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Mayor’s $3.6 Billion Plan Pledges Fiscal Stability for Denver
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Mayor’s $3.6 Billion Plan Pledges Fiscal Stability for Denver

By Gabrielle Franklin | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is releasing his 2026 budget proposal. The mayor said the $1.66 billion plan should get the city back on good financial footing. The mayor said the way he has the numbers mapped out should mean no more cuts to personnel. He did have to make some cuts to programs and technology used by city workers. “Remember, we announced first the personnel savings. Today, we will announce $77 million in savings and services, supplies, contracts. I’ll walk you through and a couple of million dollars in revenue additions,” Johnston said during his press conference unveiling the plan Monday. Johnston said the 2026 budget proposal is the biggest economic adjustment in the city since 2011, outside of the COVID era when ...
Religious Freedom and Property Rights Collide in Teller County over “Illegal” Greenhouse
The Colorado Sun, Approved, Local

Religious Freedom and Property Rights Collide in Teller County over “Illegal” Greenhouse

By Jennifer Brown | The Colorado Sun A court battle over the greenhouse hinges on religious freedom, conflict of interest and the state Farm Stand Act. A battle between a Divide couple who built a greenhouse next to their home and Teller County commissioners who want them to tear it down has moved to the courthouse. Commissioners have sued Virginia and Zac Loop, seeking a judge’s order to force the couple to dismantle the 2,856-square-foot rectangular greenhouse where they had planned to harvest mangoes, avocados and other fruits and vegetables that don’t grow at 9,200 feet. The county is seeking $2,000 in initial fees plus $200 per day for every day the greenhouse has stayed up since the Teller County Community Development Department ordered the Loops to take it down. So fa...
District 49 Staff Disciplined Over Alleged Approval of Charlie Kirk Assassination
The Gazette, Approved, Local

District 49 Staff Disciplined Over Alleged Approval of Charlie Kirk Assassination

By Ashleigh Quintana, KOAA | The Gazette Two staff members at School District 49 are on administrative leave following reports that they approved of the Charlie Kirk assassination. Kirk, a conservative activist, was shot and killed Wednesday during a speaking event at Utah Valley University in Orem. The suspect, identified as Tyler Robinson, 22, was taken into custody on Thursday night, about 33 hours after the shooting, FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters. The agency had received more than 11,000 tips as of Friday morning, the most since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, he said. According to Gazette new partner KOAA, D-49 said on Friday that the following statement was released to families at The Campus, which includes the Springs Studio for Academic Excellence and the Pik...
Deputies sound alarm over risks of ‘Senior Assassins’ student game
Fox31, Approved, Local

Deputies sound alarm over risks of ‘Senior Assassins’ student game

By: Jacob Factor | FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday issued a “public safety announcement” warning the community of the risks associated with a high school tradition after two “alarming” calls of students playing “Senior Assassin.” The game, in which high school students—typically seniors—hunt for at “shoot” each other with sometimes realistic-looking water or toy guns, has been the subject of many law enforcement warnings around the country and has even led to students being shot by police or injured while playing.Police across US issue warnings about ‘senior assassin’ game: What is it? The sheriff’s office, in a Facebook post and video, detailed the two incidents that happened earlier this month related to the game. “...
Beau Jo’s Pizza steps up to aid Evergreen High after shooting
Fox31, Approved, Local

Beau Jo’s Pizza steps up to aid Evergreen High after shooting

By: Nate Belt | Fox31 DENVER (KDVR) — Days after a shooting rocked Evergreen High School, the community is coming together to rally around the victims and students at the school. Beau Jo’s is already a popular spot for pizza, but guests over the last few days have shown up for a good cause as well, raising money for Jeffco Public Schools. Victim injured in Evergreen High School shooting identified Beau Jo’s employee Nataly Gutierrez loves Evergreen. “It’s a small mountain community, we’re all in this together,” said Gutierrez. An Evergreen High School graduate, she was devastated to hear the news of the shooting this week. “I live down in Golden and I came up here for a safer community, and it’s really sad that had to happen up here,” said Gutierrez. Not everyone ...
Colorado Springs to shut community center as $31 million gap widens
The Gazette, Approved, Local

Colorado Springs to shut community center as $31 million gap widens

By Brennen Kauffman | The Gazette Colorado Springs will be closing Meadows Park Community Center in the next month and cutting 38 employees immediately in order to reduce the city's budget heading into 2026. Mayor Yemi Mobolade announced the series of cuts Friday afternoon to address what is projected to be a $31 million shortfall in the city's upcoming budget. "These measures will ensure we are delivering for residents while also committing ourselves to fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. This city has been doing government efficiency for years, it's not new to us," Mobolade said. Meadows Park Community Center is one of four community centers run by the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Department. Parks Director Britt Haley said in a statement the center was ...
Eagle County Faces Allegations of Blocking Affordable Housing in Ski Country
Local, Approved, The Gazette

Eagle County Faces Allegations of Blocking Affordable Housing in Ski Country

By: David O. Williams | The Gazette EDWARDS • According to its own housing assessment, Eagle County needs nearly 6,400 affordable rental and for-sale housing units over the next 10 years to address current shortages and future labor growth. Given what one developer describes as its current broken policies, the county will never get there, he said. The resort county of more than 54,000 that’s home to the Vail and Beaver Creek ski areas is made up of more than 80% federally owned public lands, meaning there’s fierce competition for a limited supply of highly desirable private land for both free-market and subsidized housing. Matt Larson of Denver-based Rediger Development has family ties to the Vail area and experience building both high-end homes and trying to build affordable hous...
Evergreen High School Remains Closed as Community Heals After Shooting
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Evergreen High School Remains Closed as Community Heals After Shooting

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — Faculty and students will not be returning to Evergreen High School for at least another week, as the community deals with the aftermath of a school shooting on Sept. 10. On Sunday evening, Jefferson County Public Schools sent a press release stating: “Evergreen High School will be closed the week of September 15. District leadership is working on a plan to return to learning and will have that finalized later in the week.” Two students were shot and taken to the hospital in critical condition. As of the latest update on their conditions on Friday, one student was in serious condition and was transported to another hospital. The other victim remains in critical condition at St. Anthony Hospital. The family of one of the ...
Fire Destroys Loveland Family’s Tribute to Charlie Kirk
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Fire Destroys Loveland Family’s Tribute to Charlie Kirk

By KDVR Staff | KDVR Fox 31 LOVELAND, Colo. (KDVR) — Vandals burned a Loveland family’s memorial to Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk, who was shot and killed on Wednesday, Sept. 10, during a tour event at Utah Valley University. The family is not releasing their location or full names due to concern for their safety. They told FOX31 the vandals set the fence on fire at approximately 11:15 p.m. as five children slept inside the home. “When they burnt that fence, that fire could’ve went into that house and it could’ve really harmed somebody,” said one family friend. The vandals also smashed the back window of the family’s SUV. “It’s the rhetoric, it’s what people are being fed, there’s so much hate in this world and we need to stop,” said the children’s father. Friends ru...