Good morning, Denver.

Last month, 17 fighting roosters were seized during a drug bust in Eagle County and sent to a Bennett sanctuary on the Eastern Plains + founder Jewel Johnson said the birds will be cared for and given a second chance at rehabilitation.

Food Bank of the Rockies opened a 270,000 sqft center in east Aurora on Thursday.

The new facility will double cold storage, triple volunteer capacity, and quadruple kitchen space as it works to meet rising food insecurity amid SNAP cuts.

Theater star Anne Terze-Schwarz impressed audiences at the Arvada Center with roles in Frozen and Waitress while discussing how she overcame audition anxiety (her talent and kindness resonated with young fans).

Colorado funded farmers to adopt regenerative practices by awarding grants through the Climate Smart Market initiative to help growers use drought-resistant winter barley to improve soil health.

Todd Olander of Root Shoot in Loveland received $30,000 and partnered with New Belgium Brewing—demonstrating a crop that sequesters more CO2.

Colorado state regulators may force Civitas Resources to move its 35-acre drilling pad further from residences near the Aurora Reservoir.

The commission voted at a hearing to require a review of safer sites, which could leave tens of millions of dollars in oil underground and affect many rights owners.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife plans to charge out-of-state visitors an extra ($5 fee) for daily state park passes so funds can go toward park repairs and improvements.

The proposal, discussed at a recent meeting, would raise nonresident fees to $15-$17 while resident rates remain at $10-$12.

Colorado has raised the wage theft recovery cap from $7,500 to $13,000 this year, helping workers in food, beverage, and construction.

The change — set to adjust with inflation in 2028 — was discussed on Real Talk with Micah Smith.

Denver’s queer swim team Squid—long known for multiple weekly practices—now trains at Abraham Lincoln High School pool after city officials stopped renting lanes to private teams in December, reducing practices to once a week and slowing preparations for the Gay Games this summer.