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Democratic Denver mayor to lead coalition of mayors asking for federal help for immigrants
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local, National

Democratic Denver mayor to lead coalition of mayors asking for federal help for immigrants

By Brady Knox, Washington Examiner | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is heading to Washington, D.C., as the head of a coalition of mayors asking for help with the migrant crisis. Johnston, a Democrat, will use the United States Mayors Conference to advocate federal assistance in dealing with the migrant crisis. Denver is one of several Democratic-controlled cities that have been the target of Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R-TX) migrant busing campaign, which has seen Texas ship thousands of immigrants to the sanctuary cities. “In D.C. this week for the @usmayors conference to work with fellow mayors, our federal delegation and the White House to advocate for federal action on the migrant crisis,” Johnston said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. Johnston has previously...
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Student enrollment down statewide, up in Denver because of newly arriving immigrants
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Downtown Denver, Local, State

Student enrollment down statewide, up in Denver because of newly arriving immigrants

By Nicole C. Brambila | SOURCE: THE DENVER GAZETTE Student enrollment statewide declined for a second year with new data from the Colorado Department of Education showing a loss of about 1,800 students on what’s called the October count, which is used to determine funding levels for school districts. “On a percentage basis, it’s a fairly small change,” said Jennifer Okes, chief school operations officer for the Colorado Department of Education. Statewide enrollment remains relatively stable. Those 1,800 Colorado students equate to a roughly 0.20% decrease, down from 883,264 in 2022 to 881,464 last fall, state data shows. Colorado’s enrollment was last this low in 2013, when 876,999 pupils were counted, after gaining 13,438 students. What the Oct. 2 count doesn’t show is t...
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Denver City Council approves $88.5 million purchase of former Denver Post building
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Denver City Council approves $88.5 million purchase of former Denver Post building

By Noah Festenstein | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS The Denver City Council on Tuesday approved the $88.5 million purchase of the former Denver Post building in downtown. The building at 101 W. Colfax Avenue last sold for $93.4 million in 2006, according to real estate records. Officials said the purchase is necessary, as the city needs more courtroom spaces by 2023. The city, which began leasing space from the owner of the Denver Post back in 2016, currently occupies 50%of the 101 W. Colfax building. The city pays about $5 million annually. The council postponed Tuesday’s vote for the purchase two weeks ago, citing cost concerns and the need for more information. READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPOLITICS.COM
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Denver council postpones vote to ban homeless camp sweeps during frigid weather
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Denver council postpones vote to ban homeless camp sweeps during frigid weather

By Noah Festenstein | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS The Denver City Council on Tuesday delayed a vote to ban homeless encampment sweeps when the temperatures fall below freezing. The primary sponsor of the bill, at-large Councilmember Sarah Parady, made the motion to postpone the vote for two weeks. Legislative bodies typically delay votes to give sponsors more time to secure votes or consider changes. "The postponement is just due to background logistics and I’m confident it will pass in two weeks!" Parady said. READ FULL ARTICLE ON COLORADOPOLITICS.COM
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Denver Restaurants Struggle as Costs Rise and Business Closures Mount
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Approved, Downtown Denver, Local, thelobby-co.com

Denver Restaurants Struggle as Costs Rise and Business Closures Mount

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM Denver, known for its vibrant dining scene, is facing a challenging year as more than 200 restaurants closed their doors in the city last year. The rising costs of running a restaurant, coupled with a sluggish economy, have made it increasingly difficult for business owners to survive in the Denver metro area. According to Colin Larson, the Director of Government Affairs with the Colorado Restaurant Association, Denver typically sees a 5% growth in the number of new restaurants each year. However, last year, there was a shocking 13% decline, resulting in the closure of over 220 restaurants in Denver alone. Larson predicts that this trend will continue in the coming year, spelling trouble for the local dining industry. One of the major challenges face...
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New immigrants pose ‘difficult dilemma’ as Denver Health sees 700% increase in patients
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Downtown Denver, Local

New immigrants pose ‘difficult dilemma’ as Denver Health sees 700% increase in patients

By Nicole C. Brambila | SOURCE: DENVER GAZETTE Denver Health — the city’s hospital safety net — has seen a 700% increase across its health system in patients from South and Central America over the past 14 months. The rise in patients coincides with — and health officials attribute to — the unprecedented numbers of immigrants, who have crossed America's border illegally, coming to Denver. The lion share of these new patients are from Venezuela. “Overall, these patients don’t have medical insurance,” said Dr. Taylor McCormick, associate director of Pediatrics Emergency Medicine at Denver Health. “Denver Health is eating the cost for many of these visits.” Denver Health does not track — nor does it ask — the immigration status of its patients. READ FULL ARTICLE ON GAZETTE.C...
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Denver Water rate increase goes into effect
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Approved, Denver Metro, denvergazette.com, Local

Denver Water rate increase goes into effect

By Sage Kelley | SOURCE: DENVER GAZETTE Don't be alarmed by higher water bills come the end of the month. Water rates increased on Jan. 1 for the almost 1.5 million people served by Denver Water, nearly 25% of the state's population. The estimated rate increase for a single-family home that uses the same amount of water as it did in 2023 will be an average of $1.60 to $2.30 per month, depending on where they live in the city. The rate increase was approved Oct. 11 by Denver’s Board of Water Commissioners. The new rates will help fund “once in a lifetime” projects to the city's water system, an official said. “Denver Water is at a pivot point. These are historic times and we’ll be affected, just as the communities we serve will be affected, by climate change, popula...
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100 bison headed to NWSS this week
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Approved, Downtown Denver, Local, thefencepost.com

100 bison headed to NWSS this week

By Hagstrom Report | SOURCE: THE FENCE POST DENVER — Nearly 100 American bison are headed to Denver this week for the National Bison Association’s 44th annual Gold Trophy Show and Sale at the National Western Stock Show. The NBA will host a corresponding conference in nearby Westminster in which over 500 of today’s bison stewards will gather for a few days of bison-specific education, networking, feasting and fun.  Over 20 bison producers, from the U.S. and Canada, will bring their top bison breeding stock to the annual auction, in which the animals are cared for in the bison pens at the NWSS Stockyard Event Center. Animals are judged on Thursday and Friday, culminating with a live animal auction at Denver’s National Western Livestock Auction Arena starting at 10 a.m., Satu...
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Should Denver ban homeless camp sweeps in frigid weather? City Council will decide tonight
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Should Denver ban homeless camp sweeps in frigid weather? City Council will decide tonight

By Noah Festenstein | SOURCE: DENVER GAZETTE Denver's councilmembers will decide tonight whether to ban homeless encampment sweeps when temperatures fall below 32 degrees, a move that Mayor Mike Johnston opposes. The council gave the proposal preliminary approval last week, when a few councilmembers voted against advancing it and others showed hesitation to move it forward. The vote is happening as a cold snap, which plunged temperatures to subzero in the last several days, is expected to leave metro Denver today.  READ FULL STORY ON GAZETTE.COM
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Vilsack to travel to National Western Stock show in Denver
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Approved, Downtown Denver, Local, thefencepost.com

Vilsack to travel to National Western Stock show in Denver

SOURCE: THEFENCEPOST.COM Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will hold a panel discussion with farmers and ranchers at the National Western Stock Show in Denver on Friday, USDA said in a media advisory. Vilsack will focus on “rancher and farmer-focused programs that spur economic activity by supporting on-farm conservation, bolstering new markets, expanding independent meat processing options, and keeping farming viable for the next generation,” USDA said. READ FULL ARTICLE ON THEFENCEPOST.COM
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