Friday, February 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1934, late automobile racer Bobby Unser was born in Colorado Springs. A three-time Indianapolis 500 winner, Unser was inducted into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame in 1990.

Does your dog have a future in acting? The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is looking for two small, well-trained dogs to steal the spotlight in an upcoming production. Find out more in Et Cetera.

Today’s sponsor, GoldCo, is helping retirement savers explore how physical gold and silver could potentially strengthen and diversify their portfolios amid growing economic and political uncertainty.

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 Sues Over Energy Grants

Thirteen states, led by Colorado, California, and Washington, are suing the Trump administration to challenge the U.S. Department of Energy’s termination of roughly $2.3 billion in energy research grants.

Colorado stands to lose $600 million for various clean energy projects, including $300 million awarded to Colorado State University for reducing methane emissions, according to Phil Weiser, the state’s attorney general.

In the lawsuit filed Wednesday, Weiser, alongside the other attorneys general, argues the funds’ cancellation violates both the constitutional separation of powers and bans on political retribution.

This is Weiser’s 54th lawsuit against the Trump administration. The litigation has resulted in over $1 billion in restored or protected state funding, Weiser said.

Lawmakers Introduce AI Surveillance Bills

A pair of bipartisan bills in the state legislature would impose stricter regulations on the use of artificial intelligence in police surveillance.

SB26-070 would ban, with some exceptions, the warrantless access or sharing of vehicle location data from automated surveillance systems, such as Flock Safety’s license plate-reading cameras.

Sen. Lynda Zamora Wilson, the bill’s Republican co-sponsor, also introduced SB26-071, a more sweeping measure that would further regulate how law enforcement uses traffic cameras, drones, and facial recognition software, in part by limiting data retention.

Both bills will go before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.

Shiffrin Wins Gold in Olympic Comeback

Vail native Mikaela Shiffrin took home her first gold medal since 2018 at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday, ending an eight-year dry spell and making her the most decorated U.S. skier in history.

Shiffrin came up empty-handed in her first two events, placing 11th and fourth, before winning the slalom, her signature event, by a lead of 1.5 seconds—the biggest gap in any Olympic Alpine race since 1998.

Shiffrin, who won her first Olympic slalom at just 18 years old, went 0-for-6 at the 2022 Beijing Games. Now 30, the Coloradan is the only American alpine skier to hold three Olympic gold medals.

On social media, Shiffrin shared a photo of herself taking a celebratory nap, still wearing the medal, and in a separate post, penned a heartfelt message encapsulating her eight-year journey back to glory.

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A New Era for Gold & Silver

For years now, many people in or near retirement have viewed precious metals through a single lens: wealth preservation. It was the "safe haven" you turned to when the rest of the market looked shaky.

But that era may have ended… with a new one emerging.

We have now entered a period of unprecedented momentum.

Gold charged past $5,000/oz.

& Silver skyrocketed past $100/oz.

For the first time in decades, the conversation for retirement savers seems to be shifting. It’s no longer just about "holding the line"—it’s about the potential growth these physical assets could bring to a diversified portfolio.

Why This Could Just Be The Beginning

While $5,000 gold and $100 silver are historic milestones, many seasoned market analysts suggest this move may just be getting started, even with the recent pullbacks.

Analysts report that gold has more room to run as geopolitics and central banks buying fuel gains. With the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections, political uncertainty may increase further. At the same time, persistent concerns about over-valued equity markets could reinforce portfolio diversification flows into gold.

Claim your FREE 2026 Gold & Silver Kit which reveals the latest market data and shows you exactly how to add physical metals as a hedge for your retirement strategy.

➤ Statewide: A bipartisan bill would require law enforcement officers to ask a series of questions when responding to domestic violence calls to assess the risk levels of potential victims. (See Details)

➤ High Country: More than two feet of snow has fallen in some ski areas, with Wolf Creek Ski Area, north of Pagosa Springs, posting the highest total of 27 inches on Wednesday. (More)

➤ I-70: The segment of Interstate 70 from Commerce City to E-470 ranks as the deadliest 10-mile stretch of road in the state, with 23 fatal crashes over five years, according to a new study. (See List)

➤ Colorado Springs: A Venezuelan man is facing federal charges for allegedly assaulting and threatening ICE agents and destroying government property while being transported from the county jail in December. (More)

➤ Denver: This winter is on track to become the warmest in city history, with a current average temperature just below the 1933-1934 record of 40.1 degrees. (More)

➤ Weld County: The sheriff’s office seized 427 pounds of suspected marijuana found in abandoned trash bags last week. (More)

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➤ The Denver Summit sold 45,000 tickets to their inaugural match, which has already broken the NWSL attendance record of 40,091. (More)

➤ Former Broncos general manager Neal Dahlen died this week at 85. He was a key architect in building Denver’s Super Bowl rosters in 1998 and 1999. (More)

➤ The NCAA rejected Colorado’s proposal to have a joint spring football game with Syracuse this year, citing an “ongoing comprehensive review of the college football calendar” as the purpose of their denial. (More)

➤ Colorado State men’s basketball beat UNLV 91-86 to extend their winning streak to four games. Guard Jevin Muniz led the Rams with 20 points on 8-11 shooting. (More)

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➤ Colorado’s sports betting industry brought in record-breaking tax revenue in 2025, with the NFL Championship alone generating $40.7 million in wagers and $29 million in payouts. (See Details)

➤ Zynex, an Englewood-based medical equipment company, admitted to collecting over $600 million in fraudulent sales by sending patients equipment they never ordered, as part of a scheme that generated $873 million in total revenue. (See Details)

➤ Loveland City Council approved a business assistance agreement that clears the way for a proposed 160,000-square-foot Costco development next to the Promenade Shops at Centerra. (See Details)

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New Era for Gold and Silver: Despite recent pullbacks, analysts say precious metals have more room to run amid geopolitical tensions and central bank buying. With the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections, political uncertainty may increase further. For the first time in decades, the conversation for retirement savers seems to be shifting.

It’s no longer just about "holding the line"—it’s about the potential growth these physical assets could bring to a diversified portfolio. Get the latest market insights and learn how to add physical metals to your retirement savings with the 2026 Ultimate Guide to Gold & Silver.

➤ Colorado is the fourth-best state for retirees—trailing only Wyoming, Florida, and South Dakota—according to a new study based on 46 indicators of retirement-friendliness. (See Map)

➤ The Rockies released Coors Field’s 2026 promotional schedule, which includes postgame concerts, themed nights, statue unveilings, fireworks, drone shows, and more. (See Schedule)

➤ The Colorado Shakespeare Festival is looking to cast two small, well-trained dogs in its summer production of Shakespeare in Love. Interested dog owners have until March 23 to submit an audition application. (See Details)

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