Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1859, Colorado’s first newspaper, the Rocky Mountain News, printed its inaugural issue. A rival paper, the Cherry Creek Pioneer, missed being first by just 20 minutes.

Summer is just around the corner, and so is Film on the Rocks—an event series at Red Rocks Amphitheatre where you can watch flicks on the big screen, enjoy the outdoors, and stargaze all at once. Learn more in today’s Et Cetera.

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Coloradans Remember Pope Francis

Catholics across Colorado are honoring the memory of Pope Francis, who died at age 88 on Easter Monday.

That morning, the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver tolled its requiem bells for an hour before Archbishop Samuel Aquila led a special mass. Inside the church, a place of mourning was created where parishioners could pray, light candles, and leave flowers.

Masses were held throughout the day, and Gov. Jared Polis ordered flags in Colorado to be flown at half-staff. Local churches will continue holding ceremonies throughout the week.

Pope Francis will lie in state at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City through Friday. His funeral is set for Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Square.

Senate Passes Immigration Protection Bill

The Senate approved a bill on Monday that strengthens protections for illegal migrants by limiting how state and local entities cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

The bill prohibits Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from entering non-public areas of jails, hospitals, schools, child care centers, and libraries without a valid warrant. It also bars local governments from sharing personally identifiable information, including immigration status, with ICE.

In addition, the bill repeals affidavit requirements for in-state tuition and state IDs, expands legal protections for noncitizen defendants, and prevents law enforcement from holding individuals on ICE detainers without a warrant.

The measure passed 22-13, with all Republicans and one Democrat opposed. It now moves to the House for further debate.

Red Rocks Releases Summer Lineups

Red Rocks Amphitheatre has released its lineup for Film on the Rocks, a summer series where attendees can watch movies under the stars at the iconic outdoor venue.

This season kicks off June 9 with 2001: A Space Odyssey, the first of five films to be screened through Aug. 18. See the schedule here.

Each screening will be preceded by live entertainment, with gates opening at 6:30 p.m. and the film beginning at dusk. Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m., priced at $25 for general admission and $50 for VIP seating.

Red Rocks also released this year’s schedule for Yoga on the Rocks, which runs Saturday mornings from May 31 to Aug. 9.

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➤ Fort Collins: The 16-year-old suspect arrested in connection with a fatal shooting outside the Foothills Mall will be charged as an adult, police said Monday. (See Details)

➤ Denver: Residents say a vacant home owned by Habitat for Humanity has been overrun by squatters and poses a danger to the community. (More)

➤ Greeley: Firefighters rescued a man who was trapped for nearly 20 hours in a tight space between a church wall and a dumpster enclosure after a passerby heard him yelling and called 911. (More)

➤ Chaffee County: Browns Canyon National Monument plans to expand its recreation opportunities after being certified as an International Dark Sky Park, a recognition awarded to exceptional stargazing destinations. (See Details)

➤ Denver: Organizers will scale back the city’s Juneteenth Music Festival from a weekend-long event to one day after losing the support of corporate sponsors. (More)

➤ Greeley: A man who fired dozens of rounds into a bar now faces between 400 and 1,200 years in prison after a jury found him guilty on 50 counts of attempted murder. (See Details)

➤ The Colorado Avalanche will face the Dallas Stars tonight at 7:30 p.m. in a pivotal Game 3 matchup with the series tied 1-1. Both teams enter the game at full strength, with no active players on the injury report. (More)

➤ Denver Nuggets interim head coach David Adelman defended his decision not to call a timeout after the Nuggets secured a rebound while trailing by three with 11 seconds left in Monday’s 105-102 loss to the Clippers. He’s in just his second week on the job. (More)

➤ Colorado Buffaloes head football coach Deion Sanders was critical of the fan turnout at the team’s spring football game on Saturday. (More)

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➤ The city of Boulder entered a settlement agreement with Xcel Energy to accelerate wildfire safety investments in Boulder and other wildfire-prone communities, pending approval by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. (See Details)

➤ Tourism in Breckenridge fell more than expected this season, as the town continues to normalize after its post-pandemic boom, according to the Breckenridge Tourism Office. (See Details)

➤ Kroenke Sports and Entertainment has submitted official plans to redevelop the area around Ball Arena, including a hotel, residential buildings, a concert venue, a central park, and other mixed-use infrastructure. (See Details)

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➤ Coloradans have the ninth highest grocery spending in the country, footing an average bill of $9,721 per year, according to a new study. (See Details)

➤ A 30-foot-tall, climbable bird’s nest is the latest art installation commissioned to join those on Denver’s revamped 16th Street Mall. (See Photos)

➤ The Grand Hyatt Denver installed beehives on the hotel’s rooftop to improve the downtown ecosystem and create a source of honey. (See Details)

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