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Does Denver’s webpage on sales tax hike violate electioneering prohibition?
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Does Denver’s webpage on sales tax hike violate electioneering prohibition?

By Alexander Edwards | The Denver Gazette Yes, apparently, as site is taken down Tuesday. The law prohibits local governments from using public funds to influence the passage or defeat of any ballot. In an apparent move to avoid violating Colorado’s Fair Campaign Practices Act — which places limitations on how government entities may approach measures on the ballot — the Johnston administration removed a webpage dedicated to an upcoming sales tax initiative ballot measure. City officials published an "informational page" about Mayor Mike Johnston’s proposed sales tax hike on the official City and County of Denver website, which the administration claims will generate up to $100 million for "affordable" housing. By Tuesday, the webpage was taken down. The Denver G...
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‘Handouts don’t help’: How a Colorado county reduced homelessness by 86% in 2 years
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‘Handouts don’t help’: How a Colorado county reduced homelessness by 86% in 2 years

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette Amid a homeless crisis plaguing Colorado’s most populated city, a county just south of Denver claims to have found an effective solution to curbing homelessness in its communities. In a campaign to mitigate homelessness, Douglas County officials emphasized one simple message: “Handouts don’t help.” They urged residents, for example, against giving money to homeless people on roadways or sidewalks. From 2022 to 2024, Douglas County witnessed a steep drop in homeless people living on the streets, from 43 to six, according to a recent point-in-time count report conducted by several local third party nonprofits. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Aurora, Adams County, Westminster select new leadership
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Aurora, Adams County, Westminster select new leadership

By Kyla Pearce | Denver Gazette The Aurora City Council picked the city's current chief of public safety to fill its open city attorney position following the former city attorney's retirement in June.  Pete Schulte, whose selection will go to a formal vote at Monday's council meeting, follows former City Attorney Dan Brotzman, who retired earlier this year. Schulte has worked for the city of Aurora since September of 2021. He is a licensed attorney in Colorado, Texas and Wyoming. He will be sworn into office at the following regular council meeting on Oct. 14. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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First gentleman Marlon Reis sought to ‘craft legislation’ related to wolves, emails show
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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...
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Denver to consider $197M contract for Colfax transit project; total project cost is $280.5M
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Denver to consider $197M contract for Colfax transit project; total project cost is $280.5M

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette After postponing the matter last week, the Denver City Council on Monday will consider a $197.3 million contract for construction of a bus rapid transit system that would dramatically reshape the “longest commercial street in the country.” The contract with Kraemer North America would be for the East Colfax Avenue Bus Route Transportation (BRT) project, which will cost a total of $280.5 million, according to city estimates. Of that total, $150 million is funded by federal grants, $28.5 million from the Denver Regional Council of Governments, $14 million from the City of Aurora, $65 million from the Elevate Denver bond and $22.5 million from other sources. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Denver council OKs $6 million contract to Haven of Hope to aid immigrants
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Denver council OKs $6 million contract to Haven of Hope to aid immigrants

By Alexander Edwards | Denver Gazette The Denver City Council on Monday approved a $6 million contract for a group to manage the distribution of food and provide services for immigrants participating in the city's work program. The vote on the $6 million contract with Haven of Hope was postponed in late August and again last week after councilmembers grilled the Johnston administration and one member said it resulted in more questions than answers.  Those questions seemed to have been answered on Monday, when 12 councilmembers voted in favor of the contract, though Councilmember Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez pressed about the program’s sustainability.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Colorado mother avoids jail after lawyer argues reunification therapist has history of deadly consequence
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Colorado mother avoids jail after lawyer argues reunification therapist has history of deadly consequence

By Chris Osher | Denver Gazette A Colorado mother avoided further time in jail after her lawyer argued that the court-ordered reunification therapy the mother opposes between her youngest sons and her criminally charged ex-husband was being conducted by a therapist who had a history of tragic, deadly consequences for another mother whose two children were murdered. After a contentious, two-hour hearing, Larimer County District Court Judge Daniel McDonald on Thursday ruled that Rachel Pickrel-Hawkins would not have to spend five additional weekends in the Larimer County Jail and suspended her sentence. The judge also halted any additional reunification therapy sessions between her children, aged 10 and 13, and their father until the resolution of the criminal case pending against t...
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King Soopers trial: Alleged shooter yelled “This is Fun!”
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King Soopers trial: Alleged shooter yelled “This is Fun!”

By Carol McKinley | Denver Gazette As gunshots peppered the grocery store, a pharmacist heard the alleged Boulder mass shooter shout: “This is fun! This is such fun!” Sarah Chen, her voice shaking from nerves, told a rapt jury on Thursday that the defendant repeated the shocking statement at least four times. “I grabbed a chair because I didn’t want to die not doing everything I could,” she said during the murder trial in Boulder County. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Aurora officials admit knowing about Venezuelan gang’s activities months ago
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Aurora officials admit knowing about Venezuelan gang’s activities months ago

By Denver Gazette Aurora officials on Wednesday admitted they had been arresting people suspected — though not yet confirmed at the time of their apprehensions — of being members of a Venezuelan gang operating in the metro Denver long before the media spotlight on the city. The gang's activities also "significantly affected" apartment complexes in the city, officials acknowledged. To date, authorities have linked 10 people to the gang and arrested eight, the city said in a news release sent a day after the gang situation in Aurora took center stage at last night's first presidential debate between Republican Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER GAZETTE
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Denver City Council postpones vote on $6 million immigration aid contract
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Denver City Council postpones vote on $6 million immigration aid contract

By Alexander Edwards | Denver Gazette Denver City's councilmembers on Monday grilled the Johnston administration and postponed voting on a $6 million contract for a group to manage the distribution of food and provide services for immigrants.  More questions than answers had emerged at the council's meeting. The contract would have allocated approve money for Haven of Hope, which would use it to manage distributing food and personal items and provide other services for immigrants enrolled in Denver's Asylum Seekers Program (DASP).  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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