Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1925, a fire in the remote town of Marble tore through the Marble Mill, destroying half the structure. At the time, it was one of the largest marble finishing mills in the country, supplying stone for projects like the Colorado State Capitol, Denver’s Union Station, and the Lincoln Memorial.

This weekend, birdwatchers will flock to Karval—a tiny eastern Colorado town—to look for the elusive mountain plover, also known as the “ghost of the prairie.” Learn more in Top Stories. Are you a bird enthusiast? Hit reply to share your rarest sightings.

Today’s sponsor, BiOptimizers, is tackling one of the most overlooked causes of digestive discomfort: declining enzyme levels with MassZymes, a powerful formula designed to help your body fully break down food and eliminate bloating, gas, and that sluggish post-meal feeling.

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.

Judge Recommends Family’s Release

A federal magistrate on Monday recommended the release of the family of Mohamed Soliman, the man accused in a deadly firebombing at Boulder’s Pearl Street Mall.

ICE detained Soliman’s family, who had been living in Colorado Springs, for “expedited removal” soon after the June 1 attack. They’ve been held at a Texas immigration center for over 10 months.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Elizabeth Chestney recommended that U.S. District Judge Fred Biery order the release of Hayam El Gamal and her children, ages 5 to 18, provided they appear at future immigration hearings. She found the government has failed to prove the family is dangerous or a flight risk.

Biery will consider Chestney’s recommendation and the attorneys’ arguments at a Thursday hearing. Soliman remains in custody, with a state trial set for July.

PNC Expects Job Cuts in Merger

PNC Financial, which acquired Colorado’s FirstBank earlier this year, could lay off up to 777 employees at its corporate offices in Lakewood after June 30, the company said Monday.

PNC announced the merger with FirstBank in September and closed the $4.1 billion deal in January. The takeover tripled PNC’s branches in the state, making it one of Colorado’s largest banks.

The job cuts are the result of overlapping roles between the two banks, a spokesperson said, adding that impacted employees are encouraged to apply for open roles within PNC.

PNC plans to keep FirstBank’s Lakewood offices open and to make Denver a “strategic technology location,” citing the city’s strong talent base.

Plover Festival Returns to Karval

This weekend, dozens of birdwatchers will travel to Karval, a remote plains town of about 35 people, for the annual Mountain Plover Festival, a celebration of the elusive mountain plover.

Dubbed the “ghost of the prairie,” the rare, well-camouflaged bird makes its nesting grounds in the region, migrating over the Rockies from California to arrive on Colorado’s plains in early April. See photos here.

Festival attendees, mostly avid birders, have the chance to birdwatch, enter a photo contest, tour historic sites, mingle with locals, eat homestyle food—including a chuckwagon dinner with Western entertainment—and get a taste of rural life.

The festival runs this Friday through Sunday. Attendance is limited to 50 full-weekend participants, with tickets ranging from $75 to $450. See details here.

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➤ Statewide: The Colorado GOP asked a federal judge to block unaffiliated voters from participating in its 2026 primaries, a move that could disrupt the June 30 election if approved. (More)

➤ Park County: Denver Water plans to drain South Park’s Antero Reservoir, closing the recreation area for the first time since 2002, and send the water to Cheesman Reservoir to avoid critical evaporation losses. (More)

➤ Larimer County: Mandatory evacuations were issued east of Wellington around 3:30 p.m. Monday due to a wildfire that burned about 70 acres before being contained. Evacuations were lifted just before 4:30 p.m. (See Details)

➤ DIA logged at least 863 wildlife-aircraft collisions in 2025, the second-highest total in the airport’s history, putting strike-related repairs at roughly $1 million. (See Details)

➤ Boulder County: A tax exemption for wildfire-related compensation expired at the end of 2025. Unless Congress extends the relief, fire survivors, including those from the Marshall Fire, could face taxes on settlement payouts. (See Details)

➤ Summit County: Several major road projects are underway or about to begin, resulting in closures, delays, and shifting traffic patterns through the summer. (See Details)

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➤ Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels called the Nuggets “all bad defenders,” singling out Nikola Jokić, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and others after Minnesota’s five-point Game 2 win over Denver. (More)

➤ Rockies pitching coach Alon Leichman has introduced a system where he suggests pitch calls from the dugout, contributing to early improvement after last year’s league-worst ERA. (More)

➤ The Denver Broncos are moving linebacker Drew Sanders back to outside linebacker for 2026, another position switch for a player who has missed significant time early in his career due to injuries. (More)

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➤ New business filings in Colorado increased a near-record 12.3% year over year during the first quarter of 2026, with a surge of filers from out of state, according to new data. (See Report)

➤ Walmart plans to remodel 18 stores in Colorado this year, upgrading locations everywhere from Denver and Castle Rock to Alamosa and Pagosa Springs. (See List)

➤ Hudson Town Council approved annexation and zoning for Bandimere Speedway to build a new racetrack next to Interstate 76 and State Highway 52. The speedway ended racing at its Morrison track in 2023 after more than six decades. (See Details)

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➤ The X-Files stars David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, and fellow cast members will reunite at Fan Expo Denver, held at the Colorado Convention Center May 28-31. (See Details)

➤ A rattlesnake mega-den in Colorado is the focus of a public livestream that launched Monday, letting viewers watch in real time as countless snakes emerge for the season. (See Details)

➤ A Lookout Mountain home built by a member of the Coors family is on the market for $2.75 million. It comes with floor-to-ceiling windows, panoramic views, and a tennis cathedral. (See Photos)

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