Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: Jefferson County

Study Warns Colorado’s High Theft Threshold Fueling Retail Crime Growth
Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Study Warns Colorado’s High Theft Threshold Fueling Retail Crime Growth

By Mark Samuelson | Colorado Politics Shoplifting and other forms of retail crime are seeing a sharp rise as Colorado heads into the holidays, according to a study. After falling from a recent-record 24,975 thefts reported in 2015 to around 18,000 in 2021, Colorado Bureau of Investigation data show a jump to more than 27,000 shoplifting crimes in 2024, according to former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey, who co-authored the study. The study was released in the past week by the Greenwood Village-based Common Sense Institute. It reported that shoplifting hotspots include Adams County, with 52,333 incidents over the span from 2014 to 2024; followed by Jefferson County, with 34,241 incidents; and El Paso County, 33,339 over the span. Other counties posting high numbers ...
Latest CPW Data Shows Wolves Moving Toward Boulder and Jeffco
DENVER7, Approved, State

Latest CPW Data Shows Wolves Moving Toward Boulder and Jeffco

By: Stephanie Butzer | Denver7 Since the 2023 approval of the Colorado Wolf Restoration and Management Plan, CPW has said that wolves are expected to expand widely over the years, including to the Front Range. DENVER — A new map shows more gray wolf activity along the Front Range than previous records, with at least one animal — if not more — exploring central Boulder County and northern Jefferson County. According to the latest wolf movement map released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday afternoon, the wolves have been moving around the watersheds northwest of the Denver metro area up toward Boulder and appear closer than ever to the Front Range. The below map shows watersheds outlined in purple. If it is filled in, it means that at least one collared wol...
Jeffco Teachers Union Retracts Endorsement After Candidate’s History Emerges
Complete Colorado, Approved, Local

Jeffco Teachers Union Retracts Endorsement After Candidate’s History Emerges

By Savana Kascak | Complete Colorado LAKEWOOD–The Jefferson County teachers’ union has withdrawn an endorsement for a highly favored school board candidate after a sexual offense committed as a juvenile came to light. Michael Yocum is running for Jefferson County School Board in District 1, originally as part of a teachers’ union-backed slate, along with fellow candidates, Peter Gibbins and Tina Moeinian. The Jefferson County Education Association (JCEA) referred to the trio as “the cleanup crew.” The JCEA endorsed the slate on Aug 8, presumably without knowledge of Yokum’s criminal history (his name has since been removed from the endorsement). Both the JCEA and the Colorado Education Association (the state teacher’s union) are his top campaign contributors. Juvenile adjudicat...
‘Feeling safe is a privilege’: Jeffco board member’s remark sparks outrage after school shooting
DENVER7, Approved, Local

‘Feeling safe is a privilege’: Jeffco board member’s remark sparks outrage after school shooting

By Adria Iraheta | Denver7 Denver7 heard from several parents who were upset by Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education Member Erin Kenworthy's remarks. JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — More than a month after the shooting at Evergreen High School, school safety remains top of mind for families across Jefferson County. Parents voiced their concerns during a Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education meeting Thursday. Many of those parents were directly impacted by the tragedy that rocked the community on Sept. 10. “Our most important job is to protect our children, and what we’re doing right now is not working,” said Evergreen resident Kim Halligan. Emotions ran high Thursday as community members made their pleas for improved school safety measures across the district, inc...
Police Arrest Student After Threat Against Ralston Valley High School Following Evergreen Tragedy
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Police Arrest Student After Threat Against Ralston Valley High School Following Evergreen Tragedy

By: Heather Willard | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — A juvenile is in police custody after allegedly making a false threat against Ralston Valley High School just hours after the Evergreen High School shooting. The Arvada Police Department said that it arrested the suspect on Oct. 14 after investigating hundreds of Safe2Tell reports related to the social media threat directed toward the high school. The FBI also assisted with the investigation at that time, the police department said. The threat led to about 1,100 students choosing not to attend school on Sept. 11 — the day after the Evergreen High School shooting. The social media threat involved a photo shared with multiple students on Snapchat that allegedly showed a rifle, ammunition and a magazine lying on a table. A text capt...
Evergreen Stands Strong: Community Heals Together After School Tragedy
DENVER7, Approved, Local

Evergreen Stands Strong: Community Heals Together After School Tragedy

By Maggy Wolanske | Denver7 Benefit held in the heart of Evergreen to bring hope and healing after school shooting. EVERGREEN, Colo. — Hope and healing were on display at a benefit in the heart of Evergreen as community members gathered together to dance, draw, and uplift one another. After a school shooting happened at Evergreen High School, Cactus Jack's Saloon and Grill stepped up to serve the community they love. The local spot first gave out free burgers to students in September. On Saturday, they hosted CJ's Be The Change benefit. "Obviously we wanted to bring something to bring the community together, to do something for Evergreen, but we also wanted to use Evergreen as an example that communities can come together and be kind and treat each other the way we should, and ...
Colorado Judge Orders Losing Plaintiffs to Pay Terumo $5.2 Million
The Colorado Sun, Approved, Local

Colorado Judge Orders Losing Plaintiffs to Pay Terumo $5.2 Million

By Michael Booth | The Colorado Sun The multinational medical manufacturer, based in Lakewood, uses toxic ethylene oxide as a sterilizer. Jefferson County residents attempted to sue for health damage. A Jefferson County District Court judge ordered cancer-stricken patients who unsuccessfully sued Lakewood medical manufacturer Terumo BCT for toxic pollution releases to pay just under $5.2 million in the multinational company’s legal fees. Terumo uses ethylene oxide, or EtO, to sterilize its blood processing equipment before shipping, and neighbors of EtO-using industries around the nation have filed lawsuits claiming the companies are liable for cancer and other major health problems. A Jeffco jury in March found Terumo not negligent, after four women sued the company for damages i...
Brave Teen Stood Up to Evergreen High School Shooter, Saved Classmates
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Brave Teen Stood Up to Evergreen High School Shooter, Saved Classmates

By Heather Willard | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — The family of a 14-year-old boy who was shot during the Sept. 10 shooting at Evergreen High School has shared a lengthy statement, saying their son was injured when confronting the shooter. “On September 10th, inside Evergreen High School, our 14-year-old son endured the unimaginable: a face-to-face encounter with a violent school shooter filled with anger and hatred,” the family wrote, shared by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office in a press release. “Our child suffered traumatic gunshot injuries and has remained hospitalized and undergone multiple surgeries since the incident.” The boy will remain unnamed as the family wishes to remain confidential, according to the sheriff’s office. The other victim shot in the incident, 18-year...
Evergreen High School Sets Gradual Reopening After Tragic Shooting
kdvr.com, Approved, Local

Evergreen High School Sets Gradual Reopening After Tragic Shooting

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR FOX31 DENVER (KDVR) — Jefferson County Public Schools announced plans for staff and students to return to Evergreen High School in the upcoming week, following a break in response to the shooting that took place at the school. “Thank you for your patience as we took time last week to listen and learn about what our students, staff and families need as we move forward. After hearing from our EHS community, the Evergreen High School staff had a productive meeting on Friday; I continue to be grateful for the ongoing courage and commitment from our staff,” said the district in a press release. The return will operate as follows: Monday, Sept. 22 to Wednesday, Sept. 24 Staff will prepare for the return of the students, who will show up later ...
Safety or politics: Debate grows over Jeffco school resource officers
Fox31, Approved, Local

Safety or politics: Debate grows over Jeffco school resource officers

By: Spencer Kristensen, Brooke Williams | FOX31 Denver DENVER (KDVR) — On Wednesday morning, Jeffco Public Schools and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office released a joint statement addressing the community’s questions about the School Resource Officer program. “Our commitment to safety and security in Jeffco schools is unwavering,” Superintendent Tracy Dorland said in a press release. “Jeffco Public Schools does not employ SROs. Instead, through intergovernmental agreements, our local law enforcement partners, like JCSO, provide SROs to serve in our schools and our district now pays for half of this cost. We are proud of our strong partnership with law enforcement, including our shared commitment to a robust SRO program that supports our students and staff.” The school dis...