Tag: kdvr

DENVER (KDVR) — The Populus Hotel is set to open this summer as the latest addition to the Denver skyline. It will also bring two new restaurants to the Central Business District neighborhood.

You might’ve seen the building, which looks similar to an Aspen tree. The building, originally the home of Colorado’s first gas station, will be the first carbon-positive hotel in the United States, according to Aparium.

With the opening of the hotel comes two of Denver’s newest restaurants: Pasque and Stellar Jay.

Pasque serves an all-day, seasonal menu. While there isn’t a website for the restaurant just yet, the hotel describes it as “featuring an array of fresh plant-based ingredients complemented by regionally sourced proteins from both land and sea, each dish will highlight the earth’s bounty with sophisticated simplicity, letting the quality of the ingredients shine.”

The second restaurant, known as Stellar Jay, will be on the rooftop of Populus. According to Populus’ website, the restaurant plans to serve shared plates and a “live-fired cuisine.”

The hotel said it plans on sourcing food through regenerative agriculture partnerships and landfill diversion programs with recyclable and compostable waste streams for the first year, and the restaurants plan to do the same.

“The restaurants will responsibly source ingredients from local or family-owned farms and will be the first hotel in downtown Denver to use unique “Food Cycling” technology from BioGreen360, which diverts 100 percent of food waste away from landfills and into all-natural compost to be shared with local farmers,” Pooulus said in a press release.

While there aren’t specific dates for the opening of the hotel or the restaurants, Populus’ website said it plans on opening this summer.

The hotel is located at 240 14th St.

CHICAGO (AP) — A Palestinian chef using ancient cooking techniques a Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans and an upscale Thai restaurant in Oregon won coveted James Beard awards Monday at a red carpet awards ceremony in Chicago.

More than 100 restaurants were finalists across 22 categories for the culinary world’s equivalent of the Oscars with a diverse range of cuisine and chef experience, a recent shift following turbulent, pandemic-era years for the James Beard Foundation. Just being a finalist can bring wide recognition and boost business. The most anticipated categories included awards for outstanding restaurateur, chef and restaurant.

Erika and Kelly Whitaker, a Colorado couple, won outstanding restaurateur.

Their Id Est Hospitality Group runs several Colorado restaurants including The Wolf’s Tailor, which serves wild game like smoked venison. Their restaurants have a focus on zero waste and sustainability practices.

“We don’t particularly chase these awards,” Kelly Whitaker said. “But we definitely chase the platform this brings.”

Michael Rafidi, whose Washington, D.C., restaurant Albi was awarded a coveted Michelin Star in 2022, won outstanding chef among five finalists. Albi, which is Arabic for “my heart,” pays homage to Rafidi’s Palestinian roots by using Old World food preparation techniques. Everything is cooked over charcoal, including grape leaves stuffed with lamb and sfeeha, a meat pie.

“This is for Palestine and all the Palestinian people out there,” Rafidi told The Associated Press after winning the award. Rafidi, who wore a traditional black and white checkered keffiyeh, said he kept thinking of his Palestinian grandfather, who was also a chef, and how he paved the way for him.

Restaurants apply for the awards. Judges, who mostly remain anonymous, try the cuisine before voting. Nominees are reviewed for the food as well as for a behavioral code of ethics, including how employees are treated. On Monday, winners announced at the Lyric Opera of Chicago venue were given engraved medallions.

The award for best new restaurant went to Dakar NOLA, a Senegalese restaurant in New Orleans.

“I always knew that West Africa has something to say,” said chef Serigne Mbaye. “That kept me going.”

The James Beard Foundation has bestowed awards since 1991, except in 2020 and 2021 when the organization scrapped them as the restaurant industry was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. The foundation was also facing criticism over a lack of racial diversity and allegations about some nominees’ behavior. Foundation officials vowed to improve ethical standards and be more “reflective of the industry.”

An upscale Thai restaurant that uses Pacific Northwest ingredients, Langbaan won outstanding restaurant, while Chicago restaurant Lula Cafe, a bistro that opened in 1999 on the city’s North Side, won an award for outstanding hospitality.

COLORADO SPRINGS (KXRM) — In the overnight hours of June 10, Colorado Springs officers were called to a home off North Powers Boulevard on reports of a sword-wielding suspect at a stranger’s home.

According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, the suspect showed up to check on the dogs of someone he didn’t know other than from following them on social media.

Police said on Monday at around 1:30 a.m. officers responded to a report of an assault at the home in the 6200 block of Hartman Drive.

Officers learned the suspect, later identified as 43-year-old Nicholas James Glyshaw, showed up at the victim’s home with a sword and wanted to check on the dogs, who were owned by someone he had no relationship with. Police said Glyshaw only knew the individual through following them on social media.

When the victim confronted the suspect, police said Glyshaw assaulted them and then entered the home. Police were able to control the situation and took Glyshaw into custody without further incident.

The victim of the assault only received minor injuries that did not require medical attention.

DENVER (KDVR) — With more and more people heading to Colorado’s lakes to escape the heat, officials are warning people to be careful, especially when paddle boarding.

The warnings come after rangers and the Westminster Fire Department were involved in a rescue involving more than a dozen individuals on Friday following a microburst on Standley Lake.

“We love to have people recreating out there, kayaking and paddle boarding. But there are just a few safety tips to keep in mind,” said Emily Peek, public information specialist for the Westminster Fire Department.

Saturday afternoon started off warm and sunny, similar to how Friday started, and it was a busy day at Sloan’s Lake in Denver.

“Love coming out on the lake and just enjoying a day, you know, floating around,” said Connor Dalbow, who had been out paddle boarding. “It’s been so hot the last couple of weeks so just trying to escape the heat.”

However, in a matter of minutes, dark clouds began making their way in and the wind started picking up.

“You got to watch the weather. That’s why we came off,” Dalbow said. “We saw the, you know, the rain clouds coming. The lightning, thunder.”

When in doubt, head back to shore

There were a few of several paddle boarders on the lake who immediately headed to shore once the weather changed. According to officials, this is a good example of what to do once you see a storm start to move in.

“We’re used to the afternoon storms in Colorado that sometimes show up in the forecast and sometimes don’t,” Peek said.

Checking the forecast and keeping an eye on the sky are a few safety tips. Peek said another one is to not only have your life jacket with you onboard your watercraft, which is a state regulation, but also to wear it.

“Even if you’re a strong swimmer you just never know what might knock you in the water,” Peek said.

All paddle boards should come equipped with an ankle strap, which Peek said you should have attached to yourself at all times.

“If you do fall off of it, you have a better chance of getting back to your board.”

If you are already out on the lake and you are unable to get to shore once a storm does come up, Peek recommends lowering your center of gravity so you are less likely to fall off or flip over with the waves.

“If you do fall off of your paddle board, trying to hold onto it to keep afloat is best,” Peek said. “If you don’t have your personal floatation device on, trying to grab that but again, that’s why we recommend actually wearing it while you’re out there.”

DENVER (KDVR) — A South Broadway bar owner is crediting neighboring businesses and Denver police for saving the day after a reported attack.

Victor Ayala said he was attacked last Saturday by a knife-wielding man outside of his bar and lounge, Desert Social. Cell phone video appears to show a man pursuing Ayala outside the business and lunging at the owner at one point.

“He did pull out a knife. He did swing at me with the knife,” Ayala said.

Ayala said someone in one of the neighboring businesses called police, who responded in “30 seconds.”

Ayala said the man was arrested. An email to the Denver Police Department to confirm the incident did not receive an immediate response.

Ayala said he suffered a minor injury and prefers the focus of the incident to be a positive one.

“What happened Saturday, it was a good thing that happened,” Ayala said. “Because he’s no longer a threat.”

DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado mother has filed a lawsuit against a youth football organization and one of its coaches.

At 13 years old, Darryl Blackmon drowned in a hotel pool while on a trip with his team. His mother, Marquita Mays, claims the organization failed to protect her son and is now demanding accountability.

For Mays, one of the last images that replays in her mind is her son lying in a hospital bed, on a ventilator and in a coma. Darryl spent three days in a Phoenix hospital and died on May 31, 2022.

Now in 2024, every day is a constant reminder that her youngest son is gone. Standing tall at 5 feet 11 inches, the 13-year-old had NFL dreams and hoped to hone his talent by joining a youth football club. It was Darryl’s first year playing with the 5280 Jr. Buffs football team, and it’s now something that Mays deeply regrets.

“I made a mistake by even thinking that I could be a part of something that was supposed to be great and putting my precious joy somewhere that wasn’t safe for him,” Mays cried.

Teen drowned after team’s football championship

In May of 2022, the team traveled to Arizona for a tournament game and celebrated their championship win at the hotel pool. Mays said she went across the street to grab food for the party and returned in 10 minutes to find her son receiving CPR.

James Anderson, Mays’ attorney, weighed in.

“There was a period of 10 minutes, and Marquita’s son lost his life,” Anderson said. “That’s inexcusable. We feel that there was negligent supervision, negligent training of the coaches and assistant coaches involved in this situation. They could have taken much stronger steps to protect Marquita’s son.”

Mays is now suing the team for negligent conduct and training. Darryl could not swim, and an autopsy report has confirmed the teen drowned.

Mays told FOX31 her son was found fully clothed in about 9 feet of water. The lawsuit states he had been underwater for 3-7 minutes. It also states the other children were horseplaying in and around the pool — shoving and dunking each other — while coaches were supervising.

The complaint alleges the coaching staff held a meeting after Darryl’s death, instructing parents to “keep their story straight.”

“I’m the only one hurting,” Mays said. “Me, my family, my children. It’s like he never even existed.”

Claims of false insurance information after teen’s drowning

Mays is also suing one of the coaches on claims of fraud and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The coach is accused of knowingly providing Mays with false insurance information on behalf of the team.

“Upon further investigation, we were told that that specific certificate, because they’re individually and uniquely numbered, was not the certificate for the Jr. Buffs organization,” Anderson said. “There was evidence that the certificate had been physically altered.”

Anderson said since the discovery was made about the alleged altered insurance certificate, the coach has not been responsive to the legal team, and it’s only added more anguish for Mays.

“Your babies’ lives are in danger,” Mays cried. “When it’s not right and we always think it’s not us, because we don’t want it to be, but you never know.”

FOX31 has not named the coach listed in the lawsuit because we are waiting for him to provide attorney information. The football organization did not respond to our request for comment via email.

Meanwhile, Mays continues to turn her pain into purpose. She led a swim safety billboard campaign in 2022 and is currently working on a foundation in her son’s name.

DENVER (KDVR) — As the saying goes, taking the road less traveled can make all the difference, and according to Condé Nast Traveler, there’s something to be said for taking the scenic route.

The luxury and travel magazine acknowledged that not all roads are created equal — especially in Colorado. Some roads are full of potholes, while others are just downright frustrating. However, some roads are more notable for their natural features.

Condé Nast Traveler put together a list of 71 beautiful streets from around the world, and Colorado was honored to represent the U.S.

This list doesn’t just recognize streets and views from within the United States. Colorado was featured alongside iconic international spots like Mykonos, Greece and Amalfi Coast, Italy.

Colorado is known for scenic routes that open up to amazing views of the high country, but only one street made the international list.

Telluride’s Main Street is one of the most famous and beautiful roads in the world, according to Condé Nast.

“Telluride was founded in 1878 as a prosperous mining town, and its original two- and three-story flat roof structures still line many streets—namely the main street, dubbed Colorado Avenue, where the city’s most famous landmark still stands. The New Sheridan Hotel, constructed in 1895 at 231 West Colorado Avenue, became an instant hot spot among the newcomers—mostly gold-hungry tycoons—and remained at the heart of the Telluride social scene,” said Condé Nast.

Tourists from all over the world and locals alike travel to the southern Colorado town to get a glimpse of the San Juan Mountains and the isolated town at the bottom of a box canyon.

From Denver, it would take you about six hours to drive to Telluride, or you can take a direct flight to the Telluride Regional Airport from Denver or Phoenix.

Out of 71 streets named by Condé Nast, Telluride was one of 15 from the U.S. You can read the full list on Condé Nast’s website.

DENVER (KDVR) — The hot weather forecast has many homeowners concerned about keeping their lawns and gardens healthy during 90-degree weather, with Denver’s summer watering rules in effect through Oct. 1.

“We would not want to lose money,” one resident told FOX31.

The average homeowner in Colorado spends between $1,500 and $6,000 on landscaping.

How to properly water plants and trees

Christin Hise of City Floral Garden Center told the Problem Solvers whether you have a large lawn and garden or enjoy container gardening on a city balcony, it is important to water your plants and trees properly.

“Most people want to just spray the plants down from top to bottom, but the plants are hot, and you can end up burning them that way,” Hise said.

Prevent scorching, adjust sprinklers and lines

Shading and bug covers can help to prevent scorching, protect from wind damage and keep plants moist. Drip lines and sprinklers also should be adjusted according to the weather.

“You typically want to turn it up a little bit when temperatures get up into the high 90s,” Hise said.

Summer watering rules

Denver Water produced a Backstreet Boys parody video to outline the importance of watering restrictions.

Only water during cooler times of the day. Lawn watering is not allowed between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Water two days per week, adding a third day only when needed — any more than that is not allowed.

Denver Water offers additional watering rules basics and information about the cycle and soak method on their website.

DENVER (KDVR) — If you’re looking for the best dish in Colorado, you might find it among these suggestions.

FOX31 asked viewers in a Facebook post, “What’s your favorite dish in Denver?” with the caption: “It’s your last meal on Earth and you can only choose one dish from a Denver restaurant. What dish and restaurant are you choosing?”

Viewers’ responses trickled in with restaurants spanning across the Front Range with anything from steak to burritos. While each dish varied, a few restaurants stood out as many people’s coveted “last meals.”

Shanahan’s steak

Many viewers mentioned the steak from Shanahan’s Steakhouse in the Hampden South neighborhood. While there wasn’t a specific steak on the menu that was favored over the others, the restaurant has anything from center barrel cut filet mignon to Colorado prime lamb chops.

One viewer particularly liked the restaurant’s old-fashioned drink to go along with the steak.

Seafood from Big Mac & Little Lu’s

Big Mac & Little Lu’s Seafood was another restaurant brought up in the comments, however, viewers couldn’t agree on the best dish. One viewer petitioned for the almond-crusted hogfish, which the restaurant describes as a “hogfish pan seared in an almond crust and covered with our stone crab mustard sauce.”

Meanwhile, other viewers raved about the swordfish, lobster rolls and lobster mac and cheese.

“Being from Florida myself, Big Mac and Little Lu’s is one of the only places in CO I will eat seafood,” commented one viewer.

Burrito from Sam’s No. 3

Sam’s No. 3 serves comfort food all over Denver, and a few viewers particularly liked the burritos. The “sMACdown Burrito,” which comes with chorizo, tater tots and mac and cheese and is topped with “Kickin Green Chili” was a fan favorite.

While there were a few overlapping dishes and restaurants, others named different dishes from around the metro.

Other favorite dishes across the Front Range

Here are some other viewer responses. Note: Some of these dishes may no longer be on the menu.

If you’re looking to try another favorite, The New York Times put together “23 of the Best American Dishes of 2023,” and a Denver restaurant was listed. The hearth bread from Denver’s Brutø was listed as one of the best across the whole country.

Everyone’s favorite dish in Denver varies with taste, but if you’re looking to try what others deem worthy of a “last meal on Earth,” the full list of recommendations can be found on FOX31’s Facebook post.

DENVER (KDVR) — One person was injured in a reported stabbing Tuesday afternoon, according to the Denver Police Department.

The agency said the stabbing took place in the area of 17th Street and Chestnut Place, near Union Station.

The extent of the victim’s injuries, where the stabbing took place, and whether there is a suspect is unknown at this time.

FOX31 is on the way to the scene. This story will be updated as more information is gathered.

DENVER (KDVR) — It was a sunny and warm Saturday morning when Callie Murray left her Denver home to go to the local farmers market. She had just left her porch when she saw a sight she had grown accustomed to: a couple of squirrels hurrying up her driveway to greet her.

But that’s when she noticed something off about one of them.

“I thought she had a twig or a stick stuck on her back,” Murray said. “And as she got closer, I could start to see what was happening.”

One of them had what looked like an arrow or a dart stuck in its back.

“It was just traumatic shock and disbelief and a little bit of panic,” she said.

This squirrel was not any old squirrel. Murray and her son first met this mother squirrel in October when she had gotten into their pumpkins. Rather than getting upset that she had chomped on their Halloween decorations, they found it cute, especially when they noticed something else about her.

“She was extremely pregnant when she was eating our pumpkins, and so we knew she was going to be a mama soon,” Murray said.

From there, it was just the beginning.

“Every morning since then, she has just returned to the porch for her peanuts and comes every day, multiple times, hangs out, eats from our hands, sits on the porch while we have coffee and just kind of spends part of our day with us,” Murray said.

What to do about the injured squirrel?

Then she learned that Saturday that it was their squirrel who had the arrow in its back. She called Denver Animal Protection and other wildlife agencies, who told her the best thing she could do was capture it.

“Setting out traps is a good step,” said Lt. Josh Rolfe with Denver Animal Protection. “Then just keeping an eye on it and trying to monitor the situation. And then call us if it was mobile and then ends up not being mobile.”

Rolfe also weighed in on the situation. He said according to state law, it is legal to hunt or exterminate squirrels because they are considered small game and pests.

“As long as the practice is humane in the way that people are trapping and removing them or exterminating them, then the city is not going to have a problem with that,” Rolfe said. “The squirrel is still alive and running around, and so I think that we would consider that an inhumane practice to be shooting it with an arrow. In a way that injured or maimed the animal, but didn’t kill it.”

A Denver Police Department spokesperson also told FOX31 that shooting an arrow or dart at an animal would, at minimum, “fall under unlawful throwing of projectiles and missiles.” Colorado law says it is illegal to throw stones, projectiles or other missiles on public or private property for any reason.

Knowing people like this exist in her neighborhood, Murray said is not a comforting thought.

“It’s just senseless violence. I mean, we understand hunting and fishing for purpose and this is not that,” she said. “I mean, that scares parents, that scares pet parents, you know — just that that’s happening close by is dangerous.”

Rolfe said the best way to deal with squirrels if they are being a nuisance is to catch them in a live trap and release them.

“There are guidelines within the state for, you know, how close you have to remove an animal and relocate it. You can’t just, like, take a squirrel from here, take it up to the mountains and release it. You have to do it within a certain distance from where it was found,” Rolfe said.

Denver neighbors pitch in to help hurt squirrel

In the meantime, Murray has set up live traps to try and catch her squirrel. She is thankful the squirrel has made it this long, but she knows it’s only a matter of time.

“We’re hoping we’ll get her in the next couple of days and we can catch her before the infection gets too bad,” she said.

She is also thankful for her neighbors and the community who made this their mission too.

“We have had neighbors help watch the porch. We actually picked up a trap from a neighbor we never met last night that has been checking in with me multiple times throughout the day just offering words of encouragement,” Murray said. “I think we’re all just kind of in support of bringing her back and getting her fixed.”

DENVER (KDVR) – Denver weather has already passed 80 degrees this year and is slowly inching to 90 degrees. While the summer averages temperatures between 80 to 90 degrees in Denver, 100-degree weather isn’t out of the question.

Denver doesn’t always hit 100 degrees

It might feel hot during the Mile High City summers, but it doesn’t always hit 100 degrees during the year.

On average, the National Weather Service recorded 105 days that hit over 100 degrees in the last 150 years. This averages to less than one 100-degree day a year.

Some years are hotter than others. For example, the city didn’t see 100 degrees last year, however, in 2012 the city hit over 100 degrees 13 times over the summer season.

Denver ranges from zero 100-degree days to multiple in one summer. As for this year, there’s a good chance Denver will see over 100 degrees, according to Pinpoint Weather Meteorologist Travis Michels.

How many days could Denver hit 100 degrees?

FOX31’s Pinpoint Weather meteorologists specialize in short-term forecasts, generally up to seven-day weather forecasts rather than seasonal climate outlooks. Based on NWS’ forecast outlook, Michels believes that it’s very likely Denver will at least have one day, and possibly two, above 100 degrees.

According to NWS records, these are most likely to take place at the end of June through the middle of July. While Denver has hit 100 degrees during August and September, these were only a handful of days throughout history.

According to Michels, Denver will likely see one to two days at or over 100 degrees this summer, which should be coming up in the next few weeks if they come up at all.

As a point of comparison, last summer Michels said there wouldn’t be any days at or above 100 degrees and his prediction was correct.

DENVER (KDVR) — The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office said a man was issued a summons after he “negligently discharged a pistol he was handling” and shot his own leg.

Around 2 p.m. Sunday, dispatchers received a 911 text reporting that a man had shot himself near Bunce School Rd. in Boulder County.

Later, officials learned that a 44-year-old man from Westminster shot a pistol he was holding and struck himself in the upper thigh area.

He was camping with family members who used a belt as a makeshift tourniquet to stop the heavy bleeding, the sheriff’s office said.

The family got the man in a car started driving and were met by crews with the Allenspark Fire Protection District who were looking for them on Highway 7 (South St. Vrain Rd.) west of Lyons.

The family transported the victim by car from the campsite and were met by Allenspark Fire personnel and Lyons Fire personnel looking for them on Hwy 7/South St. Vrain west of Lyons.

The man was then taken to a nearby hospital by the Lyons Fire Department, and he is in stable condition.

As the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office was investigating, it was determined that alcohol played a role in the negligent discharge, BCSO said the man was issued a summons.

DENVER (KDVR) — Temperatures are heating up. Average temperatures to start June are generally in the upper 70s, but Denver is going to be near 90 degrees for most of the week.

There is a high of 89 in Denver for Sunday with a sunny start and a few clouds building in by the afternoon.

Weather today: Storms in the northeast

A severe weather threat Sunday will take aim at northeastern Colorado.

Storms will develop in the northern Front Range mid-afternoon, and by evening, reach the northeast corner of the state.

Large hail, damaging wind gusts and even isolated tornadoes are possible through Sunday evening.

Looking ahead: Heat sticking around

The heat sticks around for the work week with each day near 90 degrees. The average date of our first 90-degree day is June 10th, so it is a touch on the early side.

There is a cool down in sight, with low 80s by the end of next weekend. 

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (KDVR) — The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team put on a show at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park while tuning up for the Olympics in front of a sold out crowd Saturday.

“I feel like Colorado always brings such a great atmosphere,” said USWNT defender Tierna Davidson. “Even if we’re sometimes struggling in the altitude, we get the good energy from the crowd. I feel like it was awesome today.”

That crowd energy helping Davidson score two of the team’s four goals on Saturday, notching a 4-0 win in a friendly match with South Korea.

In the stands, many fans like Hadlee cheered on their favorite players.

“I’m a big fan because my mom is an assistant coach and I love coming to the games,” Hadlee said.

Sophie, Harper and Avery also came out to support the USWNT. The three play soccer together in middle school and hope one day to share a stage like this one.

“It’s inspiring and it helps us believe that we can play there some day,” Avery said.

Inspiration especially coming from Mallory Swanson, a Colorado native who scored the other two goals of the day and got some of the biggest cheers from the crowd. She said playing in front of more than 19,000 people from her home state means a lot.

“I mean, it’s so special,” Swanson said. “I had a lot of people here in the stands and especially after the year I’ve had, recovering from an injury, having them all support me and finally be able to watch me play live is super special.”

A special day for a special team, thankful for the Colorado support before chasing Olympic gold later this summer.

DENVER (KDVR) — A week of hailstorms brought a sobering reminder of what’s to come for severe weather season. The last storm on Thursday took its toll on homes and their siding, windows and roofs.

“We haven’t seen something like this in a number of years,” said Scott Nakayama with North West Roofing.

He and his team were out in Aurora assessing the damage in a neighborhood near Chambers Road.

“We have found extensive damage,” Nakayama said. “They’ve suffered some severe window damage, siding damage, stucco damage, fence damage.”

Just a few blocks away, Hoffman Weber Construction was inspecting the damage of a single-family home that had serious damage to an awning at the roof.

“Since it started hailing again, we’re doing inspections every day,” said Tim Swenson, with Hoffman Weber Construction.

How to reduce insurance claims from hail damage

Hailstorms are something Coloradans have gotten used to every year.

“Hail is our number one insured catastrophe in Colorado, another reminder of that last night, is you need to be doing everything you can to reduce being a risk,” said Carole Walker, executive director of Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association.

Walker said filing too much could lead to being considered a high risk for insurance companies.

“We know that filing a lot of claims over a short period of time can put you at risk for non-renewals,” Walker said.

This is why insurance and roofing companies are suggesting Coloradans look into reroofing with hail-resistant roofs.

“With hail-resistant roofing products, it can replace one entire roof cycle,” Walker said.

This means you may not have to replace your roof as often during hail season.

“The normal shingle might be able to get through two or three smaller hailstorms. That impact-resistant shingle is going to be much more likely to go the long haul and weather it out until you get some of these 2 and a half, 3, 4-inch hail storms,” Swenson said.

Some insurance companies even offer rebates if people invest in these impact-resistant roofs, which means more savings in the long run.

Hail damage? Get an assessment before filing a claim

Another thing to do to keep from over-filing insurance claims is to contact a roofing company to assess the damage.

“Have a reputable contractor go out and inspect your roof to show you and tell you if you’ve got that hail damage prior to filing a claim so you don’t have an unnecessary claim on your record there,” Swenson said.

Many contractors and roofers do this for free and recommend it, especially after a bad storm.

“When we get hail like this, where it’s actually leaving holes in the shingles, possibly the decking underneath, that could immediately result in leaks,” Nakayama said. “When you leave things like this untreated, you’re opening yourself up to a lot of possible further damage, interior repairs and things like that. And all that stuff gets messy. So again, regardless of the size of the hailstorm, big or small, if you got hail at your property, give somebody a call, have them come out, take a look.”

GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — As the temperature is expected to rise this weekend, many will be looking for ways to stay cool. One of the most popular ways is to grab a tube and float down a river, and one of the most popular locations is Clear Creek in Golden.

While tubing is a good time, the Golden Fire Department warned that it could quickly turn dangerous.

“We do unfortunately lose one or two people from drownings every year,” Golden Fire Lt. Marc Staley said.

To prevent that from happening, Staley asks people to remember the creek is constantly changing, especially as snowmelt makes its way down from the mountains.

“It may have been nice and fun last August. The river’s going to be a lot more dangerous this year,” he said.

Stronger currents are possible this time of year, so proper safety gear is encouraged.

“Wearing things like life jackets, having good footwear,” Staley said.

Clear Creek not like the lazy river, fire crews warn

A group of tubers out at the river on Friday were new to the activity.

“I’ve never done it before and wanted to experience it,” said Jacob, one of those tubers.

He quickly noticed the river could cause trouble.

“The rapids and stuff, there’s a lot of rocks,” he said. “You hit your butt a lot on the rocks and stuff like that.”

That’s another reason Staley said to be aware of your surroundings while on the creek.

“This is not the lazy park, water park river,” Staley said.

But as long as guests enjoy the river responsibly, Staley said those good times will last all summer.

“We’ve already been talking about maybe getting an air mattress or a three-person kayak and coming out and just having fun,” Jacob said.

Staley said with the river’s strength rising, they will likely have to close access at some point until it slows back down again.

The friendly vs. Korea Republic will happen Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. (KDVR) — It’s a new beginning for the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.

On Saturday, the women’s team will return to Colorado as head coach Emma Hayes makes her debut against Korea Republic.

“It’s awesome to have Emma here in person and in trainings,” Captain Lindsey Horan explained after the first practice with new leadership. “It’s a great vibe to feel the atmosphere and see her as coach.”

An English soccer legend, Hayes inherits a team just two months before the Olympics. The squad is set to play two friendlies against Korea.

“The main goal and priority is the process and learning, adapting, growing and taking it in each day,” said forward Sophia Smith. “It’s a chance to get better and grow with this group.”

It’s a homecoming for Smith, Horan and Mallory Swanson who were all raised in Colorado. The trio are key components for international success. 

“It’s so good to be home,” Smith said with excitement. ”I love Colorado. I love coming home and it’s nice to play here.”

For Swanson, the homecoming is bittersweet as she continues to recover from a torn patellar tendon in 2023.

“I think I learned a lot of myself,” Swanson recalled. “I had the support from not only my family and friends but also my teammates and coaches as well.”

There are a lot of moving parts before this group heads to Paris. The fourth-ranked team understands that the pressure will be squarely on them.

“It’s great playing here in Colorado, as well as super exciting for me,” explained Horan. “But I think the full focus is more than getting this team ready and prepped for these two games, but also for getting ready for the Olympics.”

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Republican congressional candidates were in the hot seat with a televised debate in Denver Thursday night.

FOX31 was there as candidates for Colorado’s 4th district, which includes portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and Douglas County and parts of Larimer County, took to the podiums to sway voters.

The former president was always going to be one of the topics at the debate, but after the guilty verdict was handed down Thursday afternoon, a question surrounding him led off the debate.

“Please raise your hand if you intend to vote for Donald Trump for President even though he is now a convicted felon,” asked the moderator at the debate.

All six contenders in the District 4 race vying for the Republican nomination all unanimously raised their hands — four of them before the full question could be asked. Among the candidates on-stage Thursday were Jerry Sonnenberg, Richard Holtorf, Mike Lynch, Peter Yu and Deborah Flora and Lauren Boebert.

Boebert announced in December that she would be changing districts, citing family reasons after her divorce, leaving the area she grew up in. She spoke with FOX31 before the debate after sitting in on Trump’s trial.

“This is a sad day for Americans to have president trump a former president the leader of the Republican Party the frontrunner for the 2024 election to be convicted for a felon,” said Boebert. “My initial reaction to the verdict in the trump trial is a miscarriage of justice. This is political persecution. He’s going to get more support than ever from this. We have already seen campaign sites having difficulty operating because of the amount of support coming in for President Trump.”

Representative Jason Crow sent FOX31 a statement.

“Trump’s guilty verdict is a somber moment for our country. It’s also a moment to reaffirm our dedication to the rule of law. A jury heard the evidence, weighed the arguments, and unanimously decided to convict. Trump has repeatedly disregarded the law. But in America nobody is above or below the law, even a former president.”

FOX31’s Political Analyst Michael Fields also weighed in.

“I thought there might be one juror that would not convict him,” he said ” I thought it would be a hung jury but obviously that didn’t happen. I don’t think anybody was super surprised. I think more likely than not he was going to get convicted given the makeup of the jury being in New York, Manhattan, etc. I do think this sets a dangerous precedence. This isn’t going to be the last time now that a former present will be convicted of a crime. “

The Democrat candidates didn’t debate Thursday night. However, the contenders in the race are Trisha Calvarese, John Padora and Ike McCorkle.

McCorkle sent FOX31 this statement:

The past eight years have laid bare the critical vulnerabilities of our constitutional democracy. The dangers posed to the integrity of the Federal Republic have never in our lifetimes been as omnipresent as they are today. While our Republic’s foundations, the court’s integrity, and the rule of law have been threatened and dismantled in many ways during the previous administration, we remain a Nation of Laws and order! 

While encouraged by the just and prudent verdict, I remain deeply concerned for the Constitutional integrity of the Representative Government that I serve and swore to defend. The rights and liberties we all cherish are still threatened by the forces that the previous administration and President have unleashed. Only American unity can ensure the survival of our nation.

Celebrate this win for the Democratic Republic but remain vigilant. There is much work left to do.

The threats to women’s rights and to our children’s future in a legitimate democracy remain. The only way to ensure the continued existence of the liberties we cherish is to elect the strongest and most honest majority in American History. We must expand the Court, end Citizens United, restore and expand women’s rights, abolish corruption from Congress, and ensure that every American is equitable under the law.

The hard work and defense of democracy has just begun and the threat to our liberty, freedoms, and the Western Alliance is still very real. Thank God the judicial system is still willing to hold a former president accountable under the law.

Now it is up to us, to you and me to remain vigilant and to do our part this November. Let’s take back the Congressional majority, and ensure that our posterity has a functional Congress and government that they can trust! We owe it to all those who have given their lives to ensure the Republic endures and we owe it to our children to remain vigilant and continue the FIGHT!

Constitution, Country, Corps, Family… in that order!

Ike McCorkle, Democratic candidate for Colorado District 4

Boebert told FOX31 she trusts the appeal process and that Trump will get the conviction undone.