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In Boulder, City Council meetings to go virtual amid public comment disruptions
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In Boulder, City Council meetings to go virtual amid public comment disruptions

By John Herrick | Boulder Reporting Lab The Boulder City Council voted 7-2 on Jan. 9 to temporarily shift its meetings online through mid-February in response to ongoing disruptions from protestors demanding the council adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.  The council meets in person in the council chambers every other week or so. These meetings include an open public comment period — often dominated by protesters over the past year — during which about 20 speakers are selected via lottery. On certain weeks, the council meets virtually. In deciding to move all meetings remote, councilmembers cited city code allowing them to limit in-person participation when “a public health or safety concern exists.” Some councilmembers noted receiving feedbac...
A new voice is answering 911 calls in Arapahoe County
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A new voice is answering 911 calls in Arapahoe County

By Carly Moore | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has a new voice answering 911 calls. The sheriff’s office has hired a behavioral health dispatch specialist whose expertise is in mental health and de-escalation tactics. Several other law enforcement departments have been sending “co-responders” to police calls. They are mental health professionals who show up to the scenes with deputies. The dispatch specialist is a new way to divert calls to a mental health professional before sending someone out. READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
Grand Junction firefighters deployed to support firefighting efforts in Beaumont, Calif.
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Grand Junction firefighters deployed to support firefighting efforts in Beaumont, Calif.

By Aiga Petelo | KKCO-TV 11 News The Grand Junction Fire Department’s Wildland Fire Team is preparing to assist in the ongoing efforts to combat wildfires in California. A four-person crew and a Type 3 Wildland Engine will depart from Grand Junction on Saturday, Jan. 11, at 7:00 a.m. The crew will join a five-engine strike team composed of units from neighboring states and will report to Beaumont, California. READ THE FULL STORY AT KKCO-TV 11 NEWS
‘It’s a sad day in Colorado’: Sen. Pelton recalls Bill McCartney era at Colorado
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

‘It’s a sad day in Colorado’: Sen. Pelton recalls Bill McCartney era at Colorado

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It wasn't an easy life growing up on the Eastern Plains of Colorado, Sen. Byron Pelton recalled Monday for the Colorado Senate. He became a fan of the Colorado Buffaloes and almost no one then was on the Eastern Plains, and still isn't today. Colorado State? Yes. Nebraska Cornhuskers? Yes. Oklahoma Sooners? Maybe. But, Colorado Buffaloes fans were few and far between, he recalled in memorializing legendary Colorado Buffaloes coach Bill McCartney, who died Friday. "It's a sad day in Colorado that we lost him," Pelton said. "I'm so thankful for having him as a part of this great state." In 13 seasons, McCartney compiled a record of 93-55-5, won three Big Eight championships and earned the co-national championship in 1990 in a split with Geor...
Boulder man who lost home in Marshall Fire now dealing with parents’ loss of home in LA wildfires
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Boulder man who lost home in Marshall Fire now dealing with parents’ loss of home in LA wildfires

By Nate Belt | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News A Boulder man is stunned to be living through two of the same tragedies twice: His parents lost their home to wildfires in Los Angeles not long after the third anniversary of losing his own home in the Marshall Fire. Christian Maljian was visiting his family in California back in December 2021 when his roommate in Superior texted him smoke was getting close to their home. “Hoping it didn’t burn, like, for hours and hours and found out, you know, the next day when I’d actually flown back to Colorado that it got lost,” said Maljian. READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
Fences on target to come down this year on Denver’s 16th Street Mall
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Fences on target to come down this year on Denver’s 16th Street Mall

By Maddie Rhodes | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News The 16th Street Mall has been under construction for three years, leaving the heart of downtown Denver covered in fences. While the project still has a ways to go, it’s expected to wrap up in 2025. The 16th Street Mall started construction in 2022 in hopes of improving safety and mobility. Over the past three years, the city has been working on demolishing the street and touching up storm and sewage work before rebuilding the area. By the time the fences come down, the street is rebuilt with a transit way, trees, new curbs at shuttle stops and more. Denver opened up the first part of the mall in the summer of 2024, with four blocks between Market and Curtis Street finished. READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
Teen pleads guilty to second degree murder in shooting at Longmont car rally
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Teen pleads guilty to second degree murder in shooting at Longmont car rally

By Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado A teen charged in a fatal shooting at a car rally in Longmont pleaded guilty to second-degree murder Friday. Christian Mendoza, 17, was charged as an adult after he fatally shot 16-year-old Robert Maldonado in the Longmont Hobby Lobby parking lot in March 2024. Officials said an altercation at the car rally between Mendoza and Maldonado turned physical. When Maldonado turned to head back towards the vehicle he arrived in, Mendoza shot him in the back right side. Maldonado fled the rally in his vehicle and crashed nearby. He later died from his injuries at the hospital. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Lakewood sued by developer, as expected, over controversial new open space law
Approved, Local, Westword

Lakewood sued by developer, as expected, over controversial new open space law

By Catie Cheshire | Westword As members of Lakewood City Council predicted when they passed a controversial new open-space law last November, the City of Lakewood has been named in a suit claiming that the law is illegal and being applied unfairly to a planned development next to Belmar Park. In September, Lakewood residents successfully petitioned to eliminate the city’s option to allow developers to pay a fee to build parks instead of dedicating parkland for each development; the council had no choice but to either send the issue to a special election or turn the petition into law. As a result, every project must now dedicate 10.5 acres of parkland for every 1,000 people expected to live at a new Lakewood development. Kairoi Properties filed the lawsuit ...
Colorado Springs firefighters have been assigned to Zuma Beach in Malibu
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Colorado Springs firefighters have been assigned to Zuma Beach in Malibu

By Dara Korn | KXRM-TV Fox 21 News The Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) reported that crews deployed to assist with the fires in California have arrived and received their assignments on Sunday morning, Jan. 12. According to CSFD, crews have been assigned to Zuma Beach in Malibu for an initial attack on the fires. READ THE FULL STORY AT KXRM-TV FOX 21 NEWS
Lawsuit filed against town of Palmer Lake, officials over Buc-ee’s plan
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Lawsuit filed against town of Palmer Lake, officials over Buc-ee’s plan

By BRETT FORREST | The Gazette, via KOAA Several nonprofit organizations are suing the town of Palmer Lake, its mayor and other city officials over a controversial plan to annex land to open a Buc-ee's convenience store. The lawsuit, filed Friday, alleges a multitude of complaints including improper land annexation agreements, restriction of free speech and violation of open meeting laws for matters surrounding the development of the popular Texas-based chain, which opened its first Colorado location near Johnstown in 2024. Nonprofit Integrity Matters filed the suit along with Westside Watch, TriLakes Preservation, Inc, United Congregational Church, and other individuals and business owners in the Palmer Lake area. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE