The Rockies were on the cusp of the most incredible comeback since Rocky Balboa decked Clubber Lang. An exaggeration? Of course. But the Rockies only needed to land one more punch in Rocky’s City of Brotherly Love. Alas, it never came, and the Phillies escaped with a 7-6 win Wednesday night at Citizens Bank Park to complete a three-game sweep. The Rockies, who finished 1-5 on their road trip, are 4-15 to begin the season — the worst start in franchise history. In the ninth, the Rockies had the tying run at second base in pinch runner Nolan Jones, who was running for Elehuris Montero, who hit a ..read more

Balkan spirits and Detroit-style slices were served to the various factions of the Denver Nuggets as they learned which opponent they would be facing in the playoffs. Jambalaya is officially off the table. It’s Nuggets vs. Lakers for the third time in five years after Los Angeles knocked off the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night. Before the defending champions got to work Wednesday with their first matchup-focused practice of the week, they enjoyed some quality time together with multiple NBA Play-In Tournament watch parties. The players met at Nikola Jokic’s house for the game. The coache ..read more

Colorado lawmakers are abandoning plans to overhaul the Regional Transportation District’s governing board and change how its members are selected after transit officials blasted the plan. Reps. William Lindstedt and Meg Froelich said Wednesday that they are still set to pursue other RTD reforms through House Bill 1447. But they said they plan to drop the bill’s most contentious provision: a plan to eventually cut the board’s size down from 15 elected, voting members to seven voting members — with five elected and two appointed by the governor. Froelich and Lindstedt told fellow legislators th ..read more

A week after helping guide the University of Denver hockey team to its 10th national title, juniors Massimo Rizzo and Shai Buium signed entry-level contracts with NHL franchises. Rizzo inked a two-year deal with the Philadelphia Flyers, while Buium agreed to a three-year pact with the Detroit Red Wings that starts in the 2024-25 season, the teams announced on Wednesday, Rizzo, 22, was the Pioneers’ No. 3 scorer this past season with 44 points (10 goals, 34 assists) and finished his DU career with 126 points (39 goals, 87 assists) over 107 games as the 102nd member of DU’s 100-point club. The B ..read more

KEVIN FREKING (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Mike Johnson has unveiled a long-awaited package of bills that will provide military aid to Ukraine and Israel, replenish U.S. weapons systems and give humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza. The package totals $95.3 billion in spending, which matches the total that the Senate passed in mid-February. But there are also a few differences with the Senate bill designed to win over some House conservatives. Here’s a look at what is in the bills that Johnson hopes to pass by this weekend. UKRAINE The aid to support Ukraine totals abou ..read more

When Ross Colton scored his 15th goal of the season last month, he turned and jumped into the arms of Zach Parise. It was a great moment for Colton, who grew up in New Jersey with Parise as one of his favorite players. Colton has a photo of that embrace, and he intends to find a frame for it. He might want to grab another photo with one of his teenage idols Thursday night. Colorado Avalanche center Ross Colton (20) celebrates his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets with teammate Zach Parise (9) in the second period at Ball Arena in Denver on Friday, March 22, 2024. Columbus Blue Jacket ..read more

By ED WHITE (Associated Press) The U.S. Justice Department has agreed to pay approximately $100 million to settle claims with about 100 people who say they were sexually assaulted by sports doctor Larry Nassar, a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The deal has not been finalized and no money has been paid, the source said on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak before a formal announcement. An internal investigation found that FBI agents mishandled abuse allegations by women more than a year before Nassar wa ..read more

Denver police arrested businessman Jay Bianchi this week on suspicion of sexual assault and unlawful sexual contact three years after women in Colorado’s music scene came forward with allegations against the former jam-band bar owner. Bianchi was booked into Denver’s Downtown Detention Center on Tuesday on suspicion of six counts of sexual assault and one count of unlawful sexual contact related to three separate cases, according to the Denver Police Department. The incidents occurred in 2020 and 2024, according to police. An arrest affidavit detailing the allegations against Bianchi was ..read more

Just because Cleveland made another mistake by the lake does not mean the Broncos must reciprocate. Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton missed the first day of voluntary workouts this week — he is not required to attend — because he is angling for a new contract, according to an NFL Network report. It’s hard to blame the veteran after watching the Browns acquire his former teammate Jerry Jeudy and sign him to a three-year contract extension with $41 million guaranteed. Sutton outperformed Jeudy by every measure last season, most notably in reaching the end zone. Sutton scored a team-best 10 touc ..read more

A 45-year-old woman was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and tampering with a deceased body in the death of 48-year-old Nicole Meagher, according to the Westminster Police Department. Officers responded to a call about a suspicious death at Toscana Apartments in the 8400 block of Sheridan Boulevard the afternoon of Oct. 7 and found Meagher’s body, according to Westminster police and the Adams County Coroner’s Office. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Suspect in fatal Glendale shooting turns himself in; one still at-large Crime and Public Safety | Denver police and firs ..read more