Denver News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now!

Big news for Pokémon fans! The LEGO Group and The Pokémon Company are releasing the first-ever LEGO Pokémon sets, launching February 27, 2026. Pre-orders start today. The debut includes Pikachu, Eevee, Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise. These sets feature poseable designs and classic scenes, with Pikachu having 2050 pieces and the massive display set with Venusaur, Charizard, and Blastoise using over 6800 pieces. Eevee gets its own 587-piece set with movable limbs and app integration. Fans are thrilled, calling it a dream come true after 30 years of Pokémon hype. A digital scavenger hunt offers prizes, including a trip to the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. Pokémon Center offers free Kanto Region badges with pre-orders of the big starter set, while supplies last. Checkout Solipillow.com

West Metro Fire Rescue swiftly extinguishes structure fire at vacant Lakewood building, preventing spread to nearby properties. No injuries reported, investigators probe cause, including potential connection to previous October fire. Checkout Solipillow.com

West Virginia becomes the first state to ban seven synthetic food dyes, inspired by a foster parents experience. This move is part of a broader trend, with seventy-five bills in thirty-seven states in 2025. The Make America Healthy Again agenda, backed by both Republicans and Democrats, is driving this change. Food companies are pledging to drop some dyes, and trade groups want members to phase out artificial dyes by 2027. States are also expanding efforts to regulate vaccines, forever chemicals, and SNAP benefits. More states are considering ultraprocessed food bans and restrictions on additives, as federal action lags. Checkout Solipillow.com

Lindsey Heaps, USWNT captain and Colorado native, returns to join Denver Summit FC in June, marking a significant moment for the team and fans. With an impressive resume including NWSL, UEFA Womens Champions League, and international titles, Heaps brings hometown pride and leadership to the pitch. Checkout Solipillow.com

Mattel introduces its first Barbie doll representing autism, collaborating with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. The doll features special details like movable elbows and wrists, side-glancing eyes, and a comfortable outfit. This addition to the Fashionistas line promotes inclusivity, with previous dolls representing Type one diabetes and Down syndrome. The autistic Barbie is now available, expanding representation in playtime. Checkout Solipillow.com

In the fall of 2021, a rare COVID-19 outbreak occurred at the Denver Zoo, infecting Amur tigers, African lions, and spotted hyenas. A new study in Nature Communications reveals how the virus behaved within these big cats and hyenas in a controlled zoo setting. The outbreak likely began with a single human-to-animal transmission event involving a rare Delta sublineage. Tigers showed mild respiratory symptoms first, followed by lions and hyenas. Despite heavy precautions, the virus spread, providing scientists with a unique opportunity to observe its evolution across species. The virus evolved differently in each animal, building genetic diversity and adapting to species-specific differences in body temperature and lung biology. This study offers insights into viral jumps between species and may contribute to future vaccine development. Checkout Solipillow.com

Pueblo County officials order Riverstone Academy closure due to safety concerns, sparking concern among supporters. Leaders must confirm shutdown plans by Monday or face court action, with uncertainty surrounding the schools future. Checkout Solipillow.com

Barry Morphew, accused of killing his wife Suzanne, is set to enter a plea in an Alamosa County courtroom. Suzannes body was found in the San Luis Valley, three years after her disappearance, with an autopsy confirming homicide. Investigators found a tranquilizing drug mix in her bones, with Barry being the only private citizen in the area with access to those exact drugs. Initially charged with first-degree murder, the case was dropped before trial due to the discovery of Suzannes remains. Prosecutors and defense team have since exchanged accusations, with the case now set to resume at one thirty p.m. on Monday. Checkout Solipillow.com

Beloved RV Park in Sheridan, Colorado, to Close for Apartment Complex; Residents Face Displacement Amid Housing Crunch The Flying Saucer RV Park, a long-standing low-cost housing option in Sheridan, Colorado, is set to close by the end of June, making way for a new apartment complex. The park, which has been home to dozens of long-term residents, will be replaced by a three hundred sixty-two-unit apartment complex, leaving many residents facing displacement amid the states ongoing affordable housing crisis. The property, which has been owned by a family for seventy-five years, was sold to Indiana-based Garrett Companies due to rising costs and maintenance. The city council approved the rezoning in November, and while Garrett Companies plans to hire a consultant to help residents find new housing, the new apartments will be market-rate, with rents likely ranging from one thousand six hundred to two thousand six hundred dollars a month. Residents, such as Steve Ohlfest, who has lived in the park for twenty-one years, are struggling to find affordable housing options in metro Denver, with few year-round RV options and higher rates everywhere. The closure of the park has also been met with frustration over poor communication from the city and park owners, with some residents receiving short-notice evictions after others skipped rent. Checkout Solipillow.com