Communities Work Toward Flood Recovery

Southwest Colorado got a break from the storm Monday after days of rain forced evacuations, destroyed bridges, and closed roads. Forecasters called it a classic El Niño storm.

Cleanup is underway as waters recede, and CDOT reopened a damaged stretch of Highway 160 between Pagosa Springs and Durango to one-way alternating traffic.

Where Highway 151 washed out near Chimney Rock, CDOT is bringing in contractors and plans to build a temporary road for local traffic and emergency responders.

State damage assessments are expected to begin this week, the first step in determining what federal assistance Colorado may qualify for as communities rebuild.

Dry Week Could End in Storm

Much warmer and drier weather settles in this week, with Denver highs in the mid- to upper 60s today through Friday. Halloween night looks mild and dry in the metro.

Alamosa and nearby areas were under a Flood Warning until noon today after Sunday night storms brought heavy rain and snow to the San Luis Valley.

The next window for heavy rain and mountain snow is Nov. 1-3, as Pacific moisture and a dip in the jet stream could steer another storm toward Colorado.

It would be the third significant storm in as many weeks, and recent systems have favored southern Colorado. A track slightly farther north could bring bigger impacts to the Front Range.

Judge Sides with Ridgway in Hotel Dispute

A judge ruled that Ridgway’s MTN Lodge can’t house workers building the $1 billion Four Seasons resort in Mountain Village, an hour’s drive away.

Ridgway sued the hotel’s owners in March in Ouray County District Court, arguing that long-term leases for construction workers violated local land use codes.

The project will include 52 hotel rooms, 43 hotel residences, and 26 private residences. It’s billed as Telluride’s first five-star development in 15 years.

West End leaders have argued that the resort’s benefits flow into Mountain Village while outlying towns carry the burden of housing hundreds of workers.

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➤ Lafayette: Cemetery plot holders have until Oct. 31 to choose a buyback, exchange, cremains-only use, or a possible casket burial after record-keeping errors led to overlapping plots. (More)

➤ Boulder: The city will focus wildfire efforts on 12 western-edge neighborhoods but aims for only 20% of homes there to meet hardening standards by 2030, prompting calls for bolder goals. (More)

➤ Colorado Springs: Police seized five guns, 53 grams of meth, and $11,700 from an alleged illegal gambling club near North Academy Boulevard after employees locked officers out. (More)

➤ Denver: Residents say groups of e-bike and e-motorcycle riders, many of them kids, keep taking over city streets. Children’s Hospital Colorado says traumatic e-bike injuries jumped 184%. (More)

➤ Also Denver: Two large gargoyles vanished overnight from a family’s elaborate Halloween display near 12th Avenue and Monaco Street Parkway, the second time the display has been targeted. (More)

➤ Montrose: Police are searching for 75-year-old Don Yoshihara, last seen Thursday night and possibly driving a 2018 GMC Sierra with Colorado plate BUX-Y67. Call 970-249-9110 with tips. (More)

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➤ The Avalanche fell 6-2 at Nashville on Sunday as the Predators scored four power-play goals. Artturi Lehkonen and Devon Toews scored for Colorado, which hosts New Jersey Wednesday. (More)

➤ Denver Summit FC won 6-1 in its final home game Saturday to keep its playoff hopes alive. The inaugural-season club next faces the N.C. Courage on Nov. 1. (More)

➤ Fans and downtown businesses are cheering the Colorado Stampede, the UFL’s new Colorado Springs team, which will play its first game April 11. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NFL | NBA | NHL

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➤ Colorado unveiled a “common application” for affordable housing developers that officials say will cut construction timelines by four months and save about $20,000 per unit. (More)

➤ With 16th Street rebuilt, downtown Denver is turning its attention to its skyscrapers, where office vacancy has topped 40%, according to a new report. (More)

➤ Nuveen, TIAA’s asset-management arm, bought Littleton’s Aspen Grove mall for $55 million, about a third less than the $82 million Gerrity Group paid in 2016. (More)

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➤ Wheat Ridge’s Jack Vulcani spent months panning Colorado rivers for gold flecks, then had a local jeweler cast them into an engagement ring for his now-wife, Joanne. (More)

➤ Entrance fees are waived today at Rocky Mountain, Great Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde, and Black Canyon of the Gunnison national parks for Teddy Roosevelt’s birthday. (More)

➤ Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Vassighi, home after 11 months deployed to Ukraine, surprised his sixth-grade son at lunch at Campus Middle School in Greenwood Village. (More)

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➤ They Did Everything Right. They Still Had Heart Attacks. Nicole, 57, ate clean and walked daily. Frank, 66, was told his numbers looked great. Both had blood pressure and cholesterol “under control.” What went wrong? Researchers are examining the tiny energy engines inside heart cells and how they change with age. See the three overlooked nutrients tied to heart strength →

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

➤ A new study ranks the top 10 and bottom 10 car models for resale value. (See Ranking)

➤ Humana and UnitedHealthcare are dropping Medicare Advantage plans, upending coverage for 1 million seniors. (Listen Now)

➤ A passenger’s alarming text message caused an entire plane to be grounded, searched, and delayed overnight. (Hear Story)

Which of Colorado’s national parks is your favorite?

1. Rocky Mountain
2. Mesa Verde
3. Great Sand Dunes
4. Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite game show?

1. None: 34%
2. Jeopardy!: 31%
3. Wheel of Fortune: 12%
4. Family Feud: 11%
5. The Price is Right: 7%
6. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?: 3%
7. Other: 2%

What unique roadside attraction can be found just north of Alamosa and west of Great Sand Dunes National Park?

Show me the answer