🌱 Surgeries Canceled As CO Hospitalizations Surge: Officials

Hey, fellow Denverites! It's me again, Amber Fisher, your host of the Denver Daily. Let's get your Saturday off to a good start with the latest news, and some spooky Halloween events.

First, today's weather:

You can expect a pleasant Saturday with clouds and sun. High: 69 Low: 42.

Here are the top stories today in Denver:

1. Important surgeries are being canceled or delayed as hospitalizations surge in Colorado, public health officials said. Counties with lower COVID-19 vaccination rates are being hit the hardest. As of Thursday, only 120 ICU beds were available across our state, Gov. Jared Polis said. (Denver Patch)
2. A husband and wife are going to prison after they shot at other drivers in metro Denver, CBS reports. The pair fired shots at a young boy, his father and his grandfather who were heading out for a family camping trip, prosecutors said. One shot was inches away from striking the boy. (CBS Denver)
3. In January, Xcel Energy will drop a monthly fee for gas users after a settlement was reached with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, a report says. (Denver Patch)
4. Denver School Board candidate Scott Esserman paid current board member Tay Anderson $5,000 to be a campaign consultant, according to expenditure records obtained by CBS. (CBS Denver)
5. For the second weekend in a row, the Pikes Peak shuttle lot will be open temporarily at Denver International Airport in anticipation of a busy travel weekend. The lot is open from 4:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today, the airport said. The lot has been closed since last year due to staffing challenges. (Denver Patch)

Today in metro Denver:

• PalmerTrolls Comedy Show at Rise (7 p.m.)
• Whiskey Warmer event in Centennial (1 p.m.)
• Broadway Halloween Parade (6 p.m.)
• Witch Fest at Elitch Gardens (6 p.m.)

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Events:

• SoulRay's R&B and Funk are LIVE at BOCO Cider (Oct. 23)
• Psychic Medium John Edward live in Denver (Nov. 7)
• Dakota Ridge Soccer Indoor Clinic/Tournament (Nov. 14)
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You're all caught up for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with your next update. If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. I've covered high-profile court cases, civil rights abuses, mass shootings, natural disasters and major crimes — but also countless happy news stories about kindness, innovation and resilience. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Denver Daily? Reach out anytime to amber.fisher@patch.com.