Thursday, December 4, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1923, students at Colorado Agricultural College—now known as Colorado State University—voted during a special assembly to emblazon the letter "A" on a hill west of campus. Work on the now-iconic 450-foot "A" began soon after and was completed the next year.

🎄We’re inviting you to make our Christmas edition extra special! What are your favorite Christmas memories or traditions? Reply to this email and share your festive moments with us. Please include your first name and city so we can give you credit when we publish some of your replies on Christmas Day.

New polling for the 2028 Republican primary has surfaced, showing some eye-catching shifts and prompting a closer look at JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr. as the early field develops. There’s a lot to unpack, and host Ayla Brown breaks it down on today’s Flyover Podcast.

🎁 Later today, we’ll send you The Flyover Christmas Gift Guide, a quick, stress-free roundup of gifts people actually want, so you can finally cross off that last hard-to-shop-for person on your list.

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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.

Colorado Mandates Utility Carbon Caps

Xcel Energy and other utilities must cut carbon emissions from home heating by 41% in 10 years, fully decarbonizing by 2050, under a plan finalized by the Public Utilities Commission Monday.

The latest cuts, part of a first-in-the-nation clean heat law, represent a compromise between environmental groups, who pushed for higher targets, and utilities and some state agencies, who called for lower ones.

To meet the goals, utilities, regulators, and policymakers must help hundreds of thousands of Coloradans switch from gas-fired heating systems to electric heat pumps, among other measures..

Critics of the plan warn it could come at a significant cost to ratepayers, pointing to concerns about affordability and the potential burden of future electrification expenses.

Bear Conflicts Above Average in 2025

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) received 5,259 reports of bear-related conflicts and sightings from Jan. 1 to Dec. 1, the highest total for that period since 2019, the agency said Tuesday.

The 2025 figure also exceeds the seven-year average. While some regions reported significant upticks, others experienced relatively few bear problems, or even a decline. See a breakdown here.

There are an estimated 17,000 to 20,000 bears in Colorado. While December usually brings fewer conflicts, CPW is still urging Coloradans to practice bear safety by following these tips.

Heavy Snow Impacts Travel, Schools

Colorado's first big snow of the season arrived early Wednesday, resulting in slick, snow-packed roads, hampered air travel, and a slew of school closures and delays.

Several roads, including parts of Interstate 70, were temporarily closed due to crashes or safety concerns. Multiple communities—including Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins—were put on accident alert, meaning police only respond to certain crashes.

By 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, more than 700 flights had been delayed and three were canceled at Denver International Airport, according to FlightAware.

Multiple school districts in southern Colorado closed for the day, and several others nearby or in the high country had delayed starts.

Snow totals by early afternoon ranged from just a few to upward of 8 inches. See a list here.

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➤ Capitol: Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said the state "will not comply" with the Department of Justice's Dec. 1 request for unredacted voter information. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Federal officials approved Colorado's revised plan to bring high-speed internet to unserved and underserved households using $420.6 million in grants. The state reworked its plan after new federal rules deprioritized fiber, cutting its original $826.5 million award nearly in half. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: Records show Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis agreed to resign in lieu of termination last month under a settlement agreement. (See Details)

➤ Mesa County: A Union Pacific freight train derailed into the Gunnison River late Tuesday night. Two engineers trapped inside the cab were safely rescued around 1 a.m. (More)

➤ Dacono: A local home reportedly exploded and burned down, rendering it a complete loss, fire officials said. It's unclear whether a gas leak in the area caused the explosion. (More)

➤ Morrison: Authorities are seeking eyewitnesses and other information related to an Oct. 22 assault stemming from a seating dispute at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. (See Video)

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➤ Colorado coach Deion Sanders said that most players enter the transfer portal because they can make more money elsewhere: "The number one reason people leave is money, it's not a disdain for staff, a disdain for players, it's money." (More)

➤ The Denver Broncos signed former second-round wide receiver Elijah Moore to their practice squad, releasing undrafted rookie Kyrese Rowan to make room. (More)

➤ Nuggets center Nikola Jokić was named Western Conference Player of the Month for October and November. He's averaging 28.9 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 10.9 assists since the season began. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ AutoSavvy, a national used car dealership, paid over $313,000 to a woman who accused the company of deceptive practices after discovering undisclosed damage on a car she bought at its Colorado Springs location. (See Details)

➤ A bathhouse billed as the largest in Denver, with 13 total thermal amenities, plans to open in 2027. A prototype in the form of an 18-person traveling sauna is open now. (See Details)

➤ Grand Valley Power has selected Chrystal Dean, a Montrose native, as its next CEO, concluding a nationwide search, the utility announced Monday. (More)

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➤ Denver is one of the best U.S. cities for single people—ranking No. 5 behind Atlanta, Las Vegas, Tampa, and Seattle—according to a new study based on economics, dating opportunities, and recreation. (See List)

➤ Kids Ski Free Week begins this Saturday at Steamboat, Winter Park Resort, and Arapahoe Basin. Skiers 12 and under can receive one free lift ticket per day Dec. 6-12. (See Details)

➤ La Vista Motel, a historic, long-shuttered Denver motel, will celebrate its grand reopening Saturday. The renovated 23-room boutique property features the original iconic sign, salvaged vintage décor, and a new, retro-themed coffee-and-cocktail lounge. (See Details)

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