Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1858, Julia Archibald Holmes became the first woman on record to reach the summit of Pikes Peak, wearing what she called her “American costume”—a short dress, bloomers, moccasins, and a hat.

If you think that’s impressive, scroll down to Et Cetera to read about the woman who, with help from a group of volunteers, summited Pikes Peak in an adaptive wheelchair over the weekend.

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Emergency Declared for Elk Fire

Gov. Polis declared a disaster emergency on Sunday in response to the Elk Fire in Rio Blanco County.

Lightning reportedly sparked the fire southeast of Meeker on Saturday. Throughout Sunday, it grew from 600 to 3,000 acres, prompting evacuations and destroying two homes.

Two smaller fires, the Lee and Grease fires, have burned about 700 and 1,000 acres southwest of Meeker. The Lee Fire is threatening nearby oil and gas infrastructure, authorities said.

Fire conditions in the area remain at near-record levels. Hot and dry weather across the state is expected to elevate fire risk through the rest of the week.

Man Pleads Guilty in Shooting of Ex-Bronco

A man charged in the nonfatal shooting of former Denver Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds pleaded guilty Thursday.

Burr Charlesworth is one of nine people charged in the Oct. 18, 2024, shooting, described by prosecutors as a “coordinated, organized” attack. People in multiple vehicles followed Reynolds from a Glendale club onto Interstate 25, where they opened fire on his car.

Reynolds was shot in the arm and in the back of the head. He was treated for minor injuries at a Denver-area hospital and later released.

Charlesworth pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. He faces eight to 12 years in prison when he’s sentenced in September.

Denver Zoo Hippo Moving to Texas

Mahali, the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance’s (DZCA) Nile hippopotamus, will move to a wildlife preserve in Texas this fall after 22 years in Denver, the zoo announced last week.

According to DZCA, Old Pachyderms, the building that houses Mahali, needs maintenance and repairs and is no longer suitable for the species. Retiring the hippo habitat will also significantly reduce the zoo’s water usage.

While the zoo didn’t specify its long-term plans for the space, it said there’s no discussion about bringing a new Nile hippo or similar large hippos to Denver.

Mahali, described as a “fan favorite,” was born at the zoo in 2002. “Mahali’s departure will leave a hippo-shaped hole in our hearts and on our campus,” the zoo said.

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➤ Highlands Ranch: St. Mark Catholic Church submitted a petition to initiate the process of canonizing Kendrick Castillo, an 18-year-old who died saving others in a 2019 school shooting. (See Details)

➤ Aurora: A crash involving the RTD A Line train and a semitruck closed multiple lanes near Smith Road early Monday. The train operator was taken to a hospital as a precaution. (More)

➤ Statewide: The American Tort Reform Association labeled Colorado a “lawsuit inferno” in its state-by-state ranking of litigation risk, citing 45 bills introduced this year to expand civil liability, over half of which became law. (See Details)

➤ Park County: Crews recovered the bodies of a missing paddleboarder and a dog from Eleven Mile Reservoir following an 11-hour search. (More)

➤ I-70: Colorado Department of Transportation crews have begun installing a first-of-its-kind avalanche net along a narrow, avalanche-prone section of Vail Pass. (See Details)

➤ Eagle County: A rockslide briefly closed Interstate 70 last Thursday. The sheriff’s office cautioned the public to “leave roadway emergencies to the professionals” after drivers got out to help clear the road. (More)

➤ Golden: Authorities arrested two suspects who allegedly shot at a motorist in a road rage incident that began in Clear Creek Canyon, fled from deputies and then tossed their weapons into a local pond. (See Details)

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➤ The Broncos kick off preseason Saturday against the 49ers in San Francisco. This is the first of three exhibition games before the regular season begins. (More)

➤ The Rapids are set to retire Marcelo Balboa’s No. 17, only the second jersey retired in team history, honoring his impact on Colorado soccer. (More)

➤ Colorado Rockies pitcher Seth Halvorsen was added to the 15-day Injured List after leaving Saturday’s matchup with an elbow strain. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer

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➤ Mountain towns in Colorado saw a rare decline in resident and tourist spending during the 2024–25 ski season amid a statewide slump in tourism. (Read More)

➤ Birdcall, a Denver-based chicken sandwich chain, plans to open multiple restaurants in Idaho. The franchise currently has 15 locations in Colorado, Arizona, and Texas. (See Details)

➤ A hot dog restaurant in Littleton started a matchmaking service for single diners. The owner was inspired after introducing two regulars who sat at separate tables. (Read Story)

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➤ Mary Perkins, a brain cancer survivor and adaptive wheelchair user, reached the summit of Pikes Peak with the help of 40 volunteers from nonprofit Luke5Adventures. (Read Story)

➤ A high school teacher in Aurora shared back-to-school shopping tips for fellow educators—and anyone looking to support local classrooms. (More)

➤ The Savannah Bananas, a viral exhibition baseball team, will take over a Dunkin’ restaurant in Greenwood Village this Saturday, serving orders, interacting with fans, and doing giveaways before playing the Firefighters at Coors Field. (See Details)

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