Rocky Mountain Voice

CBS Colorado

Lakewood looking to expand co-responder teams to handle crisis situations in Colorado
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Lakewood looking to expand co-responder teams to handle crisis situations in Colorado

By Karen Morfitt | CBS Colorado In Lakewood, there is a push to get more co-responders on the streets. They are trained mental health professionals who go with police officers to calls offering their expertise when someone in Colorado is in crisis. "Sometimes our patrol agents will call and ask for us," said Susie Newby, one of two co-responders dedicated to the Lakewood Police Department. And every response is different. "With juveniles, Ben has a lot of experience working with them so we prefer him to go on those calls. Susie is really good at de-escalating," her partner, a Lakewood agent, said. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Adams County mourns loss of off-duty Colorado deputy struck and killed by car in Fort Lupton
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Adams County mourns loss of off-duty Colorado deputy struck and killed by car in Fort Lupton

By Jesse Sarles | CBS Colorado A veteran Colorado deputy who appears to have been struck by a car when he was off-duty died after the collision. It happened late Tuesday night in Fort Lupton on Highway 52 near Purman Avenue. The victim was Deputy Joshua Tapia who worked for Adams County. He had also worked until recently as a firefighter in Fort Lupton. Fort Lupton police said the driver whose car apparently struck the deputy stopped, called 911 and tried to provide medical aid. But Tapia was pronounced dead after first responders took him to the hospital. According to the Adams County Sheriff's Office, "Deputy Tapia was a cherished husband, father, friend, and dedicated deputy who devoted over 25 years of service to the Adams County Sheriff's Office." The office wrote that his "d...
Gov. Polis, leading Democrat lawmakers plan to grandstand Trump’s MAGA rally
Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Gov. Polis, leading Democrat lawmakers plan to grandstand Trump’s MAGA rally

By Jesse Sarles | CBS Colorado Friday will be a busy day in Colorado politics as former President Donald Trump is set to visit the state and hold a campaign rally in Aurora in the early afternoon.  In response, Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign announced Wednesday that several Democratic leaders will hold a news conference in Aurora a few hours before the former president's rally, and will "hold Trump accountable for spreading misinformation about the Aurora community." A statement from the Harris campaign said Colorado elected officials including Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. John Hickenlooper and Reps. Jason Crow and Diana DeGuette, who represent the state's 6th and 1st congressional districts, will appear at the event. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COL...
In Arvada, some opposed to plan to convert charter school into homeless center
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

In Arvada, some opposed to plan to convert charter school into homeless center

By Alan Gionet | CBS Colorado Dozens of people attended an Arvada City Council meeting Monday night to voice their opposition to the possibility of a Homeless Navigation Center in the 4900 block of West 60th Avenue. The city purchased a building that formerly housed the Early College of Arvada charter school in May for $6.3 million. In the months since city leaders have begun to look at using it for homeless services. Among the possibilities is a homeless navigation center for people looking to climb out of their circumstances. "I feel like things are being pushed down my throat on this one," said resident Steve Martinson outside his home on West 60th Avenue. He worried about the value of his home, which is directly across the street from the site. READ THE FULL STORY...
Supreme Court to weigh legality of 2022 Biden Administration’s ghost guns rule
Approved, CBS Colorado, National

Supreme Court to weigh legality of 2022 Biden Administration’s ghost guns rule

By Melissa Quinn | CBS Colorado The Supreme Court will convene Tuesday to consider a challenge to the Biden administration's efforts to regulate untraceable firearms known as ghost guns, as major American cities report the measure seems to have caused a reduction in the use of these weapons within their borders. The court fight involves a 2022 regulation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that sought to ensure the difficult-to-trace weapons known as ghost guns are subject to the same requirements as commercial firearms sales. The issue before the justices is not whether Second Amendment rights were violated, but rather if the Biden administration went too far when it issued the rule. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Colorado Supreme Court to hear case on elephants’ rights, captivity at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Colorado Supreme Court to hear case on elephants’ rights, captivity at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

By Michael Abeyta | CBS Colorado The Colorado Supreme Court will soon decide whether animals have bodily liberty and whether a "next friend" can file a lawsuit on their behalf. A lawsuit filed by the Nonhuman Rights Project will be heard by the court on Oct. 24. "Next friend" refers to a person or organization who represents another party in court. "I was just there yesterday. It's such a small exhibit on the side of the mountain," said Courtney Fern of the NhRP. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson says one Colorado race could help decide control of Congress
CBS Colorado, Approved, State

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson says one Colorado race could help decide control of Congress

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado In a sign of how competitive the race in Colorado's 8th Congressional District is, U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson made his second visit to the district in seven weeks to raise money and support for Republican Gabe Evans. Evans is challenging Democratic incumbent Yadira Caraveo. "We're In a battle for the future of America and, when you talk about the most important races in America, this is indeed a top-five race," Johnson told a crowd in Thornton recently. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Heading to Colorado’s high country this weekend to see the fall colors? The Summit Co. sheriff has a warning about parking
Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Heading to Colorado’s high country this weekend to see the fall colors? The Summit Co. sheriff has a warning about parking

By Spencer Wilson | CBS Colorado The Summit County Sheriff's Office is issuing a warning to Coloradans coming up to the high country to see the changing leaves: park in designated parking spots or pay the price. That's after they issued 33 parking tickets in September, half of that being in the last two weeks while leaf peeping tourism has boomed. Sgt. Mike Schilling with the Summit County Sheriff's Office said it's more than just trying to keep people from parking wherever they please, should they find a good view of some trees. "We respond on the trails all the time ... anything from cardiac arrest to a sprained ankle and really anything in between," Schilling said of emergency medical service providers. "So any sort of illegal parking just prevents us from getting there quic...
Mile High Red Cross calling on volunteers to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts
Approved, CBS Colorado, National

Mile High Red Cross calling on volunteers to help with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts

By Ashley Portillo | CBS Colorado Hurricane Helene caused widespread devastation, and because of the magnitude of just how large the storm was, the American Red Cross Mile High Area in Denver is making an urgent plea for more volunteers to help out at disaster shelters. As of this week, more than 1,000 Red Cross volunteers and disaster responders from across the country are boots-on-the-ground, helping those recovering in 10 states devastated by Hurricane Helene. That includes North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. Norman Deeba, of Broomfield, and Pam Pickle, of Red Feather Lakes, are two of approximately 30 Coloradans currently on deployment helping during the aftermath of the storm. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Natural Grocers says theft, safety issues behind closure of Colfax Avenue location in Denver
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Natural Grocers says theft, safety issues behind closure of Colfax Avenue location in Denver

By Tori Mason | CBS Colorado Natural Grocers will close its downtown Denver store at the corner of Colfax and Washington at the end of the month. The company says the decision was made after careful consideration of its operating challenges, including theft and safety issues. The store is located in a crime hotspot for the Denver Police Department. A Walmart further east on Colfax in Aurora also closed this year for issues related to crime. In a statement, Kemper Isely, Co-President of Natural Grocers, said: "We have been actively working to address the theft and safety issues impacting our store at Colfax and Washington for some time. Despite our investment in security and loss prevention strategies over the years, these factors have continued to challenge our ability t...