Author: Nico Brambila
-
Cherry Creek assistant superintendent to leave full-time post amid district leadership upheaval
—
by
Cherry Creek School District Assistant Superintendent Tony Poole will not return to full-time work at the end of the school year and will instead transition to a limited post-employment arrangement. Ashley Verville, a district spokesperson, said the move was not a signal that Poole is retiring while acknowledging “110s are often a transition into retirement.”…
-
Wife of former Cherry Creek superintendent placed on paid administrative leave
—
by
Less than a week after Cherry Creek Schools Superintendent Chris Smith abruptly resigned following allegations of a toxic work environment, his wife, Brenda Smith, has been placed on paid, administrative leave, officials confirmed Tuesday. Brenda Smith is the district’s chief human resource officer, a position she has held since 2019. “As of Monday, February 2,…
-
Conflict-of-interest safeguards at Cherry Creek Schools lacked clear oversight, memo shows
—
by
To avoid a conflict of interest, the wife of Cherry Creek Schools Superintendent Chris Smith — who resigned this week amid allegations of a toxic work environment — was supposed to report to Deputy Superintendent Jennifer Perry. In the wake of Smith’s resignation Wednesday, Perry was named interim superintendent. According to a Denver7 investigation, insiders…
-
Cherry Creek Schools superintendent resigns after allegations of toxic workplace
—
by
Cherry Creek Schools Superintendent Chris Smith resigned abruptly during an executive session Tuesday, school officials confirmed, after allegations of a toxic work environment surfaced earlier this month. “We’ve had some tremendous achievements under Chris’ leadership including Traverse, the first of its kind mental health facility for students; passing school construction bonds that will allow the…
-
Will Denver see stepped-up immigration enforcement next? | ANALYSIS
—
by
Two years ago — as Denver grappled with a sharp influx of immigrants, many who arrived in the city after illegally crossing America’s borders — Mayor Mike Johnston joined the mayors of Chicago and New York City in criticizing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s busing campaign and called for a national strategy to address the crisis.…
-
ACA enrollment in Colorado sees slight dip amid rising costs
—
by
Despite handwringing over enhanced federal subsidies going away for many Coloradans enrolled in health insurance on the state’s marketplace, officials reported Friday just a 2% enrollment dip. More than 277,000 Coloradans enrolled in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act — colloquially known as “Obamacare.” The decline followed five years of consecutive growth, state officials…
-
Maduro capture brings surprise, hope to Venezuelan community in Denver
—
by
The announcement that U.S. military personnel arrested Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and took him to the United States sent a shockwave through Denver’s Venezuelan community Saturday. Jimmy, an asylum seeker who came to Denver last year, said his phone blew up with the news. “Ever since Trump came to power in the U.S., there was…
-
Raids, pushback and TdA indictments defined Denver’s immigration story in 2025
—
by
The Trump administration’s push for a large-scale, deportation effort — built around campaign warnings about Tren de Aragua, the Venezuelan prison gang that established a foothold in Colorado — collided with the realities on the ground in Denver, where raids occurred but never approached the sweeping levels of daily deportations anticipated. President Donald Trump had…
-
Colorado sees record early applications for universal preschool
—
by
Early preschool applications for the upcoming school year are breaking records for a program with 42,862 4-year-olds enrolled statewide. As of Monday, the program had received 12,886 applications. “Investing in high-quality early education is one of the most effective ways we can support children, families and the long-term strength of our state,” Lisa Roy, executive director…
-
Two suspected Tren de Aragua gang leaders indicted in Denver
—
by
Federal officials on Thursday announced the indictment of two suspected Tren de Aragua leaders in Denver on racketeering charges tied to robbery, extortion, kidnapping, money laundering and drug offenses over 14 months. Tren de Aragua, or TdA, is the notorious Venezuelan prison gang with tentacles in the U.S., including in Denver. Indicted were Giovanni Vicente…
