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Jeffco Kids First: Court sides with defamer, silences truth in heartbreaking reversal
Jeffco Kids First, Approved, Commentary, Local

Jeffco Kids First: Court sides with defamer, silences truth in heartbreaking reversal

Lindsay Datko | Commentary, Jeffco Kids First The sharp sting of brutal injustice cuts deep, searing the soul. Your time spent reading this is my measure of justice, and for that, I am profoundly grateful. “In reviewing the record, the Court identifies instances of Defendants’ conduct that a trier of fact could find as clear and convincing evidence of their anger and hostility toward Plaintiffs to sufficiently show actual malice.” Judge Loewer On the afternoon of October 7, 2022, my phone lit up with text messages: “You need an attorney ASAP.”  “Be prepared, there’s an article that just came out.”  Everything went silent except the ringing in my ears as I read the article, the world spinning around me. I remember the exact square-footage of my kitchen I was standing in. With m...
Denver’s $800M bond plan sparks backlash over priorities, transparency
Denverite, Approved, Local

Denver’s $800M bond plan sparks backlash over priorities, transparency

By Paolo Zialcita | Denverite The package can still change significantly depending on actions from the mayor and Denver City Council. On Tuesday, we learned how the city plans to spend $800 million from a proposed new bond package. Members of the Vibrant Denver bond’s executive committee unveiled the project list after weeks of work to pare down ideas from city agencies, organizations and neighborhoods.  The bond process was criticized by community members and city officials for being rushed and not properly incorporating public feedback — and Tuesday’s rollout drew a strong reaction, too, with some Denver City Council members implying they could vote to block the proposal. The package will go before voters in November, though the project list could ...
Western Slope river channel tests positive for invasive and ‘devastating’ zebra mussels—again
The Colorado Sun, Approved, Local

Western Slope river channel tests positive for invasive and ‘devastating’ zebra mussels—again

By Michael Booth | Colorado Sun New rounds of samples for the voracious creatures keep turning up positive, complicating containment The Colorado River is now officially “positive” for invasive zebra mussels in the latest failure of containment for the voracious species, after three new samples came up with larvae July 3, from between Glenwood Springs and Silt. The main stem Colorado River discoveries piled on top of a confirmed “large number” of adult zebra mussels in a private body of water in western Eagle County, and two more positive larvae tests, at Highline Lake and Mack Mesa Lake, both near the Utah border, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials said Wednesday. Sampling was redoubled throughout June after tests found a single zebra mussel larvae, or veliger, in the Colorado...
Jeffco Kids First report reveals 33 staff misconduct cases in Jefferson County Schools
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

Jeffco Kids First report reveals 33 staff misconduct cases in Jefferson County Schools

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice An alarming report released by Jeffco Kids First, a grassroots advocacy group led by teacher turned activist Lindsay Datko, has exposed 33 cases of sexual abuse and misconduct by staff in Jefferson County Public Schools since 2022. The article “33 Documented Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Cases in Jeffco Schools” presents a disturbing image of a district with systemic failures.  The data reveals a pattern of misconduct going unreported to the Colorado Department of Education. The scope of abuse: 33 cases and counting Superintendent Tracy Dorland has received pushback regarding the handling of these incidents, with critics citing inadequate communication and insufficient safety protocols. The report documents six ar...
“They called us hateful”: Colorado parents see their story reflected in Supreme Court ruling
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

“They called us hateful”: Colorado parents see their story reflected in Supreme Court ruling

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that public schools must allow parents to opt their children out of LGBTQ+ instruction that conflicts with their religious beliefs, BJ and Brecken Jones sat quietly in their living room—stunned, relieved and vindicated. “For years, we were treated like extremists for simply protecting our kids,” BJ said. “Now the Supreme Court says we were right all along.” For this Boulder County family, Mahmoud v. Taylor wasn’t just a legal case—it was a mirror.  Reading the Court’s opinion, BJ and Brecken saw their own experience reflected almost line for line. What they didn’t expect was that their quiet effort to opt out—rejected by school officials, scorned by activists and ultimately buried in district archi...
Gilmartin: Attacks on John Adams Academy show what happens when excellence disrupts control
Colorado Politics, Approved, Commentary, Local

Gilmartin: Attacks on John Adams Academy show what happens when excellence disrupts control

By Kim Gilmartin | Commentary, Colorado Politics In response to a recent CoPo column about John Adams Academy Douglas County (JAADC), columnist Paula Noonan’s opinion piece is heavy on rhetoric and light on facts. As a co-founder of JAADC, I am compelled to correct the misinformation and misleading claims for the sake of the public, not the punditry. First, one of the core accusations, that JAADC’s curriculum is outdated, narrowly ideological and dismissive of modern disciplines like science and technology, could not be further from the truth. JAADC’s curriculum includes a full complement of science and math courses grounded in logic, inquiry and observation, which are foundational elements of the scientific method. Classical schools nationwide are not only producing though...
El Paso County sheriff transfers 19 illegal immigrant offenders to ICE
denvergazette.com, Approved, Local

El Paso County sheriff transfers 19 illegal immigrant offenders to ICE

By Aidan Hulting | Denver Gazette Nineteen people who the El Paso County Sheriff's Office says were in the country illegally, and have allegedly committed crimes in El Paso County, are now in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. This marks the second list the El Paso County Sheriff's Office has released this summer detailing its ongoing cooperation with ICE. “As part of our continued commitment to transparency, I am once again releasing a list of individuals and their associated criminal charges related to the safe and secure transfer of custody to our federal partners at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” said El Paso County Sheriff Joseph Roybal. “We will continue to provide this information in a timely manner to demonstrate compliance with Colorad...
Boll: A day camp in Paonia shows how far the agenda to sexualize kids has gone
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Boll: A day camp in Paonia shows how far the agenda to sexualize kids has gone

By Laureen Boll | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice In the small, conservative town of Paonia, Colorado, with a population of just 1,500, a local organization is stirring debate with a new initiative aimed at children. The Learning Council, a tax-exempt nonprofit based in downtown Paonia, is hosting a "Sex Health Education Day Camp" for 10- to 13-year-olds on July 14–16.  Led by Alicia Michelsen, the organization’s executive director, the camp has raised eyebrows among some residents who question its motives and appropriateness, particularly given Michelsen’s history of pushing for controversial changes to local school curricula and a broader societal trend where adults seem increasingly focused on the sexuality of other people’s children. A Rejected Vision Fuels a New I...
Baker: Freedom still rings loud in Brush
Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, Local, Top Stories

Baker: Freedom still rings loud in Brush

By Harvey Baker | Guest Commentary, NE CO Newsroom, Rocky Mountain Voice In Northeast Colorado, where faith, family, and freedom still shape daily life, over 1,200 residents lined the streets under clear skies to celebrate the 70th Annual Brush Fourth of July Parade. This wasn’t just another parade—it was a full-hearted tribute to the traditions and people who keep the American spirit alive. This year’s celebration carried special meaning as the community came together to honor Chester McCoy posthumously as Grand Marshal—a man known for his quiet service, steady integrity, and deep loyalty to both neighbors and country. Alongside his memory, the Brush VFW Color Guard led the way, the American flag held high, reminding everyone that freedom has a price—and every generation must ch...
Citizen sues Colorado Springs for ‘end run’ around TABOR in $40 million bond ordinance
Fox21, Approved, Local

Citizen sues Colorado Springs for ‘end run’ around TABOR in $40 million bond ordinance

By Norishka Pachot | Fox21 (COLORADO SPRINGS) — A lawsuit has been filed in El Paso County District Court against the City of Colorado Springs and Mayor Yemi Mobolade over alleged TABOR and constitutional violations. The lawsuit by Preserve Pine Creek Village, LLC, alleges that the City violated multiple provisions of the Colorado Constitution, including the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), which requires voter approval before creating multi-year government debt. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of a $40 million Private Activity Bond (PAB) issuance approved by the City Council on May 27. Tim Lewan, who lives in the Pine Creek Village area, says he donated to the legal fund because he’s been against the development of these apartments from the start. “We have been try...

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