Thursday, January 1, 2026

Happy New Year! On New Year's Day in 1978, the Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 20-17 to win their first American Football Conference Championship. Here's a gallery of photos from the historic win.

Today's not about breaking news—it's about the year that was, right here in Colorado. We're looking back at the biggest stories of 2025. First, the headlines that shaped the Centennial State, then a few editors' picks that stuck with us along the way.

Today's sponsor, Incogni, protects your privacy by removing your personal data from the brokers scammers use—reducing spam calls, phishing, and identity theft.

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.

Wolf Reintroduction Faces Challenges

In mid-January, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) released 15 Canadian gray wolves into Pitkin and Eagle counties, bringing the number of known wolves in the state to 29 at that time. The agency also re-released five wolves from the Copper Creek pack, previously held in captivity due to repeated livestock killings.

Conflicts between wolves and ranchers continued. In May, CPW euthanized a Copper Creek wolf linked to several livestock attacks. The agency attempted to kill a second depredatory wolf from the pack in August, but the outcome remains unclear.

Several wolves died from other causes, including seven of the 15 released in January—five in Colorado and two after crossing into Wyoming. Despite the losses, at least three new packs formed with the birth of wolf pups on the Western Slope.

In October, the Trump administration told CPW it could no longer import wolves from Canada, complicating plans to release 10 to 15 more wolves this month. Four of the six permitted U.S. states have declined to supply wolves to Colorado.

The state now has a population of around 20 adult wolves and an unknown number of pups. Here's a timeline of the wolf reintroduction program.

Boulder Firebombing Scars State, Nation

On June 1, Mohamed Soliman, 45, used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to attack members of Run for Their Lives, a group marching at Boulder's Pearl Street Mall to call for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Fifteen people were injured in the attack, one of whom, 82-year-old Karen Diamond, later died from her injuries. Arrested at the scene, Soliman later told police he had planned the attack for a year, purposely targeting what he viewed as a "Zionist" group.

Several state, national, and foreign leaders, including President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned the attack, which many described as an act of antisemitic terrorism.

On June 18, a federal judge ruled that a hate crime case against Soliman could proceed. He pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges and later, in November, pleaded not guilty to more than 100 state charges.

Soliman's trial in state court is scheduled to begin in July, shortly after his federal trial in June.

Fires Rage Across Western Slope

Lightning sparked the Lee and Elk fires in Rio Blanco County on Aug. 2. Both grew rapidly as hot, dry, and windy weather induced extreme fire behavior and helped ignite several other fires on the Western Slope.

In just a few days, the two fires exceeded a combined 30,000 acres. Wildfire smoke took a statewide toll, hampering visibility and air quality as far as the Front Range.

Authorities ordered several evacuations, including a rare prison evacuation in Rifle, and Gov. Jared Polis issued disaster declarations to support response efforts.

Rainfall contributed to sizeable containment gains. By Aug. 16, firefighters fully contained the 14,518-acre Elk Fire, and in early September, the Lee Fire reached 100% containment at 137,758 acres—making it the fifth-largest wildfire in Colorado's history, just 2 acres smaller than the fourth-largest Hayman Fire.

On Dec. 20, the Trump administration rejected Polis' requests for federal funding to support recovery from the fires, which caused more than $27 million in estimated damages.

Trump Moves U.S. Space Command

In a Sept. 2 press conference, President Trump announced that U.S. Space Command will relocate to Huntsville, Alabama, reversing the Biden-era decision to keep it permanently headquartered in Colorado Springs.

The decision faced widespread pushback in Colorado. In a rare bipartisan statement, the state's congressional delegation warned the move puts national security at risk and would harm both Colorado and the nation, writing, "We are united in fighting to reverse this decision."

In October, Attorney General Phil Weiser filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block the move, arguing it was politically motivated and unconstitutional. That lawsuit is still pending.

The process to transfer the command is expected to take years. While contested, it potentially ends a four-year dispute between the two states over the location of Space Command, whose annual economic impact is estimated at $1 billion.

Evergreen Shooting Shocks Community

On Sept. 10, 16-year-old Desmond Holly opened fire with a revolver at Evergreen High School in Jefferson County, critically wounding two students before taking his own life.

Matthew Silverstone, 18, suffered gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He underwent multiple surgeries and left the hospital Oct. 14, now able to walk with assistance and speak. A 14-year-old victim, whose identity has not been made public, was released from the hospital in good condition on Sept. 30.

The high school of fewer than 1,000 students closed for weeks following the attack, initiating a gradual return plan based on student, family, and staff feedback in late September.

Though authorities never identified a clear motive in the shooting, investigators believe Holly had been "radicalized." A report by the Anti-Defamation League found he had been exposed to extremist content online and possibly adopted neo-Nazi ideology.

The shooting renewed Colorado's gun violence debate, as some state Democrats called for stricter gun laws in the wake of the tragedy.

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Sundance Heads to Boulder in 2027

The Sundance Film Festival announced it will relocate to Boulder in 2027 after more than four decades in its current home of Park City, Utah, calling Boulder an "ideal location." The festival, widely considered the premier showcase for independent film in the U.S., is expected to be an economic boon for both the city and state. In 2024, it generated $132 million for Utah. The final festival in Utah will be held Jan. 22 to Feb. 1.

Polis Scraps Capitol Bridge Plan

Gov. Jared Polis abandoned plans for a multimillion-dollar pedestrian bridge linking the Capitol to Lincoln Veterans Memorial Park after an informal poll showed 93% opposition. Polis joked he would now oppose the project himself—even saying he'd chain himself to the Capitol plaza to stop it. The bridge was one of several ideas floated to mark Colorado's 150th statehood anniversary in 2026.

Service Dog Saves Veteran's Life

A Colorado veteran said his 3-year-old service dog, Tommy, saved his life by waking him up and alerting him to a rapid, irregular heart rhythm. Doctors told him he might not have woken up—or could have suffered a major, possibly fatal stroke—if not for his dog.

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