Second Budget Crisis on Horizon

Colorado’s structural deficit in the next fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2026, is forecast to be nearly $850 million, according to nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff.

The deficit is caused by the costs of state programs and services—namely Medicaid and education—outpacing the annual cap on government growth and spending set by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights.

Medicaid accounts for a “significant portion” of the deficit and is growing at an unsustainable rate, the governor’s office said. Soaring Medicaid costs were a major factor in lawmakers’ decision to cut $1.2 billion from this fiscal year’s budget.

State economists warn that, due to high household debt, a weakening labor market, and national economic uncertainty, Colorado has a 50% chance of entering a recession in 2026.

Missing Hunters Killed by Lightning

Two experienced elk hunters found dead in Conejos County last week were fatally struck by lightning, authorities confirmed Monday.

Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko went missing in the San Juans on Sept. 11, when storms moved into the area. Search and rescue teams found their bodies on Sept. 18, ending a massive, nearly weeklong search.

The men were found below a tree and had slight burns. They likely died instantaneously, Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin said.

Colorado has the third-highest number of lightning fatalities in the country, with the summer months being the most dangerous, according to national weather data.

First Fall Storm Soaks State

Just hours after fall officially began on Monday, the first storm of the season rolled into Colorado, dumping snow in the high country and heavy rain on the plains.

Snowfall above 9,000 feet ranged from 4 to 10 inches on Tuesday. In the Denver area, much of eastern Colorado, and parts of the Western Slope, heavy rain continued late into Tuesday night.

A Winter Weather Advisory—the season’s first—was issued for the northern Front Range. On the burn-scarred Western Slope, a sudden downpour led to flooding and mudslides, prompting road closures.

The fast-moving storm is expected to leave the state today, giving way to a gradual warming and drying trend through the rest of the week.

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➤ Commerce City: A semitrailer drove off Interstate 270 early Tuesday, landing on 56th Avenue below. The driver was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. (See Details)

➤ La Plata County: Health officials suspect a recent mass prairie dog die-off may be linked to plague, which can spread to humans and pets. (See Details)

➤ Boulder: Authorities canceled an Amber Alert issued for a 16-year-old girl who was last seen being forced into a truck Monday night after finding her safe and arresting a suspect in her disappearance. (More)

➤ Idaho Springs: Police identified a woman who died in a climbing accident on Saturday as Olivia Copeland, 26, a Fort Collins resident and guide for an outdoor adventure company. (More)

➤ Arvada: Kevin “KJ” Jacovetta, a local firefighter and EMT who was badly burned rescuing a colleague in 2011, died last week from cancer tied to those injuries. (See Details)

➤ Denver: Immigration and Customs Enforcement is targeting local law enforcement with recruitment ads airing in Denver and other cities designated as sanctuary cities by the Trump administration. (See Details)

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➤ The Denver Broncos opened their team headquarters to Evergreen High School’s football team after the Sept. 10 campus shooting left them without a practice field. (More)

➤ 19 of 20 respondents in ESPN’s preseason survey believed that Nuggets center Nikola Jokić is still the best player in the NBA. According to one unnamed executive, “As long as he’s walking and breathing, it should be him.” (More)

➤ The Colorado Rockies fan who caught Shohei Ohtani’s 300th home run ball sold it at auction for over $44,000. (More)

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➤ Toys ‘R’ Us plans to expand its brick-and-mortar comeback with 10 new flagship stores and 20 seasonal holiday shops by the end of 2025, including one at Denver Premium Outlets in Thornton. (See Details)

➤ The Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport has more safety incidents than any other airport in the country, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. (See Details)

➤ Amazon is ramping up operations at its new delivery station in Gypsum, with plans to open another in Montrose this year as it expands across the Western Slope. (More)

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➤ Patch-To-Porch Colorado is among the first to bring a national fall décor service trend to the state, delivering and arranging festive autumn porch displays for $275 to $1,000. (See Details)

➤ The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed in Loveland during the Great Colorado Air Show over the weekend. Local photographers captured striking photos and videos of the aerial stunts. (See Photos)

➤ Chicago to Denver is one of the most popular city-to-city migration paths in 2025, ranking No. 16 overall, according to a new study. (See Details)

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Would you pay for a fall décor service?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Depends

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you support building a Ferris wheel in downtown Denver?

1. Not a chance: 26%
2. No opinion: 21%
3. Absolutely: 18%
4. Maybe: 18%
5. Somewhat: 17%

What is Colorado’s state rock?

Show me the answer