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In Aquilar, city attorney resigns, clerk placed on administrative leave over mounting financial concerns
Approved, Local, World Journal

In Aquilar, city attorney resigns, clerk placed on administrative leave over mounting financial concerns

By Ruth Stodghill | The World Journal The financial problems looming over the Town of Aguilar in recent months turned into a full blown Chernobyl-style meltdown at the July 25 meeting of the Board of Trustees, with allegations of overspending that had completely drained the town’s general fund and delinquent payments that triggered threats of litigation against the town. And just like any nuclear meltdown, the fallout was catastrophic: staffing shake ups included the resignation of the town attorney and the placement of the town clerk on administrative leave. The first financial bomb to drop occurred as the board was preparing to enter into an executive session to discuss the town’s newly constructed augmentation pond.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE WORLD JOURNAL
Adams State, Trinidad State sign partnership agreements to better serve students in the San Luis Valley
Alamosa News, Approved, Local

Adams State, Trinidad State sign partnership agreements to better serve students in the San Luis Valley

By The Alamosa News On Wednesday, July 31, President David Tandberg of Adams State University and President Rhonda Epper of Trinidad State College took a bold step in solidifying 10 new transfer agreements that will allow students to seamlessly transfer from Trinidad State into bachelor’s degree programs at Adams State. These agreements have been over a year in the making. Tandberg and Epper noted that Adams State University and Trinidad State College are committed to improving transfer for students. Trinidad State is a two-year institution with campuses in Trinidad and Alamosa (Valley Campus), that offers general arts and science associate's degrees, applied career and technical degrees and select applied bachelor’s degrees. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE ALAMOSA NEWS
City council members raise doubts about Denver mayor’s housing plan
Approved, DENVER7, Local

City council members raise doubts about Denver mayor’s housing plan

By Brandon Richard | Denver 7 News Nearly a week after the Denver City Council delayed a key vote on Mayor Mike Johnston’s affordable housing sales tax proposal, it was back before council members Tuesday. A working group of council members convened to review the proposal in more detail. It also provided them an opportunity to share their concerns about the proposal. Council members sponsoring the mayor’s plan hope the working group will help them address their colleagues' concerns and develop a better plan to present to voters in the fall. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
A year after exchange student hit and killed near school, Colorado Springs adding speed zones, crosswalks
Approved, CBS 11 KKTV, Local

A year after exchange student hit and killed near school, Colorado Springs adding speed zones, crosswalks

By Cameron Dean | CBS 11 News Before the start of the next school year, five more schools will have crosswalks installed to increase the safety of students and pedestrians. Coronado, Pine Creek, and Sand Creek High Schools as well as Holmes and Sand Creek Middle School will all have a crosswalk and slow speed zone before students have their first day of school. City officials said they had specific parameters for choosing the next schools to add crosswalks to. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS 11 NEWS
Following successful pilot program,  RTD rides now permanently free for those 19 and younger
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

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...
Police chief who had worked for Lakeside since 1967 fired: ‘We have every reason to terminate immediately’
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Police chief who had worked for Lakeside since 1967 fired: ‘We have every reason to terminate immediately’

By Brian Maass | CBS Colorado At a special meeting Tuesday night, trustees for the Town of Lakeside voted to unanimously fire their police chief, Robert Gordanier, who had also served as mayor and fire chief and had worked for the town since 1967. The town also announced that Gordanier's daughter, Brenda Hamilton, who was town clerk but had also been indicted along with her father, had agreed to resign from her position.   "We have good reason to terminate," said Henry Schueller, one of the five trustees who voted to fire Gordanier. "There's a reason he was indicted," said Schueller. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Substantial pay raises for county manager, attorney led to heated Elbert County town hall
Approved, Elbert County News, Local

Substantial pay raises for county manager, attorney led to heated Elbert County town hall

By Nicky Quinby | Elbert County News Amid controversies over pay hikes for local government executives and Xcel Energy’s power-line plans, the July 17 Elbert County Commissioners Town Hall Meeting was hotly anticipated and well-attended. Wendy Walp, Elbert resident and treasurer for the Elbert Women’s Club, said the turnout was much bigger than the last town hall in Elbert. People trickled in well after the 6:30 p.m. start time at the Russell Gates Mercantile Building. The meeting started off calmly with a county update from the commissioners, though many had difficulty hearing and frequently yelled for the commissioners to speak up. READ THE FULL STORY AT ELBERT COUNTY NEWS
City of Boulder sues FAA over 2040 airport closure dispute, claims ‘unconstitutional overreach’
Approved, Boulder Reporting Lab, Local

City of Boulder sues FAA over 2040 airport closure dispute, claims ‘unconstitutional overreach’

By John Herrick | Boulder Reporting Lab The City of Boulder has filed a lawsuit against the Federal Aviation Administration in federal district court, challenging the agency’s assertion that the city must keep its airport operating indefinitely. The city claims the FAA is violating protections in the U.S. Constitution. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court on July 26, seeks a judicial declaration that would allow the city to legally close Boulder Municipal Airport by 2040.  This legal dispute is the latest development in a longstanding debate over the airport’s future. Boulder Municipal Airport, in the city’s northeast corner, primarily serves private pilots, trainees, glider pilots and researchers. Last summer, the city began considering whether to upgrade...
Alexander Mountain fire triples in size to 990 acres in a day
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Alexander Mountain fire triples in size to 990 acres in a day

By Austen Erblat, Jesse Sarles, Dillon Thomas | CBS Colorado The Alexander Mountain Fire in Larimer County grew slowly overnight to around 990 acres on Tuesday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The fire forced evacuations in Big Thompson Valley on Monday. What was initially reported at about 100 acres around 10:30 a.m. that day grew to 365 acres in a few hours and then 950 acres by the evening with 0% containment. Tuesday morning, Copter4 flew over the fire and captured images of the blaze on U.S. Forest Service land. The fire is currently about 20 miles west of Loveland. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Police: Man pulls knife, another a hammer while one was collecting ballot signatures in west Colorado Springs
Approved, CBS 11 KKTV, Local

Police: Man pulls knife, another a hammer while one was collecting ballot signatures in west Colorado Springs

By Lindsey Grewe | KKTV CBS 11 A fight between a person collecting ballot signatures and a citizen landed both men in jail. According to police, the men got in an argument while the first suspect was gathering signatures in a business parking lot near Uintah and 19th Street Monday afternoon. Things quickly escalated from there. “The person gathering signatures pulled a knife and menaced the citizen. The citizen walked to his vehicle and retrieved a hammer, returned to confront the person gathering signatures,” a CSPD lieutenant said. READ THE FULL STORY AT KKTV CBS 11