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Federal Probe Launched After Man Wakes Up as Doctors Prepare to Harvest His Organs
National, Approved, DENVER7

Federal Probe Launched After Man Wakes Up as Doctors Prepare to Harvest His Organs

By Scripps News Group | Denver7 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investigating organ donation practices after a Kentucky organization allegedly began harvesting organs from people who may not have been dead. A House subcommittee held a hearing Tuesday on organ donation safety lapses, some concerning Kentucky-based nonprofit Network for Hope, which merged with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA). TJ Hoover was declared brain dead after suffering an overdose in October 2021, but his sister Donna Rhorer says doctors attempted to harvest his organs while he was still showing signs of life. Rhorer says TJ's eyes were open and tracking movement during his honor walk, when family members gather to say goodbye before organ donation surgery. "Almost immediately ...
Coloradans rally after school abduction case tossed under new ‘incompetence’ law—demanding legislative change
DENVER7, Approved, State

Coloradans rally after school abduction case tossed under new ‘incompetence’ law—demanding legislative change

By Natalie Chuck , Joe Vaccarelli | Denver7 Legislation passed last year states that a judge must dismiss charges if a suspect is found incompetent to stand trial and not restorable ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — A state lawmaker, elected officials and community members called for legislative action on Wednesday, stating that a state law requiring courts to drop charges against individuals found to be incompetent needs to be revised. This comes after news that a suspect accused of attempting to kidnap children at an Aurora elementary school last year will have the case dropped sparked outrage and received national attention. "When we're looking at this law, it needs to be reconsidered,” said Susan Payne, founder and former executive director of Safe2Tell. Solomon Galliga...
42 Percent of Colorado Roads in Poor Condition as CDOT Spending Soars
State, Approved, DENVER7

42 Percent of Colorado Roads in Poor Condition as CDOT Spending Soars

By Danielle Kreutter | Denver7 DENVER — Across the state, there has been no significant improvement in infrastructure over the last five years, according to the latest "report card" from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Colorado received a cumulative grade of "C-," the same as the last study the ASCE conducted in 2020. The report looks at more than a dozen different types of infrastructure. The majority of the categories remained the same compared to the last report card. Roads were one of two categories that went down. Colorado roads were graded as a "D+." The overall grade for Colorado from ASCE has remained unchanged since 2020 Across the state, there has been no significant improvement in infrastructure over the last five years, according to the ...
Redfin report shows Gen Z buying homes younger than millennials or Gen X
DENVER7, Approved, National

Redfin report shows Gen Z buying homes younger than millennials or Gen X

By Rachel Wingrat | Denver7 DENVER — New data from Zillow shows the median earner in Denver would need a $44,000 raise to afford a mortgage on a home. It's just the latest statistic that shows how hard it can be to buy a house. But Gen Z seems to be defying the data. According to a recent report from Redfin, Gen Z is actually outpacing millennials and Gen X when it comes to homeownership, compared to when those other generations were the same age. Denver7 spoke with Elizabeth Million, with Elevation Credit Union, about how this is possible when homes seem so unaffordable. "They definitely do their research, which is fantastic," Million said. "The Gen Z segment, they're okay to move or drive as far as it takes to find affordable homes." So Million said, that mi...
Denver sues to keep federal funds while limiting ICE cooperation
DENVER7, Approved, Local

Denver sues to keep federal funds while limiting ICE cooperation

By Óscar Contreras | Denver7 The joint lawsuit alleges the Trump administration has asserted “an unprecedented and unlawful interpretation of the federal government’s authority to commandeer local government resources” DENVER — The City and County of Denver on Tuesday announced it had filed suit against the Trump administration for what it called “its unlawful and unconstitutional threats” to withhold federal funding over Denver’s policies limiting cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The joint lawsuit, filed last week in conjunction with nearly 50 other jurisdictions from across the country in U.S. District Court in northern California, alleges the Trump administration has asserted “an unprecedented and unlawful interpretation of the federal government’s aut...
New report blames bureaucracy, labor gaps for Colorado’s housing affordability crisis
DENVER7, Approved, State

New report blames bureaucracy, labor gaps for Colorado’s housing affordability crisis

By Danielle Kreutter | Denver7 Mile High United Way, BuildStrong Foundation and McKinsey & Company collaborated on the in-depth housing report DENVER — A new report from Mile High United Way, BuildStrong Foundation and McKinsey & Company reveals that 51% of renters and 21% of homeowners in Colorado are cost-burdened. That means more than 30% of their income is spent on housing. But after surveying 200 various stakeholders involved in housing in Colorado, the report brought to the table six potential solutions to address the problem. Read the full report in the embed below: One solution was to improve plan review and permitting speeds. The report cited feedback that long redundant review processes can often delay projects. "There are technology solutions now ...
Wolf removal risks ESA 10(j) protections, Director Davis says at special CPW commission meeting
DENVER7, Approved, State

Wolf removal risks ESA 10(j) protections, Director Davis says at special CPW commission meeting

By Stephanie Butzer , Colette Bordelon | Denver7 Denver7 listened into Monday's special CPW Commission meeting about the wolf pack's recent depredations and future. The Copper Creek Pack in Pitkin County was in the spotlight during a special meeting of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission on Monday afternoon, where the commission solidified its decision not to direct CPW to take any action on the wolf pack for now, saying it is outside the commission's responsibilities. The CPW Commission held the special meeting virtually, which began around 12:30 p.m. and lasted for about two hours. Public comment was not included in the agenda, something producers who spoke with Denver7 felt was lacking from the conversation. New CPW Commission Chair Richard Readin...
Instructors, sheriffs warn: New concealed carry law causes confusion, long lines statewide
DENVER7, Approved, State

Instructors, sheriffs warn: New concealed carry law causes confusion, long lines statewide

By Danielle Kreutter | Denver7 DENVER — New requirements to obtain a concealed carry permit in Colorado took effect on Tuesday. Under House Bill 24-1174, applicants must complete eight hours of in-person training and education on things like safe storage and handling of weapons. There is also now a live fire training requirement. One day into the new requirements, some Colorado sheriff's offices and concealed carry instructors are reporting struggles. "We follow the letter of the law. We do cover what is required under the state requirements," said Issac Chase, co-founder of Guns for Everyone, a Colorado-based company that offers free concealed carry courses. Chase told Denver7 they received an increase in people seeking permits in the months before the new require...
Commerce City Educator Surrenders After Abuse Allegation From Former Student
Local, Approved, DENVER7

Commerce City Educator Surrenders After Abuse Allegation From Former Student

By: Stephanie Butzer | Denver7 COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — A former Commerce City teacher has been charged with sexual assault on a child after a victim came forward and said he was assaulted by her when he was in sixth grade. Michelle McMillan, 44, turned herself into the Adams County Detention Facility on Sunday on a charge of sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust, according to the Commerce City Police Department. The victim in this case disclosed to a parent in December that McMillian had sexually assaulted him when he was a sixth-grader at Landmark Academy. McMillan worked at the school as a teacher at the time, police said. This kicked off a lengthy investigation, which ended with an arrest warrant for McMillan. Landmark Academy is located along the 10...
State official testifies against Polis in data-sharing dispute with ICE
DENVER7, Approved, State

State official testifies against Polis in data-sharing dispute with ICE

By Danielle Kreutter | Denver7 DENVER — A whistleblower who accused Governor Jared Polis of ordering state employees to hand over personal information to federal immigration officials testified in court on Tuesday. Scott Moss is a licensed attorney and the director of the Division of Labor Standards and Statistics in the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. Earlier this month, he filed a lawsuit in Denver County Court, alleging that he was ordered by the governor to turn over information about people providing homes to unaccompanied minors to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in compliance with a subpoena. Moss believed giving ICE the information would violate state laws that ban state and local government agencies from sharing personal information with f...