Bird flu hits Weld County; Lindsey Vonn airlifted after crashing in last downhill before Olympics; Polis signs Healthy Choice Waiver

Headlines Monday, February 2, 2026

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    MorningMagazine_2026-02-02 KGNU News

Bird flu hits Weld County

As of last Thursday evening, state officials have issued a disaster declaration after bird flu was discovered at a Weld County commercial egg farm. 9News reports that hundreds of chickens have now been culled to prevent the spread of the suspected flu. The state is currently waiting to get samples back from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Iowa for confirmation of a positive test. As of now, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) says there are no confirmed cases in humans. 

In 2024, at least 10 Coloradans were confirmed to have contracted the virus, including nine workers on Weld County poultry farms. There were no reported deaths. This comes after a December warning by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) that the risk of avian flu can rise in winter due to migrating birds like ducks and geese. The declaration Thursday was issued by Lt. Governor Dianne Primavera, as Governor Jared Polis was in Washington D.C. to attend the Colorado River negotiation meeting.

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Lindsey Vonn airlifted after crashing in last downhill before Olympics

Alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn had to be airlifted from the course Friday morning after she lost control while finishing a jump. The race took place in extreme conditions as visibility for the racers was limited. Of the six racers who took to the course, three of them crashed. Following Vonn’s crash, the race was cancelled for the rest of the skiers. 

Heading into the Olympics, Vonn was expected to be one of the stars of the games. The skier has various records in the Women’s division, but most impressively has the third-highest super ranking among all skiers in the world. The 41-year-old expressed her frustration with this untimely injury, but also set out to come back and complete her dream. Hours after the injury, Vonn said, “My Olympic dream is not over.” This is all according to Denver7.

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Polis signs Healthy Choice Waiver

Colorado is moving closer to changing what people can buy with SNAP benefits, but that decision isn’t final yet.

Governor Jared Polis has signed on to what’s known as a Healthy Choice Waiver, which would restrict certain drink purchases under the Federal Food Assistance Program, framing the move as a way to improve public health.

The proposal still needs approval from the State Board of Human Services, which is scheduled to take it up on Feb. 6. If approved, the changes would take effect in April. Supporters say limiting sugary drinks and other items could help address diet-related health issues. But national research, including studies published by the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior and Healthy Eating Research have found limited evidence that restricting SNAP purchases actually leads to better health outcomes.

Studies have shown more success with a different approach, programs that make healthy food more affordable, like double up food bucks, which offers SNAP participants more money for buying fruits and vegetables. Advocates say the debate comes down to whether improving nutrition is better achieved through limits on personal choice or by expanding access and affordability for healthier options.

For now, SNAP recipients in Colorado are being encouraged to share their feedback and to watch closely as the state board makes its final decision.

This story was reported by Lacy Mackay for Rocky Mountain Community Radio.

Counties agree on Rocky Flats signage

Boulder County Open Space and the City of Westminster have finally come to an agreement for warning signage at Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, according to the Daily Camera. The signs will be posted at several trail entrances and connection points recently added to Rocky Flats, which is the site of a former nuclear weapon plant for 70,000 plutonium bomb triggers. 

The city council of Westminster voted last year not to build easy connections to Rocky Flats, citing safety concerns. Boulder and Westminster border Rocky Flats to the north and east.

Activists from the Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center and Physicians for Social Responsibility Colorado, who spearheaded the efforts to get the warning signs put up, said they are happy with the final language, which warns that visiting for recreational activities “may expose you to radioactive materials.” 

A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Health and Environment said the department was not consulted about the language used in the signage. CDPHE’s chief medical officer has said, “There’s no additional radiation risk to people who recreate in the refuge area.”

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Flatiron Freddy is Boulder’s Punxsatawney Phil

It’s Groundhog Day, and as we speak, Boulder’s own Flatiron Freddy is predicting the weather at the Chautauqua ranger cottage in Boulder. Every Feb. 2 at 8 a.m., people gather to find out whether Freddy, who is a taxidermied marmot, predicts a longer winter or an early spring. It’s an 18-year-old Open Space and Mountain Parks tradition, and if you’re not there in person, you can live-stream the event on the City of Boulder’s YouTube channel.

 

You can hear daily headlines on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show with coverage of local and regional public affairs and news with headlines and commentary. Click here to listen to full episodes of the Morning Magazine.

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