Today on the Spotlight, our crew explored why Winter Park Resort is so much more than a snowy winter destination. Nestled in Colorado’s breathtaking Fraser Valley along the Continental Divide, this mountain escape transforms into an outdoor paradise once the snow melts—offering cool temperatures, endless sunshine, and adventures for every kind of traveler.

Just 70 minutes from Denver and one of the closest major mountain resorts to Denver International Airport, Winter Park makes it easy to trade city life for alpine views. Surrounded by towering 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks, the resort delivers postcard-worthy scenery with summer temperatures that rarely climb above 80 degrees. Add in more than 300 days of sunshine each year, and it’s easy to see why so many visitors are discovering Winter Park as a perfect warm-weather getaway.

The resort village itself offers plenty of charm, with lodging, dining, shopping, and activities all conveniently located in one walkable area. Whether you’re looking for high-energy thrills or a laid-back mountain retreat, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the outdoors.

One of the most popular summer attractions is the scenic gondola ride, which carries guests up to 10,700 feet for unforgettable panoramic views of the Continental Divide, colorful wildflowers, and towering aspen groves. Adventure seekers can race down Colorado’s longest alpine slide or hit the trails to explore more than 3,000 acres of scenic hiking terrain. For those wanting to relax, Sunspot Mountain Lodge offers mountaintop dining with incredible views.

As the sun begins to set, the mountain comes alive with happy hour gatherings and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, creating the perfect atmosphere to unwind after a day of adventure.

Winter Park is also home to the legendary Trestle Bike Park, one of the top downhill mountain biking destinations in the country. Opening Memorial Weekend, the park features more than 40 miles of gravity-fed downhill trails designed for riders of all skill levels. Advanced bikers can tackle technical terrain, while beginners can ease into the sport with mellow trails, rental gear, and lessons available onsite. Visitors who prefer a more relaxed ride can explore the area with e-bike rentals and guided mountain tours.

Beyond the resort, Winter Park serves as an ideal base camp for exploring some of Colorado’s most iconic outdoor destinations. The quieter west entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park is only about 35 minutes away, offering fewer crowds and incredible opportunities to spot wildlife like moose and elk.

And for travelers wanting to spend time on the water, Grand Lake, Lake Granby, and Shadow Mountain Lake are all within about an hour of the resort, offering boating, fishing, paddling, and even more mountain recreation opportunities.

From scenic gondola rides and alpine slides to mountain biking, hiking, lakeside escapes, and national park adventures, Winter Park truly lives up to its reputation as Colorado’s gateway to summer fun. Visitors looking to plan their next mountain getaway can find lodging deals, trailside stays, and a full calendar of summer events at Winter Park Resort.

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — Authorities say a man charged with murder is now bound over for trial.

Around 9 a.m. on January 2, Oklahoma City police were called to a home in the 500 block of Helm Pkwy, near S.E. 89th and Shields.

When officers arrived, they found the body of 51-year-old Willie Cook inside the home.

Investigators say Cook and 53-year-old Ryan McIntosh were inside the home when McIntosh allegedly pulled out a gun and shot Cook.

McIntosh left the scene but was later arrested for the crime.

McIntosh is now facing charges for first-degree murder, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction.

He is currently being held on a $10 million bond.

McIntosh’s formal arraignment is set for June 17, 2026.

The general manager role in college sports remains in its infancy. Oklahoma took a forward-thinking step by hiring Jim Nagy in early 2025 to model an NFL-style front office, but the evolving position still comes with its share of challenges.

“You don’t want to take a high school kid and pay them more than an All-American player/All-Conference player (on your roster),” Nagy said on the most recent episode of university president Joseph Harroz Jr.’s podcast, Conversations With the President.

On the episode, Nagy and Harroz addressed a number of topics but got into what the Sooner general manager hopes for the future — a freshman salary cap. That belief grew from something he learned early in the job.

“One blind spot I had coming into the job was I didn’t think the players would talk as much, and share the information as much,” Nagy said.

That leaves Nagy trying to balance retention, compensation and recruiting without creating friction in the locker room — concerns that make Nagy believe a freshman salary cap is necessary.

“If you wanted to, ‘fix’ isn’t the right word, but land in a good spot for the greater good of college football is some sort of freshman salary cap,” Nagy said. “That’s one of my biggest challenges. The acquisition costs out of high school is so high.”

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Nagy praised Oklahoma’s culture, noting that a key prerequisite for the job was ensuring he and his staff were in lockstep with Brent Venables’ vision for the program, something he said has come to fruition.

“You have to go after great players, you have to get the top talent,” Nagy said. “But right now, it can be at the expense of your culture, which coach Venables and the coaching staff have worked so hard to develop. If we had some sort of rookie/freshman cap, that would alleviate that issue.”

Despite these challenges, Nagy has integrated himself within Venables’ program and helped accent football’s mission of “adaptive and forward thinking.” He mentioned that during prep for Alabama last December, the front office was busy at work in attempting to retain their roster for the following season — something made easier by Venables’ leadership.

“Our ability to retain our starters, give our coaching staff a ton of credit, because our players want to be here.”

But Nagy understands any changes will take time. Until then, Oklahoma’s front office is building the best Brent Venables-led program it can, with championship aspirations and a clear understanding of how the current landscape works.

Still, he feels that his desired change would benefit the “greater good of the sport.” Oklahoma is prepared if that change comes sooner or later.

“A CBA model, there is a model in place,” Nagy said. “At least for football, I’m not going to speak to the other sports, there is a model out there that has shown to work. We don’t have to completely copy and paste what the NFL does, but if we went to a similar structure, we could find a good spot.”

When asked if that’s where he felt the sport would land — collective bargaining agreements — Nagy said “yes” with confidence.

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