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Boulder Co. Sheriff’s Office stops using CBI for forensic casework; moves to Jefferson Co. lab
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Boulder Co. Sheriff’s Office stops using CBI for forensic casework; moves to Jefferson Co. lab

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 News The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Sunday afternoon that it will not be using the Colorado Bureau of Investigation crime labs for forensic casework moving forward. Instead, the county agency will transition the casework to the Jefferson County Regional Crime Lab. “This change is driven by our commitment to delivering the highest level of service to those affected by crime in our community,” a sheriff’s office spokesperson told FOX31 on Sunday. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Colorado Springs police mourns the loss of K-9 Officer Hulk
Approved, gazette.com, Local

Colorado Springs police mourns the loss of K-9 Officer Hulk

By O'Dell Isaac | The Gazette The Colorado Springs Police Department is mourning the loss of one of its four-footed family member, the law enforcement agency announced via Facebook on Saturday. Hulk, a retired K-9, passed away on Friday after a brief illness, according to the social media post. The Dutch Shepherd was 9 years old. “It is with heavy hearts that the CSPD K9 unit announces the passing of retired K9 Hulk,” the pose read, in part. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A battle is brewing over the future of Sandstone Ranch Open Space. Douglas County’s proposal to introduce primitive camping at the site has sparked overwhelming opposition from residents, firefighters and local organizations. With fire dangers looming, a lack of emergency response infrastructure and no prior public input, critics are calling the plan reckless and dangerous. Residents have mobilized, gathering more than 1,000 signatures on a petition to stop the plan, and two local government bodies have already passed resolutions formally opposing the initiative. A public awareness event is planned for Saturday, and concerned citizens are preparing to speak out at the next board of county commissioners meeting. “We’re ...
Woodland Park City Council advances effort to repeal sales tax for public schools
Approved, gazette.com, Local

Woodland Park City Council advances effort to repeal sales tax for public schools

By Eric Young | The Gazette A new agreement, a taxpayer vote and corrective reactions weren’t enough to quell the dispute between Woodland Park’s school district and the City Council. Council members advanced an ordinance to repeal the sales tax earmarked for Woodland Park’s public schools after they clashed once again with Woodland Park RE-2. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Greeley men planned to launch tobacco, meth over federal prison fence in Louisiana with air cannon
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Greeley men planned to launch tobacco, meth over federal prison fence in Louisiana with air cannon

By Logan Smith | CBS Colorado Two Colorado men were recently apprehended outside a federal penitentiary in Louisiana before they could carry out a plan to deliver packages of tobacco and methamphetamine to inmates inside the prison.  The Greeley men, 18-year-old Jose Francisco Herrera Munox and 19-year-old Angel Gonzales Gutierrez, planned to launch the packages over a security fence with an air cannon.  That type of cannon uses compressed air. The device is more commonly used by sports teams to send T-shirts into the stands at home events.  READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Boulder official facing complaint for allegedly blocking residents on Instagram, from book club
Approved, Boulder Reporting Lab, Local

Boulder official facing complaint for allegedly blocking residents on Instagram, from book club

By John Herrick | Boulder Reporting Lab Two Boulder residents have filed a code of conduct complaint against Councilmember Taishya Adams, alleging she blocked one of them on Instagram and barred the other from a book club she organized as a public official. The complaint, filed on Feb. 5, alleges Adams discriminated against a Jewish resident after she blocked him from her Instagram account, which she uses to communicate her work on the Boulder City Council. It also alleges she restricted access to a book group that was “publicly sponsored in her capacity as a councilwoman,” misused her personal Instagram account for city business, and then blocked several other Jewish residents not named in the complaint.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE BOULDER REPORTING LAB
D-11 teachers union rallies outside of schools, calls for collective bargaining restoration
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, Local

D-11 teachers union rallies outside of schools, calls for collective bargaining restoration

By Eric Young and O'Dell Isaac | Colorado Politics, via The Gazette Frigid temperatures didn’t stop Colorado Springs School District 11’s teacher union from making a statement Wednesday morning. Members of the Colorado Springs Education Association gathered outside of multiple schools carrying signs and chanting ahead of their start times for a solidarity walk-in following the recent dissolution of their collective bargaining agreement. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Garfield joins eight counties to have opted out of state’s sensitive spaces concealed carry ban
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Garfield joins eight counties to have opted out of state’s sensitive spaces concealed carry ban

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice During a Monday meeting of Garfield County's commissioners, the board of Tom Jankovsky, Mike Sampson and Perry Will exercised an option to exempt Garfield County from the law, created by Senate Bill 24-131, which prohibits lawful concealed carry by permit holders from government buildings. The bill, by Democrat Sens. Sonya Jaquez Lewis — who recently resigned in disgrace — and Chris Kolker, took effect in July 2024. In Garfield County, those who possess a valid concealed carry permit can now take handguns into specific government buildings, in this case the county's administration buildings, in both Glenwood and Rifle, where the county commissioners have offices. The opt out provision does not include courthouses. It...
Highway signs on C-470 honor Kendrick Castillo, 2019 STEM School shooting hero
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Highway signs on C-470 honor Kendrick Castillo, 2019 STEM School shooting hero

By Jeff Anastasio | Denver 7 News Drivers on C-470 will notice a change to overhead highway signs to reflect the renaming of the former Lucent Boulevard to Kendrick Castillo Way, honoring the hero student who charged a gunman and ultimately lost his life during the 2019 STEM School shooting in Highlands Ranch. The highway signs are expected to be swapped out this week after Castillo’s family and officials unveiled Kendrick Castillo Way back in November. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
Laramie Energy gives Mesa County a bleak outlook on future under present regulation
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Laramie Energy gives Mesa County a bleak outlook on future under present regulation

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In an informational work session, Chris Clark of Laramie Energy gave Mesa County Commissioners Cody Davis and JJ Fletcher an update concerning how ever-increasing regulatory policy in Colorado is not only impacting smaller oil and gas companies, but also cutting into the county budget. Energy producing counties have relied on their share of the severance tax, a tax that is extracted from fossil fuel energy developing companies that is designed to cover infrastructure impacts like water development, roads and local entities. In the past, severance tax dollars paid for local libraries, hospital wings, firefighting facilities and equipment, municipal water line replacements, and funded upgrades to local schools, among many...