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Parents vs. unions: The battle over Mesa County’s schools
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Parents vs. unions: The battle over Mesa County’s schools

By Kent Zook | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The same people and organizations trying to replace District 51 School board members, Andrea Haitz, Will Jones, and Angela Lema are the ones responsible for neglecting our schools in the first place. Previous board leadership allowed facilities to deteriorate to the point that repair costs became unfeasible. Union-backed leaders pushed for schools to remain closed longer during COVID-19 and for students to continue masking despite mounting evidence that masks did little to prevent transmission. On August 17, 2021, under the old union-backed board, a public meeting abruptly ended after just 30 minutes of comment, even though 45 minutes had been allotted. The board members, backed by the union, simply walked out with a police escort...
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Douglas County Candidates Debate Safety, Fairness in Sports, and a Teachers’ Role
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CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Douglas County Candidates Debate Safety, Fairness in Sports, and a Teachers’ Role

By: Olivia Young | CBS Colorado In two weeks, Douglas County voters will weigh in on who will shape the next chapter of public education in their Colorado community. Eight candidates are vying for four open spots on the Douglas County School District RE-1 Board of Education. While the race is nonpartisan, one slate of four candidates is more conservative, and another slate of four candidates is more progressive. The board is comprised of seven members in total. Clark Callahan, a charter school administrator, former teacher and father of three DCSD students, is part of the progressive Community's Voice, Community's Choice slate, along with Kyrzia Parker, Tony Ryan and Kelly Denzler. "I really want to help create a system that works for all kids," Callahan told CBS Colo...
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Denver Takes Trump Administration to Court Over Alleged Funding Restrictions
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kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Denver Takes Trump Administration to Court Over Alleged Funding Restrictions

By: Heather Willard | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — The city and county of Denver has joined Chicago, New York, Boston and more in a lawsuit against the Trump administration for allegedly imposing illegal conditions for grant funding. Denver said that the new lawsuit aims to prevent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency from requiring compliance with the current administration’s stance on diversity, equity and inclusion to get grant funding. “President Trump is threatening to strip cities of critical funding for everything from fighting fires to protecting concertgoers at Red Rocks from serious threats,” said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston in a release. “These grants have nothing to do with diversity, equity, and inclusion and everything to ...
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Johnstown Breeze publisher under fire for “Mexican whipping” email to Weld County GOP
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Johnstown Breeze publisher under fire for “Mexican whipping” email to Weld County GOP

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff | Rocky Mountain Voice The publisher of the Johnstown Breeze signs her emails with a Dalai Lama quote: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” But her recent message to the Weld County Republican Party was anything but kind.  At issue is Bangert’s response to an email that was sent with details to party members and media about the Weld County Hoedown on Oct. 6. Bangert simply replied:  “What time is the flag burning and the Mexican whipping?” Weld County GOP Chairman Hunter Rivera called Bangert’s reply “deplorable and unacceptable” after it surfaced in a Facebook exchange with her husband, Breeze co-owner Matt Lubich. The email in question had been sent to more than 3,000 recipients—a routine community announcemen...
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Jeffco Teachers Union Retracts Endorsement After Candidate’s History Emerges
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Complete Colorado, Approved, Local

Jeffco Teachers Union Retracts Endorsement After Candidate’s History Emerges

By Savana Kascak | Complete Colorado LAKEWOOD–The Jefferson County teachers’ union has withdrawn an endorsement for a highly favored school board candidate after a sexual offense committed as a juvenile came to light. Michael Yocum is running for Jefferson County School Board in District 1, originally as part of a teachers’ union-backed slate, along with fellow candidates, Peter Gibbins and Tina Moeinian. The Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA) referred to the trio as “the cleanup crew.” The JCEA endorsed the slate on Aug 8, presumably without knowledge of Yokum’s criminal history (his name has since been removed from the endorsement). Both the JCEA and the Colorado Education Association (the state teacher’s union) are his top campaign contributors. Juvenile adjudicat...
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Denver’s Budget Crisis Deepens Amid $2 Million Rent Default
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CBS Colorado, Approved, Local

Denver’s Budget Crisis Deepens Amid $2 Million Rent Default

By Brian Maass | CBS Colorado The city of Denver's largest tenant, the leaseholder for the Denver Post building at 101 West Colfax Avenue, stopped making its monthly $650,000 rent payments to the city in August. And with late charges, the leaseholder is now about $2 million behind in rent, according to an exclusive CBS News Colorado investigation. "It is a large amount of income for the city, and if we cannot recover that, we will have to turn around and find more budget cuts," said Denver City Councilwoman Sarah Parady. The city of Denver bought the Denver Post building in early 2024 for $88.5 million, saying the 303,000 square foot building would eventually be needed to house Denver's court system. The Denver City Council approved the purchase by a 9-4 vote but several council m...
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Pueblo’s game changer: 2C asks who should run the city—a professional or a politician
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Pueblo’s game changer: 2C asks who should run the city—a professional or a politician

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice Pueblo is about to decide–as Randy Thurston puts it—whether power belongs to a politician or a professional. On Unleashed with Heidi Ganahl: Pueblo pushback: the mayor, the vote & the battle for Colorado’s soul, Thurston, a former city councilman and broker called 2C “one of the most massive game changers” Pueblo has faced in decades. If approved, 2C would eliminate the strong-mayor system adopted seven years ago and return the city to a professional manager model—where council hires an administrator to run daily operations instead of leaving those duties to one elected office. “There are historic moments in every community, and this is one of the most massive game changers that’s on the table here,” Thurston said. “The question really is...
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Record Number of ICE Transfers Reported by El Paso County
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Colorado Politics, Approved, Local

Record Number of ICE Transfers Reported by El Paso County

By Cleo Westin | Colorado Politics Twenty six people with criminal charges were transferred from the custody of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement from July to September, according to a news release by the office Monday. Deputies also detained 14 additional individuals with criminal charges who were released “before ICE authorities could take custody.” Wednesday’s announcement brings the total number of people transferred into ICE custody by the office this year to 45, according to several releases by the office. The sheriff’s office transferred 14 people to ICE custody in September, which is higher than any other month this year. The next highest months were April and July which each had seven transfers. “As we approach the 2026 L...
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Parental Rights Take Center Stage in Poudre School Board Election
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The Coloradoan, Approved, Local

Parental Rights Take Center Stage in Poudre School Board Election

By: Kelly Lyell and Sarah Kyle | The Coloradoan As you weigh which Poudre School District Board of Education candidates will get your vote this election, you might be wondering where each candidate stands on parental rights — and how they would define that term. The Coloradoan sent identical questionnaires to all candidates running for seats on local school district boards of education in the Nov. 4, 2025, election.More: Are you ready for the 2025 election? Your guide to Larimer County-area candidates, issues Below are their answers to this question: How do you define parental rights as it pertains to public education? What level of input should parents/guardians have in curriculum selection and content? Note: Candidate responses were reviewed and, in some cases, lightly e...
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‘No Kings’ 2.0 Protest Brings Arrests and Tighter Security
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

‘No Kings’ 2.0 Protest Brings Arrests and Tighter Security

By: Noah Festenstein | The Denver Gazette Denver police on Sunday morning confirmed authorities arrested 12 people during follow-up demonstrations Saturday, after tens of thousands flooded downtown streets for the “No Kings” afternoon protests. Some charges include assault to a peace officer and aggravated assault, according to a Denver Police Department spokesperson, who confirmed arrests with The Denver Gazette on Sunday morning. The first incident reported happened at around 3:30 p.m., when many “No Kings” protesters left the downtown area after a peaceful protest, according to the police. Lincoln Street remained closed at 14th Avenue and Colfax. Broadway and 14th Avenue, including other roads near the Capitol, were reopened at the time. The “No Kings” protest was scheduled ...
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