Your Daily Guide

⚡ Do You Know How to Stay Safe From Lightning Strikes?

Colorado ranks third in the nation for lightning-related fatalities (behind Florida and Texas). With more storms heading our way this weekend, it’s a good time to refresh our lightning safety basics. [Weather.gox; 9News]

• What you should know: The average person has about a 1 in 13,000 chance of being struck, but after lightning killed a 15-year-old boy on top of Mount Blue Sky last month, it’s important to remember just how deadly Colorado’s storms can be. [Denver7]
• Summit by noon? Not always. Many Colorado hikers are familiar with the saying “summit by noon,” but according to Lloyd Athearn, executive director of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, an even safer approach is to check the weather for that day beforehand. You should also be prepared to respond to conditions as they arise, as weather patterns can shift quickly — especially on top of high peaks like 14ers. Sometimes, being prepared means turning back early if signs of storms start to form. [Denver Post 🔐]
• How to react to lightning: If you hear thunder and see lightning, you’re close enough to get struck. Get inside of a building or a car if that’s the only shelter nearby. The outer metal shell of a vehicle acts as a protective shield, transmitting the lightning’s energy around the person inside and into the ground. If there’s no shelter nearby, get low, crouch in a fetal position, and stay there. [11News; National Weather Service]

🍰 Cap Hill Launches First ‘Third Saturdays’ This Weekend

A group of businesses in Capitol Hill are teaming up to host their inaugural “Third Saturdays on 13th” event, which encourages people to patronize their restaurants and shops using special events and discounts. “I like this area having an identity,” Jelly Cafe owner Josh Epps told Denverite of this new promotion. “I feel like it’s been kind of lost for a while.” [Denverite]

🚅 RTD to Expand Service for Busy Weekend of Events

RTD will add more cars to its C, E, W, and N light rail lines for the busy weekend ahead. A Zach Bryan concert at Empower Field at Mile High and Banana Ball at Coors Field are just some of the events taking place over the next few days.

• Pro tip: Use RTD’s NextRide planning app to find your best option. [Denver7]

🛑 Gun Rights Supporters Move to Block New Safety Law

The Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA) filed for a temporary injunction against a new gun regulation that went into effect earlier this month. The law requires individuals to undergo additional safety measures, background checks, and testing before they can own certain semiautomatic weapons. The CSSA is already suing multiple state officials, including Gov. Jared Polis, but the latest filing argues that the law is too expensive and complicated to implement. [Colorado Newsline]

• The big picture: Many Democrats initially wanted to ban sales of semiautomatic weapons with detachable magazines, but Polis refused to sign an outright ban. They ultimately compromised instead on this new law, which enforces stricter requirements for ownership.

🩰 A New Era for Denver Ballet?

Will more Denverites go to the ballet because of Colorado Ballet’s new Bridge to Ballet program and Pay What You Can tickets? In today’s City Cast Denver podcast episode, we talk about how local organizations are trying to make the arts more accessible (and how you can tap in). [City Cast Denver 🎧]