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U.S. Department of Education investigates Denver Public Schools over use of race
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local, National

U.S. Department of Education investigates Denver Public Schools over use of race

By Nicole C. Brambila | Colorado Politics The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened two discrimination complaints filed against Denver Public Schools’ use of race in selecting committee members to evaluate the district’s "discipline matrix" and in deciding which students can take math extension courses. The complaints, filed by the Mountain States Legal Foundation in November and September, respectively, alleged that the district gives preferential treatment to persons of color and inferred that its use of the word "diverse" is a veiled reference to considering race and people's gender identity. Will Trachman, general counsel for Mountain States Legal Foundation, said the district cannot discriminate against White students or individuals who identify wi...
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Denver police arrest 13-year-old accused of killing bus passenger for blocking aisle
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Approved, Denver Metro, denvergazette.com, Local

Denver police arrest 13-year-old accused of killing bus passenger for blocking aisle

By Daniel Boniface | Denver Gazette A 13-year-old boy was arrested after Denver police alleged he fatally shot a 60-year-old man after an argument on a bus on Saturday. The Denver Police Department said the verbal exchange appears to have started because the victim's leg was blocking the aisle on the bus. The verbal exchange escalated and the boy shot the victim, police said. Denver police officers responded to the bus, which was located at South Federal Boulevard and West Mississippi Avenue, around 6:41 p.m. When officers got there, they found the 60-year-old man who had been shot. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Denver tells migrants it’s closing time — don’t have to go home, but can’t stay here
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Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, Denver Metro, Local

Denver tells migrants it’s closing time — don’t have to go home, but can’t stay here

By Colorado Peak Politics Sanctuary City Denver is literally showing migrants the door with the offer of free* travel tickets to somewhere else now that the cold weather emergency has ended that allowed families to stay six weeks in area shelters. It’s closing time, they’ll be told after three weeks. You don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here. Venezuelan migrants tell Westword they are getting ticket offers to leave shelters before check-out time. Yet many say they want to stay even though they can’t find work without proper work permits, or a place to live. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO PEAK POLITICS
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El Paso official to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston: Keep asking for federal funds | Border Crossroads
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, El Paso County, Local

El Paso official to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston: Keep asking for federal funds | Border Crossroads

By Nicole C. Brambila | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Editor's note: Welcome to Border Crossroads, a series of dispatches from America's southern border, where reporter Nico Brambila and multimedia producer Tom Hellauer are chronicling the crisis that is spilling over into Denver and other interior cities.     EL PASO, TEXAS — El Paso Deputy City Manager Mario D’Agostino offered some advice to Denver Mayor Mike Johnston: Keep pushing for federal money to address the crisis brought on by surges of immigrants crossing the border. El Paso Deputy City Manager, Mario D'Agostino, discusses how his city obtained federal funds to address the immigration surges in recent yearsPlay Video “Don’t give up on the funding requests,” D’Agostino said. "Continuing to push for the fund...
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2 Colorado counties and RTD use taxpayer dollars on political consultants to generate more tax dollars
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Denver Metro, Local

2 Colorado counties and RTD use taxpayer dollars on political consultants to generate more tax dollars

By Shaun Boyd | SOURCE: CBS News As Coloradans brace for massive property tax spikes, some local governments are quietly laying the groundwork for ballot measures that would hike taxes even further, and a loophole in Colorado state law allows them to use your tax dollars to figure out how to get more of your tax dollars. Under state law, a government entity can't spend more than $50 to support a measure after it's on the ballot, but there's no limit on what they can spend before it makes the ballot. Natalie Menten, founder of Colorado Engaged, says the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners is among those using the loophole to run political campaigns on the public's dime. A political activist, government watchdog and chief nemesis of the commissioners, Menten says they're ...
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Migrants cost Sanctuary City schools $17.5 million, Colo taxpayers stuck with bill
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Approved, coloradopeakpolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Migrants cost Sanctuary City schools $17.5 million, Colo taxpayers stuck with bill

SOURCE: COLORADO PEAK POLITICS Sanctuary City has thousands of new students this school year who are projected to cost Denver Public Schools an additional $17.5 million. Hang onto your wallets PeakNation™  because state taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill for the additional costs above Denver school’s $1.3 billion annual budget this year. Thanks to President Biden’s open asylum policy, the influx of migrant students in Denver has risen to almost 3,000 and continues to grow weekly. Denver Public Schools is asking the state for a one-time adjustment in increased funding, which must be approved and funded by the state legislature, reports the Denver Post. Denver schools are currently juggling some money already in the coffers, and the dip in enrollment from past yea...
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Caraveo challenger Gabe Evans announces $170K haul for 4th quarter in Colorado’s 8th CD
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Denver Metro, Eastern Plains, Local, Northern Colorado

Caraveo challenger Gabe Evans announces $170K haul for 4th quarter in Colorado’s 8th CD

By Ernest Luning | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Colorado state Rep. Gabe Evans, one of four Republicans hoping to challenge Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo in the battleground 8th Congressional District, raised more than $170,000 in the last three months of 2023, his campaign said Monday. The Fort Lupton Republican's campaign plans to report starting the year with just over $186,000 in the bank. His campaign said Evans, who entered the primary in September, tallied contributions from nearly 2,000 unique donors last year, for an average donation of just under $95. Caraveo, a Thornton pediatrician and former state lawmaker, is seeking a second term representing the state's newest congressional seat, which covers parts of Adams, Weld and Larimer counties north of the Denver metro ar...
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Elisabeth Epps’ primary challenger outraises incumbent, secures endorsements from legislators
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Downtown Denver, Local

Elisabeth Epps’ primary challenger outraises incumbent, secures endorsements from legislators

Meanwhile, Rep. Tim Hernandez trails his chief primary opponent, Cecelia Espenoza, in fundraising By Marianne Goodland | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Rep. Elisabeth Epp's primary challenger has outraised the incumbent House legislator, securing key endorsements from colleagues and maximum contributions from several current Democratic legislators. Sean Camacho raked in the top dollars, pulling over $58,000 between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2023, the most recent campaign finance reporting period showed.  His campaign chest counted contributions from fellow Democratic lawmakers, and, more notably, from leadership funds, which are set up to raise money to help Democrats keep their legislative seats and try and win others. All told, 17 current state lawmakers — including 11 of E...
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Denver’s Failed Universal Income Program Opens the Floodgates to Non-Citizen Migrants
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Approved, Downtown Denver, Local, thelobby-co.com

Denver’s Failed Universal Income Program Opens the Floodgates to Non-Citizen Migrants

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM In a controversial move that has sparked outrage among many citizens, the city of Denver's bankrupting sanctuary city policies have extended the eligibility of their failed universal income program to non-citizen migrants. The Denver Basic Income Program, which was initially introduced in 2021 with $2 million in funding from the city, has now announced its extension for another six months starting in February 2024. The program, which pays homeless individuals a regular stipend, was intended to assist citizens in need. However, the recent decision to include non-citizen migrants raises serious concerns about the city's financial stability and its commitment to prioritizing its own residents. According to the city's statement, the $2 million allocated ...
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State Sen. Perry Will Moves from State Legislature to a County Commissioner Race
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Approved, Local, thelobby-co.com, Western Slope

State Sen. Perry Will Moves from State Legislature to a County Commissioner Race

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM State Senator Perry Will announced his decision to step down from the state legislature and run for a position on the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners. The move comes as Will’s decision adds him to a competitive race following the retirement of longtime county commissioner John Martin. With the departure of Martin from the county commissioner position, the race to fill the vacancy has attracted several candidates. Among them, Silt resident Caleb Waller is the only other Republican who has filed to run for the county commissioner seat. Additionally, Democrats Caitlin Carey and Doug Salg have entered the race, highlighting the increasing political diversity in Garfield County. Garfield County, once a stronghold of conservative values, has rec...
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