Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Douglas County

‘Handouts don’t help’: How a Colorado county reduced homelessness by 86% in 2 years
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

‘Handouts don’t help’: How a Colorado county reduced homelessness by 86% in 2 years

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette Amid a homeless crisis plaguing Colorado’s most populated city, a county just south of Denver claims to have found an effective solution to curbing homelessness in its communities. In a campaign to mitigate homelessness, Douglas County officials emphasized one simple message: “Handouts don’t help.” They urged residents, for example, against giving money to homeless people on roadways or sidewalks. From 2022 to 2024, Douglas County witnessed a steep drop in homeless people living on the streets, from 43 to six, according to a recent point-in-time count report conducted by several local third party nonprofits. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Douglas County to enforce camping ban on public property; each violation could be $1,000 fine
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Douglas County to enforce camping ban on public property; each violation could be $1,000 fine

By Maddie Rhodes | Fox 31 News Soon, Douglas County will enforce a camping ban on public property with a potentially hefty fine. On Tuesday, Ordinance No. O-024-004, “Safe use of public property to limit public camping and prohibit temporary structures on public property within Douglas County, Colorado,” was adopted at the county’s Board of County Commissioners public hearing. According to the ordinance, this ban was “necessary” for public welfare, health and safety. While this ordinance was adopted, it won’t be in place for another month. Here’s what it means. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
Douglas County bucks trend on handouts – and homeless population craters
Approved, Fox News, Local

Douglas County bucks trend on handouts – and homeless population craters

By Christina Coulter  | Fox News Due south of Denver's homelessness crisis, a  Colorado county has nearly eradicated its own unhoused population with a simple message to its citizens: "Handouts Don't Help." Throughout Douglas County, there are about 70 signs with the message at intersections and roadways that were once popular hangouts for area panhandlers. Each sign directs citizens to DouglasHasHeart.org, where they can redirect their donations to the Douglas County Community Foundation. The county took to print media and advertisements online to spread the message through the community. "The thought dawned on me from a common sense standpoint – I saw a lot of people like my daughter feeling conflicted at an intersection," Republican Douglas County Commissioner Ab...
Plane crashes on Meridian Golf Course in Englewood, both occupants of plane walk away with only minor injuries
Approved, kdvr.com, Local

Plane crashes on Meridian Golf Course in Englewood, both occupants of plane walk away with only minor injuries

By Morgan Whitley | Fox 31 News South Metro Fire Rescue responded to an aircraft crash at a golf course in unincorporated Douglas County. Just before 10 a.m. Wednesday, South Metro posted on X that crews were called to the Meridian Golf Course in Englewood on reports of an aircraft that had crashed and landed upside down. According to South Metro, the aircraft was a Cessna 172 with two people on board. Both victims were able to walk away, one with minor injuries and another with no injuries. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX 31 NEWS
‘Handouts don’t help’: How a Colorado county reduced homelessness by 86% in 2 years
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

‘Handouts don’t help’: How a Colorado county reduced homelessness by 86% in 2 years

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette Amid a homeless crisis plaguing Colorado’s most populated city, a county just south of Denver claims to have found an effective solution to curbing homelessness in its communities. In a campaign to mitigate homelessness, Douglas County officials emphasized one simple message: “Handouts don’t help.” They urged residents, for example, against giving money to homeless people on roadways or sidewalks. From 2022 to 2024, Douglas County witnessed a steep drop in homeless people living on the streets, from 43 to six, according to a recent point-in-time count report conducted by several local third party nonprofits. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
Boll: Individual rights are trampled in the name of ‘safety’
Approved, Commentary, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Boll: Individual rights are trampled in the name of ‘safety’

By Laureen Boll | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Imagine the following scenario: you’re at a public park that is fenced off for an event; the host of the event is a non-profit entity that has received a taxpayer-funded grant; and the city police has a large presence with several cars, at least a half dozen police officers, several drones and three snipers on the roof of a nearby building. So where are you? Donald J. Trump rally Pride event If you guessed “B”, you are correct! This was the scene of the PrideFest event hosted by Douglas County Pride (formerly Castle Rock Pride) on Aug. 4 at Salisbury Equestrian Park in Parker.  Per their website, the mission of Douglas County (DC) Pride is to “build a supportive community for LGBTQIA+ residents of Douglas County and s...
Demonstrators denied entry to Douglas County PrideFest, say it shows event was not inclusive
Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Demonstrators denied entry to Douglas County PrideFest, say it shows event was not inclusive

By Olivia Young | CBS Colorado Douglas County PrideFest 2024 was decidedly calmer than last year's event in Colorado. "Everyone I've talked to has said the vibe is significantly more relaxed," said Anya Zavadil, president of Douglas County Pride.  In 2023, PrideFest had to deal with a number of different attacks. Someone vandalized the fairgrounds and several cars, writing the word "groomer." The Douglas County Sheriff's Office says a suspect was never identified and that case was closed. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Paralyzed mountain lion found in Colorado is first case of “staggering disease” in North America
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Paralyzed mountain lion found in Colorado is first case of “staggering disease” in North America

By Michael Booth | The Colorado Sun In May 2023, a homeowner in Douglas County was astonished to find a partially paralyzed mountain lion taking cover between her basement window well and a spruce tree, dragging itself forward with its front paws. The year-old female couldn’t stand up, a phenomenon clear in the video the owner took while safely inside the house. Wildlife officers tranquilized the debilitated lion, then euthanized her with a gunshot to the chest to protect brain cells for a necropsy.  After a year of studying the animal, researchers are declaring her the first North American case of “staggering disease” in a mountain lion, according to Colorado State University veterinarian and former Colorado Parks and Wildlife pathologist Karen Fox. READ THE FULL STORY AT...
1st Amendment claim of fired Douglas County school employee will be heard by jury
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

1st Amendment claim of fired Douglas County school employee will be heard by jury

By Michael Karlik | Colorado Politics A jury will decide whether a Douglas County charter school fired an employee because of her protected online speech about vaccinations, a federal judge ruled last month. At the same time, U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak determined Jennifer Webb's repeated reports of alleged financial improprieties were not protected by the First Amendment. Consequently, jurors would not evaluate whether Aspen View Academy retaliated against her for raising concerns of embezzlement. Webb was the business manager for Aspen View, an elementary and middle school in Castle Rock, between 2017 and 2021. Her job generally entailed bookkeeping and financial oversight. Webb soon became concerned about financial malfeasance by the school's principal, Robert Barbe...
Douglas County approves $312K senior transportation services grant, but at less than requested
Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

Douglas County approves $312K senior transportation services grant, but at less than requested

By Noah Festenstein | Denver Gazette Douglas County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a $312,728 grant for providing transport services to seniors and people with disabilities. However, the grant is more than $250,000 less than what the county’s Community Development Department requested for six months ago — thus severely limiting the number of one-way trips provided for people who need the service. Back in January, Douglas County requested $453,000 from the Denver Regional Council of Governments, which is a "planning organization where local governments collaborate to establish guidelines, set policy and allocate funding in the areas of transportation, personal mobility, growth and development, and aging and disability resources," according to its website. Douglas County req...

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