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Castle Rock unanimously OK’s measure expressing support for Trump’s immigration policies
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Castle Rock unanimously OK’s measure expressing support for Trump’s immigration policies

By Jesse Sarles | CBS Colorado The Castle Rock Town Council on Tuesday approved a measure expressing support for President-elect Donald Trump's immigration policies. The measure also expresses a willingness to lawfully cooperate with federal immigration officials in implementing policies in the Colorado municipality. All of the council at the evening meeting voted in favor of the resolution, except for one council person who abstained. Right before the vote, the council members referenced the violence that has been happening in Aurora at an apartment complex. Earlier this year the council voted unanimously to explore suing the city of Denver over its migrant policies. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
El Paso County appoints Dr. Emily Russell-Kinsley as new coroner
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El Paso County appoints Dr. Emily Russell-Kinsley as new coroner

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette El Paso County has appointed a forensic pathologist to replace resigning coroner Dr. Leon Kelly to serve out the remainder of his term.  A 12-year veteran of the El Paso County Coroner's Office, Dr. Emily Russell-Kinsley is currently the deputy chief medical examiner. She earned a medical degree from Baylor, has medical examiner specialty training and was appointed in 2019 to the Colorado Cold Case Taskforce as a forensic pathology representative. Russell-Kinsley is also a member of the Colorado Coroner's Association Board of Directors. Until the next general election in 2026, she will lead the busiest coroner's office in the state with a staff of around 30 people providing services to 22 counties.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
After swearing in new mayor, Parker needs to fill vacant seat on City Council
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After swearing in new mayor, Parker needs to fill vacant seat on City Council

By Noah Festenstein | Colorado Politics, vis Denver Gazette The Town of Parker plans to appoint a new councilmember after new Mayor Joshua Rivero vacated the seat for his new role, according to town officials. Rivero was sworn in as mayor of Parker on Monday. Rivero is a self-identified independent who, in the middle of his term as a councilmember, vacated his seat after defeating former Mayor Jeff Toborg in the November election. “What we need at this level is nonpartisan representation,” Rivero previously told The Denver Gazette. “What we need is somebody that listens to all of Parker and not just one party." READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
‘Something is seriously wrong, and we’re going to try and fix it,’ APD Chief Chamberlain says in vision for future
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‘Something is seriously wrong, and we’re going to try and fix it,’ APD Chief Chamberlain says in vision for future

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice It was a long night for Todd Chamberlain and the Aurora Police Department. Oft the subject of news reports during the last year, The Edge at Lowry apartments were yet again the location of overnight police activity Tuesday, Dec. 17. This time, more than a dozen suspected Venezuelan gang members were arrested there in a home invasion. Two victims are hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries. Police are continuing to work toward identifying the suspects in custody, with their leader saying he wouldn't sleep until they did. "This is not an example that the city of Aurora is a gang-infested, drug-infested, crime-infested area," said Chamberlain, Aurora's new police chief. "There are definitely pockets that are problematic." He spent clo...
Aurora picks Amsalu Kassaw to vacated at-large City Council seat
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Aurora picks Amsalu Kassaw to vacated at-large City Council seat

By Kyla Pearce | Colorado Politics via the Denver Gazette Aurora's councilmembers on Monday night picked a leader of the Ethiopian community for the council's at-large seat. The council split, 6-4, in appointing Amsalu Kassaw to the seat. The discussion at times delved into issues of race. Kassaw is the public relations director of the Ethiopian American Civic Council. He is also a lieutenant at GEO Group Inc.'s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Aurora, according to his application for the seat. Mayor Mike Coffman has worked with Kassaw when he served on his congressional advisory committee. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
‘Bound, pistol-whipped, beat, victimized and terrorized’: Aurora PD chief describes home invasion
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‘Bound, pistol-whipped, beat, victimized and terrorized’: Aurora PD chief describes home invasion

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice More than a dozen persons were arrested overnight related to an armed home invasion in the 1200 block of Dallas St. in Aurora. "This is without question a gang incident," said Police Chief Todd Chamberlain. "It could be [Tren de Aragua], it could be [a gang] other than TdA. This is gang activity and there are Venezuelans involved." At about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 17, Aurora police responded to The Edge at Lowry Apartments related to the home invasion which began about six hours earlier with an estimated "13-15 armed individuals" holding two victims who were "bound, pistol-whipped, beat, victimized and terrorized," Chamberlain said. One victim was stabbed and both were kidnapped, being relocated from one place in the apartment complex to a...
Colorado Springs family sues McDonald’s, Taylor Farms over E. coli exposure
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Colorado Springs family sues McDonald’s, Taylor Farms over E. coli exposure

By Carol McKinley | The Gazette A Colorado Springs mother and her 10-year-old child are suing McDonald’s and Taylor Farms after each of them ate a Double Quarter Pounder hamburger in mid-October and were exposed to E coli. Geovanna Zambrano, whose name has not been public until now, and her daughter consumed the burgers immediately after buying them on Oct. 17 at the McDonald’s restaurant at 390 S. 8th St., according to the lawsuit. The next day they experienced nausea, stomach cramps, fatigue and diarrhea, which are symptoms associated with E. coli poisoning, according to the lawsuit.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Kevin Van Winkle, set to leave Senate in a month, appointed by Gov. Polis as Douglas Co. commissioner
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Kevin Van Winkle, set to leave Senate in a month, appointed by Gov. Polis as Douglas Co. commissioner

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday appointed state Sen. Kevin Van Winkle of Highlands Ranch to the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners. Van Winkle replaced Lora Thomas, who resigned on Dec. 6. Van Winkle was elected to the commission on Nov. 5, succeeding Thomas, who was term-limited. Initially, he submitted a letter of resignation to the state Senate on Nov. 22, effective on Jan. 9, the day before the start of the 2025 legislative session. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
There’s a new alternate route to get from Eastern Plains to Denver International Airport
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There’s a new alternate route to get from Eastern Plains to Denver International Airport

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox 31 News There’s a new way to get to and from the Denver International Airport without dealing with the parking lot. Usually, people traveling in and out of DIA either park at the airport or use public buses, trains or ride shares — but now, people heading to and from northeast Colorado have a new option. The Colorado Department of Transportation said the Bustang Outrider Sterling route added a stop at DIA, which started on Friday. CDOT said the stop filled a transportation gap for more than 400,000 residents in rural communities. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
There’s a new International Dark Sky Park in Colorado
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There’s a new International Dark Sky Park in Colorado

By Seth Boster | The Gazette Colorado has a new International Dark Sky Park. That's an exclusive, metrics-driven designation by DarkSky International — the organization raising awareness around light pollution, adding protections and inspiring tourism to certain parts of the world. Now that includes Browns Canyon National Monument. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE