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Denver’s minimum wage among highest in U.S., but rent far from ‘affordable’, report finds
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Local, Out There Colorado

Denver’s minimum wage among highest in U.S., but rent far from ‘affordable’, report finds

By Spencer McKee | Out There Colorado It's no secret that housing prices around the country have gotten quite lofty in recent years – all while the federal minimum wage has stayed at the $7.25 that was established in 2009. That said, 34 states have increased their own minimum wages above the federal level and some cities have established local minimum wage requirements that are even higher than those required by their state. Denver, for example, has a minimum wage of $18.29 an hour above Colorado's required $14.42. A recent report from Clever took a dive into the topic of minimum wage and affordability, using data to determine where around the country minimum wage workers spend the largest and smallest share of their income on rent. Their report compares local minimum wage ...
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Douglas County School District considers consolidating elementary schools
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kdvr.com, Local

Douglas County School District considers consolidating elementary schools

By Greg Perez | Fox 31 News The Douglas County School District will hold a community meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday to discuss a possible school closure plan. According to a letter that was sent to families, district leaders want to consolidate up to six elementary schools in Highlands Ranch by August 2026. They said enrollment numbers have been dropping in the area and the figures are not expected to improve anytime soon. “DCSD is taking a proactive approach to address the challenges of growth and decline in the North Planning area. Since last school year, DCSD committees made up of leaders and community members have discussed the best ways to manage decline to benefit our students and families. We have not only learned from other districts in the same position but al...
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Bridge security at DIA, once a top-secret checkpoint choice, is going away forever
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Denverite, Local

Bridge security at DIA, once a top-secret checkpoint choice, is going away forever

By Andrew Kenney | Denverite Denver International Airport will soon close its bridge security checkpoint as the Great Hall construction project gets somewhat closer to completion. The bridge checkpoint has been a slightly secret option for some travelers, sometimes offering shorter wait times when the main hall is packed. It sits on the elevated building segment that connects the Great Hall, where passengers check in, and Concourse A, which is one of the airport’s terminals. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
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Mesa County voters approve measures 4A and 4B for schools, promising upgrades, transparency
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Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Mesa County voters approve measures 4A and 4B for schools, promising upgrades, transparency

By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice In a decisive voice, the Mesa County community voted for ballot measures 4A and 4B. This passage is a clear mandate: Buildings with accessibility and security issues get an overhaul. Five learning days remain on the school calendar. And teachers will receive more approved curriculum sources, so they won’t have to resort to websites like Teachers Pay Teachers.  Mesa County voters passed Ballot Issue 4A with 71% approval to fund school renovations. Ballot Issue 4B, with 65% approval, allows retaining funds for extra educational resources and maintenance. Dr. Brian Hill, the district's superintendent, praised the community's commitment: "This support," he said, "means we can create safer, more modern learning environments. [We can] ...
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RTD proposes $1.2B budget to improve service, and for maintenance, recruitment and retention
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coloradopolitics.com, Local

RTD proposes $1.2B budget to improve service, and for maintenance, recruitment and retention

By The Denver Gazette | via Colorado Politics The Regional Transportation District is proposing a $1.2 billion budget for next year, arguing this level of spending will increase its levels of service, continue hiring for key frontline positions and sustain preventative maintenance projects. "Over the last year, RTD has redoubled its efforts to maintain its assets in a state of good repair, enhanced employee recruitment and retention initiatives, and made significant progress in creating a welcoming transit environment,” Debra A. Johnson, the regional transit system's general manager and CEO, said in a news release. “This proposed budget allows the agency to build on that momentum in the year ahead and respond to the ever-changing transit needs of customers in the Denver metro area.” ...
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Group raises money to get American flags in Jefferson County classrooms
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CBS Colorado, Local

Group raises money to get American flags in Jefferson County classrooms

By Karen Morfitt | CBS Colorado A group in Jefferson County is working to get an American flag into every classroom in that Colorado district. They made their first delivery to North Arvada Middle School on Veterans Day. "It's sacred," Navyveteran Sam Bandimere said. "It's a symbol of my homeland a symbol of freedom," Army veteran Ron Noble said. "Respect, you know. The flag means everything to the U.S.," Dan Wolf said. These veterans say the flag's importance is hard to put into words, but it's something they want future generations to understand. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Voters supported Denver ballot measure 6A, but what will be done with $570 million?
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Denverite, Local

Voters supported Denver ballot measure 6A, but what will be done with $570 million?

By Kyle Harris | Denverite Downtown Denver is about to see a significant cash injection. Roughly 78 percent of voters living near Union Station passed Ballot Measure 6A — a policy that will authorize $570 million of debt for downtown revitalization. Only around 2,500 voters were eligible to decide the matter.  The passage of the measure was a big win for Mayor Mike Johnston. READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVERITE
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Denver spent $138M in two years to rent, lease hotels for homeless and illegals
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Local, Westword

Denver spent $138M in two years to rent, lease hotels for homeless and illegals

By Bennito L. Kelty | Westword Since Mayor Mike Johnston took office in July 2023, his administration has spent millions using hotels to address homelessness and an influx of migrants. The city bought hotels and warehouses for housing the homeless before Johnston took office, but his administration opened the coffers even more, relying largely on leftover federal COVID relief dollars. These multimillion-dollar leases and purchases include two hotels bought this year worth a combined $64 million. The hotels were used mostly for Johnston's effort to house 1,000 people before the end of 2023, and are now used to house people in his next phase of combating homelessness, known as All In Mile High.  READ THE FULL STORY AT WESTWORD
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Garfield County deputy terminated for alleged embezzlement
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Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Garfield County deputy terminated for alleged embezzlement

By Lindy Browning | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice Corp. Trisha Worley, a 14-year veteran of the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office has been terminated for allegations of embezzlement, a a press release from Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario reads. According to information provided by the sheriff, Worley was placed on administrative leave on Oct. 23, when there was a formal accusation that she had embezzled funds from a local nonprofit organization. An internal investigation revealed enough evidence that, on Nov. 7, she was terminated.  Colorado Bureau of Investigations is taking the lead on any criminal charges that may result from their investigation to avoid any perception of conflict of interest in the case, the sheriff said. Whenever a member of a law enforcement ag...
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WWII, Korea and Vietnam Vet jumps from plane at 99, and it may not be his last jump
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gazette.com, Local

WWII, Korea and Vietnam Vet jumps from plane at 99, and it may not be his last jump

By MARY SHINN | The Gazette Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jim Akin carried an estimated 10,000 paratroopers as a pilot, and when he skydived at 99 years old over the summer it was in their honor. “I thought, ‘Boy, I hope I got the guts to do it,’” he said. The somersault in the air, the 40 seconds of free fall and hitting 120 mph — he loved all of it. He hopes to do it again to mark his 100th birthday in April. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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