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‘Congressional inquiry’ triggers $250K legal tab for Denver’s sanctuary city stance
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Approved, Denverite, Local

‘Congressional inquiry’ triggers $250K legal tab for Denver’s sanctuary city stance

By Andrew Kenney | Denverite A high-powered Washington law firm helped Mayor Mike Johnston and the city prepare for a Congressional hearing. The legal bill is coming due for Denver's response to a congressional inquiry. The city recently received an invoice for $250,000 from Covington & Burling, the high-powered Washington law firm the city hired as it faced federal scrutiny over its immigration policies. The city has been represented by Dana Remus, who previously was the White House counsel for former president Joe Biden. The contract began Feb. 1 as Mayor Mike Johnston was preparing to testify before the Republican-led U.S. House Oversight Committee. Over the next two months, the city incurred $250,000 in legal fees with the firm, according to an invoice submitted...
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Mayor testifies in hate crime ‘hoax’ trial tied to 2023 election incident
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Mayor testifies in hate crime ‘hoax’ trial tied to 2023 election incident

By Mackenzie Bodell | Denver Gazette Right after the defense alleged the hate crime “hoax” that made headlines during the 2023 Colorado Springs mayoral runoff election was an act of “political theater,” Yemi Mobolade, now the city’s mayor, got emotional during his testimony Monday. With only an hour left in the day’s proceedings, the prosecution called Mobolade to the stand. During his testimony, Mobolade teared up at times when identifying Derrick Bernard Jr., in the courtroom and seeing his defaced campaign sign again. In November, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Colorado announced that three individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury for “maliciously conveying false information about a threat made by means of fire” to draw support for the eventual mayoral race winner, Mob...
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Cities sue Polis over housing mandate, cite threat to local control
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Approved, Local, State, The Colorado Sun

Cities sue Polis over housing mandate, cite threat to local control

By Bente Birkeland | Colorado Sun A lawsuit filed Monday argues the state is violating the right of local governments to shape how they grow and develop Six “home rule” cities in Colorado are suing the state, alleging it has unconstitutionally usurped their local authority over land use and zoning as it pushes communities to allow denser housing development.  The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of an executive order Gov. Jared Polis signed last week to withhold some state grants from local communities if they fail to implement a slate of recent housing laws. The cities say the order encroaches on the powers of both the General Assembly and the judiciary to say what the law is and is “beyond the governor’s authority.” The cities are also asking the courts to f...
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Bent County declares Second Amendment Sanctuary, defies SB25-003
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denvergazette.com, Local, State

Bent County declares Second Amendment Sanctuary, defies SB25-003

By Marissa Ventrelli | Denver Gazette An eastern Colorado county has passed a resolution declaring itself a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” in opposition to a bill passed by the legislature this year that requires individuals to participate in safety training to be eligible to purchase certain types of firearms. On May 15, the Bent County Board of Commissioners and Bent County Sheriff unanimously passed a resolution declaring that no county resources will be used to enforce provisions of Senate Bill 003 that have not been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. The bill, which was signed into law last month, requires individuals to take a hunting safety course through Colorado Parks and Wildlife to be able to purchase semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines. Sheriffs’ departments ...
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Denver City Council braces for layoffs, deep cuts—but Mayor Johnston delays details
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Approved, Denverite, Local

Denver City Council braces for layoffs, deep cuts—but Mayor Johnston delays details

By Kyle Harris | Denverite Here’s what Denver City Council members said at their big budget meeting. The Denver City Council met atop Lookout Mountain at Golden’s Boettcher Mansion last week to plan for the 2026 budget. The elected leaders knew they would likely need to make cuts — but nobody knew just how bad the city’s fiscal situation might be. “I’ve been hearing rumors of layoffs and furloughs,” Councilmember Stacie Gilmore said as the all-day meeting began on Friday. The city’s rumor mill is spinning furiously, with some employees fearing budget cuts up to 30 percent, Gilmore said. That would be an extraordinarily high number for an overall budget cut, considering city revenues shrank by 9 percent amid the 2008 financial crisis. Asked for more detail, Gilmore reiterated...
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A tale of two cities: How two Colorado mayors stand far apart on immigration
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local, State

A tale of two cities: How two Colorado mayors stand far apart on immigration

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette Colorado's two most populous cities are separated by fewer than 60 miles, but when it comes to their approach to immigration law enforcement, the mayors of Colorado Springs and Denver stand much farther apart. To some extent, both mayors are merely articulating their respective cities' positions, though the crackdown on illegal immigration by the Trump administration has put the spotlight on their contrasting views. On the one hand, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has repeatedly defended his city's response to the illegal immigration crisis, and, at one point, suggested civil disobedience as a proper action against a federal mass deportation program.  On the other hand, Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade welcomed a major ICE ...
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Denver sees 58% drop in homicides amid stricter immigration policies and crime crackdown
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Approved, Local, National News Desk

Denver sees 58% drop in homicides amid stricter immigration policies and crime crackdown

By RYAN MINNAUGH  | National News Desk A tougher approach on immigration and crime is yielding significant results in Denver, with the city experiencing a 58% drop in homicides during the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. Nearby Aurora also reported a 36% decline in homicides, according to new data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, as reported by Breitbart. This decline is attributed in large part to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's crackdown on the Tren de Aragua gang members, who had been causing chaos in the area. The Trump administration prioritized Denver for immigration removals and acted swiftly upon taking office. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE NATIONAL NEWS DESK
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Tornadoes touchdown in NE Colorado, egg-sized hail reported
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Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Tornadoes touchdown in NE Colorado, egg-sized hail reported

By Heather Willard | KDVR DENVER (KDVR) — Severe weather, including multiple tornadoes, was experienced in Colorado on Sunday, as hail, high winds and some rain swept the region. Officials confirmed tornadoes touched down near Bennett and Parker, with Adams County officials reporting at least 10 homes or buildings damaged or lost to the storm, and the Elizabeth Fire Protection District reporting 19 homes with minor to severe damage in its area. The weather comes on the heels of deadly severe weather across much of the Midwest, with The Associated Press reporting that at least 27 people were killed during the aggressive storms, including 18 people in Kentucky. READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR
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Governor’s executive order threatening loss of funding draws fire for overriding local housing control
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local, State

Governor’s executive order threatening loss of funding draws fire for overriding local housing control

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is putting local governments on notice: Either they comply with state housing laws, or they risk losing at least $100 million a year in state funding. The governor signed an executive order that takes the battle over local control to a new level. Over the last two years, he's signed bills regarding residential occupancy limits and accessory dwelling units, transit-oriented communities and manufactured homes, and even limits on staircases and parking spots. But not everyone is on board with the new laws. Some local governments have flat out refused to comply. So the governor is upping the ante. "What we are doing now is making sure we are putting our money where our mouth is," Gov. Polis told CBS Colorado.  Polis signed an ex...
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Denver DMVs rated among worst in the U.S.
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Approved, Local, Westword

Denver DMVs rated among worst in the U.S.

By Brendan Joel Kelley | Westword Would you rather spend a few hours getting a root canal, or sitting with a paper number in hand, waiting for someone to call your name at the DMV? A rhetorical exercise, perhaps — but at least the endodontist will numb you with a local anesthetic and, if you’re lucky, provide nitrous oxide for your trouble. The DMV offers no such panacea. But Denverites really hate their DMVs, according to a new report from SudokuBliss, a sudoku gaming website that (and you'll be shocked to hear this) recommends sudoku as a way to pass the time at the DMV. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE WESTWORD
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