Author: Sage Kelley
-
Save your pines: Jeffco launches pine beetle assistance program
Mountain pine beetles may be small, but the potential danger to Colorado forests is massive. Jefferson County announced a new pilot program on March 16 to help combat green pine trees infested with pine beetles before the beetles can spread or the removal of infested trees altogether, according to a news release from Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper.…
-
Former Jeffco teacher claims district wrongfully terminated her
Courtney Capek claims her career was completely altered by the actions of another. The Lakewood native returned to the school she graduated from, Green Mountain High School, in 2023 to begin her career teaching and establishing a new era for the school’s theater program. Her dream job didn’t last long. The district did not renew…
-
Denver announces new court for those battling substance abuse
Denver drug-related misdemeanor cases will now be handled in a new court. Denver County Court announced its new Recovery Court, officially opening on Monday, that will be dedicated to handling “drug and drug-adjacent cases such as quality-of-life crimes like trespassing and petty theft,” according to a news release from the court. The new court looks to…
-
New downtown Westminster park gets an official name
Aerostat Park is scheduled to open in downtown Westminster later this spring. The neighborhood’s center park location finally has a name, voted on by residents, just months before the locale opens for family fun. The City of Westminster Parks, Recreation and Libraries announced the official name of the park on March 11 after narrowing down…
-
The Turnberry tension: Adams County lawsuit highlights questions around metro districts
Homeowners of a small neighborhood in Commerce City remain confused and irate about the future of their property taxes in the aftermath of a lawsuit between the metropolitan district where they live and a bank. The conflict stems from a 2023 lawsuit in which UMB Bank in its capacity as trustee, alleged the BNC2 Metropolitan…
-
What are metro districts?
Created by the Special District Act of 1981 by the Colorado General Assembly, metro districts are quasi-governmental entities that didn’t really start showing up until the 2000s. Today, there are more than 2,400 across Colorado. A metro district is created by a developer with the consent of the local government — in Turnberry’s case, Commerce…
-
Jeffco Public Schools found in violation of Title IX
Civil rights office: Male students occupy 61 roster positions on girls’ sports teams The U.S. Department of Education announced Friday that the Jeffco Public Schools district violated Title IX by permitting male students to access female bathrooms and compete in girls sports. After a nearly nine-month investigation, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil…
-
Arvada mayor announces breast cancer diagnosis
Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson temporarily stepped away from the dais Tuesday after a breast cancer diagnosis. “I don’t think cancer knew who it was picking when it picked me, but best believe I’m going to kick its butt,” Simpson said during the City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday evening. Simpson told the city that she…
-
Lakewood City Council makes declaration regarding ICE
The Lakewood City Council made a public declaration of transparency and de-escalation regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday. The declaration was written by Councilmember Ken Cruz with the help of Councilmember Isabel Cruz, and was ultimately co-sponsored by the entire council. “As members of the Lakewood City Council, our responsibility is to…
-
Senate committee kills bill to track education violations
A proposed bill following in the wake of multiple Jeffco Public Schools sexual misconduct cases won’t make it to the Senate floor. The Colorado Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs committee denied proposed Senate Bill 26-055 on Tuesday afternoon with a vote of three-to-two, with Republican Senators Mark Baisley and Lynda Zamora Wilson being the…