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In Western Slope café, Coloradans react to pardon of Hunter Biden by his father, President Biden
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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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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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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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What’s the starting pay for Pueblo police officers, firefighters and teachers?
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Local, The Pueblo Chieftain

What’s the starting pay for Pueblo police officers, firefighters and teachers?

By Justin Reutter | Pueblo Chieftain With a median rental price of $1,275 a month in Pueblo, starting salaries can be a major factor in recruiting and retaining vital positions in the Pueblo community. Here is a look at the starting salaries for police, firefighters, and teachers in Pueblo as of late 2024. The starting pay for a full-time Pueblo police patrol officer ranges from $71,470 to $87,185 annually with benefits, according to governmentjobs.com. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
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Aurora councilmembers press 3 candidates for council seat about economy, health, public safety
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denvergazette.com, Local

Aurora councilmembers press 3 candidates for council seat about economy, health, public safety

By Kyla Pearce | Denver Gazette Aurora councilmembers interviewed three top candidates for a council vacancy Monday night, pressing them about health, policing and public safety. The three candidates are Danielle Lammon, a business owner and chair of the Citizens Advisory Budget Committee; Jonathan McMillan, director of Firearm-Related Harm and Violence Prevention Program Office at the Trailhead Institute; and, Amsalu Kassaw, a lieutenant at Aurora's Immigration and Customs Enforcement  processing center.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Denver auditor: City’s college scholarship program failed to implement almost all recommendations
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coloradopolitics.com, Local

Denver auditor: City’s college scholarship program failed to implement almost all recommendations

By Deborah Grigsby | Denver Gazette via Colorado Politics More than a year after Denver auditors raised concerns about oversight, data management, and quality assurance with the city’s tax-funded college affordability program, a follow-up audit found that the Office of Children’s Affairs has failed to implement the bulk of recommended changes made in the original report. Of the original eight recommendations, auditors noted that Children's Affairs, which oversees the Prosperity Denver Fund program, had only partially implemented two but had not taken steps to address the risks the other six sought to resolve. Back in 2018, Denver voters approved a ballot measure known as Prosperity Denver, which called for a 0.08% sales tax — less than one cent on $10 — and would be distributed in...
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‘Operation Aurora is coming,’ Council member warns Aurora police chief, staff
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kdvr.com, Local

‘Operation Aurora is coming,’ Council member warns Aurora police chief, staff

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 News Aurora Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky spoke out in a November committee meeting to tell the police department, city council and city staff that President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan is “coming.” Jurinsky made the comments at a meeting of the Aurora City Council Public Safety, Courts and Civil Service Committee on Nov. 14, which she chairs. The committee meets monthly and will not meet again until 2025. Also at the meeting was new Aurora Police Department Chief Todd Chamberlain, who was asked if the police agency needed support and more aid from surrounding agencies, such as the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office or the National Guard. He said that is not needed and would be a demoralizing move for his staff. REASD THE FULL STOR...
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Colorado Springs man gets 23-year sentence on meth and fentanyl trafficking
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gazette.com, Local

Colorado Springs man gets 23-year sentence on meth and fentanyl trafficking

By The Gazette A traffic stop led to a major drug bust, and now a 23-year prison sentence for Colorado Springs resident Michael Hemersbach, 36.  Hemersbach pleaded guilty Nov. 7 in a Douglas County courtroom to possession with intent to manufacture or distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to manufacture or distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to manufacture or distribute cocaine and driving while impaired, according to a news release Monday from the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office.  Hemersback was pulled over by a Colorado State Patrol trooper, who noted his Chrysler 300 was repeatedly weaving while driving southbound on Interstate 25, near the Happy Canyon Road exit north of Castle Rock on July 13, 2023.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETT...
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Judge sides with resident over developers in fire evacuation lawsuit, fight with El Paso County simmers on
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gazette.com, Local

Judge sides with resident over developers in fire evacuation lawsuit, fight with El Paso County simmers on

By Mary Shinn | The Gazette A 4th Judicial District judge recently sided with a resident asking El Paso County to uphold its own fire-safety standards along dead-end roads.  Hay Creek Valley resident Mike Cloutier sued the El Paso County commissioners earlier this year because they approved a proposal making way for 20 more high-end homes that take access off a dead-end road. Hay Creek Road, north of the Air Force Academy, already serves 80 existing residences hidden among the foothills. The county limits the number of homes along a dead-end road to 25 for safety in a fire evacuation.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Less than ‘1 person per square mile’ lives in Colorado’s ‘least-crowded’ county
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Local, Out There Colorado

Less than ‘1 person per square mile’ lives in Colorado’s ‘least-crowded’ county

By Spencer McKee | Out There Colorado Looking to live a life without much interruption in Colorado? Three of the state's counties have a population density of less than one resident per square mile – two of which are also home to some of the best (and most overlooked) outdoor recreation in the state. In terms of population density, three counties are home to fewer than a single resident per square mile – Kiowa with 0.8 people per square mile, Jackson with 0.85 people per square mile, and Hinsdale with 0.7 people per square mile. READ THE FULL STORY AT OUT THERE COLORADO
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