DENVER — Afternoon showers on Thursday didn’t stop the unveiling of Monarch Montessori’s newest classroom — a yurt. But the journey to this day hasn’t been easy.

“When we first started looking at the yurt, I was told there is no possibility that you are going to get a yurt permitted in Denver, that would be impossible,” said Monarch Montessori Executive Director Laura Pretty. “That’s why the girls went to city council.”

In May, a group of young girls from the school stood in front of the Denver City Council and asked council members to help bring to life a new space for their music classes. During the meeting, the girls became the targets of a racist rant from an attendee watching via Zoom.

“We can use this as not something that’s going to tear us down, but something that’s going to build us up,” said Jerod Sarlow, a teacher at Monarch Montessori.

In the months that followed, Petty said the community rallied around them, raising money and getting permitting done in record time.

“What’s neat to see is it’s not impossible. We are a democracy, and we can raise our voice and we can make things happen,” said Pretty.

The round dome will serve as a space for music classes for grades K-5.

Packed with instruments, the room is an extension of the school’s other outdoor learning areas. The yurt has also become a symbol for the school.

“I hope that’s the lesson that the girls are taking away from this, that you can speak up and you can make a change and make something happen,” said Pretty.

“I don’t just feel that a child changed history. A child did change history,” said former Monarch Montessori parent Janice Resendez.

A day after Broncos rookie Bo Nix was named the starting quarterback for Week 1, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said the 24-year-old earned it.

Praising his ability to navigate within the pocket and use his mobility, Lombardi called Nix a “quick learner” who doesn’t make the same mistake twice.

“He understands what happened the first time, and he corrects it,” Lombardi said after Thursday’s practice. “He loves football. He studies it and learns every rep he gets.”

As an offensive coordinator for the Chargers, Lombardi heard about Nix through quarterback Justin Herbert — a former Duck. When Lombardi finally turned on Nix’s college film, he was impressed.

“You’re like ‘Wait, that’s not what I expected. Let me go back a year (and) let me watch some Auburn film,’” Lombardi said. “Everything I looked at, I liked.”

Nix’s ability to throw the deep ball was one of the concerns coming out of Oregon. Even though he completed 77.4% of his passes for the Ducks in 2023, 38.8% of those attempts were fewer than 10 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. Meanwhile, 19.5% of his passes were between 10 and 19 yards, and 10.9% were 20-plus yards because of Oregon’s offensive scheme.

Lombardi, on the other hand, believes Nix can let the ball fly.

“He’s got more arm talent than most people give him credit for,” Lombardi said.

Lombardi said it was hard to break the starting quarterback news to Zach Wilson and Jarrett Stidham, but both players have handled it like pros and understand the team’s decision.

As Stidham and Wilson continue to battle for the backup spot, Lombardi has been impressed with the latter’s development in recent weeks. Lombardi said Wilson’s accuracy has improved as he has gotten more comfortable with the wide receivers.

Lombardi mentioned that the former New York Jets quarterback wasn’t pleased with his performance against the Green Bay Packers but thought he responded by putting together a pair of “outstanding” practices.

“I think we’d be comfortable with any of them playing quarterback for us,” Lombardi said.

Punter battle remains “close”: The quarterback battle is over, but the punter competition between Riley Dixon and Trenton Gill is ongoing.

“It’s still close,” said special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica. “We plan on both players to get an opportunity in the final preseason game, and then we’ll see how it shakes out from there.”

Against the Packers, Gill punted the ball three times, averaging 48.7 yards per attempt, while Dixon had one attempt for 45 yards. Both players punted the ball inside the 20-yard line.

Wallace, Jones working their way back: Safety Brandon Jones and cornerback Levi Wallace practicing this week has been a pleasant sight for the Broncos.

Both players have missed a good chunk of practice time and were sidelined for the first two preseason games due to hamstring injuries. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said it has been important for Wallace and Jones to be back on the field.

Joseph called Wallace a “super smart” player, so hasn’t been concerned about the former Steelers cornerback falling behind. Joseph said Jones is in a different situation due to playing safety and understanding new play calls.

“Playing football and being in the meeting room is different,” Joseph said. “When guys miss time, it’s critical they get back to the playing field and also off the field, having their studies in check.”

Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.

Originally Published: August 22, 2024 at 3:22 p.m.

Afternoon thunderstorms moving across Colorado on Thursday could bring flash floods, large hail and strong winds, according to the National Weather Service.

Widespread showers and thunderstorms are forecast across the mountains today, and will gradually spread into the Interstate 25 corridor and plains this afternoon and evening, NWS forecasters said in a hazardous weather alert Thursday.

Thunderstorms will bring heavy rain and possible flash flooding, especially over alpine burn scars, according to the hazardous weather outlook.

In areas where fire burns hot or long enough — including burn scars left by the Cameron Peak fire in Jackson and Larimer counties, the East Troublesome fire in Grand and Larimer counties, the Williams Fork fire in Grand County and the Alexander Mountain fire in Larimer County — the soil develops a water-repellant layer that reacts like rain on pavement, weather officials said.

Rainfall that would normally be absorbed by the forest canopy and loose tree litter on the ground instead runs off, starting flash floods during periods of heavy rain.

“If you can look uphill from where you are and see a burnt-out area, you are at risk,” NWS meteorologists said.

Gusty winds and hail are the main threats over Denver and east of the metro area, forecasters said in the hazardous weather outlook.

Expected wind speeds and hail sizes were not available Thursday morning, but NWS categorizes “strong” winds as 60 mph or more and “large” hail as hail from 1 inch to 1 3/4 inch in diameter — between the size of quarters and golf balls.

Storms will be most active in Denver between 5 p.m. and midnight, and strongest across the Eastern Plains between 2 p.m. and midnight, according to NWS meteorologists.

Denver will see temperature highs of 86 degrees Thursday before dropping into the low 60s overnight, according to forecasters.

Severe weather will continue throughout the week in the mountains and upper foothills, but the metro area can expect only mild afternoon showers through the weekend, forecasters said.