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Denver crisis grows while solutions stall: Family homelessness up 150% since 2022
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Denver crisis grows while solutions stall: Family homelessness up 150% since 2022

By Veronica Acosta | Denver7 DENVER — For nearly two years, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston's administration has been working to find solutions to the city's homelessness crisis. According to the 2024 Point-in-Time Count, the number of families living on the street dropped last year. However, data from the Department of Housing Stability (HOST) shows the overall number of families experiencing homelessness has increased by 150% since 2022. During a presentation to the city's Safety, Housing, Education, and Homelessness Committee, Jeff Kositsky, the deputy director for HOST, said the family shelter waitlist increased 78% in the past year. He attributed the increase in families experiencing homelessness to a rise in eviction filings, a growing number of unhoused newcomers,...
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Medicaid bill targets Colorado over health care for illegal immigrants
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Medicaid bill targets Colorado over health care for illegal immigrants

By Brandon Richard | Denver7 DENVER — A bill that would overhaul Medicaid and penalize states like Colorado that provide state-funded health care coverage to undocumented immigrants advanced in a U.S. House committee on Wednesday. Denver7 is keeping an eye on the lengthy debates in Congress over the so-called "big, beautiful bill" that would extend and increase tax cuts by making cuts to Medicaid and other benefit programs. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said several committees worked all night and have now passed their portions of the bill. He hopes to pass it in the full House and send it to the U.S. Senate before Memorial Day. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER7
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One dead, two injured in Aurora shopping center parking lot shooting
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One dead, two injured in Aurora shopping center parking lot shooting

By Sydney Isenberg | Denver7 AURORA, Colo. — One person was killed and two others were seriously injured in a shooting in the parking lot of an Aurora shopping center Wednesday evening. The Aurora Police Department said its officers responded to reports of a shooting in the parking lot of 1155 South Havana Street around 8:36 p.m. Nearby businesses include a King Soopers, a liquor store and a Baskin-Robbins. Officers arrived and found two men suffering from gunshot wounds. One man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER7 NEWS
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Final week at the Capitol: Democrats target TABOR, transparency and immigration enforcement
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Final week at the Capitol: Democrats target TABOR, transparency and immigration enforcement

By Brandon Richard | Denver7 DENVER — With under a week to go before they adjourn this year’s legislative session, Colorado lawmakers still have a lot of work ahead of them. Dozens of bills are still under consideration, including several controversial proposals. “It feels like 80% of the work happens in the last two weeks,” said State Rep. Meg Froelich, D-Englewood. “Our budget was pretty late in being finalized, and so, nothing can really move until we know how much money we're working with, or in this case, how much money we're not working with.” Froelich is one of the primary sponsors of Senate Bill 25-161, which would reform the Regional Transportation District (RTD). The bill cleared its second-to-last vote in the Colorado House of Representatives on Thursday. “Th...
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Six Highlands Ranch schools to consolidate by 2026 under unanimous DCSD board vote
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Six Highlands Ranch schools to consolidate by 2026 under unanimous DCSD board vote

By Sydney Isenberg | Denver7 DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — The Douglas County School District Board of Education unanimously voted on Tuesday to consolidate six Highlands Ranch elementary schools. Under the plan, Saddle Ranch Elementary will consolidate into Eldorado Elementary, Heritage Elementary will consolidate into Summit View Elementary, and Acres Green Elementary will consolidate into Fox Creek Elementary. The consolidation will begin with the 2026-27 school year. Prior to the vote, several board members said it was one of the most difficult decisions they've faced during their tenure. "From the superintendent down… I’ve literally spoken to custodians, and they’ve all had opinions, and they’ve all mattered, and they’ve all been considered," said DCSD Board of Education memb...
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Boebert wants to pull the brakes on federal funding for proposed Front Range passenger rail project
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Boebert wants to pull the brakes on federal funding for proposed Front Range passenger rail project

By Robert Garrison | Denver7 DENVER — Rep. Lauren Boebert wants to halt federal funding for a project that would bring passenger rail service to Colorado’s Front Range. The Republican congresswoman announced Tuesday that she is seeking Elon Musk’s help stopping federal funds from going to the Front Range Passenger Rail Project, which was granted $66 million in federal money last year. The proposal would offer passenger rail service from Fort Collins through Denver and south to Pueblo. A timeline for construction or completion is not available as the project is still in the planning stages. Boebert sent a letter to U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) calling for a reevaluation of federal funds a...
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CPW confirms second gray wolf reintroduced to Colorado dies in Wyoming
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CPW confirms second gray wolf reintroduced to Colorado dies in Wyoming

By Stephanie Butzer | Denver 7 DENVER — For the second time this year, a gray wolf that was translocated to Colorado from Canada as part of the second round of reintroductions has died in Wyoming. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) sent a brief press release about the second death around 6:45 p.m. Friday, saying they had learned about the male wolf's death in Wyoming on April 9. The wolf was part of the 15 animals — which included seven males — that had been captured in British Columbia earlier this year and brought to Colorado. CPW coordinated with Wyoming Game and Fish to obtain the wolf's GPS collar. Wyoming state law prevents other details from being shared, CPW said. When the first translocated wolf died in Wyoming on March 16, a CPW spokesperson told De...
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State sends $8M to 12K residents—billions more remain in unclaimed property
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State sends $8M to 12K residents—billions more remain in unclaimed property

By Shannon Ogden | Denver7 DENVER — Colorado, you have some money coming to you. The Colorado Department of the Treasury is mailing $8 million in unclaimed property to 12,000 Coloradans. The checks will arrive in the next few weeks and can be cashed immediately without further action. Twice yearly, companies transfer assets to the Department of Treasury when they can't locate the owners. The state said it currently holds more than $2 billion in unclaimed funds owed to 15 million people or entities. State Treasurer Dave Young said this round of checks includes some sizeable payouts. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER7 NEWS
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Former Colorado town clerk arrested for embezzling $47K in public funds
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Former Colorado town clerk arrested for embezzling $47K in public funds

By Sydney Isenberg | Denver7 HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, Colo. — The former town clerk of Hot Sulphur Springs is accused of embezzling more than $47,000 in town funds during her tenure. Jessica Webb, 51, of Hot Sulphur Springs was arrested on Saturday for money laundering, theft, embezzlement of public property and first-degree official misconduct. She posted bond and was later released from the Grand County Jail. Court documents show that Webb became Hot Sulphur Springs' town clerk on February 21, 2019, and was fired in August 2023. The investigation began on Oct. 11, 2023, when Mayor Ray Tinkum brought concerns to the Grand County Sheriff's Office. Due to the complexity of the investigation, detectives requested help from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) High Tech Crime Un...
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Rep. Rogers says Space Command is leaving Colorado Springs this month
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Rep. Rogers says Space Command is leaving Colorado Springs this month

By James Gavato | Denver7 COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — U.S. Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama said United States Space Command will move its headquarters to Huntsville from Colorado Springs this month. Rogers commented on the McCrary Institutes podcast, which is a non-partisan think tank. https://twitter.com/McCraryCyber/status/1909959079876850017 "Space Command will officially be assigned to build its headquarters in Huntsville," Rogers said. He went on to say the contractor for the project is ready to "turn dirt" on the day the announcement is made. Rogers also said he expects the announcement to be made this month. Colorado's Republican delegation is hosting a press call Thursday morning to answer questions about the future of Space Command. READ THE FULL STORY A...
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