staging.rockymountainvoice.com

DENVER7

Nonprofit founded in the wake of 9/11 to convert Denver hotel into housing for veterans
DENVER7, Local

Nonprofit founded in the wake of 9/11 to convert Denver hotel into housing for veterans

By Sam Peña| Denver 7 Tunnel to Towers, a nonprofit founded in the wake of 9/11, is taking on the veteran homeless crisis in Denver. The foundation provides a number of services to veterans and their families, including its Homeless Veteran Program, which provides housing to veterans in Atlanta, Las Vegas and Memphis. The organization plans to expand the program to Detroit, Charleston and Denver. On Tuesday, the group purchased the former Fairfield Inn hotel on Colorado Boulevard with plans to convert it into housing for veterans experiencing homelessness. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7
City council members raise doubts about Denver mayor’s housing plan
DENVER7, Local

City council members raise doubts about Denver mayor’s housing plan

By Brandon Richard | Denver 7 News Nearly a week after the Denver City Council delayed a key vote on Mayor Mike Johnston’s affordable housing sales tax proposal, it was back before council members Tuesday. A working group of council members convened to review the proposal in more detail. It also provided them an opportunity to share their concerns about the proposal. Council members sponsoring the mayor’s plan hope the working group will help them address their colleagues' concerns and develop a better plan to present to voters in the fall. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
Hundreds of teaching positions unfilled statewide despite $10k state stipend
DENVER7, State

Hundreds of teaching positions unfilled statewide despite $10k state stipend

By Brandon Richard | Denver 7 News With a new school year on the horizon, school districts across Colorado are looking to fill hundreds of open teaching positions. But some positions will likely remain unfilled due to Colorado’s ongoing teacher shortage. As a longtime teacher herself, Brooke Williams knows the struggles Colorado teachers face. “The job becomes more increasingly more and more challenging every year,” Williams said. “We're asking teachers to do the impossible.” READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
Health officials in Pueblo County confirm a rare case of human plague
DENVER7, Local

Health officials in Pueblo County confirm a rare case of human plague

By Taylor O'Bier | Denver 7 News Health department officials in Pueblo County said they are investigating a rare human plague case. The case was discovered following preliminary test results, the health department said. The department has not given any details on who contracted the bacteria, their condition or where in the county the patient lives. Officials are now working to track down the potential source of the disease. The bubonic plague is caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis and can be life-threatening to humans. It is typically spread through the bite of an infected flea or by handling infected animals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
Employee unionizing effort to be put to Denver City Council vote tonight, and then it could be headed to voters
DENVER7, Local

Employee unionizing effort to be put to Denver City Council vote tonight, and then it could be headed to voters

By Wanya Reese | Denver 7 News Thousands of city workers in Denver could move a step closer to unionizing as Denver City Council takes a critical vote on the matter Monday night. If approved, voters would have the final say on the November ballot. Three council members that Denver7 spoke with said they are in support of measure and feel confident that the measure will pass. “So right now in the city and county of Denver, people don't have the ability to form a union and have that be formally recognized by the city, and so all we're trying to do is lay the groundwork," said Councilwoman Sara Parady. "What's exciting about it, is that pretty much anything to do with your terms and conditions of employment is on the table." This is a decision that will impact employees across the ...
Hotel in Denver, purchased a year ago at $9M price tag for the unhoused, still not open
DENVER7, Local

Hotel in Denver, purchased a year ago at $9M price tag for the unhoused, still not open

By Brandon Richard | Denver 7 News A former hotel intended to house people experiencing homelessness has still not opened, more than a year after the city purchased it for $9 million. Plans for the hotel pre-date the current Denver mayor. In 2021, then-Mayor Michael Hancock stood in front of the Stay Inn hotel at 38th and Peoria and announced plans for the city buy the hotel and convert it into a shelter for people experiencing homelessness. “This building here behind us represents hope, the transformation that can take place on this project and the transformation that is possible for the people who will call it home,” Hancock said at the time. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
Human case of ‘rabbit fever’ found in Wheat Ridge, Jeff Co health officials report
DENVER7, Local

Human case of ‘rabbit fever’ found in Wheat Ridge, Jeff Co health officials report

By Óscar Contreras | Denver 7 News A human case of tularemia, a bacterial disease that mostly spreads between rodents and insects, has been found in Jefferson County, public health officials said earlier this week. The case was reported in a Wheat Ridge resident and was the first human cause of tularemia in the county in 2024, according to a spokesperson with Jefferson County Public Health. The disease, also known as “rabbit fever,” is caused by the bacterium Fransicella tularensis and mostly affects rodents and rabbits, as well as insects such as ticks and deerflies. It can be transmitted to humans, however, through the bites of infected animals or insects, as well as through the ingesting contaminated water or food and airborne bacteria. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS...
Where’s the sacred white bison? ‘Wakan Gli’ hasn’t been seen in Yellowstone since June 4
DENVER7, National

Where’s the sacred white bison? ‘Wakan Gli’ hasn’t been seen in Yellowstone since June 4

By Taylor O'Bier | Denver 7 News A white bison calf, born in Yellowstone National Park at the start of June, has not been seen since, according to park officials. There haven’t been any confirmed sightings of the calf since June 4, when several visitors first took photographs of the newborn in the Lamar Valley area of the park. Park staff said they hadn’t been able to locate the calf, and it’s unclear if the calf is still alive. White bison — especially ones that aren’t a result of albinism — are extremely rare, and it is said that just 1 in 10 million exist. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
Packing for Paris: These Coloradans are headed to the 2024 Olympics, Paralympics
DENVER7, State

Packing for Paris: These Coloradans are headed to the 2024 Olympics, Paralympics

By Stephanie Butzer | Denver 7 News Athletes all over Colorado have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics and will compete on that world stage this summer. The Olympics begin July 26 with an opening ceremony and will continue through Aug. 11. The Paralympics will start Aug. 28 and run through Sept. 8. The Colorado athletes' specialties include volleyball, track and field, climbing, rowing, swimming and more. Team USA has a map of the United States on its website showing the hometowns of athletes who have currently qualified for the Games. Click here and scroll down to explore more of the map. Our list in this story contains those athletes, plus the ones who train here long-term, went to school here, or have Colorado listed as their hometown. ...
U.S Attorney’s Office in Colorado investigating dozens of fake COVID-19 claims, worth roughly $75 million
DENVER7, State

U.S Attorney’s Office in Colorado investigating dozens of fake COVID-19 claims, worth roughly $75 million

By Natalie Chuck | Denver 7 News The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado (USACO) is investigating dozens of COVID-19 fraud cases, worth roughly $75 million. In May, a former Denver hotel and nightclub owner was indicted on four counts of wire fraud related to pandemic loans. According to the USACO, "[Amin] Suliaman sought loan funding for companies that were inoperable at the time of application and for a company that Suliaman had told a bankruptcy court was closed." Denver7 Investigates learned the USACO is investigating "40 to 50" more cases of potential fraud, estimated to be worth more than $75 million in total. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS