Rocky Mountain Voice

Approved

Border patrol: Kids as young as 8 are drugged, trafficked into the U.S. by smugglers posing as parents
Approved, National, New York Post

Border patrol: Kids as young as 8 are drugged, trafficked into the U.S. by smugglers posing as parents

By Christina Coulter  | New York Post Border Patrol agents are warning that kids as young as 8 are being drugged and smuggled into the US by traffickers posing as their parents or family members — and nobody knows how common the horrifying practice is. Authorities have rescued children caught up in two different instances of such smuggling in recent weeks — including one instance in which the alleged traffickers had birth certificates for multiple kids to whom they weren’t related, according to the Border Patrol. Border Patrol sources have told The Post they’ve observed increasing numbers of smugglers posing as family units in order to “recycle” children. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE NEW YORK POST
Douglas County bucks trend on handouts – and homeless population craters
Approved, Fox News, Local

Douglas County bucks trend on handouts – and homeless population craters

By Christina Coulter  | Fox News Due south of Denver's homelessness crisis, a  Colorado county has nearly eradicated its own unhoused population with a simple message to its citizens: "Handouts Don't Help." Throughout Douglas County, there are about 70 signs with the message at intersections and roadways that were once popular hangouts for area panhandlers. Each sign directs citizens to DouglasHasHeart.org, where they can redirect their donations to the Douglas County Community Foundation. The county took to print media and advertisements online to spread the message through the community. "The thought dawned on me from a common sense standpoint – I saw a lot of people like my daughter feeling conflicted at an intersection," Republican Douglas County Commissioner Ab...
Street racer meet-up erupts into gunfire, wounding 1, in Colorado Springs
Approved, Local, Out There Colorado

Street racer meet-up erupts into gunfire, wounding 1, in Colorado Springs

By O'Dell Isaac | Out There Colorado, via The Gazette One person was wounded during a shooting in southeast Colorado Springs early Sunday, according to law enforcement officials. The incident occurred in the 3000 block of South Academy Boulevard, near Hancock Expressway, at about 12:20 a.m. during a street racer gathering, police said. Details were scarce as of Sunday morning, but officials said shots were fired during the meet and a juvenile was hit. READ THE FULL STORY AT OUT THERE COLORADO
Aurora firefighter breaks Colorado state record with almost 2,000-pound pumpkin
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Aurora firefighter breaks Colorado state record with almost 2,000-pound pumpkin

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox 31 News An Aurora firefighter’s side hobby resulted in a state record after he grew a 1,955-pound pumpkin in his backyard. Brad Bledsoe began his knack for growing pumpkins four years ago when he grew, what he thought was, a large pumpkin. After growing his first pumpkin in his home just north of Fort Collins, he took the 200-pound pumpkin to a contest, which turned out to be one of the smallest ones there. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Prop. 130 will create $1 million death benefit for emergency responders
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Prop. 130 will create $1 million death benefit for emergency responders

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice When there's an emergency -- a home break-in, fire or heart attack -- Coloradans depend upon emergency responders from the far stretches of the Eastern Plains to the Western Slope and places in between to be there. Advance Colorado is asking voters this November to be there for emergency responders. Election Day is Nov. 5. "Let's take care of our first responders who take care of us, and make sure their families get a $1 million death benefit," said Advance Colorado Executive Vice President Kristi Burton Brown on Monday in a Twitter/X post. https://twitter.com/KBBColorado/status/1838217369883177267 Advance Colorado is the organization that placed Prop. 130 on the ballot, a measure that would direct $350 million from the state to assis...
Amendment H ensures accountability in Colorado’s judiciary, retired Chief Judge Maes says
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Amendment H ensures accountability in Colorado’s judiciary, retired Chief Judge Maes says

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Even though retired Colorado 10th Judicial District Chief Judge Dennis Maes has plenty to do as a board member for Pueblo School District, he writes monthly articles on the need for judicial reform.  And behind the scenes, he acts when he observes actions that throw the question of judicial transparency and accountability into question. He’s also gone to multiple news media outlets to air his concerns. Maes believes that the work of investigative journalists around the state, including the Denver Gazette's David Migoya, led to Amendment H appearing on the ballot.  “Migoya was key in exposing judicial scandals, including the Mindy Masias case and other judicial misconduct issues," Maes shared. In November of 2022, Maes submi...
U.S. will send troops to the Middle East, warns Americans to leave Lebanon on brink of all-out war
Approved, National, The Daily Mail

U.S. will send troops to the Middle East, warns Americans to leave Lebanon on brink of all-out war

By Wills Robinson  | The Daily Mail The U.S. is sending troops to the Middle East in response to the surge in violence between Israel and Hezbollah and as the region teeters on the edge of an all-out war. The Pentagon announced on Monday that 'additional' service members would be deployed to join the 40,000 already stationed in the region along with a dozen warships and fighter jet squadrons. Israel forces have ramped up their airstrikes deep inside Lebanon and the State Department has warned all Americans to leave as the risk of conflict spirals to levels not seen in years. READ THE FULL STORY AT DAILY MAIL
Study finds source of pollutants around Elyria Swansea neighborhood
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Study finds source of pollutants around Elyria Swansea neighborhood

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox 31 News A new study found the causes of pollution in the Elyria Swansea neighborhood near Commerce City, with two well-known facilities causing most of the pollution. Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder looked into the neighborhood that is filled with manufacturing plants like the Suncor Energy oil refinery, the Robert W. Hite wastewater treatment plant, local industrial shops and major highways. While it’s referred to as a “heavily polluted urban area” in the study, some of these facilities are causing more pollution than others. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
King Soopers shooter Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa found guilty of murdering 10 in Boulder
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

King Soopers shooter Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa found guilty of murdering 10 in Boulder

By Jennifer McRae | CBS Colorado Jurors reached a verdict Monday afternoon in the Boulder grocery store shooting trial. The jury found Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa guilty of shooting and killing 10 people at the South Table Mesa King Soopers on March 22, 2021, in addition to guilty verdicts on dozens of other charges.  Jurors had to determine whether Alissa, the gunman who admitted to the shooting, was legally sane at the time of the attack. In addition to the guilty verdict on 10 counts of first-degree murder, the jury also found the gunman guilty on 38 counts of attempted first-degree murder, guilty of one count of assault in the first degree and guilty on six counts of possession of a large-capacity magazine during the commission of a felony.  READ THE FULL STOR...
First gentleman Marlon Reis sought to ‘craft legislation’ related to wolves, emails show
Approved, denvergazette.com, State

First gentleman Marlon Reis sought to ‘craft legislation’ related to wolves, emails show

By Aaron Adelson | Denver Gazette, via 9News In emails obtained by Denver Gazette news partner 9News, Colorado's first gentleman Marlon Reis was in contact with a group that included the governor's wildlife adviser. He wanted to meet to "craft legislation" related to wolves, and the adviser replied they would not meet without him. This week, lawmakers pressed Colorado Parks and Wildlife's leaders about how the governor's office has affected their decisions. The CPW director conceded he was not directly answering the questions. “That’s a very big concern because, in my opinion, that’s how it’s happening," Grand County Commissioner Merrit Linke told 9NEWS, "It doesn’t seem like CPW is making decisions based on science, based on evidence, based on what’s happening in other state...