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Former state champion Pine Creek QB Tommy Lazzaro dead after Florida hunting accident
Approved, CBS 11 KKTV, Local

Former state champion Pine Creek QB Tommy Lazzaro dead after Florida hunting accident

By Jessica Mendoza | CBS 11 News Florida officials have confirmed a former Pine Creek High School quarterback died in a hunting accident December 22. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) made that confirmation to KKTV news partner WILX. According to their reporting, the incident happened at the Eglin Air Force Base in Walton County where the 27-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. The Walton County Sheriff’s Office said it appears to be a tragic hunting accident. All parties involved remained on scene and are cooperating with the investigation. READ FULL STORY AT CBS 11 NEWS
Spike in sick raccoons noted: ‘It’s exhausting because we’ve euthanized so many’
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Spike in sick raccoons noted: ‘It’s exhausting because we’ve euthanized so many’

By Sarah Horbacewicz | CBS Colorado Agencies across the country and in Colorado are warning of a viral disease outbreak in raccoons. Distemper a deadly illness that can spread to pets. Longmont Animal Control is reporting that they are experiencing a spike in number of calls about sick raccoons in the Colorado city. Animal Control officer Ashley Walters says that that distemper won't get humans sick, but can spread to cats, dogs and even ferrets if they're not vaccinated. Now, Walters wants to spread awareness as officers respond to a higher number of calls than in recent years. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Audit finds ongoing misuse of taxpayer funds in Denver’s Technology Services department
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Audit finds ongoing misuse of taxpayer funds in Denver’s Technology Services department

By Deborah Grigsby | Colorado Politics, via The Denver Gazette A follow-up audit has revealed ongoing misuse of taxpayer funds within Denver's Technology Services department, stemming from inadequate policies and poor administration of its employee purchase card program. Auditors from Denver Auditor Timothy O'Brien's office found the department failed to enforce Executive Order 18, which clarifies the mission, role and authority of Technology Services and specifically prohibits technology purchases using city government purchase cards. A 2023 audit, which reviewed departmental transactions and processes from Jan. 13, 2021, through Oct. 31, 2022, found that “city leaders and employees bypassed required approvals for purchase card use and expense reimbursements.” READ T...
Potholes persist despite paving progress in Colorado Springs, El Paso County
Approved, KRDO.COM, Local

Potholes persist despite paving progress in Colorado Springs, El Paso County

By Scott Harrison | KRDO-TV Officials in El Paso County and in Colorado Springs say that they're repairing as many as or more potholes than they did last year, even with more streets repaved than ever before. County crews have patched 12,000 potholes, 3,000 more than last year; city crews have repaired more than 92,000 -- which may fall just short of two recent years with a record of over 100,000. There are several reasons for the increases: Crews are still catching up from an unusually wet spring and summer of 2023; more potholes are being reported; and officials have more crews on duty to fill the mini-craters. READ THE FULL STORY AT KRDO-TV
Molson Coors to offer free RTD rides on New Year’s Eve
Approved, gazette.com, Local

Molson Coors to offer free RTD rides on New Year’s Eve

By Scott Weiser | The Gazette Need a ride home after New Year’s Eve holiday celebrations? Molson Coors Beverage Co., in collaboration with the Regional Transportation District, is offering "Zero Fare New Year’s Eve" free rides on RTD’s transit system. “To ensure that those celebrating in Denver have a reliable ride, we are excited to activate the Free Rides program once again across the U.S. this New Year’s Eve,” said Alison Hanrahan, community affairs manager for Molson Coors, in a news release. “In collaboration with RTD, we are looking forward to fostering community and fellowship as we ring in the New Year.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Parents frustrated after learning of Jeffco chief of schools’ termination, criminal investigation
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Parents frustrated after learning of Jeffco chief of schools’ termination, criminal investigation

By Gabriela Vidal | CBS Colorado Colorado parents of kids in Jefferson County Public Schools district are speaking out after learning the chief of schools was terminated from his role amid an ongoing criminal investigation. "I'm scared as a parent right now," said Jeffco parent Joe Jameson. Former Chief of Staff David Weiss was fired on Thursday, Dec. 19 following a school board meeting, according to the school district. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Pueblo police recovered stolen cars,  arrested four on Christmas Eve
Approved, KOAA News, Local

Pueblo police recovered stolen cars, arrested four on Christmas Eve

By Ashleigh Quintana | KOAA-TV NBC 5 The Pueblo Police Department, with help from the Colorado State Patrol, Fountain Police Department, Local Parole, and the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office, was able to recover six stolen cars on Christmas Eve. The department also made four arrests in connection to the stolen cars; two people who were arrested had outstanding warrants, and the others are facing charges related to motor vehicle theft. READ THE FULL STORY AT KOAA-TV NBC 5
Incoming Denver DA to get pay bump to oversee 6,000 felony, nearly 8,000 misdemeanor cases each year
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

Incoming Denver DA to get pay bump to oversee 6,000 felony, nearly 8,000 misdemeanor cases each year

By Deborah Grigsby  | Colorado Politics, via Denver Gazette Incoming Denver District Attorney John Walsh hasn’t even been sworn in and he’s already set to get a pay raise — although he’ll have to wait a year before it shows up in his bank account. In its last meeting of the year on Monday, the Denver City Council voted, 9-2, to approve an amended version of his plea for an annual pay increase for his office. Walsh first brought the request to the Dec. 4 Safety, Housing, Education & Homelessness Committee, where he asked for a 4% annual pay raise beginning next year, which would have placed his starting salary at $254,609 instead of $244,816. He said he had to ask for a pay raise now — otherwise, that window is foreclosed for the next four years. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLOR...
Family of abandoned Adams County baby says cocaine was in baby’s system
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Family of abandoned Adams County baby says cocaine was in baby’s system

By Kasia Kerridge | Fox 31 News The family of the 1-month-old baby found abandoned on the median of a busy Adams County street on Christmas morning spoke exclusively to FOX31. According to a social media report, deputies responded to a 911 call at around 9:20 a.m. Wednesday from someone who saw the baby boy only in his diaper sitting in a car seat on a median near 7490 Pecos St. and stopped to help. The area is a busy roadway that’s near an intersection with U.S. Highway 36. The Adams County Sheriff’s Office said it had arrested the child’s biological parents and was seeking to charge them with felony child abuse. The parents were identified as Jarvis Sims, 42, and Christina Thurman, 33. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS