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Homeless Crisis Deepens in Colorado Springs With 52 Percent Jump
Local, Approved, The Gazette

Homeless Crisis Deepens in Colorado Springs With 52 Percent Jump

By Debbie Kelley | The Gazette A record-high spike of people living on the streets and in homeless shelters and supported housing programs in El Paso County is reflected in data released Monday from this year’s federally required Point-in-Time and Housing Inventory Count. The number of people countywide who described themselves as homeless on the night of Jan. 26 ballooned from 1,146 in 2024, to 1,745 people this year, according to the statistics presented by the survey administrator, Pikes Peak Continuum of Care, a group of service providers and other members. That’s a 52% increase year-over-year and tops the county’s 2018 record of 1,551. “This data should be interpreted with context and caution,” Becky Treece, chair of the governing board of the continuum of care said at a p...
Hundreds to Be Laid Off as Denver’s Progressive Agenda Faces $200M Deficit
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Hundreds to Be Laid Off as Denver’s Progressive Agenda Faces $200M Deficit

By Heather Willard | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — Denver city and county employees will see layoff notifications during the week of Aug. 18, according to the mayor’s office, which cited budget woes. “These are not easy days, and these are not easy decisions,” wrote Mayor Mike Johnston to the city and county employees in a letter sent Tuesday. “Every role in this city matters, and every person in those roles has contributed to our city in meaningful ways.” The number of impacted employees was not shared. In May, the Denver Mayor’s Office said that city employees would experience furloughs in the face of a $50 million revenue gap and $200 million deficit. He also noted that the city had seen a 0.3% revenue growth, which is far below the previous 5% growth seen by the city before...
Hunter: Fort Morgan ribbon cutting celebrates purpose and partnership at Leprino’s only string cheese facility
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Hunter: Fort Morgan ribbon cutting celebrates purpose and partnership at Leprino’s only string cheese facility

By Drake Hunter | Commentary, RMV NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice There’s something deeply satisfying about a slice of pizza. Maybe it’s the gooey mozzarella that stretches with every bite or the quiet delight of knowing where that cheese comes from, especially when it’s right in your backyard. Recently, I had the opportunity to join Leprino Foods in Fort Morgan, Colorado, for their Fort Morgan Area Chamber of Commerce Red Ribbon Ceremony. The event wasn’t just a formal ribbon-cutting—it was a bold step forward in deepening community connections, fueled by purpose, people, and plenty of cheese. The afternoon began with a warm welcome led by Conor Kokes, Continuous Improvement Specialist and the driving force behind Leprino’s Community Impact Team. Conor kicked things off with...
Denver Spends $3 Million Urging Residents to Eat Less Meat
Local, Approved, denvergazette.com

Denver Spends $3 Million Urging Residents to Eat Less Meat

By Greta Kerkhoff and Luige del Puerto | The Denver Gazette "Eat less meat." "Eat more plant-based meals." "Vote for climate-conscious leaders." The tips come from a "do more" list that Mayor Mike Johnston's administration posted as part of its $3 million marketing campaign that aims to persuade residents to help the city reach its climate goals. Additionally, posters have begun popping up around the city, including slogans that say, “It's the end of the end of the world." Behind the public relations blitz is the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency's “Do more. Do less. Do something.” campaign. Notably, the city said eating less meat and a host of other actions would "help the planet and protect" communities. The Johnston administration is not the fi...
Cap City Tavern Becomes Latest Victim of Denver’s Homelessness and High Costs
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Cap City Tavern Becomes Latest Victim of Denver’s Homelessness and High Costs

By Hanna Powers | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — After nearly 20 years in business, a beloved Capitol Hill restaurant and bar is preparing to close its doors for good. Cap City Tavern, located at 13th and Sherman, will pour its final round this Sunday. Owners Dino and Piper McTaggart say the decision comes after years of financial struggles brought on by rising costs, city fees, and declining foot traffic downtown. “This was my lifelong dream,” Piper McTaggart said. “We haven’t taken a salary in a year and a half, and we just got a huge tax bill. The writing was on the wall.” The owners say they feel let down by city leaders, citing ongoing issues with safety, homelessness, and a lack of support for small businesses in the downtown corridor. “There are people defecating and liv...
More Than 200 Dangerous Illegal Immigrants Captured in Denver ICE Raid
Local, Approved, kdvr.com

More Than 200 Dangerous Illegal Immigrants Captured in Denver ICE Raid

By Heather Willard | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials announced Wednesday that 243 people were arrested in the Denver metro area who the agency says are “currently charged with or have been convicted of criminal offenses after illegally entering the United States.”  The operation was conducted from July 12 through 20, and ICE provided the following reasons for the arrests: DUI: 17 Theft (including burglary, robbery and motor vehicle theft): 8 Assault (including aggravated assault and domestic violence): 13 Drug offenses (including distribution of fentanyl): 9 Sex offenses (including sex assault and sexual exploitation of a minor): 5 Homicide (including murder and vehicular manslaughter): 2 Human trafficking: 1 ...
UCHealth cuts surgeries after sterilization staffing drops below safe levels
Becker's Hospital Review, Approved, Local

UCHealth cuts surgeries after sterilization staffing drops below safe levels

By Erica Carbajal | Becker's Hospital Review UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora is postponing some elective surgery cases amid staffing issues within its sterile processing department.  The department is currently operating at reduced capacity, a UCHealth spokesperson said in a statement shared with Becker’s.  “Until the SPD is at full capacity, some elective cases will be postponed to ensure we have the instruments needed to provide all urgent and emergent surgeries and procedures,” the statement said.  The hospital said it has increased staffing in the department, and sterilization levels are beginning to return to normal. “We sincerely apologize to the patients impacted by the elective case postponements, and we will reschedule their ca...
Anderson: The Union Isn’t Fighting for Kids Anymore—It’s Fighting for Control
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Anderson: The Union Isn’t Fighting for Kids Anymore—It’s Fighting for Control

By Christy Anderson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Contracts. Impasse. Mediation. Oh my!  We’ve all seen the headlines, the crowd of red shirts, and the talking points about “fighting for teachers and students.” But as a teacher—and a former union member—I’m here to tell you: what’s happening with the Mesa Valley Education Association (MVEA) isn’t about students. It’s political theatre, and it’s about control.  Let’s start with a bit of history.  Teacher unions were initially formed to give educators a voice in working conditions. In the early 20th century, teachers—primarily women—were underpaid, lacked job security, and had no influence in how schools were run. The National Education Association (NEA), founded in 1857, and the American Federation of T...
Gaines: Net migration math doesn’t lie—Denver’s policies aren’t working
Colorado Accountability Project, Approved, Commentary, Local

Gaines: Net migration math doesn’t lie—Denver’s policies aren’t working

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project Small wonder on Denver's Net Migration A recent report by the conservative-leaning Common Sense Institute (see the CPR article linked first below), has it that Denver's net migration -- inflow take away outflow -- has fallen over 50% in the last decade.Keep in mind that the net migration is still positive, more people are coming than leaving, but we have a decrease in the increase. Quoting the article (with link left intact): "The state's population growth has declined by nearly 53% in the past 10 years, according to a new report released by the Common Sense Institute, a non-partisan research organization. The study measured net migration, which is the difference between people moving into the state and peo...
Air Force Veteran Reclaims Purpose Through Warrior Games and God’s Grace
Local, Approved, gazette.com

Air Force Veteran Reclaims Purpose Through Warrior Games and God’s Grace

By Marissa Kraus | The Gazette As Dianne Rahe watched her son, Master Sgt. Jason Ostberg, compete in the Warrior Games on Tuesday, she saw a completely different man. Ostberg, who has served in the Air Force since 2003, has dealt with PTSD throughout his service, creating a version of him that truly wasn’t himself. But the man Rahe saw in the indoor rowing competition and in other Warrior Games events is a version she hadn’t seen in years. “He has come a long way,” Rahe said as tears swelled in her eyes. “Just him in the short time he's been involved, he's been more calm, more happy. It's hard to explain but I see the amazing way he has changed being with these people, because these are his people.” Ostberg, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, has been part of the Air Fo...

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