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CBS Colorado

Inmates cast in-person ballots during Northern Colorado jail voting event
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Inmates cast in-person ballots during Northern Colorado jail voting event

By Dillon Thomas | CBS Colorado Inmates being held in the Larimer County Jail in Northern Colorado showed up in record numbers this year for voting after a new Colorado law went into effect. In 2024 Colorado became the first state in the United States to require counties offer in-person voting to inmates who are legally qualified to vote. "Everybody here is innocent until proven guilty. Just because you are in our building doesn't mean you should lose your right to vote," said Steven LaChance, program specialist at the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. Inmates who have not lost their right to vote due to felony conviction have always been allowed to vote. However, in previous years, the inmates were typically left to vote via mail-in ballot. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Ballot measure 1A would allow Colorado’s Jefferson County to keep $30 million in tax revenue it knowingly overcollected
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Ballot measure 1A would allow Colorado’s Jefferson County to keep $30 million in tax revenue it knowingly overcollected

By Shaun Boyd, CBS Colorado For the third time in five years, Jefferson County is asking voters to permanently remove caps that limit how much tax revenue the Colorado county can keep and spend, including a new cap just put in place by the state legislature two months ago. "We would be the first in Colorado to have no cap, and they're trying to say it's not a tax increase," says Natalie Menten, who is leading the "No on 1A" effort. While Jeffco says 1A is a "revenue retention" measure to fund infrastructure and public safety, Menten says, not only would taxpayers forfeit all future refunds from the county, but $30.5 million in property tax revenue from 2023 that Jeffco deliberately overcollected. "They took our money. They're holding it, earning interest on it, k...
$2M federal grant awarded to help prevent youth violence in Aurora
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

$2M federal grant awarded to help prevent youth violence in Aurora

By Tori Mason | CBS Colorado A $2 million grant will help the city of Aurora's efforts to reduce youth violence. The money was awarded by the Department of Justice's Community-Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative, a federal investment in local programs. Standing Against Violence Every Day, or SAVE, is Aurora's violence-reduction strategy that focuses on teens and young adults who are at high risk for violent victimization and offending.  The program uses proactive measures to address the root causes of youth violence.  READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Denver Water’s 10-year, $700M project to replace lead pipes gains momentum
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Denver Water’s 10-year, $700M project to replace lead pipes gains momentum

By Austen Erblat | CBS Colorado Updating Denver Water's pipes to meet new lead standards is a massive, multi-year project. Denver Water says it's making progress on efforts to replace service lines that use lead in the pipes. The city is working with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to remove about 60,000 service lines. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
The outcome of Colorado legislative races will have far-reaching implications
CBS Colorado, Approved, State

The outcome of Colorado legislative races will have far-reaching implications

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado Congress has passed about 100 bills over the last two years, while Colorado's state legislature has passed nearly 1,000. From fixing our roads to funding our schools, state legislatures touch almost every facet of our lives. And yet, nearly 90% of people surveyed by Cambridge University don't know who their state representative is. But Super PACs know who's running and, according to The Colorado Sun, they've poured $8 million into the races that will determine what gets done -- and doesn't get done -- at the Colorado State Capitol next year. "This is where the action is really on the state level. When you have over 500 bills passed a year, they're doing something. It may not be what everyone wants to see, but it's something," said CBS Colorado Dem...
Ballot measure asks Westminster voters for sales tax increase for fire stations, personnel
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Ballot measure asks Westminster voters for sales tax increase for fire stations, personnel

By Gabriela Vidal | CBS Colorado When it comes to fighting fires, Westminster firefighter August Rasche says every second counts. "A fire typically doubles in size every two minutes," Rasche said. "The standard that we operate under is a four-minute response time." Rasche, who is also the executive board member for the Westminster Professional Firefighters Union (Local 2889), says this standard is becoming harder to meet as the city's population keeps growing. "In the last 20 years, Westminster has grown fire quite a bit. One thing that has not grown is the Westminster fire department. We have the same number of stations, the same number of ambulances, same number of engines as we had 20 years ago," Rasche said. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Perry Park neighbors concerned over high radium levels in their drinking water in Colorado
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Perry Park neighbors concerned over high radium levels in their drinking water in Colorado

By Olivia Young | CBS Colorado Neighbors in a Douglas County community are worried about the safety of their drinking water. It's happening in Perry Park, an unincorporated community west of Larkspur, which is home to natural red rock formations. The area's geology is naturally rich in minerals, including radium. Radium is a radioactive metal and has been linked to cancer. However, it is naturally occurring and the EPA allows small levels in drinking water. But a sample taken from Perry Park's water back in August was more than twice that limit. Perry Park neighbors are thirsty for answers, after receiving a notice in early October from the Perry Park Water and Sanitation District, stating that radium levels in their water are three to four times higher than normal. R...
Auraria Campus police officer shot in Denver released from hospital
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Auraria Campus police officer shot in Denver released from hospital

By Austen Erblat | CBS Colorado An Auraria Campus police officer was shot and injured early Monday morning after trying to arrest a trespassing suspect, the campus said in a news release. That officer was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and has since been released. Around 1:15 a.m., two officers approached a suspect who was accused of trespassing into a vehicle and then assaulting the officers. After a brief chase, a physical struggle with the suspect ensued and one of the officers tried to tase the suspect who then fired several rounds, hitting one of the officers in the arm, according to a statement from campus officials. Auraria Campus Police and Denver police officers found the suspect and arrested him. He has not yet been identified and it's unclear what charges he'...
Denver City Council to vote on rezoning 70 acres around Ball Arena for housing
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Denver City Council to vote on rezoning 70 acres around Ball Arena for housing

By Ashley Portillo | CBS Colorado On Monday night, Denver city council members will vote on rezoning the area around Ball Arena. The proposed project, if approved, would turn the parking lots around the facility into a residential neighborhood with plenty of retail space. The proposed project will help redevelop 70 acres of property around the arena. The agreement will pave the way for more affordable housing units and community investment opportunities, but first, the Denver City Council has to approve rezoning for the project. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Community seeking change on anniversary of Littleton 7th grader being killed riding his bike to school
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Community seeking change on anniversary of Littleton 7th grader being killed riding his bike to school

By Ashley Portillo | CBS Colorado One year ago in Colorado, 13-year-old Liam Stewart was hit and killed by a driver while riding his bike to Euclid Middle School in Littleton. On Thursday morning, Liam's family, friends, classmates, teachers and even people he never met rode their bikes or walked from the middle school to Bemis Library. A sea of people wearing red moved through the community, as red was Liam's favorite color. It was a day to remember and honor Liam, but also to push for changes to make the community safer for everyone -- including drivers, pedestrians and bikers. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO