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‘I did not lie to the FBI’: Mayor Mobolade rejects rumors around alleged hate crime hoax
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Approved, gazette.com, Local

‘I did not lie to the FBI’: Mayor Mobolade rejects rumors around alleged hate crime hoax

By Brennen Kauffman | The Gazette Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade spoke Friday to address the recent weeks of rumors surrounding his connection to an alleged hate crime hoax that took place during the 2023 election. In a video message on his official Facebook account, Mobolade emphasized his full cooperation with the investigation into the alleged faked hate crime and condemned the "politically motivated attacks" he faced in recent weeks. In November the Department of Justice indicted three individuals for allegedly staging a cross burning in front of a Mobolade campaign sign defaced with a racial slur during the 2023 mayoral runoff election between Mobolade and Wayne Williams. Derrick Bernard Jr., Ashley Blackcloud and Deanna West were charged with "maliciously conveying fal...
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Grand Junction punts again on homeless center to the ire of taxpayers
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Grand Junction punts again on homeless center to the ire of taxpayers

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Downtown residents and businesses continue to be frustrated by the Grand Junction City Council's efforts to find a way to meet the needs of vulnerable homeless people while saying they want to protect the homeowners and businesses from the darker element that lives within the homeless population.  In a recent turn of events, the Council, in an effort to address the violence, crime and exploitation of the area's approximately 2,000 homeless people, created a buffer zone that extends from curb to curb at the property on 261 Ute Avenue. The buffer zone was an attempt to stop the criminal element from dealing drugs and prostitution at the address where the Homeless Resource Center is located. The idea was to give the center...
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Castle Rock passes measure supporting Trump’s deportation plan
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Castle Rock passes measure supporting Trump’s deportation plan

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette via Colorado Politics Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s response to the president-elect’s illegal immigration deportation strategy has prompted one Colorado town to push back — again. Since Johnston took office in July 2023, Denver has welcomed nearly 43,000 immigrants, most whom illegally crossed the southern border, into Colorado’s most populous city. Johnston, a Democrat, recently made national headlines when he told local news blog Denverite the city’s police and “50,000 Denverites” would not comply with President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to deport thousands of immigrants currently residing illegally in the Mile High City. Denver’s mayor even suggested he’d go to jail if necessary.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS...
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Douglas Co. Commissioner Lora Thomas says she was ‘evicted from my office’ amid political conflict
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Douglas Co. Commissioner Lora Thomas says she was ‘evicted from my office’ amid political conflict

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Lora Thomas has resigned from her position as Douglas County commissioner, a term which was to end in five weeks. According to a Denver 7 report, Thomas cites years of harassment by fellow commissioners George Teal and Abe Layden as the reason for her decision. In a press release and conference, Thomas reflected on her public service and the personal toll of the ongoing conflict. Thomas' resignation ends a career in public service which lasted decades. Before serving as a county commissioner, she broke barriers. She was the first woman captain and major in the Colorado State Patrol. She also served as Douglas County coroner, reducing office costs by 33% and rooting out internal corruption. Thomas noted her commitmen...
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Morrison Police Department to disband, response to be covered by Jefferson County
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Morrison Police Department to disband, response to be covered by Jefferson County

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 News The Morrison Police Department is disbanding, a spokesperson confirmed with FOX31 on Wednesday. The decision was made Monday during a town board meeting. The town said in a press release that the board of trustees was in the process of adopting its 2025 budget. “Due to various financial concerns, the adopted budget results in a reduction in the Town’s Police Department. The Town anticipates that police services in the Town will be provided by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office beginning in January 2025,” the release stated. “The Town is working expeditiously to ensure a smooth transition.” READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
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Developer meeting on proposed Palmer Lake Buc-ee’s turns heated
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Developer meeting on proposed Palmer Lake Buc-ee’s turns heated

By Savannah Eller | The Gazette A public meeting hosted to discuss a proposed Buc-ee's location along Interstate 25 packed the Palmer Lake Elementary School cafeteria Tuesday night, frequently turning hostile and argumentative between company representatives and community members. "We don't desire your beaver nuggets," said audience member Alexandra Olivier, who joined an overwhelmingly negative wave of comments at the informational meeting. Residents raised a myriad of concerns over the travel center, which has been proposed on a piece of current El Paso County land west of I-25 and directly south of County Line Road. Developers have submitted an annexation plan to the county that would bring the site into the town of Palmer Lake under a "flagpole" annexation, connecting the roug...
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Proposed ‘blanket ban’ on flavored tobacco could cost the city of Denver millions
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Proposed ‘blanket ban’ on flavored tobacco could cost the city of Denver millions

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette via Colorado Politics A bill prohibiting the sale of flavored tobacco products within the City and County of Denver got the nod of approval from the city’s Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee on Wednesday. The vote was 6 - 1, with Councilmember Kevin Flynn casting the lone dissenting vote. The next stop will be City Council for a final vote as early as Dec. 16, to pass the ordinance by the end of the year, according to District 9 Councilmember Darrell Watson, one of the bill’s sponsors. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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In Western Slope café, Coloradans react to pardon of Hunter Biden by his father, President Biden
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

In Western Slope café, Coloradans react to pardon of Hunter Biden by his father, President Biden

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The announcement of Hunter Biden’s pardon from his father, President Joe Biden, raised eyebrows nationwide. And, in Mesa County, it has launched endless questions about the integrity of the justice system. In a Grand Junction café, the coffee comes with political conversations that reflect the deep skepticism of federal leadership. Residents here are watching closely and their reactions highlight a range of concerns, from distrust in government promises to broader questions about fairness in the justice system. For Gerald Gustin, a U.S. Navy veteran, the pardon marked a clear departure from assurances made by the White House: “Karine Jean-Pierre said multiple times it wouldn’t happen. And yet, here we are,” he said, referencing...
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Douglas County School District to close three schools in 2026 through consolidation plan
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Douglas County School District to close three schools in 2026 through consolidation plan

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette Amid a statewide decline in student enrollment and other Colorado school closures, the Douglas County School District plans to close up to three of its elementary schools in the near future, according to the district. The school district is considering "pairing" and "consolidating" six elementary schools within Highlands Ranch — a municipality with more than enough schools but not enough students, according to district officials. DCSD officials said a decision on what elementary school will close is to be made in April following community feedback and public meetings. Closures are slated to occur in August 2026. READ THE FIULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Denver rejects private pool, so the developer may try affordable housing instead
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Approved, Denverite, Local

Denver rejects private pool, so the developer may try affordable housing instead

By Paolo Zialcita | Denverite Ilan Salzberg’s decades-long dream of building a private swim club in his neighborhood came to an abrupt end Monday after Denver City Council voted down a rezoning proposal for the project. Salzberg, a developer and West Highland resident, bought 3719 Wolff Street in the West Highland in November 2023 for about $2 million. The 33,000-square-foot parcel of land currently sits vacant, nestled between homes and across the street from a Sprouts grocery store. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
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