)

➤ Penrose: Jon and Carie Hallford, former funeral home co-owners accused of corpse abuse, have agreed to new state plea deals—with sentences of 30-50 and 25-35 years, respectively—after a judge rejected their initial, more lenient plea deals earlier this year. (See Details)

➤ Windsor: The town plans to increase the price of its water and sewage services by 26% next year to replace aging infrastructure, meet growth demands, and comply with federal environmental standards. (See Details)

➤ Wheat Ridge: Police issued a warning about coyote and wildlife activity Tuesday after officers received three reports of coyote encounters in a span of 30 minutes. (See Details)

➤ Loveland: One child died and at least two adults were injured in a four-vehicle crash that shut down northbound Interstate 25 for an extended period Tuesday. (More)

➤ Mesa County: The appointment of a conservative podcaster and a Christian romance novelist to two seats on the county’s nonpartisan, seven-member public library board led to backlash, debate, and protests at a commissioners’ meeting Tuesday. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: More than 3,500 cases of salad dressing, including the popular Hidden Valley Ranch, have been recalled in 27 states, including Colorado, due to “foreign objects,” federal regulators said. (See Details)

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➤ The Colorado Rockies are one of just two MLB teams not to have signed a free agent so far this offseason. (More)

➤ Broncos running back RJ Harvey is listed as questionable for this weekend’s matchup with the Jaguars as he continues to recover from the rib injury he suffered last Sunday. (More)

➤ The NBA officially admitted this week that referees missed three late-game calls in the Nuggets’ overtime win against the Rockets—all three of which favored Denver. (More)

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➤ Alex Karp, CEO of Denver-headquartered data firm Palantir, paid $120 million to buy a Snowmass ranch used for decades as a monastery, setting a record for Pitkin County’s highest residential sale. (See Details)

➤ Echo Mountain, a ski area near Denver, plans to reopen tomorrow after briefly suspending operations due to “unseasonable weather conditions.” (More)

➤ Colorado Mesa University presented a revised proposal for its athletics complex at Stocker Stadium, aiming to address community concerns about the preservation of a 100-year-old barn. (More)

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The next recession is coming, and experts warn: “This time, you’re the collateral.”

The cracks in the system aren’t just cracks anymore.

Debt levels are at historic highs.
Consumer savings are drained.
Wall Street is on edge.
Inflation is still bleeding your purchasing power.

One wrong move and the whole thing could snap. That’s why thousands of Americans are turning to physical gold and silver. Your FREE Gold & Silver Kit from the top precious metals company, Goldco, reveals why gold is often a safe haven during recessions and the truth about inflation. Get your Free Guide today.

➤ Ullr Fest kicks off in Breckenridge today. The three-day Viking-themed celebration of winter features a main street parade, bonfire, festival royalty, and a possibly record-breaking communal shotski. (See Details)

➤ Nine restaurants along the Front Range are offering special meals and take-home dishes for Hanukkah, serving everything from award-winning latkes and matzo ball soup to honey-glazed dough puffs and rugelach. (See List)

➤ Elementary school students in Denver got to meet, feed, and interact with four baby goats as part of an agricultural learning experience. (See Video)

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