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‘Praying Grandma,’ convicted of misdemeanors in J9 breach, plans to deny Trump pardon, if offered
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denvergazette.com, Local

‘Praying Grandma,’ convicted of misdemeanors in J9 breach, plans to deny Trump pardon, if offered

By Debbie Kelley | Denver Gazette, via The Gazette Colorado Springs-area resident Rebecca Lavrenz, who was found guilty last year on four federal misdemeanor charges related to the United States Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021, while demonstrators protested the 2020 presidential election results, says she will deny a pardon should President-elect Donald J. Trump offer such a deal to her after he takes office on Jan. 20. The reason? Lavrenz, who became known on social media as the “J6 Praying Grandma,” has appealed her case and, should the Washington, D.C. appellate court agree that she is not liable for the $103,000 fine levied because she was acting under rights allowed by the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, Lavrenz says the decision would be precedent-setting. But a pardon w...
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How millions in tax money has failed to deliver a change to Denver’s mental and behavioral health needs
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Colorado Public Radio, Local

How millions in tax money has failed to deliver a change to Denver’s mental and behavioral health needs

By Ben Markus | CPR News The campaign’s premise was simple: For nothing more than a modest sales tax increase, Denver could create a $45 million-a-year stream of grants to nonprofit mental health and drug treatment programs. “This initiative will give us the capacity to get everybody who needs help into a place where they can get the help that they need,” said Dr. Carl Clark, the president and CEO of WellPower, a large Denver community mental health provider.  “It's the type of thing that is a gamechanger.” Voters enthusiastically bought into the concept. And after six years and more than $170 million in tax dollars granted, a year-long review by CPR News found that the game has indeed changed, but perhaps not in the ways supporters and voters envisioned. READ THE FULL ...
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Former, acting U.S. attorneys for Colorado will lead Denver District Attorney’s Office
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kdvr.com, Local

Former, acting U.S. attorneys for Colorado will lead Denver District Attorney’s Office

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 News The Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado has announced plans for a new job just months after he assumed leadership of the federal office. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado Matthew Kirsch is resigning from the federal office effective Jan. 25. Kirsch has been tapped by former U.S. Attorney John Walsh, who was elected to be Denver’s next District Attorney, to be the First Assistant District Attorney in Denver. Kirsch took over as Colorado’s chief federal law enforcement officer in June after then-U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan submitted his resignation in May. According to his biography on the U.S. Department of Justice website, Kirsch became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in 1999 and had held the title of Acting U.S. A...
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Douglas Co. authorities investigate dog poisoning in Castle Pines neighborhood
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gazette.com, Local

Douglas Co. authorities investigate dog poisoning in Castle Pines neighborhood

By Noah Festenstein | The Gazette, via the Denver Gazette The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and animal law enforcement officers are investigating a recent incident where a dog ingested rodent poison while walking through a Castle Pines neighborhood, according to a news release Sunday. Authorities called the incident accidental, saying the poison, was legally dispensed in the Tapestry Hills neighborhood. It is unclear what the dog’s condition is Sunday after ingesting a poison pellet. Douglas County Animal Law Enforcement Sgt. Bryanna Munns says animal law enforcement officers are working to determine whether there is still cause for concern within the neighborhood. Investigators are “working to determine the exact number of tablets that would have come in the package that the in...
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Denver schools Supt. Marrero sets goals to lift test scores, focus on staff retention
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Chalkbeat Colorado, Local

Denver schools Supt. Marrero sets goals to lift test scores, focus on staff retention

By Melanie Asmar | Chalkbeat Colorado Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero has far fewer performance goals this school year. But the goals he does have are more ambitious, he said last month. For example, Marrero wants the share of Denver students in grades 3-8 who meet or exceed expectations on the state literacy test to increase from 40% to 42%. His goal last year was for that percentage to increase by just 1 percentage point. Marrero’s targets, which the school board unanimously approved at a meeting last month, might be more ambitious. But the district still isn’t on track to meet the academic goals he laid out in Denver Public Schools’ strategic plan in 2022. READ THE FULL STORY AT CHALKBEAT COLORADO
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Green Beret who died in Cybertruck explosion had not exhibited concerning behaviors, Army officials say
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gazette.com, Local

Green Beret who died in Cybertruck explosion had not exhibited concerning behaviors, Army officials say

By The Gazette The Green Beret who shot himself and blew up a Cybertruck in Las Vegas on Wednesday displayed no concerning behavior prior to the bombing, according to Army public affairs. Master Sgt. Matthew Livelsberger was on personal leave when he rented a Cybertruck in Colorado and drove to Las Vegas. There, the truck — laden with fireworks and camping fuel — exploded. Investigators say Livelsberger had no animosity toward President-elect Donald Trump, despite blowing the truck up outside one of his hotels. Police say he had post-traumatic stress disorder. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Some concerned spring Lakewood election could have low voter turnout
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CBS Colorado, Local

Some concerned spring Lakewood election could have low voter turnout

By Andrew Haubner | CBS Colorado Some residents of the municipality of Lakewood are concerned about the possibility of low turnout in an upcoming special election. There are two city council seats, Ward 3 and Ward 4 -- two of the largest wards in Lakewood -- that are up for grabs this year. Council member Rich Olver, who was known as a dissenting voice on the council, resigned and moved to Arizona. Resident Karen Morgan said his voice was needed in the face of a council that typically is in lockstep.  "[There are] little details that Rich would bring up and that was great," she told CBS Colorado, "and we won't have that." READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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In Fountain, residents could see substantial water bill increase annually for five years
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gazette.com, Local

In Fountain, residents could see substantial water bill increase annually for five years

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette Fountain residents might see major increases to their water bills in the coming five years, in an effort by the city to stabilize its utilities finances. “Our expenses have gone up significantly in the past few years" said Fountain utilities director Dan Blankenship. The plan outlined in a study session in early December would increase water rates by 9% in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028. In 2029, rates would go up by 6%. If approved by the Fountain city council, the rate hike could go into affect as soon as March of 2025.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Denver airport’s Great Hall, at cost of $2.1 billion, remains at risk for overspending, audit says
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denvergazette.com, Local

Denver airport’s Great Hall, at cost of $2.1 billion, remains at risk for overspending, audit says

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette Denver International Airport's Great Hall renovation project may exceed $2 billion, and auditors are worried the city could face even higher costs due to potential overspending on future construction. During a review last year, city auditors made 10 recommendations to airport officials after determining that DIA lacked sufficient management and oversight of its three-phased Great Hall construction project. The follow-up report, published on Jan. 2, said the airport still is not following procurement procedures, proper document decision-making processes, or requiring contractors to submit documentation of actual costs. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Higher minimum wage in Boulder, Colorado puts strain on local restaurants
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CBS Colorado, Local

Higher minimum wage in Boulder, Colorado puts strain on local restaurants

By Sarah Horbacewicz | CBS Colorado In November, Boulder voters approved the increase of minimum wage in the city from $14.42 to $15.57 per hour, which went into effect on Jan. 1. As the new year begins, Peter Waters, the T/aco restaurant owner, is taking a close look at his budget. "We have about 50,000 labor hours a year, so $1.10 increase, you can do the math, is a quick $55,000 that we need to figure out how to adjust for in the coming year," Waters said. One of those adjustments will show up on menu prices which is T/aco's first raise since the COVID-10 pandemic. "In addition to price increases, we are going to have to start adjusting labor hours and asking more of our staff," Waters said. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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