Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1874, Alfred Packer—a guide hired months earlier to lead a group of miners through the San Juan Mountains—emerged from the wilderness alone. Packer later confessed to cannibalizing his companions when a snowstorm left the party stranded and on the brink of starvation.

If you’ve ever felt like Denver International Airport is a bit crowded, you’re not wrong—new data ranks it as the sixth-busiest airport in the world, beating out major airports in global hubs like Chicago, New Delhi, and Shanghai. Learn more in today’s Top Stories.

We’re sponsored today by BOXABL, offering an investment opportunity in a groundbreaking building technology.

GOP Field Grows in 2026 Governor’s Race

Former congressman Greg Lopez announced his bid for governor on Monday, joining nine other Republicans aiming to replace term-limited Gov. Jared Polis in 2026.

This will be Lopez’s third run for governor. In a video announcement, he said his campaign will focus on cutting government regulations, boosting affordability, and putting “people over politics.”

Other prominent GOP contenders include state Sen. Mark Baisley, state Rep. Scott Bottoms, and Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell. See the full list here.

The gubernatorial election will take place on Nov. 3, 2026. A Republican last won the governor’s seat in 2002.

Judge Halts Colorado Deportations

A federal judge has temporarily blocked deportations of migrants in Colorado who are subject to the Alien Enemies Act, a federal law first enacted in 1798 and invoked by President Trump on March 14.

Trump’s order claims the U.S. is under invasion by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang that’s drawn national attention for its presence in Aurora.

The ruling follows a lawsuit alleging that two Venezuelan nationals facing removal under the act were falsely accused of belonging to the gang.

It also cites a Supreme Court decision that permits deportation under the act, but only if deportees are granted court hearings. Colorado is the latest state to pause deportations under that guidance, joining New York and Texas.

DIA Among World’s Busiest Airports

Denver International Airport (DIA) is ranked the sixth-busiest airport in the world and third-busiest in North America, according to new data from the Airports Council International (ACI).

According to ACI, the airport clocked nearly 82.4 million passengers in 2024—the first time it’s surpassed 80 million.

This is the fourth straight year DIA has held the third-busiest spot in North America and the second in a row it’s placed sixth worldwide.

Airport CEO Phil Washington says DIA is preparing for 100 million annual passengers—a goal supported by its $2.1 billion Great Hall Project.

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Here’s How Long Filling America’s Housing Gap Will Take

A recent Realtor.com report says America’s short 4 million homes. Even worse? At the current construction pace, it would take seven+ years to right the ship. That’s why BOXABL has gained so much interest.

Instead of months, a new home comes off BOXABL assembly lines nearly every four hours. These foldable, factory-built homes come fully equipped with plumbing, electrical, and HVAC—ready to be delivered to their final destination. No wonder 190,000+ potential customers already reserved one*.

Now, BOXABL’s prepping for Phase 2—combining modules into larger townhomes, single-family homes, and apartments. With 600+ homes delivered and one of America’s top homebuilders as a partner and investor, momentum’s building fast.

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➤ DIA: Police are searching for two suspects accused of stealing baggage from Denver International Airport during the spring break rush on March 28. (See Photos)

➤ Clear Creek County: Authorities are looking for the vandal or vandals responsible for spray-painting a rock at St. Mary’s Glacier with a heart and two people’s initials. (See Photo)

➤ Denver: A former Colorado funeral home owner has pleaded guilty to abuse of a corpse and theft after keeping a woman’s body in a hearse for over a year and mishandling dozens of cremated remains. (See Details)

➤ I-25: A highway chase ended when the suspect ran into oncoming traffic and was struck by a vehicle, sustaining serious injuries. Interstate 25 near Mead was briefly closed following the crash. (More)

➤ Boulder: Don Hasselbeck, a former University of Colorado football player, NFL tight end, and Super Bowl champion, died Monday at age 70. (More)

➤ Denver: A new law allows Denver Public Schools to offer associate degrees to high school students, making it the first K-12 school system in the state to do so. (See Details)

➤ Park County: Colorado Parks and Wildlife search and rescue personnel have recovered the body of a boater who went missing from Spinney Mountain Reservoir on Saturday. (More)

➤ The University of Colorado will retire Shedeur Sanders’s No. 2 and Travis Hunter’s No. 12 jersey numbers in a ceremony at the start of the Buffaloes’ spring football game this Saturday. (More)

➤ Colorado Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog will rejoin the team after a conditioning stint in the AHL, marking his first time back since the 2022 Stanley Cup Final. Head coach Jared Bednar says he hopes Landeskog can play in an NHL game in the near future. (More)

➤ The Colorado Rockies finally snapped a 32-inning scoreless streak that tied a franchise record on Monday, but were still unable to come up with a win, falling 5-3 to the Los Angeles Dodgers. (More)

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➤ Denver International Airport will raise most parking rates, effective May 14, to offset rising operational costs. The Premium Reserve rate is the exception, dropping by $5. (See Details)

➤ Greeley’s City Council voted yesterday on a predevelopment agreement for a proposed entertainment district that would include a hockey arena, conference center, hotel, and water park. (See Details)

➤ Colorado Springs Airport will offer its first-ever international flight—via Southwest Airlines to Cancún—starting June 7. (See Details)

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The Father-Son Duo Revolutionizing Homebuilding

Home construction has been slow, costly, and inefficient for centuries. So in 2017, Paolo and Galiano Tiramani founded BOXABL to change that—bringing factory-built efficiency to a nearly $5 trillion industry.

Where traditional homes take seven+ months to build, new homes can roll off BOXABL’s assembly line nearly every four hours.

Equipped with plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, they’re ready to be delivered and lived in. They already have 190,000+ reservations from potential buyers*.

Now, the Tiramani’s are preparing for Phase 2— where modules can be configured into larger townhomes, single-family homes, and apartments.

But there’s no need to wait. Invest in BOXABL for just $0.80/share today.

**This is a paid advertisement for Boxabl’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://www.boxabl.com/invest/ * Reservations represents a non-binding indication of interest to purchase as Casita. A reservation does not require purchase of a Casita and there is no assurance of how many will result in actual purchases.

➤ A vintage 1970s T-shirt once sold in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science’s gift shop is back in stock after being featured in Tom Hanks’ 2024 film Here. (See Details)

➤ Great Outdoors Colorado is giving away 120,000 packets of wildflower seeds at 585 sites across the state to help connect kids with the outdoors. (See Details)

➤ World Quantum Day, an international event held annually on April 14 to celebrate quantum science and technology, was officially recognized by the Colorado General Assembly on Monday. (More)

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➤ Spring into yardwork with the Pocket Hose Copper Bullet! This ultra-light, kink-proof hose expands to full size and stores easily—perfect for watering gardens, cleaning patios, and tackling outdoor chores. Durable and flexible, it’s your go-to tool for a fresh, hassle-free season of spring cleanups. (Shop Now)