DENVER An uncollared yearling wolf that was part of the One Ear Pack was killed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) agents on Tuesday after the agency found it was involved in multiple depredations.

CPW announced on Wednesday morning that the wolf was killed in Grand County. The decision came down after CPW officers confirmed the wolf had depredated on four calves. The first was on June 29 in Jackson County, and the three more occurred on July 26, July 31 and Aug. 1 in Grand County.

CPW said this continued even after producers used non-lethal conflict minimization techniques. That included range riders, scare devices, an active human presence and having a site assessment of their ranch to determine what tactics would work to keep wolves away from livestock.

The decision to lethally remove a wolf is a very difficult one and a number of factors must be taken into consideration, said CPW Director Laura Clellan in a press release Wednesday. Unfortunately after a thorough review, the determination of chronic depredation was made in this case. Our staff will continue to work diligently with willing producers to deploy all reasonable non-lethal tools and methods in order to minimize the need for removals.

Denver7 has been following Colorado's wolf reintroduction program since the very beginning, and you can explore all of that reporting in the timeline below, which starts with our most recent story.

This decision was made in consultation with USFWS, CPW said.

CPW said it will share a final report on this case once it is complete.

This marks the second wolf that CPW has killed due to depredation within a couple months. On June 13, Denver7 reported that CPW had located and killed a lone, uncollared wolf that they believe was responsible for 10 confirmed depredations since the summer of 2025.

The One Ear Pack is one of five packs currently in Colorado. The others include the Three Creeks Pack in Rio Blanco County, the Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County, King Mountain Pack in Routt County and the newly formed Piney Ridge Pack in Eagle County.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. The West Metro Fire Rescue firefighter injured during a training exercise near Morrison last week is making small, encouraging improvements, even though he remains in serious condition, fire officials said Monday.

In an update posted to social media, officials with West Metro Fire Rescue said Jarrod Leonard, the firefighter and paramedic who was injured after falling 50 feet into rocky terrain during a training exercise on July 29 was now in serious but stable condition as he continues treatment for a traumatic brain injury.

Fire officials added that while he is making small improvements, Leonard still faces a long road to recovery.

Leonard, who has been with West Metro Fire for more than 23 years, was rushed to the hospital after falling at around 11 a.m. Fire officials said he was teaching firefighters in the specialized skills needed to perform rescues in some of the most challenging environments.

High angle rescue is a specialized skill used in terrains with slopes of 60% or more like cliffs or silos, according to officials with the fire department.

We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support from our community and our first responder partners. Your messages and well wishes have meant so much to Jarrod, his family, and everyone at West Metro, said a West Metro Fire Rescue spokesperson. We will continue to share updates on Jarrod's recovery whenever.

BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. The Louisville Police Department has concluded their search for a former CU Boulder professor who went missing after going on a bike ride Wednesday morning and the case has been turned over to the Boulder County Coroner's Office, a spokesperson with the department told Denver7 Thursday.

William James McGinley, 72, was last seen near the intersection of Eisenhower Drive and South Boulder Road while heading toward the Harper Lake/Coyote Run Open Space Trail at approximately 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, according to the LPD spokesperson.

He was last seen riding a white Specialized pedal bicycle and wearing a dark blue shirt, black shorts, white socks, and white shoes, the spokesperson said.

McGinley, a former CU professor of Literacy Studies, was described by a family member as a white man measuring 6-feet tall and weighing around 155 pounds.

Editor's note on July 30, 2026 at 3:15 p.m.:

DENVER Showers and thunderstorms are likely across high terrain Wednesday, with strong storms producing localized flash flooding, particularly for the burn scar and areas along and east of the southern I-25 corridor.

Denver7 is tracking the latest on these showers and storms, as well as any watches and warnings, in our live weather blog below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

8 p.m. | Beulah flash flooding | Rain on the Aspen Acres burn scar prompted flooding in Beulah. Multiple road closures in place due to mud and debris, according to the Pueblo County sheriff's office. The area is under a flash flood emergency through 10 p.m.

6:20 p.m. | Burn scar flash flooding | Evacuation orders were issued in Ouray County after heavy rain on the Gold Mountain Fire burn area produced "intense flooding," per a post from the sheriff's office.

5:12 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Cotopaxi, Texas Creek and Hillside are under this warning until 8:15 p.m. The NWS advises people to move to higher ground immediately.

5 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 27 cancellations and 795 delays at Denver International Airport as of 4 p.m., according to FlightAware.

4:55 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parts of Chaffee County are under this warning until 8 p.m.

4:18 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parts of Fremont County are under this warning until 5:30 p.m.

4:17 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Wiggins and surrounding areas are under this warning until 5 p.m. Up to 60 mph winds and pea-sized hail are possible with this storm.

4:03 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | The FAA has issued a ground stop at DIA until 5 p.m. That means arriving flights to Denver cannot leave their destinations until the ground stop is lifted.

4 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 19 cancellations and 696 delays at Denver International Airport as of 4 p.m., according to FlightAware.

3:38 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Strasburg, Bennett, and Byers are under this warning until 4:15 p.m. Up to 60 mph winds and pea-sized hail are possible with this storm.

3:12 p.m. | Flash flood watch for Aspen Acres Fire burn scar | This watch is in effect until 9 p.m. as heavy rainfall over the Aspen Acres burn scar is expected up to and during the period of the watch

3:06 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parker and Castle Pines are under this warning until 6 p.m. The NWS advises people to move to higher ground immediately.

3 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 17 cancellations and 589 delays at Denver International Airport as of 3 p.m., according to FlightAware.

2:48 p.m. | Special weather statement | Up to 50 mph winds and half-inch-sized hail are possible across parts of Aurora, Watkins and Denver International Airport until 3:15 p.m.

2:38 p.m. | Special weather statement | Up to 50 mph winds and penny-sized hail are possible across Centennial, Castle Rock and Parker until 3:15 p.m.

2:32 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Victor and Goldfield are under this warning until 5:30 p.m.

2:09 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parts of Fremont County are under this warning until 4:30 p.m.

4:33 a.m. | Weather update | Numerous showers and thunderstorms are again expected today with localized flash flood threat for the strongest storms, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

DENVER Heavy rain, large hail and damaging wind gusts are possible Tuesday across Northeastern Colorado, as both severe thunderstorm and flash flood watches have been issued.

Most of the I-25 corridor is included in the severe thunderstorm watch, which is in effect until 8 p.m. A flood watch goes into effect at 3 p.m. and extends across east central and northeast Colorado until 10 p.m.

Denver7 is tracking the latest on these showers and storms, as well as any watches and warnings, in our live weather blog below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

5:30 p.m. | Latest update | We're not done quite just yet with the threats for heavy rain, flooding as well as severe weather tonight and Wednesday, says Meteorologist Alan Rose. He has the latest weather forecast in the video below:

5:21 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Washington County are under this warning until 6 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain up to 70 mph wind gusts and possibly pea-sized hail.

5:16 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Lincoln County are under this warning until 6 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain up to 60 mph wind gusts and possibly quarter-sized hail.

5:14 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Eads, Haswell and Arlington are under this warning until 6:15 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain up to 60 mph wind gusts and possibly quarter-sized hail.

5:08 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Pueblo, Pueblo West and Bende are under this warning until 8:15 p.m.

The NWS advises that people move to higher ground immediately.

5:05 p.m. | Flash flood emergency | A flash flood emergency, which the NWS describes as a "life threatening situation," has been issued for the Aspen Acres Fire burn scar, the towns of Beulah, Greenwood and surrounding areas until 8 p.m.

In a bulletin about the emergency, NWS forecasters said thunderstorms in the area were producing heavy rain over most of the burn scar and that run-off, flooding and debris flows were happening and would continue to occur for the next 1 to 2 hours.

Forecasters said flash floods were already occurring, "with water rescues and large debris flows reported."

They urged people to seek higher ground immediately as this was a "particularly dangerous situation."

The Beulah Fire Protection and Ambulance District told Scripps News Group Colorado Springs that the following road closures are in place due to water and debris over the road:

No evacuations are in place at this moment.

5:03 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Pueblo, Blende and Avondale are under this warning until 5:30 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain up to 60 mph wind gusts and possibly nickel-sized hail.

5 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 34 cancellations and 811 delays at Denver International Airport as of 5 p.m., according to FlightAware.

4:49 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Lincoln County are under this warning until 5:30 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph and possibly ping pong-sized hail.

4:46 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Woodrow and surrounding areas under this warning until 5:30 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph.

4:39 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning continues until 7:45 p.m. for the communities of Cripple Creek and Goldfield and surrounding areas.

4:37 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Adams and Washington counties are under this warning until 4:45 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph.

4:34 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Pueblo and Pueblo West are under this warning until 5:15 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail is possible.

4:23 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Akron is under this warning until 5:30 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph quarter-sized hail and a possible tornado.

4:19 p.m. | Weather update | The NWS says mumerous thunderstorms are ongoing across the plains from Sterling to Fort Morgan to Deer Trail with reports of heavy rainfall, strong winds, and hail, with scattered showers also redeveloping in the high country.

4:15 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning continues until 7:15 p.m. for the community of Beulah, Rye and the surrounding areas.

4:15 p.m. | Flash flood warning | A flash flood warning including El Paso County is in effect until 7:15 p.m.

4:13 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Yoder and Rush are under this warning until 4:45 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph and pea-sized hail.

4:12 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Adams and Washington counties are under this warning until 4:45 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph.

4:06 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Cripple Creek, Victor and Goldfield are under this warning until 5 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph and half-dollar-sized hail.

4:03 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Colorado City, Rye and Greenhorn are under this warning until 4:30 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-inch-sized hail.

4 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 32 cancellations and 756 delays at Denver International Airport as of 4 p.m., according to FlightAware.

3:57 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning is in effect until 4:30 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail.

3:53 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | The FAA has extended a ground stop at DIA until 5 p.m. That means arriving flights to Denver cannot leave their destinations until the ground stop is lifted.

3:34 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Ellicott, Yoder and Rush are under this warning until 4:45 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph and two-inch-sized hail.

3:43 p.m. | Flash flood warning | A flash flood warning including Silver Cliff, Westcliffe and Rosita is in effect until 6:30 p.m.

3:34 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Yoder and Rush are under this warning until 3:45 p.m. The NWS says this storm will contain wind gusts up to 70 mph and tennis ball-sized hail.

3:33 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Elbert and Lincoln counties are under this warning until 4:15 p.m.

3:32 p.m. | Flash flood warning | A flash flood warning including Custer and Pueblo counties, where the Aspen Acres Fire is burning, is in effect until 6:30 p.m.

The NWS advises that people move to higher ground immediately.

3:30 p.m. | Latest weather update | Denver7's Jeff Anastasio provides an update on weather conditions as storms move across the high country and the foothills in the video below:

3:29 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning includes Sterling, Merino and Atwood until 4 p.m. The NWS says "this destructive storm" will contain baseball-sized hail.

3:23 p.m. | Special weather statement | Colorado Springs, Security and Fountain could see 55 mph winds and nickel-sized hail until 3:45 p.m.

3:20 p.m. | Flooding risk across burn scars | Forecasters with the NWS released the following table showing where there's an elevated risk of flooding around Colorado fire burn scars, showing the risk is elevated for the Aspen Acres Fire today and tomorrow.

3:15 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning includes Bennett and remains in effect until 3:45 p.m.

3:12 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning includes Peatz and remains in effect until 3:45 p.m.

3:07 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | The FAA has issued a ground stop at DIA until 4 p.m. That means arriving flights to Denver cannot leave their destinations until the ground stop is lifted.

3:05 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning includes Sterling, Iliff and Padroni and remains in effect until 3:45 p.m. This storm will contain wind gusts to 70 mph and two inch-sized hail.

3:04 p.m. | Flash flood warning | A flash flood warning including Hillside is in effect until 6 p.m., per the NWS.

3 p.m. | Flood watch in effect for eastern plains | A flood watch is now in effect for portions of the northeast Colorado plains east of the I-25 Corridor until 10 p.m. as stronger storms will be able to produce torrential rainfall of two or more inches in just 30-45 mins., per the NWS.

3 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 28 cancellations and 625 delays at Denver International Airport as of 3 p.m., according to FlightAware.

2:59 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Elbert and Lincoln counties are under this warning until 3:30 p.m.

2:58 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Calhan, Ramah and Yoder are under ths warning until 3:45 p.m. The NWS says storm will contain wind gusts to 70 mph.

2:52 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Arapahoe County, Douglas County and Elbert County are now under this warning, which expires at 3:30 p.m.

2:26 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning is in place until 3 p.m. for the area around Calhan and Ramah.

2:18 p.m. | Severe weather in northern Colorado | A special weather statement is in place for Longmont and Hygiene until 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. Winds may reach 50 mph and penny-sized hail is possible.

2:03 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning, which impacts Woodland Park, Monument and Palmer Lake, is in place until 2:45 p.m.

2 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning is in place until 2:30 p.m. for an area north of Elizabeth and Kiowa in Elbert County.

1:53 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | The area including and west of Lyons is now under a severe thunderstorm warning until 2:30 p.m. Quarter-sized hail is possible and winds may reach 50 mph.

1:51 p.m. | Flash flood warning | A flash flood warning is in effect until 5 p.m. for a part of Mesa County that is south and southwest of Whitewater, near the Colorado National Monument.

1:35 p.m. | Flash flood warning | The area around Elbert, between Black Forest and Elizabeth, is under this warning until 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. This impacts about 1,300 people. Anybody in low-lying areas should move to higher ground.

1:32 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | The NWS has issued this warning for the areas of Pine Grove and Bailey, west of Buffalo Creek, until 2 p.m. Tuesday.

1:27 p.m. | Latest from National Weather Service | The threat of flash flooding will stay in place over parts of northeast Colorado Tuesday afternoon and evening. A few storms may become severe. The NWS said the state will see similar conditions again on Wednesday.

1:22 | Severe thunderstorm warning | The area around and including Rush is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 2 p.m. Winds may each 60 mph.

1:06 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm watch This watch applies to much of the eastern plains. Hail may reach the size of ping pong balls and scattered wind gusts could blow up to 70 mph. Frequent lightning possible. This watch impacts more than 2,881,000 people, the NWS reports.

Denver County is not currently under the watch, but many other metro areas are included. Here's the list of counties.

1:06 p.m. | NOCO Alert | NOCO Alert, the emergency notification system for Larimer County, shared more details about a flash flood warning in place for the county. It said the warning impacts the "Buckhorn Creek Basin within the Cameron Peak burn scar area, to include North Fork Fish Creek, Eld Creek, Cedar Creek, Redstone Creek."

1:04 p.m. | Wind and hail around Elbert County | The NWS says a special weather statement has been issued for Elbert County until 1:45 p.m. Winds may reach 50 mph and hail the size of pennies is possible.

1:01 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Flash flooding is likely for an area including and west of Masonville, north of Glen Haven and Drake. Residents are encouraged to move to higher ground if they are in a low area.

1 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning continues until 4 p.m. for the community of Beulah and surrounding areas.

3:22 a.m. | Flood watch on Tuesday | The NWS reports that thunderstorms with torrential rainfall is possible over parts of northeast Colorado late Tuesday afternoon and evening. The greatest risk of flash flooding will stay east of Interstate 25. Some areas may see rainfall of 2 inches or more in 30 to 45 minutes, the NWS said.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is currently investigating the death of an uncollared wolf in northwest Colorado, according to a Friday release from the agency.

The cause of death and exact location of the wolf were not released Friday.

"A final determination of the cause of death will not be made until the investigation is completed, including the necropsy, a foundational component of the overall investigative process," officials said in the release.

A spokesperson for the agency said no additional details were available.

Read the full Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan

Denver7 has been following Colorado's wolf reintroduction program since the very beginning, and you can explore all of that reporting in the timeline below, which starts with our most recent story.

DENVER More widespread showers and the potential for heavy pockets of rain are in store Thursday afternoon and evening.

Storms are expected to flare up after the lunch hour around the Denver metro and then zip off to the plains during the late afternoon and early evening.

Flash flooding is possible again across much of the state and especially near the burn scars.

Denver7 is tracking the latest on these showers and storms, as well as any watches and warnings, in our live weather blog below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

10 p.m. | Evening forecast | Denver7 meteorologist has the latest on what's in store for the rest of the night and where flood watches remain in place. Watch below.

4:51 p.m. | Ground delay at DIA | A ground delay is in effect at Denver International Airport from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., according to the FAA.

4:33 p.m. | Flash flood warning | A flash flood warning has been issued for Elbert and Lincoln counties until 7:30 p.m., per the NWS.

3:40 p.m. | Flash flood warning over wildfire area | A flash flood warning has been issued for the Aspen Acres Fire area as thunderstorms are producing heavy rain over the middle and South Aspen Acres Burn Scar. Up to 0.6 inches of rain have fallen, and the rainfall rate is expected to reach 2 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts up to 1 inch are possible in the warned area, the NWS said.

Some locations that will experience flash flooding include Rye, San Isabel, Beulah and Colorado City, they added.

3:37 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm was located 6 miles northeast of Arriba, or 26 miles east of Limon, moving southeast at 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder. Hail damage to vehicles is expected, along with wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees.

11:15 a.m. | Colorado Flood Threat Bulletin update | Widespread rainfall will create a threat around parts of Colorado on Thursday.

According to the Colorado Flood Threat Bulletin:

The burn scars from the Lee-Elk fire complex, as well as the Gold Mountain Fire, are both under high threat of flooding on Thursday.

Several other burn scars are under a moderate threat, including from the Alexander Mountain Fire, Aspen Acres Fre, Cameron Peak Fire, South Rim Fire and Turner Gulch Fire.

Storms will increase Wednesday afternoon into the evening across the foothills and Front Range, bringing heavy rainfall and the possibility of flash flooding to certain areas.

The National Weather Service is reporting that several storms are already rolling across Colorado. They will continue to push east this afternoon, with another round of storms possible around 10 p.m.

Flash flooding is possible, especially around burn scars.

Denver7 is tracking the latest on these showers and storms, as well as any watches and warnings, in our live weather blog below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

10 p.m. | Latest forecast | Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant has the latest on the radar for the rest of the evening. Watch in the video player below.

8 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Rye is under a flash flood warning through 9:45 p.m.

6:30 p.m. | Latest forecast | Storms are rolling across the metro and are expected to bring the possibility of flash flooding to certain areas. Here's the latest forecast from Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant:

5:47 p.m. | Storms roll in | Storms bringing lightning and thunder rolled into the Denver metro Wednesday evening.

4:50 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning continues until 8 p.m. for the towns of Dove Creek, Lewis and Yellow Jacket in Dolores County.

4:35 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parts of Garfield County are under a flash flood warning until 7:45 p.m.

4:14 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | The area around Denver International Airport, Lochbuie and Watkins is under this warning until 4:45 p.m. While no hail is expected, winds may reach 60 mph.

4:01 p.m. | Flash flood warnings | This warning continues until 7 p.m. for an area including Rio Blanco County.

4:07 p.m. | Flash flood warning | A storm moving over New Castle has prompted this warning, which expires at 7:15 p.m.

3:23 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning is in place for southeastern Garfield County until 6:30 p.m. This includes Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Cattle Creek.

Thunderstorms are expected to drop 2-3 inches of rain in one hour. Flash flooding of this level could endanger lives, the NWS reported.

"Highway 82 is prone to rockslides and mudslides in heavy rain," the NWS said. "Stay alert for rocks and debris on roads, and avoid driving on flooded roads. Find an alternate route."

3:10 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning is in place until 6 p.m. Wednesday for west-central Jefferson County and northeastern Park County, including Pine Junction, Pine Grove and Shaffers Crossing.

The NWS reported that at 3:10 p.m. doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated "thunderstorms producing heavy rain."

Between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain have already fallen, the NWS said.

"Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly," it added.

3 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning, which expires at 4:15 p.m., impacts central Chaffee County. Between a half inch and 1 inch of rain has already fallen.

Flash flooding is expected to begin soon, if it hasn't started already, the NWS reports.

2:39 p.m. | Flash flood watch at burn scar | The NWS is warning about possible flooding and debris flows around the Aspen Acres Fire burn scar in Custer and Pueblo counties.

"Heavy rainfall over the Aspen Acres burn scar is expected up to and during the period of the watch," the NWS reported. "Residents near the Aspen Acres burn scar should prepare for potential debris flow. Be sure to stay up to date with information from local authorities. Heavy rainfall could trigger flash flooding of low-lying areas, urbanized street flooding, and debris flows in and near recent wildfire burn scars."

DENVER A new wolf pack has formed in Eagle County, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) confirmed on Wednesday morning.

It has been named the Piney Ridge Pack.

Detection of pups in late spring or early summer is inherently challenging, because of their use of remote habitats in dense cover, secretive nature of very young animals, and time potentially underground, explained CPWs Wolf Conservation Program Manager Eric Odell.

Learn more on this new wolf pack in the video below:

So while few details are currently available about the pack, more details will be released in CPW's annual wolf report, which is published each spring, CPW said. Denver7 wrote about the 2026 Gray Wolf Annual Report here.

"Having a new wolf pack this year in Colorado is a great sign for the overall program, pack formation, and, therefore, reproduction in these early years," said Brenna Cassidy, wolf monitoring and data coordinator for CPW, in an interview with Denver7. "When I think about wolf ecology, I really concentrate on the packs because that is the unit of what's really, really important to being a wolf and to being successful."

Four of Colorado's wolf packs successfully reproduced this year, including the Piney Ridge Pack. The others are the One Ear Pack in Jackson County, the Three Creeks Pack in Rio Blanco County and the Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County. As of Wednesday, it does not appear that the King Mountain Pack in Routt County successfully raised pups this year.

"Having four breeding packs this year and four breeding packs last year, even though we have a really small population, still is very, very encouraging," Cassidy said. "... This is a great sign for the program. This should be encouraging news on our journey towards a self-sustaining population."

Below is the latest wolf movement map released by CPW each month.

On average, wolves birth four to six pups each spring. Odell said his team is continuing to monitor the packs and will include the minimum count of the state's wolf population in the 2027 spring report. Wolf pups typically have a survival rate of roughly 50%, though that can fluctuate year over year.

"There can be low years where maybe there is a disease outbreak, and then there can be really successful years, like we had last year, where we had over 80% of the pups that we detected survived over the year," Cassidy said.

When wolves create packs which is defined as when a pair attempts to den and raise pups CPW can better determine where their staff should implement conflict minimization tools and techniques to protect livestock because those wolves are likely not dispersing as much. Those tactics include things like fladry, scare devices and range riders.

"When wolves are in packs and therefore usually are protecting a territory against other wolves, that is overlapping both public and private land, and while that can make things tough for the producers that are within that core territory, it does make those wolves a little bit more predictable," Cassidy said. "So, for a conflict team, that means that they can allocate some of those resources... Those things can be allocated to areas that have higher wolf presence that is a bit more predictable than somewhere where we don't know if wolves are going to go over here, over here, over here."

The creation of packs is also good for the animals, which tend to survive longer in a group compared to when they are solo, according to research, Cassidy said. The chances of reproduction and successful hunts also increase in packs.

We are still working from a modest amount of data in Colorado due to the relatively new nature of our wolf population as well as its small size but so far we are seeing a clear pattern of wolves in packs surviving longer than wolves that are not in packs, Cassidy said. For instance, in the last biological year (April 1, 2025 - March 30, 2026), we experienced 10 mortalities among our wolf population, seven of these were dispersers and only three were pack members. This shows us the benefit of having more packs on the Colorado landscape for both adult survival and reproduction as we work to achieve the goals of the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan.

According to CPW's depredation tracker which monitors instances where a wolf seriously injured or killed livestock or a working dog one calf was attacked by a wolf in Eagle County this biological year, which runs between April 2026 and March 2027. It occurred on July 16. It is not yet known if the wolf or wolves involved are members of the Piney Ridge Pack or not.

Denver7 has been following Colorado's wolf reintroduction program since the very beginning, and you can explore all of that reporting in the timeline below, which starts with our most recent story.

In Colorado, CPW is responsible for naming each of its wolf packs. Colorado currently has five. The name of the pack comes from some sort of geographic feature somewhere in their general territory.

"It doesn't mean that the den is right at that feature," Cassidy said. "It doesn't mean that the wolves spend a ton of time right at that feature, but (it is) somewhere that we know that they use and that is going to be in their territory."

Piney Ridge is a prominent feature in Eagle County, she said.

"Wolf pack territories are generally several 100 square kilometers," Cassidy explained. "So if you go looking at Piney Ridge, you're not going to see anything... If people are thinking about viewing wolves, they're often thinking about somewhere like Yellowstone. That's such a different situation than we have here. That is a very established place. That place is very well-known for viewing wolves. That's not what we have in Colorado."

Anybody who sees a wolf is asked to take photos and video, and report it using this CPW online form.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. An off-duty Jefferson County Sheriffs Office deputy has been placed on administrative leave after he was arrested and charged with DUI over the weekend.

Jefferson County Sheriffs Office Deputy Tyler Stahl was found by fellow deputies passed out inside his car in the parking lot outside of his apartment located near the intersection of S. Depew Street and S. Frontage Road on Sunday at around 7:45 a.m., according to a news release.

The Colorado State Patrol was then called to take over the investigation.

Deputies said Stahl cooperated and was ultimately arrested for DUI, issued a summons and released to a family member.

We are deeply disappointed by the conduct involving one of our deputies, said Jefferson County Sheriff Reggie Marinelli in a prepared statement. No one is above the law, and our employees are expected to uphold the same laws they are sworn to enforce. We will allow both the criminal and administrative processes to proceed thoroughly and fairly, and we will take appropriate action based on their findings.

Stahl is on paid administrative leave until the CSP investigation and subsequent internal investigation are complete.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. A former town council member has been sentenced to four years of probation after a jury found he committed assault when shooting a 17-year-old boy in the face in 2024, which he called an "accident."

On June 1, the Jefferson County jury found Brent Metz guilty of third-degree assault a lesser charge than the second-degree assault count he faced and illegal discharge of a firearm. He was found not guilty on two counts of menacing, as well as the original second-degree assault charge. He had been arrested in 2024 after authorities said he shot at a teenager who was helping his friend find a spot to take homecoming pictures in Conifer.

The two teens hopped the fence on Metz's property before realizing no one was home. The boys then walked back down the driveway and to their car parked on the road, where they began to write a note they intended to leave for the homeowners. Before they could finish the note, Metz pulled up alongside them, got out of his truck, and shot one of them in the face. Metz argued the gun fired accidentally.

Metz was arrested and pleaded not guilty to the charges in April 2025.

During victim impact statements, the mothers of the two teenage boys spoke to the judge, saying the day of the shooting can never be undone.

"What happened that day did not end when the bleeding stopped. It changed these boys forever," said the mother of the teenager who was shot.

Following victim impact statements on Tuesday afternoon, the judge sentenced Metz to four years of probation. The judge said prison is not an appropriate sentence for this case, given there is no criminal history in this case.

Theres no universe in which this is not a serious incident and a serious offense," said Judge Russell Klein.

The sentence comes with a 90-day work release component, and Metz was taken back into custody on Tuesday following the hearing. Metz did not receive credit for the 39 days he has spent in jail since the end of the trial.

Metz also was sentenced to 120 hours of "useful public service."

Under Colorado law, Metz cannot own or possess a firearm with a felony conviction.

Deputy District Attorney Christopher Johnson argued for a prison sentence during Tuesday's hearing, saying concealed carry permit holders accept an extraordinary responsibility and that Metz bears the burden of that.

This is probably the greatest effort of someone Ive seen trying to evade responsibility," Johnson added.

Throughout the trial, which began on May 27, prosecutors told the jury it was a clear case of reckless assault while defense attorneys blamed a faulty gun. Metz's team has filed a motion for a new trial based on the verdict returned by the jury.

That's separate and apart from his sentence," said defense attorney David Jones. "That has to do with jury deliberations, and what we can see is the apparent inconsistency in finding him not guilty of reckless conduct in count one, and then finding him guilty of reckless conduct in count four. Count one, they basically agreed that the discharge was negligent and not reckless, and then in count four they found opposite of that, so they're hard to reconcile, so we filed a motion on that.

Metz addressed the court before the judge handed down his sentence.

"Sept. 10, 2024 changed everything. In a single second, lives were permanently altered," Metz said. "I am profoundly sorry... I know that an apology cannot erase what occurred or undo the impact it has had on your lives.

During his statement, Metz called the incident a "single tragic moment" and said he will dedicate the rest of his life to firearm safety.

On Sept. 10, 2024, Luke Brookhouser, who was 15 at the time, and Jack Howard, 17 at the time, decided to explore possible spots to take photos of Brookhouser and his girlfriend for homecoming. Howard had a car and the pair headed up to Conifer. When they saw a spot with a lake, they pulled over and Howard parked his car. Seeing it was private property surrounded by a fence and gate, Howard testified that they looked for an intercom to communicate with the homeowners, but did not see one. The teens decided to hop the fence and walk up the driveway to knock on the front door and ask permission to take photos.

However, nobody answered, so they went back to their car, which Howard had parked along the public road, said Deputy District Attorney Christopher Johnson.

A surveillance video played in court showed the two boys approach the home and a barn from the long driveway. On the video, the jury could hear one of the boys knock, and another say "No one's here." Then, the two began heading back to their car.

Howard said he remembered seeing a car drive slowly by the property and wondered if it was the homeowner.

Because nobody was home, I was going to move [my car] because I thought that car was the owner, because I thought I was in the way," he explained.

Howard said he moved his car and they decided Brookhouser would write a note to the homeowners asking to take homecoming photos on the property.

Around that same time, Metz and his girlfriend were driving in separate vehicles after running errands, said defense attorney David Jones.

The girlfriend arrived first and saw an unfamiliar car blocking their driveway and people walking around the property they were later identified as Brookhouser and Howard. She called Metz to let him know. Metz testified that he tried to calm her down and told her to call police, which she did. He said was able to pull up surveillance footage on his phone and was fairly confident there was "no nefarious activity" occurring.

As he drove toward the home, he said he was not angry, but instead concerned because he did not recognize the people.

Morgan Gibson, the 911 dispatcher who took the initial call for service, testified that she told Metz's girlfriend that they should not approach the people on the property. She instructed them to wait until law enforcement arrived. The call was played in the courtroom.

During the phone call, the girlfriend is heard telling Gibson the boys were "all over the place and looking everywhere." She said she knew that because Metz was watching the boys through cameras on the property.

As Metz pulled up to the property, he said he did not "come in hot" and just wanted to have a conversation with whoever was at the home. Prosecutors argued that Metz was indeed angry at the time.

At that same time, Brookhouser said that he was inside Howard's car writing a note for the property owners and Howard testified that he saw a person in a black truck pull up alongside them.

"From what I was still awake for, I just saw the door open. I kind of turned to open my door because I was going to talk to the person, and I saw someone start to get out, and then it all went black," Howard testified.

Moments before, Metz grabbed his gun a SIG Sauer P320 from his truck holster and moved it to his hip holster as he was getting out of the vehicle, something he said he has done countless times. He testified that he was not drawing his weapon to fire, but rather to switch the holsters.

His defense attorney said Metz's "foot didn't find the ground where he thought it would be." He felt the gun discharge against his belly, Metz testified.

"He loses his balance briefly and boom," one of his defense attorneys said. "This gun goes off in his hand, without his intention, and without his command it went off.

The prosecution argued that the shooting may have not been intentional, but it was reckless, which matches the charges against Metz.

The bullet went through the windshield, entered Howard's nose and split into three pieces, including one piece that was lodged behind his left eyeball, Johnson said. He said rather than wait for a law enforcement officer, as dispatch had instructed, Metz decided he would teach the boys a lesson."

Howard testified that he remembers waking up, seeing blood and thinking he was going to die.

"My mouth was on fire, and it felt like my upper lip was gone, and I could taste little fragments of something in my mouth, a bunch of blood," Howard told the jury.

Brookhouser said he remembered Metz saying "Oh sh**, I shot a kid," and "Oh sh**, my gun went off" after the shooting. The defense attorneys tried to cast doubt upon the validity of the first statement about shooting a child. Brookhouser said he did not hear Metz apologize after the incident.

Metz said he tried to help Howard with his injuries, something Brookhouser contested.

"I feel horrible this happened to these two young men its something I will struggle with for the rest of my life," Metz said on the stand.

The jury was shown photographs of Howard's injuries and the blood found in the car. They also were shown body-worn camera footage from the scene.

Howard spent three days in the hospital and three bullet fragments were extracted from his face. He said he still suffers from the impacts today. He has a hard time breathing through his right nostril and sometimes loses sight in his left eye, he said.

He said he was not allowed to view the body-worn camera footage from the shooting before the trial, so his testimony was based solely on his memory. Still, Howard's account aligned closely with video evidence shown to the courtroom.

During the three-day trial, the defense argued that the gun malfunctioned. They also questioned how the boys remember the shooting.

On May 30, the defense called Edward Wilks, a gun store owner and firearm instructor, to testify. He has owned a gun store in Rifle for more than 25 years. While on the stand, he testified that there are several ways that the type of firearm involved in the shooting a SIG Sauer P320 can unintentionally fire. 

I will not stock them," Wilks said. "I wont sell them because I know theyre dangerous."

Wilks said he was able to make Metz's SIG Sauer P320 fire by only touching the trigger slightly on the side, and not actually pulling it.

Metz testified that he had no knowledge of the controversy surrounding the SIG Sauer P320.

Derek Watkins, the prosecution's expert witness in firearms design and manufacturing, told the courtroom that he ran tests on the SIG Sauer P320 that was owned by Metz, and he found that it would not fire unless a trigger was pulled. He called making the gun fire without pulling the trigger a "parlor trick" where people partially pull a trigger, defeating the safeties on the weapon, making it malfunction. Watkins said that is a method he has observed in the past when individuals claim they have made a gun fire without pulling a trigger.

According to SIG Sauer, "the P320 cannot, under any circumstances, discharge without a trigger pull." In a statement to Denver7, SIG Sauer wrote: "The design and engineering of the P320 makes it impossible to fire without a trigger pull. For additional information, please visit the websites below, including details on two recent federal court dismissals with one at Colorado federal court. P320 Truth website, Colorado federal court dismissal, Massachusetts federal court dismissal"

The gun's single spent shell casing was found stuck in the chamber of the gun after the shooting.

Wilks said that is proof that the gun malfunctioned.

"It was consistent with holding it loosely... Its not consistent with someone holding a gun and pointing it at someone," he said.

The defense also brought in psychology professor Deryn Strange, an expert in memory distortion, to speak about how memories can be altered as a trauma response.

Eugenio Liscio, who specializes in trajectory inspection and now applies his education in aerospace engineering to forensics, showed the courtroom computer models of the trajectory of the bullet. Liscio described the gunshot hole in the windshield as elliptical. Had the gun been directly pointed at the windshield, the hole would have been more circular, according to Liscio. The prosecution pushed back on this and noted Liscio's report, which reads that definitive bullet holes cannot be established with absolute certainty.

After Metz's testimony, both sides rested and the jury was dismissed for the weekend. Closing arguments picked up the following Monday, June 1.

Prosecutor Johnson revisited the events of the day the two teenage boys going onto the Conifer property, knocking on the barn door, and realizing no one was home. Howard and Brookhouser then walked back to their car, where they began to write a note asking the homeowners if they could use the property for homecoming pictures.

The movements of the boys on the property are verified by the surveillance footage, which Johnson emphasized.

You know that. You saw that, Johnson told the jury.

Then, Johnson said Metz arrived and proceeded to charge the boys and block their car in with his truck. The prosecutor said this is where the debate of the case lies.

Brookhouser testified that Metz exited his truck in an aggressive manner when he pulled up alongside the boys. Metz argued he tripped while getting out of his truck, and the gun fired accidentally.

Which one of those makes more sense? Johnson asked the jurors.

The prosecutor said what this case really comes down to is if Metz pointed the gun at the boys, at any point in the situation, and acted recklessly as a result.

Johnson reiterated that both of the boys version of events has never wavered, and that they do not embellish their accounts of the day.

Then, Johnson turned to Metzs testimony when he was called to the witness stand in his own defense. Metz did not directly admit that a gun is considered a deadly weapon, something Johnson called an act of self-preservation. Instead, Metz said that a gun has the potential to be a deadly weapon.

Metz also denied having known about any alleged issues with the gun in this case, a SIG Sauer P320. Johnson questioned the validity of that claim, calling it an expensive hobby, and asking the jury if they believed that an experienced gun owner would not research a firearm before purchasing it.

The prosecutor told the jury this is not a case of self-defense or defense of property. Instead, Johnson said Metz knew the gun was loaded at the time of the interaction.

"Hes acting out of anger and he knows hes escalating that situation, Johnson said.

When it was time for defense attorney Chris Decker to present his final argument to the jury, he began by addressing Brookhousers testimony.

They have to defend Lukes story, which is completely discredited by all the physical evidence, Decker said.

Decker continued to state that there are millions of handguns in society, and that accidents sometimes happen.

They dont like the truth, Decker said about the prosecution. That P320 is a train wreck.

It was a train wreck based on a defective weapon, Decker asserted, saying the firearm went off as Metz stumbled out of his truck.

He didnt throw caution to the wind, Decker claimed about his client. This weapon is unsafe, and it went off in Brent Metzs hand.

According to the defense team, Metz was not angry when he approached the boys, and instead was determined to speak to them.

They have to create the drama. They have to make Brent Metz angry and reckless, and all the things hes not, Decker said to the jury.

Decker said the jury had to determine if this was a crime or a horrible accident.

In prosecutors' brief rebuttal argument before the jury began deliberating, Senior Deputy District Attorney Brian Hassing said the defense team wants jurors to believe that an experienced shooter like Metz somehow accidentally discharged a firearm. Instead, Hassing said Metz confronted the boys like the ultimate get-off-my-lawn guy with a loaded gun.

The jury in this case returned a mixed verdict just before 4:30 p.m. on June 1.

He was found guilty of third-degree assault a lesser charge than second-degree assault and illegal discharge of a firearm. The jury found him not guilty on the two menacing charges.

DENVER Showers and storms are rumbling across parts of Colorado this evening with the potential for a few severe cells on the far Eastern Plains. Large hail and damaging winds up to 75 mph will be the biggest threats along with blowing dust and brownout conditions.

We are updating this Colorado weather blog with the latest weather alerts.

Seeing severe weather in your community? Send us a photo or video at newstips@denver7.com.

Stay alert if youre in an area that is under a watch or warning, and keep an eye on radar as storms develop and move east. The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

8:20 p.m. | Tornado warning | NE Logan and NW Sedgwick Counties are under a tornado warning until 8:45 p.m. Read NWS alert here.

8:12 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Baseball-sized hail is possible in a severe storm near Julesburg and Sedgwick, according to the NWS. A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect until 9 p.m.

7:50 p.m. | Tornado spotted near Iliff | A tornado warning has been issued for Northeastern Logan and Southwestern Sedgwick Counties until 8:30 p.m. Spotters confirmed a tornado and baseball-sized hail is possible.

Read NWS warning here.

DENVER Strong and severe storms are firing up across portions of the Denver metro and Eastern Plains. We are updating this Colorado weather blog with the latest weather alerts.

In this weather blog, you'll also see Denver7's coverage of the fallout from this week's severe storms that triggered flash flooding, rock slides and road collapses.

Seeing severe weather in your community? Send us a photo or video at newstips@denver7.com.

Stay alert if youre in an area that is under a watch or warning, and keep an eye on radar as storms develop and move east. The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

2:10 p.m. | Douglas, Elbert County severe storm | 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail is possible in a severe storm near Kiowa.

Read NWS warning.

2:00 p.m. | Severe storm near Arvada | The NWS in Boulder issued a severe thunderstorm warning impacting communities including Westminster and Arvada where quarter-sized hail is possible.

Communities included in the alert.

10: 30 | Thursday night forecast | Storms are rumbling through but hail is less of a concern than it was Wednesday. A flood watch is in effect for the far eastern plains through 1 a.m.

9:40 p.m. | Highway 6 closed | Highway 6 in Jefferson County is closed in both directions at mile marker 263 due to a rock slide, according to a post from Colorado State Patrol.

9 p.m. | Storms in Denver | Storms rolled through Denver Thursday night, bringing heavy rain and lightning.

9:52 a.m. | Jeffco home, bridge damage | Flooding damage was reported along Bear Creek in Kittridge, with water line markings of approximately 2 to 3 feet on the sides of homes on Avenue F Bridge along the creek, according to the Jeffco Sheriff's Office.

Two bridges also washed out near Troublesome Gulch, the sheriff's office said.

9:52 a.m. | Bear Creek trail closures | Flooding has temporarily closed trails along Bear Creek, according to the City of Lakewood and Bear Creek Lake Park.

Officials advised visitors to be mindful of debris and water levels out of the reservoir.

9:46 a.m. | Highway 6 prolonged closure | Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber says "it might be tonight" before Highway 6 reopens west of Golden after several rock slides caused the closure of the highway overnight.

9:02 a.m. | Washington Co. closure | The Washington County Sheriff's Office Administrative Offices are closed Thursday due to flooding in the office.

8:34 a.m. | Akron tree dump | The Town of Akron said residents could take tree limbs brought down by this week's storms and other natural storm debris to the Akron Tree Dump. The roads to the dump are open and accessible, the town said on Facebook.

7:55 a.m. | Highway 6 rock slide | A rock slide closed Highway 6, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said. The slide stretches 175 feet long and 3 feet deep west of Tunnel 3, according to CDOT.

Crews are on scene to clean up the rocks and mud and investigate the rock slide area. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take Interstate 70 as a detour. 

7:32 a.m. | Evergreen Lake closure | Evergreen Lake is closed after the severe rain event Wednesday night into Thursday, causing flooding that deposited debris into the lake, creating unsafe boating conditions, according to the town's parks and recreation district.

Those interested and call the hotline for updates at 720-880-1391.

7:19 a.m. | Washington County road closure | County Road RR is closed from Otis to Highway 36 until further notice due to flooding, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.

6:39 a.m. | Evergreen post-flooding hazards | Several mud and rock slides occurred overnight, damaging or washing out private bridges, according to Evergreen Fire/Rescue.

The agency asks drivers delay departure to allow crews additional time to assess conditions and clear roadways. Due to the volume of incidents, Evergreen Fire/Rescue said response times for non-emergency calls may be delayed.

5:33 a..m. | Park County event cancellation | The 8th Annual Nate Carrigan Golf Outing at Raccoon Creek was canceled after 2 inches of rain overnight on the course and all the fairways were flooded, Park County Law Enforcement Gives Back posted on Facebook.

4:30 a.m. | Thursday morning forecast | More scattered storms and showers are likely throughout the day, with a risk of severe weather across the Eastern Plains, according to Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. The risk of severe storms is lower than Wednesday but a few could produce some heavy rain and larger hail, especially across the southeastern plains.

3:12 a.m. | Bear Creek flooding | 1.5 to 3.5 inches of rain in the Evergreen area has prompted a rapid rise in water levels along Bear Creek in Jefferson County with reports of damaged bridges, according to the National Weather Service Boulder.

"Avoid low water crossings and heed any road closures. Be particularly cautious if driving in or near canyons in the Evergeen, Kittredge, Idledale, and Morrison areas this morning," NWS Boulder said.

3:06 a.m. | Highway 74 debris | Kittridge residents are advised to be aware of heavy debris on Highway 74 all the way from Evergreen, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office posted on X. Troublesome Gulch Road and Highway 74 are especially impacted. The roads are open, but drivers are asked to proceed with caution.

1:08 a.m. | Cactus Jack's flooding | The Evergreen saloon and grill Cactus Jack's posted photos on Facebook early Thursday morning of flooding and damage to the restaurant. The business said this happened to the owners before back in 2013 but it wasn't as severe.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

DENVER For the first time, a collared gray wolf crossed Interstate 25 and made a large loop across the southeastern quadrant of Colorado before turning back and crossing to the west side of the highway.

The wolf traveled through watersheds in Pueblo County, Otero County and Las Animas County before it looped back to I-25 to return to the western side, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said.

The most recent wolf movement map, released on Wednesday by CPW, shows where that wolf traveled. The map is broken down by watersheds, and it is shaded in purple if at least one GPS point from a collared wolf was recorded there within the past 30 days.

"This activity east of I-25 highlights the broad movements made by dispersing wolves," CPW said. "CPW is in active communication with producers who have known wolf activity near their operations and is coordinating access to conflict minimization resources."

CPW encourages anybody who believes they have seen a wolf to fill out this form on their website.

Denver7 has been following Colorado's wolf reintroduction program since the very beginning, and you can explore all of that reporting in the timeline below, which starts with our most recent story.

DENVER While the risk of severe weathers lower Thursday than Wednesday, a few storms could produce some heavy rain and larger hail, especially across the southeastern plains.

The Denver7 weather team is tracking the continuing severe weather Thursday, as well as the flash flooding and damage from storms Wednesday.

Seeing severe weather in your community? Send us a photo or video at newstips@denver7.com.

Stay alert if youre in an area that is under a watch or warning, and keep an eye on radar as storms develop and move east. The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

9:52 a.m. | Jeffco home, bridge damage | Flooding damage was reported along Bear Creek in Kittridge, with water line markings of approximately 2 to 3 feet on the sides of homes on Avenue F Bridge along the creek, according to the Jeffco Sheriff's Office.

Two bridges also washed out near Troublesome Gulch, the sheriff's office said.

9:52 a.m. | Bear Creek trail closures | Flooding has temporarily closed trails along Bear Creek, according to the City of Lakewood and Bear Creek Lake Park.

Officials advised visitors to be mindful of debris and water levels out of the reservoir.

9:46 a.m. | Highway 6 prolonged closure | Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber says "it might be tonight" before Highway 6 reopens west of Golden after several rock slides caused the closure of the highway overnight.

9:02 a.m. | Washington Co. closure | The Washington County Sheriff's Office Administrative Offices are closed Thursday due to flooding in the office.

8:34 a.m. | Akron tree dump | The Town of Akron said residents could take tree limbs brought down by this week's storms and other natural storm debris to the Akron Tree Dump. The roads to the dump are open and accessible, the town said on Facebook.

7:55 a.m. | Highway 6 rock slide | A rock slide closed Highway 6, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) said. The slide stretches 175 feet long and 3 feet deep west of Tunnel 3, according to CDOT.

Crews are on scene to clean up the rocks and mud and investigate the rock slide area. Motorists are advised to avoid the area and take Interstate 70 as a detour. 

7:32 a.m. | Evergreen Lake closure | Evergreen Lake is closed after the severe rain event Wednesday night into Thursday, causing flooding that deposited debris into the lake, creating unsafe boating conditions, according to the town's parks and recreation district.

Those interested and call the hotline for updates at 720-880-1391.

7:19 a.m. | Washington County road closure | County Road RR is closed from Otis to Highway 36 until further notice due to flooding, the Washington County Sheriff's Office said on Facebook.

6:39 a.m. | Evergreen post-flooding hazards | Several mud and rock slides occurred overnight, damaging or washing out private bridges, according to Evergreen Fire/Rescue.

The agency asks drivers delay departure to allow crews additional time to assess conditions and clear roadways. Due to the volume of incidents, Evergreen Fire/Rescue said response times for non-emergency calls may be delayed.

4:30 a.m. | Thursday morning forecast | More scattered storms and showers are likely throughout the day, with a risk of severe weather across the Eastern Plains, according to Denver7 Chief Meteorologist Lisa Hidalgo. The risk of severe storms is lower than Wednesday but a few could produce some heavy rain and larger hail, especially across the southeastern plains.

3:12 a.m. | Bear Creek flooding | 1.5 to 3.5 inches of rain in the Evergreen area has prompted a rapid rise in water levels along Bear Creek in Jefferson County with reports of damaged bridges, according to the National Weather Service Boulder.

"Avoid low water crossings and heed any road closures. Be particularly cautious if driving in or near canyons in the Evergeen, Kittredge, Idledale, and Morrison areas this morning," NWS Boulder said.

3:06 a.m. | Highway 74 debris | Kittridge residents are advised to be aware of heavy debris on Highway 74 all the way from Evergreen, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office posted on X. Troublesome Gulch Road and Highway 74 are especially impacted. The roads are open, but drivers are asked to proceed with caution.

1:08 a.m. | Cactus Jack's flooding | The Evergreen saloon and grill Cactus Jack's posted photos on Facebook early Thursday morning of flooding and damage to the restaurant. The business said this happened to the owners before back in 2013 but it wasn't as severe.

10:35 p.m. | Latest forecast looking overnight | Denver7's Danielle Grant provides the latest forecast as severe storms move out of Denver, but continue on the eastern plains. Watch her report from 10:30 p.m. below.

10:30 p.m. | Concert cancellation | Red Rocks said the Ziggy Markley & Stephen Marley concert planned for tonight has been officially canceled due to the weather.

10:10 p.m. | Morgan County flooding | Morgan County Ambulance Service (MCAS) posted photos on Facebook of the impact of heavy rain, flash flooding and large hail over the last 48 hours, creating challenging conditions across the community.

10:02 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Severe thunderstorms are impacting the South Metro area, including Littleton, Englewood and Centennial. Winds may reach 50 mph. Quarter-sized hail is possible. This warning expires at 10:30 p.m.

9:18 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning expires at 10 p.m. and includes Strasburg and Byers.

9 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning in Fort Morgan | This warning spans the Fort Morgan, Brush and Hillrose areas. It expires at 9:45 p.m.

8:31 p.m. | Morgan County Sheriff's Office hail damage | The sheriff's office reported that several of its patrol vehicles parked in Fort Morgan were damaged by the hail on Wednesday. Nobody was injured, the sheriff's office said.

7:45 p.m. | Tornado warning | The communities of Raymer and Buckingham are under this warning until 8:15 p.m.

7:30 a.m. | Significant flooding in Akron | The Town of Akron is reporting significant flooding within the town. Multiple homes and basements have been impacted, it said.

"Town crews are actively out clearing storm drains and drainage inlets to keep water moving and reduce additional flooding wherever possible," the town wrote on social media. "We ask residents to stay safe, avoid driving through flooded streets, and, if it is safe to do so, keep nearby storm drains clear of debris to help water flow."

7:22 p.m. | Severe storms continue into the evening hours | The NWS reports that these severe storms are possible along the I-25 corridor and adjacent plains later this evening.

6:54 p.m. | Tornado warning | This warning includes Washington County and expires at 7:30 p.m.

6:41 p.m. | Confirmed tornado | The NWS has confirmed a tornado 4 miles east of St. Petersburg and 23 miles west of Holyoke. It is moving southeast at 20 mph.

6:38 p.m. | Tornado warning | This warning for the communities of Haxtun and Dailey is in place until 7:15 p.m.

6:36 p.m. | Tornado warning | This warning is in place until 7:15 p.m. around Grover.

6:32 p.m. | Flash flood warning | This warning includes Cokedale, Jansen and Segundo in southern Colorado until 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

6:18 p.m. | Tornado confirmed | A confirmed tornado was located 5 miles north of Fleming, or 19 miles northeast of Sterling. It is moving 20 mph. The NWS says that law enforcement confirmed the tornado.

6:14 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning is in effect for the town of Fleming after a confirmed tornado was located 5 miles northwest of Fleming, or 19 miles northeast of Sterling, moving southeast at 15 mph. The warning expires at 6:45 p.m.

5:49 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning has been issued for northeastern Logan County, near the communities of Proctor and Crook. The warning expires at 6:30 p.m. Tennis ball-sized hail is possible.

5:16 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning around Akron | This warning will remain in place until 6 p.m. Winds may reach 60 mph.

5 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 19 cancellations and 521 delays at Denver International Airport as of 5 p.m., according to FlightAware.

4:30 p.m. | Weather update | Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant has the latest forecast after two tornado warnings went into effect in Logan and Morgan counties. Watch in the video below:

4:22 p.m. | Tornado warnings | Two tornado warnings are in effect until 5 p.m.:

One is in effect for south central Logan County, eastern Morgan County and north central Washington County until 5 p.m. after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Prewitt Reservoir, or 18 miles southwest of Sterling, moving southeast at 15 mph.

The other is in effect for Morgan County after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 4 miles northeast of Adena School, or 6 miles south of Fort Morgan, moving southeast at 15 mph.

4:15 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Fort Morgan, Brush and Log Lane Village until 4:45 p.m. Forecasters said this destructive storm will contain baseball-sized hail, 60 mph winds along with the possibility of a tornado.

4:02 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning is in effect for Morgan County until 4:30 p.m. Forecasters said this destructive storm will contain baseball-sized hail.

3:50 p.m. | Tornado watch | A tornado watch is now in effect for northeast Colorado, including the following counties: Weld, Morgan, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Washington, Yuma, Adams, Arapahoe, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Elbert, and Cheyenne.

Scattered hail may reach the size of a softball and a couple tornadoes are possible, according to the NWS.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

Looking for a firework show near you to celebrate the Fourth of July? Denver7 has you covered with this list of planned 2026 events, festivities and, of course, the big show in the night sky. We're also keeping track of what is canceled this year, with Colorado's ongoing drought and wildfire risk.

Local law enforcement agencies are reminding Coloradans that most fireworks are illegal in the state outside of these shows. Here's what you should know.

Want to add a fireworks show to this list? Email us at newstips@denver7.com.

Adam County's Stars & Stripes celebration is set for Riverdale Regional Park on July 3. This event, which will include live music, food, beverage vendors and a fireworks show, is free and family friendly.

Due to the historic drought conditions this year, the City of Alamosa has canceled Fourth of July fireworks out of an abundance of caution for wildfire danger. The city wants to assure residents, there are still things to do to celebrate the holiday, including a pancake breakfast, main street parade, park party kickoff and contests. Festivities begin at 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The City of Arvada planned to host its annual Fourth of July fireworks display at Stenger Sports Complex, however the fireworks were canceled on July 2 due to elevated wildfire risk.

The City of Aurora plans to host July 4th festivities at the Aurora Municipal Center (15151 E. Alameda Parkway) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with fireworks starting at 9:30 p.m.

The fireworks show planned Avon's Salute to USA event has been cancelled due to the lack or rain in Eagle County and the enactment of Stage 2 fire restrictions. The event, featuring live music and more, will continue as planned at Harry A. Nottingham Park starting at 5 p.m.

The Town of Berthoud has scheduled its annual 3rd of July celebration at Waggener Farm Park, complete with over 30 food trucks, a beer garden, inflatables, lawn games, and live entertainment throughout the evening. The event begins at 5 p.m. with DJ Drake, followed by a live performance from Tumbledown Shack at 7:00 p.m. The evening concludes with fireworks.

Theres no official public fireworks display scheduled in the City of Boulder for the Fourth of July after the city permanently canceled the traditional Folsom Field event.

Breckenridge will have a days worth of events to celebrate Independence Day. The city starts with a 10K at 7 a.m., followed by a parade at 10 a.m. This years holiday will commemorate the nations 250th and Colorados 150th anniversaries with a National Repertory Orchestra performance. Breckenridges drone show Stories in the Sky, in lieu of a traditional fireworks show, will begin around 9 p.m.

The City of Brighton will have celebrations at Carmichael Park (650 E. Southern Street) on Saturday, July 4, including a live concert from 7 - 9 p.m. and free face painting for kids. The National Anthem and Fireworks Display will follow the concert.

Broomfield will host its 2026 Great American Picnic starting at 5 p.m. at Broomfield County Commons Park (13200 Sheridan Blvd.). There will be inflatables, concessions and food vendors and a beer garden for those 21 years and older, the city said. Music starts at 6 p.m., followed by a fireworks display, scheduled to start at 9:15 p.m.

Buena Vistas Fourth of July Festival will span the weekend, starting with the All-American Dance Party at the Orpheum Theater from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, theres a 5K from 8:30-10:30 a.m., followed by a parade. The Independence Day Fireworks will begin on Rodeo Grounds when dusk falls Saturday night.

Castle Rock is hosting a special America 250 - Colorado 150 version of its annual event. The festivities are set to begin at 5:30 p.m. at Festival Park and will include live music, local food trucks, face painting, a pie bake-off competition and more. The night will go out with a bang with a fireworks display, weather permitting.

There's all sorts of ways to celebrate Independence Day in the Springs. On July 1, the city announced that all permitted July 4 firework shows in Colorado Springs have been canceled due to extreme fire danger.

Commerce City's 4thFEST kicks off outside DICKs Sporting Goods Park (6000 Victory Way) at 3 p.m. The free family festival includes a bounce house, rock climbing wall, alpine slide, pedal carts, mechanical bull and more.

Inside the park, watch a double-header in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup. Tonga vs. Zimbabwe begins at 4:15 p.m., and Team USA takes on Portugal at 7 p.m.

Fireworks will immediately follow the matches.

Per the Craig Rural Fire Protection, the fireworks show in Craig is canceled due to extreme fire danger.

From donkeys to classic cars, there's something for everyone at Cripple Creek's Independence Day celebration.

On the 4th, vendors and food trucks will be open for business from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Heritage Center. On the 300 and 400 blocks of East Bennett Avenue, you'll find live music, a beer tent, root beer floats, games for kids, "Victorian personalities" and more.

The fireworks show has been canceled.

The party keeps going July 5 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on E. Bennett Avenue with more food, drinks, music and even a street dance.

Hot air balloons will take to the Delta sky July 2-5 for the Western Sky Balloon Festival. There's a full slate of activities throughout the fest from face painting and a petting zoo to mud volleyball and ax throwing. See the full rundown here.

On Friday, July 3, a 9:45 p.m. drone show caps off the night, and a fireworks show begins around 9:45 p.m on Saturday, July 4.

The City of Denver's usual "Indy Eve" celebration won't happen this year amid ongoing construction at Civic Center Park, but there are still plenty of other ways to ring in the holiday around the city.

The City of Englewood will host a fireworks show on July 4 at Belleview Park and Cornerstone Park to celebrate our nation's history, honor 250 years of American independence, and enjoy an evening of community, patriotism and fun. The party starts at 5 p.m. and goes through 10 p.m. The fireworks show starts at 9:15 p.m.

Head to Erie Community Park, located at 450 Powers Street on July 3 to celebrate our nations 250th birthday! The annual Independence Day celebration will launch from the rooftop of the Erie Community Center, lighting up the sky to kick off the holiday.

The town of Estes Park announced July 1 that its fireworks would be rescheduled.

The Town of Firestone will hold a patriotic July 4 celebration for the whole family at Miners Park. Kick off the festivities with a lively parade through the historic town, then head to the park for a bustling street fair packed with free games, crafts, and hands-on activities. The fireworks show begins after sundown.

The City of Fort Collins will host a full day of activities this Independence Day, starting with a 5K race, continuing with a new community experience in City Park that will highlight the nations history, and ending with a fireworks show starting around 9:35 p.m. over Sheldon Lake.

Head to Fort Lupton for an Independence Day festival celebrating our nations birthday. There will be a performance from country artist Eric Golden, as well as games, rides, a vendor market, food trucks, beer garden and more. Its all happening from 3-8 p.m. at Community Park at the Rec. Center. The fireworks show can be viewed from Coyote Creek Golf Course.

Head to Fruita for the towns Independence Day celebration. The fireworks show, which begins after sundown, can be viewed from pretty much anywhere in town, but two popular spots are Rotary Park and the Visitor Center. Snooks Bottom Open Space will be closed to the public for the entire day and during the show.

Get ready for a spectacular night of entertainment, excitement, and fireworks on Independence Day at Infinity Park. The celebration begins with a showing of F1 at 7 p.m., followed by a spectacular fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

Head to Glenwood Springs to celebrate Independence Day in Two Rivers Park! The party begins at 4:30 p.m. with family-friendly fun, followed by live music from 5-9 p.m.

While there will be no fireworks in Golden for Independence Day, live music will be the heartbeat of our countrys anniversary this July 4 at Lions Park. There will also be morning yoga and a junior jubilee. Festivities run from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

There will be a whole weekend of Independence Day celebrations in Grand Junction this year. Start celebrating our nations birthday with the Red, White and Blue Party on July 3, before heading to the July 4 Parade on Main Street. A fireworks show will take place at Lincoln Park after sundown.

Greeley's July 4 fireworks will take place at 10 p.m. at Island Grove Regional Park in the northwest corner. The pyrotechnics serve as the grand finale for the annual Greeley Stampede celebration, which features rodeos, live concerts, and carnival attractions.

The City of Gunnison is planning to have its fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. on July 4, following a day of kids games, beer garden, live music and more.

Douglas County commissioners approved a new fireworks show for Highlands Ranch after two months of back and forth, however on July 2, the county moved into Stage 2 fire restrictions. The fireworks show has been canceled, and a concert and drone show has been scheduled at Highland Heritage Regional Park at 6 p.m. on July 2.

While a July 4 fireworks show will not take place this year due to fire restrictions, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate our nations 250th. Kick off the day with the national anthem at 10:45 a.m. downtown and follow it up with live music and other festivities which start on Miner Street right after.

While technically not happening on July 4, Lafayettes Independence Day fireworks show this year will take place as part of the Fun and Fireworks festival, happening at Waneka Lake Park from 4-10 p.m. Fireworks begin at dusk.

Lakewoods Big Belmar Bash will celebrate our nations 250th with a community gathering and "spectacular" drone show. The festivities begin at 5 p.m, with the drone show taking place at approximately 9:15 p.m. MIX 100 will be providing the soundtrack for the drone light show.

Billed as the largest free community event in south Jefferson County, the Red, White & You party at Clement Park is taking place July 3. There will be kids activities, live entertainment, food concessions, community business booths, beer & wine garden, and a fireworks display after sundown.

The City of Lone Tree enacted Stage 2 Restrictions, effective Thursday, July 2, prompting leaders to cancel the fireworks show planned for the City of Lone Tree's Independence Day Party in the Park. City leaders said they would explore the possibility of rescheduling the display later this year when weather allows and it's safe again.

Kick off Independence Day in Longmont with a backyard concert at Roosevelt Park on July 3, before heading to a drone and fireworks show on July 4, with the drone show starting at 9:15 p.m. and the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

The City of Louisville welcomes the pubic to its Fourth of July celebration at the Coal Creek Golf Course, located at 585 W. Dillion Road, starting at 6 p.m. on July 4. Visitors can enjoy live music, local food vendors and family fun. A fireworks display is scheduled for 9:30 p.m.

A fireworks show will return to Loveland this Independence Day to celebrate our nations 250th birthday! Family fun, food and the fireworks show will take place at North Lake Park. The fireworks show will also be visible at Dwayne Webster Park and the Benson Sculpture Gardens. The fireworks display will begin after sundown.

The City of Montrose will host its annual July 4th event, which includes a farmers market at 9 a.m., a parade down Main Street at 10 a.m., a food truck and beer garden starting at 11 a.m. and family fun at noon.

The Montrose Summer Music Series will kick off at 6 p.m., followed by Zambelli firework performance at 9:40 p.m.

Northglenn's celebration will begin at noon and continue through the fireworks show, which is expected to begin around 9:15 p.m. and run through 9:40 p.m. at EB Rains Jr. Memorial Park.

Bring a blanket and picnic basket and enjoy other festivities earlier in the day, like a car show, live music and more.

The small town of Ouray is putting on a big celebration on July 4, with the Ourayce 10K at 7:30 a.m., a parade at 10 a.m., games for kids at 11 a.m. at Fellin Park, a water fight at 6th and Main Street at 2 p.m. The fireworks show has been canceled this year due to extremely dry conditions.

Fireworks will launch for the Parker show at 9:30 p.m. from just northeast of Salisbury Park, depending on the weather. Visit the city's website for the launch site so you can set up at a good viewing spot!

The Historic Arkansas Riverwalk of Pueblo has announced the return of Rollin' on the Riverwalk, Pueblo's largest Independence Day celebration.

The fun begins at 4 p.m. and continues until 10 p.m. for the fireworks show.

The Pueblo West Metropolitan District said due to dry weather conditions and out of an abundance of caution, they are postponing their fireworks display.

"The safety of our community, residents, and visitors is always our top priority, and this decision was made with careful consideration to help reduce fire risk during these conditions," the district wrote on Facebook.

However, it will have a celebration at Civic Center Park. A full itinerary will be announced on their Facebook page soon.

Due to extreme fire danger, the City of Rifle has canceled the fireworks part of its annual July Third Celebration. However, the festivities will continue as planned with a full day of free, family-friendly activities, live entertainment, food vendors, and community festivities.

The Custer County sheriff, fire chief, and fireworks organizers have decided to postpone July 4 fireworks due to weather, fire conditions and availability of fire crews.

This year's theme for the Steamboat Springs' Fourth of July celebration is "250/150: Celebrating our Pioneers, Patriots & Peak."

The three-day celebration includes the Pro Rodeo Series, a parade and more. However, it will not have a firework show.

Town Park in Telluride will have a firework show at dusk on July 4. This is weather-dependent.

Carpenter Park Fields, located at 11000 Colorado Boulevard in Thornton, will have 19 food vendors, a beer garden, live entertainment and parachutists, who will jump at 9:30 p.m., followed by the fireworks show.

The city's fire department said on July 4: "this years fireworks show has been modified with fireworks designed to reduce the debris fall-out area. Crews will wet down the launch and fall-out areas before the show, and firefighters, including a brush truck and additional personnel will be strategically positioned throughout the event."

Vail America Days will kickoff on July 4 with a morning parade through Vail, followed by family fun and concerts through the afternoon. Fireworks were scheduled for 9:45 p.m., but were canceled on June 24 as Eagle County enters Stage 2 fire restrictions.

Westminster City Park will welcome the public for a day of activities, food and drinks and live music starting at 4 p.m.

The Town of Ward canceled its fireworks display July 2, but said the parade and other community events were still on to celebrate the holiday.

DENVER Smoky skies from wildfires in Utah combined with higher temperatures and more moisture forming across the Denver metro led to severe weather Tuesday on Colorado's eastern plains.

Have you seen severe weather in your community? Send us a photo or video at newstips@denver7.com.

Stay alert if youre in an area that is under a watch or warning, and keep an eye on radar as storms develop and move east.

The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

12:01 a.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning remains in place until 12:45 a.m. for the area of Limon, Hugo and Arriba. Winds will reach up to 60 mph.

11:59 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning is in place for the communities of Hoehne, Model and Tyrone northeast of Trinidad. The warning is in place until 12:45 a.m.

10:55 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Flash flooding is likely in southern Colorado around Pueblo and Avondale. This warning is in place until 2 a.m. Wednesday.

10:30 p.m. | Preparing for possible severe weather | Denver7's Maggie Bryan spoke with residents in Aurora who were taking the extra step to protect their gardens and vehicles ahead of storms Tuesday.

Watch her report below.

10:07 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning has been issued for an area including Avondale and Boone. It is in place util 10:45 p.m. Baseball-sized hail is possible.

10:07 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning applies to Phillips County and Sedgwick County until 10:30 p.m.

9:47 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Paoli, Holyoke and Amherst are under this warning until 10:30 p.m.

9:45 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | The area around Wigwam and east of the small town is under this warning until 10:30 p.m. The storm may include baseball-sized hail.

9:36 p.m. | Southern eastern plains update | Another round of thunderstorms with large hail will impact the I-25 corridor now through at least 2 a.m. Damaging winds and an isolated tornado are possible, the NWS says.

9:10 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Fort Morgan is under a severe thunderstorm warning until 9:30 p.m. The storm may drop tennis ball-sized hail, the NWS reports.

9:03 p.m. | Storm Prediction Center update | NWS' Storm Prediction Center posted at 10 p.m. saying that an "uptick in severe hail is expected over the next several hours" for parts of central and eastern Colorado. Some stones may reach 4 inches across.

7:03 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warnings | Wigam is under a warning until 7:45 p.m. El Paso County and Pueblo County are under a warning until 7:30 p.m.

6:20 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warnings continue | An area around Agate is under a thunderstorm warning until 7 p.m. and parts of Crowley County, El Paso County and Pueblo County are under a warning until 6:45 p.m.

6:09 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Lindon and Last Chance are under this warning until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

5:55 p.m. | NWS update | Very large hail is expected to fall over lower elevations in Colorado, with some places seeing hail 2 to 3 inches in diameter. Another round of severe storms is expected Wednesday and Thursday, which will bring a flash flooding risk.

5:46 p.m. | Statewide weather update | Much of Colorado is under a severe thunderstorm watch, with a widespread red flag warning on the western slope. That includes the area where a Garfield County wildfire is currently burning.

5:34 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Arapahoe County and Washington County are under this warning until 6:15 p.m. This story will contain golf ball-sized hail, according to the NWS.

5:24 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Parts of Elbert County and Lincoln County are under a severe thunderstorm warning until 6:15 p.m. Tuesday.

5:20 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | This warning, which includes Simla, is in place until 6 p.m. Tuesday. Winds are expected to reach 60 mph with hail the size of a golf ball.

4:38 p.m. | Weather update | The Denver metro area and the Eastern Plains are now under a severe thunderstorm watch that's in effect until 1 a.m. Wednesday, according to the NWS.

Softball-sized hail, up to 80 mph wind gusts and a couple of tornadoes are possible over the warned area, forecasters said.

2:29 p.m. | Weather advisory | The National Weather Service in Boulder is advising residents to have multiple ways to receive warnings and be prepared for any severe storms this evening, which could be most numerous around the Urban corridor between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

DENVER Its another hot Sunday across metro Denver, with highs in the 90s to start the first day of summer.

While a few showers are possible along the Front Range, severe storms are a concern on the far northeastern plains where a watch has been issued until 8 p.m. Strong to severe storms in this region could bring large hail, damaging wind gusts, and heavy rainfall through this evening.

Stay alert if youre in the watch area, and keep an eye on radar as storms develop and move east.

Read Denver7 meteorologist Stacey Donaldson's latest forecast at this link.

Watch the latest forecast in the video below:

The Denver7 News team will track any warnings that are issued on Sunday afternoon.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

8:23 p.m. | Severe storm near Holyoke | Golf ball sized hail is possible with a severe storm in SW Phillips County, said the NWS. Wind gusts up to 60 mph are also possible as the warning remains in effect until 8:45 p.m.

7:47 p.m. | Golf ball sized hail possible | The NWS said the severe storm in portions of Logan, Washington Counties could contain golf ball sized hail as the warning continue until 8:15 p.m.

7:15 p.m. | Logan, Washington CO storm | Half dollar sized hail is possible.

3:00 p.m. | Yuma County severe storm | A severe storm in Yuma County could drop golf ball size hail and high wind gusts. The warning is in effect until 3:30 p.m.

2:30 p.m. | Lincoln County severe storm | The NWS in Boulder said quarter size hail was possible in a storm near Arriba. Latest here.

1:55 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Quarter size hail and 60 mph wind gusts are possible with a severe thunderstorm near Lindon. NWS in Boulder's alert here.

1:20 p.m. | Nickel size hail possible | The NWS in Boulder is tracking a strong storm in SW Washington, Arapahoe and SE Adams Counties where 50-mph wind gusts are possible and nickel size hail.

Storm track below:

1:00 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm watch | Several northeastern Colorado counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m. Sunday, where large hail and high wind gusts are possible with any developing storm.

Read more on the watch here.

TRACK COLORADO WEATHER ALERTS | The Denver7 team will update any warnings or new watches at this link. Refresh for updates.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. The man who was accused of starting the 2024 Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County is no longer facing an arson charge after investigators said new evidence indicates he likely did not start the wildfire.

Jason Alexander Hobby, 51, of Loveland, was arrested in this case in September 2024 and pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

"Newly discovered evidence" that "directly contradicts the original theory of the case" was found by investigators and "indicates Mr. Hobby could not have started the Alexander Mountain Fire," the Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office said on Thursday afternoon.

Subsequently, the arson charge was dropped.

The other charges against him are still pending, according to the district attorney's office. That includes two counts of impersonating a peace officer, impersonating a public servant, felony menacing, and false imprisonment. His trial on these charges remains in place and is set to start in early July.

"It would be unethical for a District Attorneys Office to pursue a prosecution in which they did not believe the correct person was charged," the district attorney's office said. "In this case, the District Attorneys Office cannot proceed on the Arson charge against Mr. Hobby because evidence related to Mr. Hobbys whereabouts, his potential alibi, access to the fire origin location, and digital evidence from his cell phone all provide direct evidence that he is unlikely to have started the Alexander Mountain Fire."

The office said it is disappointed that the person responsible for setting the wildfire remains unknown.

The investigation has included hundreds of witness interviews and police reports, more than a terabyte of digital evidence, forensic evidence reports, and hundreds of hours of body-worn camera videos, the district attorney's office said.

Hobby was arrested in September 2024, several months after the Alexander Mountain Fire sparked on July 29, 2024 near Drake north of Highway 34. Later that month, Denver7 obtained Hobby's arrest affidavit, which read that he had acted as a "self-proclaimed fire manager" and wanted to be seen as "the hero" during the Alexander Mountain Fire.

The fire, determined to have been caused by a person or people at a campfire ring near the top of the mountain, burned 9,668 acres over about three weeks. More than 5,000 people evacuated and about 30 homes and 20 outbuildings were destroyed. Nobody was injured. Fire damage was estimated at $30 million, plus $11 million for the firefighting efforts.

Hobby pleaded not guilty in December 2025 to all six charges against him. A trial date was set then for July 2026.

Hobby was an employee with Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch a family-owned, 3,200-acre property in the foothills west of Loveland up until he was identified as a suspect in the wildfire.

In an arrest affidavit Denver7 obtained after his arrest, authorities accused him of wearing a uniform with fake logos and operating a vehicle with a fake "Ranger" star on the door around the ranch's property.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has killed a lone, uncollared wolf believed to be responsible for 10 confirmed depredation events since the summer of 2025, the agency announced Saturday.

Officials said video evidence showed the wolf originally a member of the Copper Creek Pack  was the same elusive wolf responsible for depredations in Rio Blanco County in 2025 and early 2026. Officials had made several previous attempts to "lethally remove" the wolf, but were unsuccessful and eventually called off the effort.

Those efforts began again after two depredation events in Routt County on Wednesday and Thursday, CPW spokesperson Luke Perkins confirmed.

The wolf's 10 depredation events since 2025 involved 22 sheep, according to CPW's release. CPW officials said there was "clear and convincing evidence" in each case that a wolf was responsible and that non-lethal options were pursued.

Perkins said CPW determines if lethal removal is appropriate "on a case-by-case basis," and more details will be included in a final report on the lethal removal that will be posted to CPW's website.

CPW concludes lethal removal is appropriate if there is chronic depredation  three confirmed events in 30 days with at least one having "clear and convincing evidence"  and a livestock producer has tried to nonlethally deter the wolf, Perkins said in an email. The agency may also decide "it is appropriate in other circumstances," he said.

The decision to pursue lethal actions is never an easy one but the circumstances around this wolfs repeated depredation history made this a difficult but necessary decision, CPW Director Laura Clellan said in a release. The producers impacted by these depredations have worked diligently with CPW to identify and deploy all viable and reasonable non-lethal tools and techniques identified through their site assessment and consultation with our field staff.

Those efforts included deployment of range riders, the use of livestock guardian dogs, human presence from herders and applying for injurious non-lethal hazing permits, according to CPW's release.

This elusive wolf had a number of chances but sadly chose to continue to depredate which necessitated this challenging management decision," Gov. Jared Polis said in the release. "Colorado remains committed to recovering and maintaining a viable, self-sustaining wolf population in Colorado, while concurrently working to minimize wolf-related conflicts with domestic animals, with non-lethal means as our priority.

This marks the second wolf CPW has killed since voter-mandated wolf reintroduction began in 2023, according to CPW spokesperson Perkins.

The first was just over a year ago in Pitkin County after a series of depredations in May 2025.

Denver7 has been following Colorado's wolf reintroduction program since the very beginning, and you can explore all of that reporting in the timeline below, which starts with our most recent story.

DENVER A tornado watch for parts of the Denver metro has been allowed to expire. However, the Eastern Plains remains under a watch until 9 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

Strong to severe thunderstorms rolled through the Denver metro Monday afternoon, dumping heavy rain and pockets of hail.

Watch the latest forecast in the video below:

The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

6 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 4 cancellations and 837 delays at Denver International Airport as of 6 p.m., according to FlightAware.

5:59 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning was issued for eastern Elbert County and north central Lincoln County after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 7 miles west of Limon, moving east at 20 mph. The warning continues until 6:45 p.m.

5:30 p.m. | Weather update | Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant has the forecast as severe weather continues to move through the Denver metro area. A tornado watch is in effect for the area, along with the Eastern Plains, until 9 p.m.

Watch the latest forecast in the video player below:

5:28 p.m. Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Adams, Arapahoe and Morgan counties until 6:15 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm.

5:20 p.m. | Denver "inadvertently" triggered its tornado sirens | Officials with the City of Denver said its tornado sirens were "inadvertently" activated today, even though there is no tornado warning in effect for Denver. 

Read more here.

5:19 p.m. | Ground delay at DIA | The FAA has issued a ground delay at DIA until 9 p.m. due to severe weather. That means incoming flights will be delayed on their way to Denver until the FAA lifts the ground delay.

5:12 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning was issued for east central Elbert County after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 13 miles northwest of Simla, or 26 miles west of Limon, moving east at 25 mph.. The warning continues until 6 p.m.

4:53 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning was issued for southeastern Adams County after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 8 miles north of Byers, or 38 miles east of Denver, moving east at 25 mph. The warning continues until 5:30 p.m.

4:43 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning was issued for northwestern Elbert County after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Kiowa. The warning continues until 5:15 p.m.

4:02 p.m. | Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Brighton, Frederick and Fort Lupton until 4:45 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, pea-sized hail are possible.

4 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 2 cancellations and 508 delays at Denver International Airport as of 4 p.m., according to FlightAware.

3:57 p.m. | Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Parker, Elizabeth and Franktown until 4:45 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm.

3:52 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | The FAA has issued a ground stop at DIA until 5 p.m. due to thunderstorms. That means incoming flights can't land in Denver until the FAA lifts the ground stop.

3:51 p.m. | Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Thornton, DIA and Commerce City until 4:30 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm.

3:38 p.m. | Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Aurora, Glendale and Watkins until 4 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm.

3:30 p.m. | Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Golden, Evergreen and Kittredge until 4 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm.

3:17 p.m. | Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Centennial, Parker and Castle Pine until 4 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm.

3:15 p.m. | Severe thunder storm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Denver, Lakewood, and Thornton until 4 p.m., per the NWS.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm.

2:30 p.m. | Tornado watch | A tornado watch has been issued for parts of the Denver metro, including Denver, as well as the Eastern Plains through 9 p.m.

Per the NWS in Boulder, the following counties are under that Tornado watch: Adams, Arapahoe, Cheyenne, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Morgan, Washington, Weld, and Yuma.

Scattered hail up to softball-size likely, along with scattered wind gusts of up to 75 mph winds and a couple of tornadoes possible.

11:43 a.m. | Weather update | The National Weather Service in Boulder says the threat of very large hail is increasing for this afternoon, especially for areas near I-70 from just east of downtown Denver to the Kansas border. Current estimates released by the NWS show 3+ inch hail is possible.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

EAGLE COUNTY, Colo. A rancher in Eagle County said one of her employees shot and killed a female wolf in the King Mountain Pack this past March.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is leading the investigation into the wolf's death, which they announced on March 14.

"Since the introduction of gray wolves into Colorado in 2023, my life and that of all my neighbors has become, quite literally, a living hell," fourth-generation rancher Susan Nottingham wrote in a public submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is dated April 7.

She said that she owns and operates one of the largest cattle ranches in the state, which spans 20,000 acres of privately owned habitat in the Burns area for elk, moose, bighorn sheep and other wildlife. She said they coexisted until the King Mountain Pack formed nearby in 2025.

In the public document, Nottingham wrote that she suspected several wolf-related depredations, but they were not confirmed by CPW. She said she lost 60 calves in one year, which she equated to $180,000.

She wrote that after three confirmed depredations, she submitted an application for a chronic depredation lethal kill permit, which was denied "due to a CPW issue with a historic trash dump used by my outfitter during hunting season." An appeal was also denied.

"One of my employees ended up shooting the mother female," Nottingham wrote. "The investigation is still ongoing and extremely stressful, costing me tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees to protect myself and my employee from facing criminal charges."

The exact circumstances around the shooting are not yet known.

Denver7 has been following Colorado's wolf reintroduction program since the very beginning, and you can explore all of that reporting in the timeline below, which starts with our most recent story.

Luke Perkins, public information officer with CPW, told Denver7 on Tuesday that because there is an ongoing investigation, there is little information that the agency can release beyond what it shared publicly in March when the wolf died.

That press release came out on March 13, saying that the GPS collar on the maternal member or leading female of the King Mountain Pack had issued a mortality signal in northwest Colorado.

The death left the pack with neither parent wolf, as the male had died about a month prior during an operation to fit the animals with new GPS collars. In February, CPW confirmed the male had died of capture-related complications. CPW said it would monitor the year-old pups.

Currently, it is illegal to kill a gray wolf in Colorado and consequences include a multi-thousand-dollar fine or imprisonment for a year, or both. A few specific instances that serve as exceptions for members of the public:

Nottingham ended her public submission by writing: "This is also an incredibly cruel situation for the animals involved. The wolves are not at fault; they simply do not belong here and cannot survive. Meanwhile, the emotional and financial stress on ranchers is immense and ongoing."

DENVER It's going to be a bumpy weather Monday afternoon across northeastern Coloado after a relative calm weekend.

Thunderstorms are already developing and will pick up steam on the Eastern Plains as the afternoon continues. There's a risk of larger hail, damaging winds and even a few isolated tornadoes. The strongest storms will likely develop east of Interstate 25 and then push farther east by late afternoon.

Watch the latest forecast in the video below:

The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

5:55 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 6 cancellations and 878 delays at Denver International Airport as of 5:55 p.m., according to FlightAware.

5:39 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | Flights arriving to Denver International Airport have been grounded due to thunderstorms, according to the FAA. The ground stop is in effect until 6:30 p.m.

5:28 p.m. | Tornado warning | Another tornado warning has been issued for Washington County until 6:15 p.m., according to the NWS. Half-dollar-sized hail is possible with this storm, weather service officials said.

5:01 p.m. | Tornado warning | A new tornado warning has been issued for Otis and Platner in Washington County until 5:45 p.m., according to the NWS. The warned area has a population of about 500 people.

Pin pong-sized hail and a tornado are possible with this storm. Two schools are on the storm's path.

5 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 6 cancellations and 836 delays at Denver International Airport as of 5 p.m., according to FlightAware.

4:42 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Elizabeth, Kiowa and Franktown until 5:30 p.m., according to the NWS.

4:25 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Woodrow until 5:15 p.m., according to the NWS.

Golf ball-sized hail, up to 50 mph winds and a tornado is possible with this storm.

4 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 5 cancellations and 732 delays at Denver International Airport as of 4 p.m., according to FlightAware. A ground delay remains in effect until 9 p.m. at the airport, per the FAA.

3:58 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Adams and Weld counties until 4:15 p.m., according to the NWS.

Golf ball-sized hail, up to 50 mph winds and a tornado is possible with this storm.

3:56 p.m. | New tornado warning | A new tornado warning has been issued for Prowers County until 4:45 p.m. Half-dollar sized-hail is possible with this radar-indicated rotation, National Weather Service officials said.

3:54 p.m. | Tornado warning update | The National Weather Service says Adams County has been dropped from the tornado warning issued at around 3:30 p.m. Until west central Washington County is in the warning at this time, which remains in effect until 4:15 p.m.

The radar-indicated rotation from a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 7 miles southeast of Shamrock, or 30 miles south of Fort Morgan, moving northeast at 15 mph.

Golf ball-sized hail and a tornado is possible with this storm.

3:45 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 5 cancellations and 695 delays at Denver International Airport as of 3:45 p.m., according to FlightAware.

3:40 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Adams and Weld counties until 4:15 p.m., according to the NWS.

Up to 50 mph winds and two inch-sized hail is possible. A tornado is also possible, weather officials said.

3:30 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning has been issued for east central Adams County and west central Washington County in northeastern Colorado until 4:15 p.m., per the NWS, after a radar-indicated rotation capable of producing a tornado was located 8 miles south of Shamrock, or 33 miles south of Fort Morgan, moving northeast at 15 mph.

Golf ball-sized hail and is possible with this storm.

3:25 p.m. | Weather update | Severe storms that battered the Denver metro left hail and flood roads across parts of the Denver metro. Check out this photo from the aftermath of today's earlier storm from bhoff_12 on Instagram:

3:20 p.m. | Ground delay at DIA | A ground delay is now in effect at Denver International Airport until 9 p.m. due to severe weather, according to the FAA.

3:10 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for northeast Larimer and northwest Weld County until 3:45 p.m., according to the NWS.

A storm near Livermore is moving northeast at 20 mph, with golf ballsized hail possible with this storm. There is potential for damage to roofs, vehicles, and windows, according to Denver7's Clara Faith.

2:53 p.m. | Tornado warning extended | A tornado warning has been issued for Adams and Arapahoe counties has been extended through 3:45 p.m. Strasburg, Bennett, and Byers could also be impacted by this radar-indicated rotation.

Up to 60 mph winds and two-inch sized hail is possible. Weather service officials said a tornado is also possible in this warned area.

2:45 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | Inbound flights coming to Denver International Airport have been grounded due to thunderstorms, according to the FAA. The ground stop is in effect until 3:30 p.m.

2:29 p.m. | Tornado warning | A radar-indicated rotation capable of producing a tornado was located 5 miles east of Aurora, or 16 miles east of Denver, moving northeast at 15 mph, according to the NWS. Quarter-size hail is possible. The warned area includes a population of 1,542 people.

Watch coverage of that warning from Denver7 meteorologist Danielle Grant in the video below:

2:15 p.m. | Flash flood warning in Aurora | A flash flood warning has been issued for Aurora until 4:15 p.m., according to the NWS.

Weather service officials urge people in the area to avoid any low water crossings, and never drive through a flooded road. They said extremely heavy rain has fallen, with about 2 inches of precipitation in 45 minutes in the warning area below:

2:14 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for western and central Arapahoe County until 2:30 p.m., per the NWS. A storm near Aurora is moving northeast at ~15 mph.

Main threats are ping pong ballsized hail, damaging winds, dangerous lightning, and heavy rain. Denver7's Clara Faith says people in the area should take shelter indoors immediately.

1:39 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Aurora, DIA and Commerce City until 2:30 p.m. The NWS says the storm will contain two inch-sized hail, with up to 50 mph winds possible.

1:32 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Centennial, Greenwood Village and Lone Tree until 2:15 p.m. The storm is near Highlands Ranch moving northeast at 20 mph, per Denver7's Clara Faith.

The main threat from this storm is half dollarsized hail. Vehicle damage is possible. Stay indoors and away from windows.

1:05 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for Denver and Aurora through 1:45 p.m., according to the NWS.

Up to 50 mph winds and ping pong-sized hail are possible with this storm.

12:51 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm watch | A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for northeastern Colorado, including all of the Denver metro, through 8 p.m. Monday.

Tennis ball-sized hail, scattered gusts up to 75 mph and a couple of tornadoes are possible with this storm system, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. The jury trial has started for a Conifer man accused of shooting a boy in the face after the two teens went onto and then left his property looking for a place to take homecoming pictures. Prosecutors are arguing this was clear assault and the defense blamed the firearm for malfunctioning.

Brent John Metz's trial started Wednesday morning in Jefferson County.

This case started on Sept. 10, 2024. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) said two teens had trespassed on Metz's property, which is located along the 23000 block of Pleasant Park Road, as they searched for a place to take homecoming photos. At 4:15 p.m., a woman later identified as Metz's girlfriend called 911 to report trespassers, and then she called Metz.

When first responders arrived, they found two cars on the side of the road, and a 17-year-old who was bleeding from his face while another boy applied pressure to the wounds. Metz was nearby. JCSO said the injured teen told police that the two boys had been trying to find a place to take pictures and jumped the fence on the property to ask the homeowners for permission. However, they said nobody appeared home, so they walked back down the long driveway back to their car to write a note for the homeowners.

As they were doing that, Metz pulled up in a truck and fired one round through the other car's windshield, JCSO said. According to the affidavit, Metz tried to help after the shooting, but the uninjured teen pushed him away.

Metz was arrested and formally charged with second-degree assault (recklessly causing a serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon), two counts of felony menacing and illegal discharge of a firearm. All are felonies. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in April 2025.

The opening statements in his jury trial began on Wednesday morning.

Prosecutor Christopher Johnson began his opening statements by introducing the jury to the two teens at the center of this case. The 15-year-old and 17-year-old were lifelong friends. The 15-year-old had wanted to do something special for his girlfriend, and find a spot for homecoming photos. His friend had a new car, so they decided to scout out possible locations.

On Sept. 10, 2024, the boys went to Conifer and found a spot with a lake on private property, Johnson said. They walked down the driveway to find the owners to ask permission, but were unable to find anybody. They then left the property and went back to the 17-year-old's car, which he had parked along the public road.

They picked the wrong house and they picked the wrong people," Johnson said. "Because as youll see, Mr. Metz and (his girlfriend) dont like when there are kids on their property.

Metz's girlfriend was not charged in this case, so Denver7 is not publishing her name.

Johnson said Metz was watching the kids on his property's surveillance cameras and that his girlfriend was watching from the road.

At the car, the 15-year-old began to write a letter to ask permission to take photos on the property. Metz's girlfriend, who had called 911 to report trespassing, told dispatch that Metz was five minutes away. The dispatcher advised both of them to not approach whoever was on their property until law enforcement arrived.

If that had happened, none of you would be here," Johnson said to the jury, adding that instead of waiting, Metz and his girlfriend decided to "box in these boys" by parking Metz's truck in front of the 17-year-old's Audi.

Johnson said that Metz had a loaded 9mm handgun with a live round in the chamber on his person. As the 17-year-old opened the Audi's car door, Metz fired one shot through the windshield, the prosecutor said. The bullet entered the teen's nose and split into three pieces, including one piece that was lodged behind his left eyeball, Johnson said.

Somehow, (he) survives this," the prosecutor said, and the boy was able to keep his eye after surgery.

Johnson said that Metz "came in hot" and knew who was on his property because of the surveillance videos. Rather than wait for a law enforcement officer, as dispatch had instructed, he decided he would teach the boys a lesson, the prosecutor said.

He told the jury that the defense would make three arguments during the trial: One, they will say it was a justified reaction. Two, they will try to discredit the two teenagers. And three, they will try to blame the gun.

Johnson asked the jurors to find Metz guilty on all four counts against him.

The defense then presented their opening statements to the jury.

A defense attorney said Metz's intent was never to assault or menace the boys.

Defense attorney David Jones said Metz and his girlfriend were returning from errands in separate cars when the girlfriend saw a car blocking their driveway and people walking around the property. She called Metz and then 911. The dispatcher advised them to not confront the people on the property.

But Metz instead blocked them in. Jones said Metz's plan was to park his truck in front of the stranger vehicle, and then get into his girlfriend's car and wait for police.

Whenever he gets in and out of his truck, when hes carrying his sidearm, he takes it from his truck holster and moves it to his hip holster as hes getting out of his truck," Jones explained.

On this day, after he had parked in front of the teen's Audi, he grabbed his gun from the truck holster, moved it to his hip holster as he was getting out of the vehicle and went to step out. But his "foot didn't find the ground where he thought it would be," the defense attorney said.

"He loses his balance briefly and boom," Jones said. "This gun goes off. In his hand, without his intention and without his command, it went off.

A local expert who has owned a gun shop for more than 25 years will testify, Jones said, and will explain that the type of firearm Metz had a SIG Sauer P320 was one of the only guns that can unintentionally fire in people's holsters sometimes. That expert, who also has more than a decade of experience in law enforcement, does not allow that firearm in his gun safety classes because he knows it is unsafe. In addition, a crime scene investigator at the shooting scene found that the empty shell casing for the single bullet Metz fired was stuck in the gun, Jones said.

Jones said the two boys were at the property for an innocent purpose, even if it was minor trespassing. Everybody in the courtroom should agree that they should not have been shot for their actions, he said. The defense does not believe they are liars, but they had been through a traumatic event, which can alter a person's memory, he said, and alluded to a few changes in the boys' stories to law enforcement. They will have an expert testify on human memory as well.

He gave some background on Metz: He had never committed a crime and was a respected member of the community. His whole life was built around gun safety and ownership, from his time in Eagle Scouts to his service in the U.S. Air Force. He has carried a concealed carry permit since he was 19 years old and has been professionally trained on firearm safety.

Jones asked the jury to find Metz not guilty on all counts, calling the incident an accidental discharge and not reckless conduct.

The first witness who testified in the trial was 17-year-old Luke Brookhouser, who was 15 at the time of the shooting. Brookhouser was one of the boys who encountered Metz in September 2024.

It was his lifelong friend who was shot in the face next to him while Brookhouser was writing a note they intended to leave for the homeowners, requesting to use their property for homecoming pictures.

That note was found in a cup holder of the car by investigators, which started with "hello homeowner, my name is Luke."

On the stand, Brookhouser told the jury that was "a very traumatic experience for the both of us," and that they do not talk about that day very often. He insisted that has not impacted his recollection of the shooting.

The teenager continued to state that he recalled Metz saying a few things after his friend was shot, including "oh sh**, I shot a kid," and "oh sh**, my gun went off." Brookhouser believed Metz said both of those things, while the defense tried to cast doubt upon the validity of the first statement about shooting a child.

Brookhouser added that he did not hear Metz apologize after the incident.

Next, prosecutors called a handful of law enforcement officials to the witness stand, while admitting evidence that included photographs from the scene and body-worn camera footage related to the investigation.

In one photograph, a bullet hole can be seen in the windshield of the teenager's car, directly above the steering wheel where the head of a driver would normally be.

Photographs also showed blood running down the door jam of the driver side door, and bloody towels and a water bottle right outside of the car.

Inside of the truck that Metz was driving, a handgun was found on the center console. In total, four firearms were recovered from the truck.

In the body-worn camera footage that was played for the jury, the teenager who was shot in the face can be seen with blood running down his face as he answered questions from investigators.

We were waiting for him, to ask him, and then he got out of his car and shot," said the boy who was shot when describing what happened.

I was writing a letter to ask him if we could take photos on his property," Brookhouser said.

In addition, the jury saw photographs of the teenager's injuries following the shooting.

The trial continues on Thursday morning, and Denver7 will be in the courtroom.

DENVER Warm temperatures and active skies will set the stage for showers and thunderstorms later Thursday, with the Eastern Plains at risk for large hail, damaging winds and even an isolated tornado.

The I-25 Corridor and foothills may see less-intense storms, but afternoon and evening hours could bring significantly stronger weather to areas farther east, depending on how far humid air pushes westward.

Watch the latest forecast in the video below:

Denver7 chief meteorologist Lisa Hildago said earlier we could see a risk of severe weather mainly east of I-25 through early evening as a few of these cells could produce larger hail and damaging winds.

The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

9:32 p.m. | Flight delays | More than 750 flights have been delayed so far at DIA, per FlightAware. Nine have been canceled.

8:44 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning near Arriba | The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for part of Eastern Colorado in and around Arriba, warning of possible golf ball-sized hail and the potential for a tornado. The alert is in effect through 9:15 p.m.

6:54 p.m. | Ground stop extended | Ground stop for departures to DIA, first issued around 5 p.m., has been extended to 8 p.m.

5:52 p.m. | Tornado confirmed | NWS confirmed a tornado over Thurman, 35 miles northeast of Limon. Officials said the tornado was moving east at 15 mph. The NWS also warned of "baseball-sized hail" and flying debris that could be dangerous.

The agency said mobile homes will likely be damaged or destroyed, and damage to roofs, windows vehicles and trees is also likely.

5:45 p.m. | Latest weather update | Denver7 forecaster Clara Faith has the latest forecast as severe weather hits the Eastern Plains in the video below:

5:40 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | Flights coming into Denver are grounded until 6:30 p.m. due to wind, according to the FAA.

5:23 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning has been issued for Lindon and Anton until 6 p.m. after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located 9 miles south of Lindon, or 30 miles northeast of Limon, moving east at 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely, the NWS said.

4:52 p.m. | Tornado warning | A tornado warning has been issued for north central Lincoln County and southwestern Washington County until 5:30 p.m. after a radar-indicated tornado was identified 7 miles south of Last Chance, or 26 miles north of Limon, moving east at 20 mph, according to the NWS.

Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely, the NWS said.

Denver7 forecaster Clara Faith explains more about that tornado in the video below:

4:43 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning |A severe thunderstorm warning including Last Chance is in effect until 5:15 p.m.

Up to 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail is possible, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

4:31 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning including Iliff and Padroni is in effect until 5 p.m.

Up to 60 mph winds, quarter-sized hail, and a tornado are possible, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

3:31 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | A severe thunderstorm warning including Byers, Deer Trail and Peoria is in effect until 4:15 p.m.

Up to 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail is possible, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

2:53 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm watch | A severe thunderstorm watch has been issued for Cheyenne, Elbert, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Washington, and Yuma counties through 10 p.m. Thursday.

Isolated gusts of up to 70 mph are possible along with scattered hail up to two inches in size. Forecasters said "a couple tornadoes" are also possible.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

DENVER  A weather system that moved into Colorado overnight, bringing much-needed moisture to the state, might be overstaying its welcome after non-stop rain on Monday.

And Mother Nature might have taken the hint as the system begins to weaken as it moves eastward.

However, light showers may linger along the Front Range past midnight, with rain continuing near the southern foothills by early Tuesday.

But before it completely leaves the area, it has drenched the Front Range and dropped more than two inches of snow in parts of the High Country.

A winter storm warning remains in effect for parts of the north-central mountains, including Rocky Mountain National Park, where it turned the park into a winter wonderland after at least 2.4 inches fell in the area in the past 24 hours.

Park officials are advising guests that snow is sticking to roads and that the vehicle traction law is in effect within the park.

Clouds and higher lowlevel moisture tonight should keep most of the Denver and Boulder metro area just above freezing, though areas north and east of Denver may see patchy frost, including the Palmer Divide, where a freeze warning is in effect overnight.

Denver7s Maggy Wolanske visited Georgetown to see the snowy conditions. Dennis Durham, the town administrator, said these winter conditions are not surprising and are a welcomed sight given the drought conditions.

Well for our road and bridge team it's not out of the ordinary, said Durham. We expect this and we plan for it, so we're not surprised and we do need the precipitation. But we do have spring events coming up like Memorial Day, so we weren't very concerned at this point. We expected all to melt off by then.

Watch Maggy Wolanske's report in the player below:

Warmer weather is expected later in the week, the Memorial Day weekend events Durham is talking about are a pancake breakfast on Friday and pack burro races on Saturday.

Nathan Elder, manager of water supply at Denver Water, said this weather will only help a small amount with the drought conditions our state is currently in.

It's really going to be a huge snowpack next year or severe flooding this summer and we're all going to we're all going to know it, said Elder. We're about seven inches behind precipitation wise in our watersheds from the start of the water year in October, so it's really going to take a lot to make up that big deficit.

With precipitation in the forecast, Elder recommended turning off your sprinkler systems to let Mother Nature do the work for you and to look at your landscape to see if you should transition to a plant that is more appropriate for Colorado climate.

Tuesday and Wednesday will stay cool and unsettled with highs in the 50s and isolated lateday showers or storms near the higher terrain.

By Friday and into next weekend, temperatures should rebound to above normal with much drier weather returning.

MORE: Hourly forecast | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Stream live, current temperatures plus radars across Colorado anytime for free on the free Denver7+ app on your TV or watch from your computer or mobile phone anytime.

DENVER  Get ready for temperatures to take a nose dive, Denver. A much colder, wetter system will be arriving late Sunday into Monday, bringing widespread rain, mountain snow, and a sharp temperature drop.

The National Weather Service said a few flakes might even fall along the I25 corridor Monday afternoon, but accumulation is unlikely.

But before we see a return to winter-like weather, Sunday will bring another round of scattered storms with the best chance for severe weather on the far Northeast Plains, where hail will be the main threat.

Isolated strong to severe storms are possible this afternoon, with the highest risk for severe weather for the eastern plains and the Palmer Divide. Otherwise, expect beneficial rainfall this afternoon through Monday, the NWS said in an X post.

The barometer will begin to dip late Sunday and into Monday as widespread rain and mountain snow move into the area.

Mondays highs are expected to drop 2030 degrees from Sunday, with a morning freeze possible Tuesday morning across the Denver metro area and much of the plains.

The high country will likely see 4-15 inches of snow above 9,000 feet. The foothills are expected to get just a trace.

The northern I25 corridor is expecting up to 1.5 inches of rain on Monday.

On Tuesday, highs will climb a bit and stay in the 50s and 60s through midweek, with scattered afternoon showers possible on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A warming trend returns next weekend with highs back into the 70s and low 80s.

MORE: Hourly forecast | Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Stream live, current temperatures plus radars across Colorado anytime for free on the free Denver7+ app on your TV or watch from your computer or mobile phone anytime.

DENVER Warm temperatures and active skies will set the stage for showers and thunderstorms later today, with the Eastern Plains at risk for large hail, damaging winds and even an isolated tornado.

The I-25 Corridor and foothills may see less-intense storms, but afternoon and evening hours could bring significantly stronger weather to areas farther east, depending on how far humid air pushes westward.

The Denver7 meteorologist Stacey Donaldson said a weather disturbance moving overhead will help storms develop, while a boundary near our area separates humid air to the east from much drier air to the west. Where that boundary settles will play a big role in storm intensity if the moist air moves farther toward I-25, the threat of severe weather expands. In the most humid zones, a few storms may produce large hail, damaging gusts up to 70 mph, and a small chance for an isolated tornado.

Other locations will still see showers and storms later today, but with lower severe impacts. The unsettled pattern continues into Sunday as another weather system approaches. Showers and thunderstorms are expected again during the afternoon and evening, along with breezy north winds. Small shifts in moisture and front placement will be key to Sundays storm strength even with modest instability, strong winds higher in the atmosphere could support a few strong to severe storms.

The Denver7 News team is tracking the latest severe weather alerts and storm reports below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

5:02 p.m. | Severe storm near Proctor | Warning in effect until 6:00 p.m., said NWS in Boulder.

4:28 p.m. | Philips County severe storm | Warning in effect until 5:15 p.m., said NWS in Boulder.

4:02 p.m. | Lincoln County severe storm | Quarter sized-hail also possible in Lincoln County. Severe t-storm warning issued until 4:30 p.m.

3:59 p.m. | New severe t-storm warning | Quarter sized-hail possible in storm near Akron. Severe t-storm warning issued until 4:45 p.m.

3:30p.m. | CSU ceremonies impacted | CSU Police & Safety on social media said CHHS ceremonies would be delayed Saturday:

Their post on X:

"Colorado State University is anticipating weather this afternoon around 3:30-4 p.m. The CHHS recognition ceremonies at Moby Arena will experience a delay and will now start at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m."

3:27p.m. | Grass fire reported | The NWS in Boulder also said a grass fire was reported north of Colorado Air and Space Port. Here's their social post below:

"Heads up if you're near Bennett: Ongoing grass fire to the north of the Colorado Air and Space Port. Winds are currently out of the N and NE," posted the NWS.

3:24p.m. | Severe t-storm warning | A storm near Hugo could produce half dollar-sized hail and 60 mph winds.

3:05 p.m. | Severe t-storm watch issued | Several Northeastern Colorado counties are under a severe thunderstorm watch until 10 p.m., according to NWS in Boulder.

Colorado counties:

Kansas counties:

2:20 p.m. | Severe t-storm warning | NWS in Boulder is tracking a severe thunderstorm SW of Limon with quarter size hail possible

2:14 p.m. | Matheson storm |From NWS Boulder:

2:00 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm 'likely' |From NWS Storm Prediction Center:

1:45 p.m. | Tracking early stormss |From NWS in Boulder:

"A special weather statement has been issued for Simla CO and Matheson CO until 2:15 PM MDT"

12:45 p.m. | Stacey's Forecast | A weather disturbance moving overhead will help storms develop, while a boundary near the area separates humid air to the east from much drier air to the west.

Where that boundary ends up this afternoon will make a big difference in how intense the storms become. Areas farther east could see much stronger storms if the more humid air pushes westward. In that case, a few storms may produce large hail, damaging wind gusts around 70 mph, and even a small chance for an isolated tornado.

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream or watch below.

Julie Heins only planned to live in San Lazaro mobile home park for a short time. Nearly 40 years later, it is still the place she calls home.

More than 800 people live in the Boulder County mobile home park, and many of them share that same deep connection to the community.

"I've lived here for about eight years," resident Wendy Kinal said. "There's just a really good neighborhood and family feel and I feel safe here."

Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio spoke to residents about their concerns in the video player below:

Fellow resident Susana Rodriguez echoed that sentiment.

"I'm very proud to live here," Rodriguez said. "We have a very good community, very engaged."

But fear is growing after the park went up for sale at the end of March.

"It's a big problem," Heins said.

Residents worry a new owner will price out the people who live there by raising rent for their lots.

Heins told Denver7 right now, she pays about $1,000 per month.

"Whether or not the new landlord would be conscientious and mindful of their residents, it's a coin toss, and they will certainly raise lot rents," Heins said.

That fear is driving the community to take action by trying to become their own landlords.

"People are running out of options," Kinal said.

Residents are working to purchase the park at its $42.5 million price tag. Heins told Denver7 over 80% of residents are in support of forming a cooperative to purchase the community.

"It means more control with issues in the park that need to be addressed," Heins said.

But Heins knows the community cannot do it alone. The park is relying on help from the county and nonprofits like Together Colorado. Community organizer Susan Gibson is connecting residents with grants and other resources.

"If they cannot save this park by becoming their own landlord, the rents will start causing a lot of people to lose their homes, and that will be a huge pain for the entire county if that happens," Gibson said.

The clock is ticking. Residents have until early July to come up with the cash. But Heins is hopeful they can pull off the purchase.

"It would be so much better if we could do something to keep this as our home," Heins said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

NIWOT, Colo. A late-2025 controversy over a new minimum wage ordinance has reignited a long-running debate in Niwot: Should the town incorporate, or keep relying on the county for governance?

Supporters argue incorporation would allow residents to make their own decisions and protect the town's character. Opponents warn it would bring higher taxes, costly responsibilities and potential unintended consequences.

Watch Colin Riley's report in the player below:

The issue stems from Boulder County's minimum wage hike, which some Niwot residents and business owners opposed, fearing closures or layoffs. After pushback, the county later rolled back the increase to $16.82 for 2026, with a 3% increase each year through 2030. Those in favor of incorporation saw this battle as proof Niwot needs more control.

Denver7's Colin Riley was in Niwot on a snowy Friday in April to hear both sides of the debate from residents and business owners.

This current incorporation debate, its been brewing since about December, said Ari Adler, a Niwot resident who founded the website Neighbors for Niwot to rally opposition.

Adler said creating a municipal government would put a huge burden on the commercial tax base, or the businesses in town. He also worried about what he called a Feed the Beast mentality, where budget shortfalls could drive development decisions some residents oppose.

What happens if a developer comes in and says, Hey, I can put a big box store in that will solve your problems, or if theres an opportunity to annex land to generate revenue thats really concerning for me, Adler said.

Adler also said Niwot has proven it can influence county policy without incorporation, citing the wage reversal as an example of the county commissioner[s] really watching out for us and listening.

On the other side, Nick Little a business owner and president of the Niwot Incorporation Committee said the move would give residents more autonomy, especially regarding deteriorating roads.

Our roads are deteriorating. You go through the town and you see plants coming up through the roads, Little said.

Little said residents could run an efficient local government and ensure decisions reflect the towns character.

Nobody wants to see big box retailers here everybody here wants to preserve and protect Niwot, he said.

Both Adler and Little urged voters to weigh the decision carefully ahead of a possible November ballot measure. The incorporation committee has already filed a petition, and in the coming weeks, a Boulder County judge is expected to sign an order placing the initiative before voters.

On May 8, Neighbors for Niwot announced that it has officially registered as a campaign committee with Boulder County and the Colorado Secretary of State's office.

Think deeply about who you want to trust with your future, Little said. Are you willing to trust your neighbor, who you can see and you can experience, or do you want to trust people you dont know?

Adler added: Learn to talk to people in your neighborhood, and make sure youre informed in November about what this is all about, both the benefits and the risks.

While Adler fears tax increases with estimates of a four-mill property tax and a 2.5% sales and use tax increase could force some residents out of Niwot, Little believes incorporation would be worth it for local control and quicker road repairs.