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Following successful pilot program,  RTD rides now permanently free for those 19 and younger
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Following successful pilot program, RTD rides now permanently free for those 19 and younger

By Lanie Lee Cook | Fox 31 News A pilot program offering free fares for RTD riders age 19 and younger is now permanent. The RTD Board of Directors voted unanimously Tuesday night to continue the program after the one-year pilot, which began on Sept. 1 and was scheduled to end Aug. 31. The transit agency touted the benefits of the program, saying schools reported a reduction in truancy while young people were given transit to work and extracurricular activities without worry about fare costs. “Zero Fare for Youth is helping RTD’s youngest customers understand how their new habits are aiding air quality in their communities and supporting their freedom to explore and gain independence,” RTD General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said in a release. “RTD is also developing transit c...
Merger between Kroger, Albertsons on hold until Denver court rules on state lawsuit
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Merger between Kroger, Albertsons on hold until Denver court rules on state lawsuit

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox 31 News The Kroger and Albertsons merger has been put on pause until Denver’s district court rules on the lawsuit brought on by the state of Colorado. The two grocery store chains announced their plans to merge, however, this was met with much controversy as many said this would create a monopoly. In February, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission sued to block the $24.6 billion merger between the grocery chains, saying the lack of competition would lead to higher grocery prices and lower wages for workers. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Teacher’s alleged Trump post does not speak for district, Jeffco schools say
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Teacher’s alleged Trump post does not speak for district, Jeffco schools say

By Morgan Whitley | Fox 31 News Jefferson County Public Schools sent a statement to FOX31 after screenshots were shared across the internet allegedly showing one of the district’s teachers discussing how former President Donald Trump “was almost taken out” at his rally on Saturday. A Facebook post allegedly made by an elementary school teacher is making its rounds online. Screenshots of the post appear to show the teacher talking about Trump’s attempted assassination and allegedly agreeing with a commenter who was upset “they missed.” “Please know that Jeffco Public Schools does not endorse violence of any kind. The district has social media guidance that encourages our employees to conduct themselves in a professional manner and refrain from posting inappropriate conten...
The cowboy hat is back for some law enforcement officers in Colorado
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The cowboy hat is back for some law enforcement officers in Colorado

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox 31 News A decades-old fashion trend is hitting police departments and sheriff’s offices across the state, and it’s just about as Colorado as it gets. Many departments across the state are allowing cowboy hats as part of the uniform. Deputies in Boulder and Arapahoe County posted about the new look earlier this year. Now, University of Colorado Boulder police officers are carrying on the fad and sporting the hats too. As of early July, the university told FOX31 that police and residential service officers were granted permission to wear cowboy hats meeting certain specifications. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Polis named chair of Democrat Governor’s Association, suggests party change strategy ahead of November election
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Polis named chair of Democrat Governor’s Association, suggests party change strategy ahead of November election

By  Gabrielle Franklin | Fox 31 News A major, solo press conference following the NATO summit in Washington was not enough to convince some Democrats that President Joe Biden should remain their party’s nominee — including some Democrats in Colorado. On Friday, U.S. Brittany Pettersen asked President Joe Biden to “pass the torch.” Now Gov. Jared Polis is breaking his silence on the race for the White House. During a briefing following a National Governors Association meeting, where Polis was named chair of the organization, the former congressman said Democrats need to change something if they want to win this fall. FOX31 asked Polis if he thinks Democrats can win with Biden at the top of the ticket. He said Democrats need to make a change in strategy. RE...
Democrat U.S. Rep. Pettersen joins the fray of those asking Biden to ‘please pass the torch’
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Democrat U.S. Rep. Pettersen joins the fray of those asking Biden to ‘please pass the torch’

By Morgan Whitley | Fox 31 News Rep. Brittany Pettersen, from Colorado’s 7th Congressional District, is the latest politician to call on President Joe Biden to step down as the Democratic candidate. On Friday, Pettersen posted a statement on her personal X account asking Biden to “please pass the torch.” Pettersen represents the 7th Congressional District of Colorado in Jefferson, Broomfield, Lake, Park, Teller, Chaffee, Fremont, and Custer County after being elected in 2022. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Could your Safeway be sold soon? See 89 Colorado stores on planned sale list
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Could your Safeway be sold soon? See 89 Colorado stores on planned sale list

By Samantha Jarpe | Fox 31 News Albertsons Companies, which owns 103 Safeway stores in the state of Colorado, released a list of 91 stores across the state it plans to sell if a planned merger between the company and Kroger is approved. Of these, two are Albertsons-branded stores and 89 are Safeway-branded stores. With 103 Safeway stores in the state, that means that all but 14 Safeway stores in the state would be sold to C&S Wholesale Grocers, a New Hampshire-based company. This includes all locations within Denver, Aurora and Boulder, among many more. According to a divestiture plan released by the two companies in April, C&S Wholesale would license the Safeway brand in Colorado, meaning the stores would likely not have to rebrand if the deal goes through. READ THE...
Half of Denver voters’ top concern is homelessness, one-third say taxes are ‘way too high’
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Half of Denver voters’ top concern is homelessness, one-third say taxes are ‘way too high’

By Lisa D'Souza | Fox 31 News A new study from the Colorado Polling Institute shows new insight into how Denver voters feel about the city and its leadership. The numbers come from a bipartisan poll that was conducted in June. According to the results, when it comes to safety and the community, 73% of those polled said they feel “very or somewhat safe” in Denver. This is up from 68% in 2023. READ THE FULL REPORT AT FOX 31 DENVER
Bald eagle at Denver Zoo dies from medical complications
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Bald eagle at Denver Zoo dies from medical complications

By Brooke Williams | Fox 31 News The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance announced on Monday that one of its bald eagles died due to several ongoing medical conditions last week. Zookeepers believe the eagle, named Toano, was at least 24 years old. His exact age is unknown, but the zoo said he lived well past the 16-year median life expectancy of a bald eagle in human care. He died suddenly on July 3, the zoo said in a post on Facebook. “His acute decline and death were due to severe underlying heart disease, and he had been under treatment with our Veterinary Medicine team for several ongoing medical conditions,” the zoo wrote. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Denver mayor wants a tax increase. Proposes lifting sales tax to 9.31%.
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Denver mayor wants a tax increase. Proposes lifting sales tax to 9.31%.

By Samantha Jarpe | Fox 31 News Denver Mayor Mike Johnston unveiled a proposal Monday to raise $100 million a year for affordable housing projects by raising the sales tax in Denver by 0.5%. The proposed 0.5% tax will account for about 5 cents on a $10 purchase, according to a release sent by the mayor’s office. There would be exceptions for many of the everyday essentials people buy including food, fuel, medical supplies and personal hygiene products, meaning the new tax would not apply to those purchases. Because it involves raising taxes, the proposal will need to be approved by the City Council and then by voters in November before being implemented. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS