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Over 700 people are homeless in Boulder — fewer than last year, but higher than in the past six
Approved, Boulder Reporting Lab, Local

Over 700 people are homeless in Boulder — fewer than last year, but higher than in the past six

By Brooke Stephensen | Boulder Reporting Lab In January, volunteers counted 727 people experiencing homelessness in Boulder County. While this is a decrease from last year’s count of 839, it is still the second-highest figure recorded since the count began in 2017. The Point-in-Time report, published on Aug. 13, is a count of the number of homeless people on Jan. 22, 2024. Mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and conducted by the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, the data provides some of the most reliable indicators of homelessness trends in Boulder County and across the Denver metro area, despite year-to-year variations due to weather, methodology and volunteer turnout. Of the 727 people counted, at least 193 — over a quarter — were uns...
Testimony begins in Boulder grocery store shooting trial
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Testimony begins in Boulder grocery store shooting trial

By Scott Weiser | CBS Colorado More than three difficult years later, the people who lived through the infamy of the mass murder at a Colorado King Soopers grocery store on March 22, 2021, dutifully recalled what happened in a Boulder courtroom Thursday. Seven people took the stand, the first to testify in the case against Ahmad Alissa for the killings of 10 people. Prosecutor Michael Dougherty began to try to show that Ahmad Alissa had clarity of mission that day; that actions were planned, deliberate and intentional, while defense attorney Sam Dunn is hoping the jury will find Ahmad Alissa not guilty by reason of insanity. "This guy was not just moving just shooting randomly, he was pointing and aiming," said Kevin Slay, one of the first witnesses for the prosecution."...
Colorado’s police officer shortage linked to higher crime rates
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado’s police officer shortage linked to higher crime rates

By Scott Weiser | Colorado Politics A recently released report issued in support of Colorado Ballot Initiative 157 shows a correlation between police departments that suffer under-staffing issues and higher crime rates.  The Common Sense Institute, a Denver free-enterprise research organization, released a report Tuesday on Ballot Initiative 157 — which asks voters to approve appropriation of $350 million to fund police recruitment, training, and support for police officers and their families. A change in state policy and funding aimed more towards prioritizing civilian roles within police departments and regulating policing strategies has reduced the number of police with arrest powers on the streets, according to the report. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Hunter Biden says he pleaded guilty in $1.4M tax evasion case to ‘spare’ family from ‘embarrassment’
Approved, National, New York Post

Hunter Biden says he pleaded guilty in $1.4M tax evasion case to ‘spare’ family from ‘embarrassment’

By Paul Bois | New York Post Hunter Biden pleaded guilty in his tax evasion case to “spare” his family from the “needless embarrassment” of having to go through a second trial — and endure even more evidence of his seedy behavior while hooked on drugs. The twice-convicted first son shocked a Los Angeles courtroom Thursday when he unexpectedly copped to an entire tax evasion case, which could land him behind bars for up to 17 years, as jury selection was about to start. “I will not subject my family to more pain, more invasions of privacy and needless embarrassment,” President Biden’s son said in a statement Thursday. “For all I have put them through over the years, I can spare them this, and so I have decided to plead guilty.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE NEW YORK ...
Kamala Harris, Tim Walz promote false framing of JD Vance statement on shootings
Approved, Breitbart, National

Kamala Harris, Tim Walz promote false framing of JD Vance statement on shootings

By Paul Bois | Breitbart Kamala Harris and her VP pick Tim Walz pushed the false framing of Republican Sen. JD Vance’s statement on shootings despite the Associated Press (AP) engendering backlash earlier. The Associated Press ignited massive backlash on Thursday when it blatantly misquoted Republican vice presidential pick JD Vance on school shootings. Speaking at a rally in Phoenix, Arizona, Vance said he does not like that school shootings have become a “fact of life” while calling for better security. “If these psychos are going to go after our kids, we’ve got to be prepared for it,” Vance said. “We don’t have to like the reality that we live in, but it is the reality we live in. We’ve got to deal with it.” When the journalist asked Vance what the country could do to stop s...
Senate GOP bracing for last-minute leader bids — potentially by key Trump ally
Approved, Fox News, National

Senate GOP bracing for last-minute leader bids — potentially by key Trump ally

By Julia Johnson | Fox News Senate Republicans have a feeling that the battle to succeed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is just beginning and that more contenders will make last-minute bids for the role after the general election in November.  One name that continues to be tossed around is that of Steve Daines, R-Mont., head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), who has notably refused to rule out the possibility of running for the top Senate GOP role.  A source with knowledge told Fox News Digital that earlier in the year, after McConnell's shock February announcement that he would not seek another term as leader, former President Trump shared with allies that he would like to see Daines run for the position.  READ THE FULL STOR...
Differences within ranks of Colorado GOP not necessarily weakness, Gabe Evans says
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Differences within ranks of Colorado GOP not necessarily weakness, Gabe Evans says

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice As the two factions of the Colorado Republican Central Committee engage in a power struggle, it should viewed as a point of strength and not weakness, 8th District congressional nominee Gabe Evans said Tuesday in a press conference. "It is one of the things I've always been proud of with the Republican party," Evans said. "We respect individual opinions. We respect individual liberties. That means people won't always agree." It doesn't mean the party is without unity, he says. Members of the party are unified toward policy. "What we agree on across party lines is progressive Democrats have made a mess of Colorado," Evans said. "It's time to fix these issues." Republican solutions to issues he identifies as of primary importance, Evans s...
Colorado’s 3rd District moved to ‘likely Republican’ by Cook Political
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado’s 3rd District moved to ‘likely Republican’ by Cook Political

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado's 3rd District on the Western Slope is one of eight nationally to have received a ratings change from Cook Political. The seat is presently held by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, but is an open seat in the general election as Boebert vies for election in the 4th District. Democrat Adam Frisch and Republican Jeff Hurd are their parties' nominations for the 3rd District seat. Cook Political moved the seat from lean Republican to likely Republican, improving the chance Republicans will hold the seat in November. “Nothing is going right for Adam Frisch," said National Republican Congressional Committee spokeswoman Delanie Bomar. "While Frisch is floundering, momentum is on our side as Republicans are all hands on deck to send Jeff Hurd to ...
Trump trial stemming from Jack Smith’s probe delayed past Election Day
Approved, Fox News, National

Trump trial stemming from Jack Smith’s probe delayed past Election Day

By Paul Bois | Fox News Federal Judge Tanya Chutkan will not hold the trial for former President Trump on charges stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's Jan. 6 investigation until after the 2024 presidential election.  Chutkan held a status hearing Thursday morning in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, in which lawyers for Trump pleaded not guilty on his behalf related to charges from Smith’s new indictment after the Supreme Court ruled a president is immune from prosecution for official acts in office. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX NEWS
Georgia school shooter’s gunman learns he will not face death penalty
Approved, Daily Mail, National

Georgia school shooter’s gunman learns he will not face death penalty

By Emma James and Germania Rodriguez Poleo | Daily Mail The father of Georgia school shooter Colt Gray sobbed and rocked back and forth during his first appearance at Barrow County Superior Court on Friday. Colin Gray's hearing took place right after his 14-year-old son Colt learned that, as a minor, he won't face the death penalty for killing four people at Apalachee High School in Winder, outside Atlanta, on Wednesday. The teen appeared in person in shackles, dressed in a green t-shirt and grey sweat pants. He kept his head down, with his hair covering his face, and spoke softly only to Judge Currie Mingledorff, replying ‘yes sir’ when asked to confirm his name. READ THE FULL STORY AT DAILY MAIL