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Teen ‘seriously injured’ falling into abandoned missile silo in Arapahoe County
kdvr.com, Local

Teen ‘seriously injured’ falling into abandoned missile silo in Arapahoe County

By  Samantha Jarpe | Fox 31 Denver The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and several other agencies rescued several teens from an abandoned missile silo near Deer Trail Sunday morning. One of the teens was in critical condition after falling 30 feet. A rescue operation had been underway to save the teen. Just before 9 a.m., the teen was rescued and put into a helicopter that was on standby at the scene and airlifted away. Authorities told FOX31 that the teen, who is 18, was expected to survive. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office told FOX31 that eight teens total trespassed onto the land and made their way to the silo and where rescuers were called to the scene around 3:30 a.m. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX31 DENVER
Farm animal sanctuary near Colorado Springs provides home for abandoned, abused livestock
Colorado Springs Gazette, Local

Farm animal sanctuary near Colorado Springs provides home for abandoned, abused livestock

By Jennifer Mulson | Colorado Springs Gazette It was after midnight on a cold, dark December morning when Carrie Thornburgh found herself with a hand up inside a pregnant goat. The doe was in labor at Thornburgh’s farm animal sanctuary in Peyton, but her kid was stuck — only one leg had made its way into the world and all Thornburgh could feel was the top of the kid’s shoulder. And labor was going on too long, stretching toward two hours, when goats typically give birth in 30 minutes. It was a problem. After calling around to vets, Thornburgh finally found one in Larkspur who agreed to come out at 2 a.m. to OutPaws’ Sweet Home Sanctuary. She looped a shoestring up around the kid inside her mom and pulled her out. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE
Denver homeless crisis worsens despite $274M investment; housing-first approach needed, critics say
denvergazette.com, Local

Denver homeless crisis worsens despite $274M investment; housing-first approach needed, critics say

By CHRISTOPHER OSHER and JENNY DEAM | Denver Gazette Metro Denver’s homeless crisis has worsened and become among the most acute in the nation despite the city of Denver contracting for at least $274 million from 2021 through 2024 to keep people off the streets. The Denver metro region has added more homeless individuals than any other metro region in the country since 2018, according to key metrics collected by the federal government. Other metro regions, including Seattle and Houston, have had greater success during that period prioritizing permanent housing rather than the quick fix solutions critics say simply perpetuate homelessness. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER GAZETTE
Aurora Council to discuss ‘tough love’ approach to homelessness at Monday meeting
denvergazette.com, Local

Aurora Council to discuss ‘tough love’ approach to homelessness at Monday meeting

By Kyla Pearce | Denver Gazette At Monday night's Aurora City Council study session, councilmembers will discuss a new "tough love" approach to homelessness — which would harshen the city's camping ban and create a new court system for low-level offenses by homeless people. Mayor Mike Coffman has referred to the proposed approach to homelessness as "tough love" due to its cracking down on camping in the city while addressing the root causes of homelessness in court. Coffman announced plans for the approach on social media and will officially bring it to the council Monday night, with hopes of moving it forward to a regular council meeting for a vote. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
New charges filed against Littleton bus aide, revealing more incidents of alleged abuse to nonverbal students
Local, The Colorado Sun

New charges filed against Littleton bus aide, revealing more incidents of alleged abuse to nonverbal students

By Olivia Prentzel | The Colorado Sun Prosecutors filed additional charges this week against a former Littleton Public Schools bus aide accused of beating two nonverbal students, revealing more incidents of alleged abuse on their way to and from school. Kiarra Jones, 29, now faces nine counts of third-degree assault, a felony, and two counts of knowingly and reckless child abuse, a misdemeanor, according to court documents filed in the 18th Judicial District Court. Jones is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon. The alleged abuse began in January and continued for nearly three months, before a police officer reviewed footage from an on-bus camera showing Jones assaulting two boys on bus rides to and from The Joshua School, a school for kids ages 3 through 21 with developme...
‘Superhero’ foster dad in Colorado Springs recognized for dedication to helping at-risk youth
Colorado Springs Gazette, Local

‘Superhero’ foster dad in Colorado Springs recognized for dedication to helping at-risk youth

By Debbie Kelley | Colorado Springs Gazette Whenever Colorado Springs native Josh Skaggs feels like he’s losing patience or getting angry, the 36-year-old school teacher reminds himself of this: not too long ago, he was a stranger to the preteen and teen boys who now live in his home. They didn’t choose to be removed from their previous home or to be placed under his care. “It’s really important to remember they didn’t put themselves in that situation,” he said. “They didn’t choose to be a foster kid; they’re just trying to grow up and survive and find their way.” But foster care is surrounded by stigma and misperceptions that can make adults hesitant to open their hearts and homes to children who are in pain and need a little extra love, he said. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COL...
Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Auraria campus in Denver, demand divestment
denvergazette.com, Local

Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Auraria campus in Denver, demand divestment

By Nicole C. Brambila | Denver Gazette More than 200 hundred protesters — many of them students — occupied the Auraria campus on Thursday night to make several demands, notably divestment from corporations that operate in Israel. The protesters, who chanted anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans, also asked to meet with Michelle Marks, chancellor of the University of Colorado Denver, to discuss how to implement their demands.    The protest in front of the Tivoli Student Union is the latest in what has been a wave of pro-Palestinian rallies on campuses across the United States in the last several days and increasing worries by Jewish students for their physical safety.    READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Indoor water surfing facility eyed for Colorado Springs’ north side
Colorado Springs Gazette, Local

Indoor water surfing facility eyed for Colorado Springs’ north side

By Rich Laden | Colorado Springs Gazette Surf’s up — on Colorado Springs’ landlocked north side, of all places. Surf Shack, a planned, two-story 12,000-square-foot recreation center, would bring indoor water surfing to Polaris Pointe, the retail and commercial development southeast of Interstate 25 and North Gate Boulevard, according to a proposal submitted to city government officials. As envisioned, Surf Shack would employ a wave machine manufactured by San Diego-based FlowRider, whose technology dates back more than 30 years and simulates ocean waves for riders, according to the company’s website. FlowRider machines can be found in water parks, hotels and on cruise ships, among other places. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE
Man found dead in submerged vehicle in Horsetooth Reservoir
Local, The Coloradoan

Man found dead in submerged vehicle in Horsetooth Reservoir

By Miles Blumhardt | The Coloradoan A man has been found dead in a vehicle submerged in Horsetooth Reservoir, according to Colorado State Patrol. The crash was reported at 9 a.m. Friday as a single vehicle partially submerged in the reservoir near Larimer County Road 48C and Larimer County Road North 23 (Centennial Road), on the northeast corner of the reservoir west of Fort Collins, the state patrol told the Coloradoan on Monday. Poudre Fire Authority, Larimer County Natural Resources Department rangers and the Larimer County Dive Team searched the vehicle, which state patrol described as a Nissan SUV. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADOAN
Devotional: Where does strength come from in trying times?
Commentary, Local

Devotional: Where does strength come from in trying times?

By Drake Hunter | Guest Columnist On January 3, 2024, my wife, Sherrie, received a diagnosis that turned our reality upside down and changed our lives forever. She was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, and the news was devastating and incredibly difficult to process. We now face a testing journey of love, resilience, and faith in ways we never imagined. Many have asked how we cope with such a dreadful experience, and the answer is simple: strength. This strength comes from our belief in God, who is forever strong and gives us the courage to face any challenge. We believe in the Mighty God (El Gibbor, Isaiah 9:2-7), who is strong yesterday, today, and forever. Like Sherrie and me, this strength is available to anyone who "Just Believes!" As I write these words, my wife is go...