Governor Polis appoints Susan Blanco to Colorado Supreme Court; Four dead, dozens injured in massive I-25 pileup near Pueblo; Fires cause evacuation on Eastern Plains

Headlines Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026

Governor Polis appoints Susan Blanco to Colorado Supreme Court

Governor Jared Polis has appointed Susan Blanco, the chief district court judge for Larimer and Jackson counties, to the Colorado Supreme Court. Blanco fills the vacancy left by Justice Melissa Hart, who resigned in December.

A Fort Collins native and daughter of Iranian immigrants, Blanco is a former prosecutor and defense attorney recognized for her work in expanding mental health services within the judicial system. During a news conference at the Capitol, Governor Polis praised Blanco’s “innovation and excellence” and a “strong operator”  who isn’t afraid to roll up her sleeves.

Blanco was selected from a pool of three finalists and became Governor Polis’s second appointment to the seven-member court. According to the Colorado Sun, she described the appointment as the “honor of a lifetime,” calling herself a living promise of the American dream.

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Four dead, dozens injured in massive I-25 pileup near Pueblo

At least four people are dead and 29 others are hospitalized following a massive 30-vehicle pileup on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo yesterday morning. The chain-reaction crash involved six semi-trucks and two dozen passenger vehicles, forcing a total closure of the interstate in both directions.

Colorado State Patrol reports that brown-out conditions caused by high winds and blowing dust reduced visibility to near zero at the time of the collision. More than 50 responders from 23 different agencies were called to the scene to assist, according to the Colorado Sun.

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Fires cause evacuation on Eastern Plains

Emergency crews were battling multiple fast-moving wildfires on Colorado’s Eastern Plains yesterday as powerful winds pushed flames through dry terrain. Evacuation orders were issued in Elbert and Lincoln counties after a fire sparked near Matheson rapidly spread east, while a separate fire broke out along the Weld and Morgan county line.

Low visibility from thick smoke and intense wind gusts has challenged efforts to assess the full scale of the damage, though officials said no structures have been lost. The fire on the border of Weld County and Morgan County was estimated to be 400 acres before firefighters successfully reached full containment late yesterday.

Red flag warnings remain in effect as dry, windy conditions are expected to persist through Wednesday across the plains and south of I-70.

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Colorado democrats propose new tax breaks

A new proposal from Colorado Democrats would end a series of tax breaks for businesses to help pay for a new child tax credit. The move is in large part a response to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump signed into law last year. The measure significantly reduced Colorado’s tax revenue. That triggered a temporary pause in the state’s Family Affordability Tax Credit, which provides up to thirty-two hundred dollars per child for families earning $95,000 a year or less.

Now, Democrats want to create a second, similar credit to fill the gap. To pay for it, they’d roll back business tax breaks on the state level that were created or expanded by the federal legislation. They’re also proposing several other tax code changes. One would block businesses from deducting the salaries of their highest-paid employees, which they can currently do up to a million dollars

 

Police chief hit 15-year-old with car

On Sunday, Greeley Police Chief Adam Turk hit a 15-year-old bicyclist with his unmarked police car. Following the collision, Turk provided first aid to the bicyclist, who was then transported to the local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Fox 31. The 15-year-old has since been released from the hospital, and the Colorado State Patrol is currently leading an investigation into the crash.

The collision occurred at 2:41 p.m. on Sunday while the police chief was off duty. According to Fox 31, the bicyclist failed to yield to traffic while switching lanes, which led to the unmarked car striking the right side of the bike.

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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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