Heat Spreads East -- As Do Storms, Wildfire Smoke

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene as the calendar flips to 2025 with a Denver rout of Atlanta. Among the topics discussed: Jamal Murray’s annual slow start to the season appears to finally be in the rearview mirror.

Rick George saved CU football by hiring Deion Sanders. Now comes the hard part: keeping him. Sanders made CU relevant over the past two seasons, turning a one-win team into one of the most-watched programs in college football. The Buffs finished 9-4 this season and were tied atop the Big 12 standings until BYU skunked them in the Alamo Bowl.

By BRETT MARTEL NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish found the right balance of family and football to produce a memorable performance under unprecedented, emotionally trying circumstances. Riley Leonard passed for a touchdown, Jayden Harrison returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score, and Notre Dame’s defense made it hold up in a 23-10 victory over No.

Perhaps more than any player in the NBA today, Michael Porter Jr. is the actualization of positional size, a basketball principle that drives front offices such as Denver’s. He’s a “small forward” only in title, towering over most wings with a 6-foot-10 stature that doubles the potency of his 3-pointer. There is no such thing as a contested shot for Porter, who’s 42% from the perimeter this season. Atlanta’s Trae Young represents the polar opposite of positional size.

A teenager was injured after falling 30 feet into a decommissioned missile silo north of Watkins on New Year’s Day, according to South Metro Fire Rescue officials. First responders were called around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday to a property in the 4500 block of South Imboden Road after a group of three people – two teenagers and an adult – were messing around with the lid of the missile silo and one of the teenagers fell in, said South Metro spokesperson Brian Willie. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | One injured in house fire near Cherry Creek State Park Crime and Public Safety | Two workers rescued from trench at Centennial construction site Crime and Public Safety | Northbound South University Boulevard reopens after crash Crime and Public Safety | Man arrested after running person over in Littleton, fleeing the scene The boy’s fall was broken by about 4 feet of water at the bottom of the silo, and he was able to stand with his head above water while a team of two rescuers used a rope system to reach him, stabilize him and get him out.

Denver’s defense achieved a significant milestone, and defensive coordinator Vance Joseph wanted to make sure his players understood it. The Broncos have set the franchise record for most sacks in a single season with 58. They accomplished the feat after totaling seven sacks in their 30-24 overtime loss to the Bengals last week in Cincinnati.