The Rocky Mountain region recorded its third busiest ski season since record-keeping began in 1978, according to recently released preliminary data from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA).

Why it matters: The early figures highlight that demand for winter sports in the Mountain West is on the rise.

By the numbers: U.S. ski areas tallied around 61.5 million visits during the 2024-25 season, a nearly 2% increase from the previous season and the highest total since 2022-23.

• Visits to the Rocky Mountain region — which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — accounted for almost 43% of national visits.

What they're saying: "The 2024-25 season may come to represent a new baseline for the industry. Even if 'normal' continues to evolve, this season gives us a strong point of reference for what steady, healthy growth looks like," NSAA president and CEO Michael Reitzell said in a statement.

Zoom in: Eldora, Boulder County's only ski area, had a "a fantastic and very successful season," spokesperson Sam Bass told Axios Boulder.

• He could not release specific visitor or financial information for the resort's 2024-2025 season.

Between the lines: The 2022-23 ski season was considered a pandemic-driven "anomaly" fueled by an increase in outdoor recreation.

The intrigue: Season pass holders accounted for about half of the visits in the U.S., while people with standard day lift tickets made up 32% of visits.

A federal judge halted deportation proceedings against the family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the man charged in Boulder's flamethrower attack, per a temporary order yesterday.

The big picture: U.S. District Judge Gordon Gallagher's order ruled that "deportation without process could [cause] irreparable harm."

Driving the news: The Department of Homeland Security alleged Soliman was in the country illegally after his B2 visa expired in February 2023.

• The 45-year-old, an Egyptian national, faces charges of federal hate crime and attempted murder.
• His wife and five children, including four minor sons and daughters — all of whom are Egyptian citizens — were taken into custody by ICE on Tuesday "for expedited removal," the White House posted.

For the record: The family has not been charged, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Todd Lyons told Fox News on Tuesday they had "overstayed their visa."

🚨 FBI Director Kash Patel's Sunday social media post labeling the Pearl Street Mall incident "a targeted terror attack" caught local law enforcement off guard because "the FBI was not a 'co-agent' in the investigation" until later Sunday. Police Chief Stephen Redfearn said they were close to making that determination, but didn't want to risk walking it back. (Denver Post)

• The chief added that upcoming events — particularly those involving the Jewish community — will see heightened security, though the city is aiming to avoid a lasting "military state" feel.

🐔 Chicken N Pickle, a national chain of pickleball entertainment venues, is expected to open its first Colorado location in Thornton later this month. (Denver Post)

🏔️ Old Fall River Road on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park is closed from 6am to 4:30pm Tuesdays through Fridays to all users, including pedestrians and cyclists, amid spring snow plowing. The partial closure is expected through June. (Boulder Daily Camera)

Older Americans are increasing their use of marijuana to a point where some geriatricians are warning about the drug's health risks.

The big picture: U.S. marijuana use among those 65 and older surged nearly 46% from 2021 to 2023, according to new research in JAMA Internal Medicine.

• The rapid adoption of state marijuana laws and commercialization of cannabis helped drive much of the increase. But there also are changing social dynamics that make marijuana more acceptable for dealing with chronic pain, stress and other conditions.

What they found: 7% of adults 65 and older said they'd used cannabis in the past month in 2023, per data from the federally administered National Survey on Drug Use and Health analyzed by researchers at University of California San Diego and NYU.

• That's an increase from 4.8% in 2021, and 5.2% in 2022.

The fine print: The data doesn't distinguish between recreational and medical cannabis use, though increased prevalence was associated with several health conditions including hypertension, diabetes and COPD.

Zoom out: Geriatricians say more research and better patient and clinician education on marijuana use is needed to identify risks, like the way it can interfere with other drugs.

• It can also impair the senses and cause accidents, an especially important consideration since U.S. cannabis has much more THC than it did decades ago.

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