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Category: Denver, Colorado Local News

Denver, Colorado Local News | ReportWire publishes the latest breaking U.S. and world news, trending topics and developing stories from around globe.

  • Search, rescue teams from around the state participate in drone training in Douglas County

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    On Saturday afternoon, search and rescue teams from around the state gathered to train on technology that’s becoming more and more common in their efforts: Drones.

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    Nate Belt

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  • Homeland Security suspends TSA PreCheck, Global Entry airport security programs

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    WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is suspending the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programs as a partial government shutdown continues.

    The programs are designed to help speed registered travelers through security lines. Suspending them could cause headaches for fliers.

    All airports are expected to be impacted, including Denver International Airport.

    Watch Denver7’s update in the video player below

    Homeland Security suspends TSA PreCheck, Global Entry airport security programs

    Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that “shutdowns have serious real world consequences.” She also said that “TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts.”

    The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after Democrats and the White House were unable to reach a deal on legislation to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Democrats have been demanding changes to immigration operations that are core to President Donald Trump’s deportation campaign.

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  • Broomfield’s Shayla Martinez remains perfect as she repeats as state wrestling champ

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    DENVER — Broomfield freshman Bella Barajas was conflicted at the state wrestling tournament Saturday evening.

    Standing inside the tunnels at Ball Arena, now in street clothes, she beamed when asked about her sister, Shayla Martinez, the early headlining champion who had just won her second straight 5A girls 190-pound title.

    As for Barajas’ own tournament — where she’d placed sixth at 170 pounds — her face momentarily fell before finding some consolation.

    DENVER — Broomfield’s Shayla Martinez caps a perfect season, winning her second straight state title at 5A girls 190 pounds at Ball Arena on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps)

    “She placed (on the podium) her first season, and then went on to win twice,” Barajas said of Martinez. “I want to be wrestling for the top of the podium next year with her. I want to follow in her footsteps.”

    Barajas eventually caved and said she was proud of herself for making the podium in her first season. But she was more interested in talking about her sister — the athlete and mentor.

    Big sister was listening in.

    “She wants to follow in my footsteps, I heard her say,” Martinez said as she shook her head and smiled, watching Barajas as she disappeared into the distance. “I want her to create her own footsteps for other people to follow and look up to.”

    Martinez then paused. For the first time since winning gold Saturday, her eyes welled up with tears.

    “My sister — she’s a hard worker,” Martinez continued. “She’s a three-sport athlete. I want her to keep her head up high. I’m so proud of her.”

    Of course, Martinez would characterize the joy of winning her second straight state title largely through the fact that she got to wrestle on the same team as her sister.

    But she could’ve framed it in many ways: like the fact that she called her shot to repeat an entire year ago, before she’d even left Ball Arena after last season’s state tournament.

    This winter, she went on to declare that winning a second straight state title wouldn’t be enough — it needed to be on the back of an undefeated campaign.

    “So last year she had one loss,” Broomfield first-year girls wrestling coach Luci Schement said last month when she was told Martinez put her undefeated goal in the public sphere. “And so this year, she wanted to come back better.”

    Martinez never wavered. She finished a perfect 40-0 as a junior, registering 34 pins — 12 of which came inside the first 30 seconds of the match.

    At the state tournament, she pinned everyone, sticking Loveland’s Abigail Stearns in the exact same time as she did in last year’s final — 63 seconds.

    With her hand raised in victory Saturday, Martinez put up two fingers to signify the repeat.

    She needed a few more to count all of the people she said helped her reach this moment.

    She thanked the Broomfield boys team, whom she wrestled with, along with the girls team, during the season.

    She highlighted the Eagles community and the one at Brighton High School, her training grounds during the offseason. (She even donned a half-and-half sweatshirt split between Broomfield and Brighton High School before and after her finals match.)

    “Matilda Hruby,” Martinez said, naming Brighton’s 155-pound girls wrestler, who’d later wrestle in the night’s most anticipated match. Hruby was attempting to win her third title against Pomona’s Timberly Martinez, who was eyeing her fourth.

    “I’ve been working with her for a long time and she really pushed me to be the best version of myself,” she added. “She got me here. I’m not going to lie.”

    Martinez — who attends Monarch High — then cracked a wry smile, “I want to be like Matilda but create my own path, you know?”

    That’s right. Even on her biggest day in the sport, Martinez couldn’t go long without thinking of her younger sister.

    “She’s young. She’s our baby,” Martinez said. “I told her to keep her head up high and move forward. Like, ‘You’re still a champion in my eyes.’”

    As for Martinez herself?

    Well, she called her shot. Again.

    “I’m coming for it all,” she said. “I meet hard opponents outside of Colorado, but I want to be the best, so I’m going to do whatever it takes. I want to be the best. I want to be big — something big.”

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DENVER — Broomfield’s Shayla Martinez runs to hug her father Sam Barajas after capping a perfect season by winning her second straight state title at 5A girls 190 pounds at Ball Arena on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (Photo by Brent W. New/BoCoPreps)

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Brent New

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  • Denver weather: Another very mild stretch of days ahead

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    Denver will wrap up its gorgeous weekend with another day basking in sunshine and even warmer temperatures on Sunday.

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    Jacob Woods

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  • Tariff whiplash leaves Colorado businesses facing higher costs and fewer answers

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    DENVER — At downtown Denver Scandinavian clothing retailer Aktiv, every sweater, hat, and base layer is imported – and owner Nate Axvig says his profits have taken a significant hit from Trump’s global tariffs.

    “In real dollars that cost us, last fall, $25,000 more than we had expected to spend,” said Axvig.

    On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not give President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs, leaving small business owners like Axvig cautiously optimistic.

    But within hours, Trump announced on Truth Social a new 10% tariff, then on Saturday morning, he hiked it up to 15%.

    “Our partners overseas are questioning, like, ‘What is the next step?’ And the answer is, who knows?” said Axvig.

    We Pay the Tariffs

    Last spring, a coalition of 12 state attorneys general, including Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, filed a lawsuit challenging the president’s tariffs.

    “I’m not surprised to see President Trump trying to push the envelope. But here’s the important point – under other authority, he might claim there are real restrictions on what he can do. We’re going to make sure he follows those restrictions. We’re going to make sure that the rule of law holds,” Weiser told Denver7 on Saturday.

    In the meantime, Axvig is joining a coalition of nearly 1,000 small businesses called We Pay The Tariffs, signing on to a letter demanding tariff refunds from President Trump and Congress.

    So far, 18 Colorado businesses have signed the letter.

    “The onus is really on the government to give this money back,” said Dan Anthony, executive director of We Pay The Tariffs.

    Anthony says Colorado businesses paid $1.1 billion in tariffs from March through December last year.

    Screenshot 2026-02-21 at 4.51.52 PM.png

    We Pay the Tariffs

    With the latest announcement, he warns that the situation has become more uncertain.

    “All of those great things that these business owners have told us they could do with that refund money become a whole lot less certain,” said Anthony.

    When asked how he’s planning with 15% tariffs looming, Axvig was blunt:

    “You can’t. That predictability is the number one thing that you need as a bedrock in business, and it’s taken away completely,” he said.

    Tariff whiplash leaves Colorado businesses facing higher costs and fewer answers

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    Denver7

    Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Adria Iraheta

    Denver7’s Adria Iraheta shares stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in reporting on education and stories in Arapahoe County. If you’d like to get in touch with Adria, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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    Adria Iraheta

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  • Ghislaine Maxwell fights release of more Epstein documents, calling disclosure law unconstitutional

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    NEW YORK (AP) — Lawyers for imprisoned British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell are fighting the requested release of 90,000 pages related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and Maxwell, saying a law used to force the public release of millions of documents is unconstitutional. The lawyers filed papers late Friday in Manhattan federal court to try to […]

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    MICHAEL R. SISAK and LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press

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  • A record-setting Winter Olympics: 6 golds and 16 medals for the US in women’s events set marks

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    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — The U.S. women’s hockey team had just won Olympic gold, and veteran forward Kendall Coyne Schofield summed the moment up perfectly.

    “We did it!” she exclaimed.

    Plenty of American women — more than ever at a Winter Olympics — had the same sentiment at these Milan Cortina Games.

    When it came to winning medals, they indeed did it. And in record numbers, too.

    American women — not even counting mixed events — were up to six golds and 16 medals overall through some of the competition on Saturday, the next-to-last day of these Games. The previous U.S. winter women’s-only marks: five golds (done in 1992, 2002 and 2018) and 13 medals (done in 2014 and 2022).

    “Our team is so strong,” Milan Cortina women’s slalom gold medalist and Alpine legend Mikaela Shiffrin said. “We have so many incredible athletes and teammates and friends, and everybody just showed up with so much courage and heart here. And I’m so proud to be part of this American team.”

    The count goes to 20 medals for U.S. women from Milan Cortina when adding in mixed competition. More than 40 American women will leave the Games with at least one medal — another winter record for the U.S. And those numbers could keep rising, with some medal chances still left before the cauldrons get extinguished and the Games come to a close.

    “Team USA is crushing it and it’s friggin’ sweet,” said U.S. women’s bobsledder Kaillie Humphries Armbruster — a bronze medalist in monobob and a contender for another medal in the two-woman event on Saturday night. “Women’s hockey got gold, hell yeah. It’s all definitely motivating.”

    There was shiny motivation everywhere U.S. women could look.

    Shiffrin and downhill winner Breezy Johnson won golds in Alpine skiing, Elana Meyers Taylor won in monobob, Alysa Liu won the figure skating women’s singles gold (plus another gold in the team event for both men and women), Elizabeth Lemley took the Olympic title in freestyle moguls and the women’s hockey team rallied late to force overtime and then beat Canada for that title. Kaila Kuhn was part of a gold-medal win in mixed team aerials as well — the 11th for Team USA at these Olympics, the most by the Americans in Winter Games history.

    The U.S. men have been no slouches in Italy.

    But the U.S. women have been record-setting.

    “It’s iconic. It’s legendary,” U.S. bobsledder Kaysha Love said. “At the end of the day, I think that’s why we do this.”

    In fairness, the games have grown over time, which means more women have gotten the chance to become Olympians. There were 41 events for women (excluding mixed events) at Milan Cortina, compared with 37 at Turin in 2006 and a mere 12 at Lake Placid in 1980.

    Still, records are records. And this U.S. Olympic women’s team, as a total group, set a new standard.

    The 16 medals for Americans in women’s competition at Milan Cortina, and 20 when adding in mixed events, would top the total medals won by all U.S. athletes — men, women and mixed — in every Winter Games from 1924 through 1998.

    Freestyle skiing has delivered four of the 16 women’s medals for Americans in these Games; Jaelin Kauf got two of those, both silvers in moguls.

    “There’s an incredibly strong women’s team and moguls program in the US, (which is) exactly why it’s so good,” Kauf said. “We have become extremely dominant in the last handful of years, continuing to be the best women’s team in the world for four or five years now.”

    Clearly, success breeds success. Just ask Cory Thiesse.

    She became the first American woman to medal in Olympic curling. Thiesse won silver in mixed doubles with Korey Dropkin and got there, in part, because she was inspired by past success of others — whether they were in curling or not.

    “I know how important it was for me to have girls to look up to when I was growing up, not only in my own sport but other sports out there winning medals and seeing that on TV and dreaming big because of it,” Thiesse told the AP on Friday, one day before she and the U.S. women lost the bronze-medal match to Canada. “So, I just think it’s great for future generations.”

    U.S. men’s hockey coach Mike Sullivan said the American women who delivered this year are also planting seeds for 2030, 2034 and beyond.

    “What a terrific hockey team and they’ll be an inspiration for the next generation of girls growing up in the United States,” Sullivan said after the U.S. women topped Canada for hockey gold. “It’s crazy how far women’s hockey has come in the United States, and a lot of it is due to the teams like this and the girls that play on these teams. They inspire the next generation.”

    ___

    AP National Writer Eddie Pells, AP Hockey Writers Stephen Whyno and John Wawrow, AP Sports Writer Pat Graham and AP reporter Jennifer McDermott contributed to this report.

    ___

    AP Winter Olympics coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

    Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos

    Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.

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  • Denver boy, 13, missing from West Colfax neighborhood

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    A 13-year-old boy is missing after he was last seen in Denver’s West Colfax neighborhood on Friday afternoon, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

    Elias Olivas was last seen near at 4:15 p.m. Friday near West 13th Avenue and Lowell Boulevard, state officials said in a Missing Indigenous Person Alert.

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    Katie Langford

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  • East Colfax residents wake up to surprise two-way street conversion with no advance warning from city

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    DENVER, Colo. — Residents in the East Colfax neighborhood woke up to a confusing surprise on Wednesday.

    “I figured [it] out when I drove down the street and saw someone coming at me,” said longtime resident Monique Helstrom.

    That’s when Helstrom, president of the East Colfax Neighborhood Association, realized that East 14th Avenue had turned from a one-way to a two-way road in the middle of the day. 

    No advance notice from the city, she said — just cones, broken signs, and lots of confusion. 

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    “There was a lot of incoming traffic, there was a lot of turning, there was a lot of not knowing what to do,” she continued.

    The City of Denver had plans for some time now to turn East 13th and 14th Avenues from Quebec to Yosemite into two-way streets to reduce speeding in the East Colfax neighborhood.

    Speed data captured from April to October 2023 found most drivers on these streets were traveling at greater than 40 miles an hour, while the speed limit was posted at 30 mph.

    It’s a solution neighbors have been wanting for a while, but according to Helstrom, the rollout could have been better.

    “For the last, I want to say, two weeks, the only reader board signs on the Quebec side and the Yosemite side said, ‘new traffic pattern coming soon’. That was it. Not ‘two-way’. No date — just ‘new traffic pattern’,” she said.

    Shontel M. Lewis.png

    Denver7

    Denver District 8 Councilwoman Shontel M. Lewis took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to let residents know about the change, telling Denver7 she found out about the conversion at the same time neighbors did.

    “This was a safety measure, and in poorly executing a safety measure, we then created unsafe conditions,” Lewis said.

    Denver7 took these concerns to the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI). 

    “We realize there was more we could have done, and should have done, to communicate with the adjacent neighborhoods and are going to work on making sure we do better in the future,” a DOTI spokesperson said. “We did this rollout and conversion to two-way in fairly rapid fashion – over the course of just a couple of days.  And so we recognize it may have been confusing to people at first. That said, DOTI staff have been driving the corridors today and it appears that drivers are understanding and following the new configuration pretty well.”

    two way 14th ave.png

    Denver7

    Denver7 observed city crews installing permanent signage going up on both roads on Friday morning, further alleviating some of the days-long confusion.

    “See how everybody’s driving slow? It’s already working. It’s already working,” Vince Saaverdra told us as he put up the signs.

    DOTI said cones will remain in the center line on both corridors for some time to help make the new two-way configuration more obvious to drivers.

    All-way stops will be installed on 13th and 14th avenues at Uinta and Willow streets as part of the city’s traffic calming efforts in the neighborhood.

    The speed limit on both streets has also been reduced to 25 mph as part of the new traffic configuration.

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    Denver7

    Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Adria Iraheta

    Denver7’s Adria Iraheta shares stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in reporting on education and stories in Arapahoe County. If you’d like to get in touch with Adria, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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    Adria Iraheta

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  • Driver who fell asleep at wheel was nearly 12x the legal limit, police say

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    A suspected drunk driver was arrested after police say they found him unresponsive behind the wheel at a Lakewood intersection.

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    Parker Gordon

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  • Colorado youth wrestling is growing, and it’s showing at 2026 state tournament

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    Deanna Betterman chuckled at the simple notion of her kids spending extended time away from a wrestling mat.

    “What’s the offseason schedule like?” the Sand Creek High wrestling coach was asked Friday morning, as the mats at Ball Arena began to bustle again.

    “There is no offseason,” Betterman said.

    This weekend, three wrestlers from Sand Creek High, a public school in Colorado Springs, advanced to or beyond the girls’ 4A semifinals of the Colorado state wrestling championships at Ball. All three wrestle for a girls’ program in its very first season of existence. All three, improbably, are freshmen: Peggy Dean (100 pounds), Stella Isensee (105 pounds), and Karris Carter (130 pounds). All three came by way of the Betterman Elite Wrestling Club, a youth academy in Colorado Springs run by Betterman’s husband Joe, a former Team USA wrestler.

    Sand Creek wrestlers only actually attend classes in person on Monday and Wednesday during the school year, Betterman said. On Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, they arrive at the Betterman Elite gym at 8 a.m., practice from 9-11, shower, eat lunch, do online classes, and then have a second training session at 4:30 p.m. They take roughly one month off from this schedule in August. Last spring, the academy sent Dean and others — then in eighth grade — to Tallin, Estonia, for the largest wrestling tournament in Europe.

    Dean won a gold medal.

    “When we’re looking at the big goals, we’re looking at the Olympics for Peggy Dean, Karris Carter, all those girls,” Betterman said. “So these are just little stepping stones we’re hitting. We don’t put a lot of pressure on winning state titles and these little things.

    “Those little things just happen, when you have those high expectations, and those high goals.”

    Peggy Dean of Sand Creek works a takedown on Lilly Lundy of Lewis-Palmer during their Colorado State Wrestling Championships semifinal match at Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026. Dean won by way of a 15-0 technical fall. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

    Youth movement

    Sand Creek’s triumvirate of prodigies is just a microcosm, truly, of a wide array of younger contenders at the 2026 state wrestling championships this weekend. Eleven different freshmen wrestlers advanced to the semifinals at Ball Arena in the 5A boys’ and girls’ brackets alone.

    It’s indicative of a larger trend in Colorado and beyond. To be a powerhouse wrestling program, schools “have to have a feeder program,” as Betterman said — a youth club in the area that can pipe in young talent ready to reach a state stage from Day 1.

    “Back in my day, it was the local tournaments,” said 37-year-old Pueblo East head coach Tyler Lundquist. “Now the guys are in bigger buildings than this from 5 years old, until they’re in high school. So the show’s not too big for them, most of these guys.”

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  • Aurora settles with owner of apartments at the center of the Venezuelan gang takeover claims

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    Denver news

    The company, Five Dallas Partners, will pay the city $300,000 and be forced to sell its buildings at the Edge of Lowry.

    The City of Aurora has settled a civil case with Five Dallas Partners, which will pay the city $300,000 and be forced to sell the buildings.

    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    The City of Aurora has settled its civil case in Aurora Municipal Court with the owner of several of the Edge at Lowry apartment buildings at the center of President Donald Trump’s Venezuelan gang city takeover claims. 

    The company, Five Dallas Partners, is associated with CBZ Management, which owns three of the Aurora apartment complexes where the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua had a presence. The company will pay Aurora $300,000 to reimburse costs the city paid to close, maintain and secure the buildings at 1218 Dallas St. in Aurora. 

    Five Dallas Partners will sell the five buildings the company owns at the Edge of Lowry. A sixth building, owned by another entity, will stay in receivership. The settlement requires Five Dallas Partners to hire a professionally licensed and insured security company to protect the property until it goes on sale. 

    “The agreement the city reached with Five Dallas Partners is a resolution that is amenable for both parties to avoid the risk and costs associated with a jury trial and to position the company’s property to be sold to new independent ownership,” wrote an Aurora spokesperson in a statement.  

    The other properties connected to CBZ include Whispering Pines at 1357 Helena Street, which is being managed by a court-appointed receiver, and Fitzsimons Place, also called Aspen Grove, at 1568 Nome Street, which was shuttered over the city’s habitability rules after Aurora evicted hundreds of people. The city will not open Aspen Grove until the owners, investors and lenders in charge of the complex return it to livable conditions.

    Zev Baumgarten, an employee of CBZ Management, continues to face criminal charges unrelated to the settled civil case. He has several warrants out for his arrest for failure to appear for mandatory court appearances tied to cases regarding the properties. 

    CBZ Management, which maintained Tren de Aragua took possession of the complexes from the company, did not respond to requests for comment by publication time. 

    The company has been involved in multiple legal cases in both Aurora and Denver and subject to a Colorado attorney general investigation. Tenants, across those properties, shared horror stories with Denverite last year.

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    Kyle Harris

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  • NFL Combine preview: What positions will the Broncos be scouting?

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    It’s all about tinkering, not rebuilding, this offseason for the Denver Broncos.

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    Dave Althouse

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  • Tucson reporter on Nancy Guthrie search, media frenzy: ‘A terrible grind for everybody’

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    DENVER — Craig Smith has worked as a reporter with Scripps News’ Tucson station, KGUN, for roughly 30 years. He has covered several high-profile stories in his career, including some that have gained national attention.

    He told Denver7 the ongoing search for Nancy Guthrie, mother of TODAY Show host Savannah Guthrie, is different because social media is a “much stronger factor” now.

    He said that’s led to a media frenzy filling up the street outside Guthrie’s home in the foothills just outside of Tucson.

    Smith recalled doing one live shot there when, “a few feet away from me, I can hear somebody who I’m pretty sure was from Australia, doing their live shots.”

    KGUN

    Media outlets fill the sides of the road in front of Nancy Guthrie’s home just outside Tucson, Ariz.

    He adds that the attention has led to conspiracy theories spreading quickly online.

    “Now we have bloggers just wandering back and forth in front of Nancy Guthrie’s house, just talking incessantly into their phones and saying whatever occurs to them,” Smith described.

    “I try to just stay clear of even paying attention to conspiracy theories,” he added. “And it’s hard to do because I’ve got six, seven, eight apps in my phone sending me pushes endlessly. And I’ve got people who want to buttonhole me and say, ‘Oh, I just saw this.’ Or, ‘Here’s my theory.’ And I really just don’t want to clutter my head with anything I can’t use on the air, which means if you can’t name the source, I’m not using it.”

    KGUN was one of three media outlets that received an apparent ransom note in the first days after Guthrie’s disappearance, though that note has not been confirmed by law enforcement as a legitimate link to Guthrie.

    Smith said the general Tucson community is on edge over the unsolved case, and while thousands of tips are coming in to law enforcement and media outlets, the alternative is also not a good option.

    “It’s a terrible grind for everybody,” Smith said. “It’s a terrible grind for all these investigators, and most of all, it’s a terrible grind for the Guthrie family. And you know, everybody’s just going to keep going. I asked [Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos], like, ‘How long can you sustain this?’ And he said, ‘Well, we’ll keep going as long as the tips come in. When the tips dry up, I’ll start to worry that the case has gone cold.’”

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    Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Ryan Fish

    Denver7’s Ryan Fish covers stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in covering artificial intelligence, technology, aviation and space. If you’d like to get in touch with Ryan, fill out the form below to send him an email.

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  • Parker police sergeant resigns while under investigation, but officials won’t say what he’s accused of

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    A Parker police sergeant resigned last week while under investigation, but department officials declined to specify what he’s accused of doing.

    Parker Police Department officials would not detail the allegations against former Sgt. Troy Brienzo, but described them in a news release Thursday as running “counter to this department’s mission and values and tarnish the very badge we wear.”

    Brienzo resigned Feb. 13 while on administrative leave for an “alleged incident” that department officials learned about Jan. 7.

    “To avoid the perception of a conflict, the matter was turned over to an outside law enforcement agency to conduct the investigation,” agency officials said in the release.

    In response to questions about the nature of the allegations and which agency is conducting the investigation, Parker police spokesperson Josh Hans said the department was “unable to share any additional information at this time.”

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    Katie Langford

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  • Things to do in Denver this weekend, Feb. 20-22

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    By Cassidy Ritter, Special to Denverite

    Lunar New Year celebrations return this weekend with festivals at Denver’s Far East Center and Bao Brewhouse. Events celebrating the year of the Fire Horse will also take place in Highlands Ranch and at the Denver Tech Center.

    Laser shows at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science are back this weekend, too. Shows will feature music from Taylor Swift, Bad Bunny and Billie Eilish.

    And for the plant lovers, a seed starting event will be held at a library in Centennial, and the Colorado Garden & Home Show has taken over the Colorado Convention Center.

    Whatever you do, make it a great weekend!

    Notes: Events with an * are taking place virtually or outdoors.

    Worth the Trip

    Friday and Saturday: Oh, The Places You’ll Go Exhibit. Center for the Arts Evergreen, 31880 Rocky Village Dr., Evergreen. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (Friday) and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (Saturday). Free. All ages.

    Saturday: *Mardi Gras 4Paws. Along Main Street from Third to Seventh avenues in Frisco (parade) and outside along Third Avenue next to the Information Center on the south side of Main Street in Frisco (street party). Noon-2 p.m. $20-$35. All ages.

    Friday, Feb. 20

    Just for fun

    Clock Tower Self-Guided Tours. Denver Clocktower, 1601 Arapahoe St. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free (children ages 5 and under), $8 (Historic Denver and Molly Brown House Museum members), $10 (general public).

    Colorado Garden & Home Show. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. Noon-6 p.m. Free (children ages 12 and under), $12 (guests ages 65 and older), $15 (guests ages 13-64).

    Battle of the Books 2026: The Book That Changed Everything. Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. 6:30-8 p.m. Free. Advance registration required.

    Kids and family

    Brick Planet: A Magical Journey Made with LEGO Bricks. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (guests ages 2 and under and members), $20.95 (guests ages 3-18), $22.95 (guests ages 65 and older), $25.95 (adults). (Learn more about the exhibit here.)

    Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience. Exhibition Hub Art Center Denver, 3900 Elati St. 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Prices vary. All ages.

    Learning Lab Black History Month: Drums. Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library, 1498 Irving St. 10:30-11 a.m. Free. Ideal for ages 5 and under, when accompanied by an adult.

    ideaLAB Friday Focus: Beat Making with GarageBand. Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Advance registration required. All ages.

    Teens Learn and Explore: Hip-hop Dancing. Central Library, 10 W. 14th Ave. 3:30-4:30 p.m. Free. Advance registration required. Ideal for ages 13-18.

    Comedy and theater

    2026 Colorado Environmental Film Festival. Green Center at Colorado School of Mines, 924 16th St., Golden. 10 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. $15 (single ticket), $60 (Five-ticket pass), $99 (all access).

    SIX: Drag Queens. MCA Denver at the Holiday Theater, 2644 W. 32nd Ave. 7 p.m. $27.53.

    Jackie Kashian. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. $28-$33.

    Art, culture, and media

    Conversation Pieces. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and visitors ages 18 and under), $19-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans and guests ages 65 and older), $22-$30 (adults).

    Moments That Made US and Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children), $20 (adults).

    Loving Gestures. ASLD Englewood Branch | 901 Englewood Parkway, Unit 108, Englewood. Noon-5 p.m. Free.

    Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$25. Advance registration required.

    Eat and drink

    Valentine’s Pop-Up. Church and Union Denver, 1433 17th St. 3 p.m.-midnight. Prices vary. Reservations recommended.

    Candles & Cocktails. Illuminare at Angry Chicken, 1930 S. Havana St., Aurora. 5:30-7:30 p.m. $50-$75. Advance registration required.

    Lunar New Year and 5-Year Anniversary. Bao Brewhouse, 1317 14th St. Times vary. Starting at $125. Advance registration required.

    Music and nightlife

    Laser Taylor Swift. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 5 p.m. Prices vary.

    Icelantic’s Winter Mission ft. BigXthaPlug. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. 6:30 p.m. $90.62 (general admission), $150 (VIP).

    Laser Billie Eilish. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    Laser Bad Bunny. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 8 p.m. Prices vary.

    Chase McDaniel. Grizzly Rose, 5450 Lincoln St. 8 p.m. $24.15.

    Hayes Carll. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 8 p.m. Prices vary.

    Sports and fitness

    *Colorado Mammoth at Toronto Rock. Watch on ESPN+. 5:30 p.m. 

    *Denver Nuggets at Portland Trail Blazers. Watch on Altitude, or listen on 92.5 FM. 8 p.m. 

    *Ice Skating. Throughout the Denver metro, locations listed here. Times vary. Costs vary.

    Saturday, Feb. 21

    Just for fun

    Seed Starting. Smoky Hill Library, 5430 S. Biscay Circle, Centennial. 9-10 a.m. $25. Advance registration recommended.

    *Immigration Legal Help. Denver Public Library, via phone or email. 10-11 a.m. Free. 

    Plaza Immigrant Resources. Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales Branch Library, 1498 Irving St., Green Valley Ranch Branch Library, 4856 Andes Ct., and Virginia Village Branch Library, 1500 S. Dahlia St. 10 a.m.-noon. (Corky Gonzales and Green Valley) and 2:30-4:30 p.m. (Virginia Village). Free. 

    Colorado Garden & Home Show. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free (children ages 12 and under), $12 (guests ages 65 and older), $15 (guests ages 13-64).

    Framebridge Cherry Creek Grand Opening. 255 Clayton St. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. No cover.

    Lunar New Year. Far East Center, 333 S. Federal Blvd. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

    Lunar New Year. Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. Noon-4 p.m. Free (cultural fair), $10 (for each performance).

    2026 Chinese New Year Gala. Marriott DTC, 4900 S. Syracuse St. 5-11 p.m. $350.

    Kids and family

    Brick Planet: A Magical Journey Made with LEGO Bricks. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (guests ages 2 and under and members), $20.95 (guests ages 3-18), $22.95 (guests ages 65 and older), $25.95 (adults). (Learn more about the exhibit here.)

    Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience. Exhibition Hub Art Center Denver, 3900 Elati St. 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Prices vary. All ages.

    The Rock and Roll Playhouse plays Music of Grateful Dead + More for Kids. Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. 11 a.m. $27.82. All ages.

    Create Together: All Ages Coloring Cafe. Ford-Warren Branch Library, 2825 High St. Noon-2 p.m. Free. All ages.

    Comedy and theater

    2026 Colorado Environmental Film Festival. Green Center at Colorado School of Mines, 924 16th St., Golden. 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $15 (single ticket), $60 (Saturday or five-ticket pass), $99 (all access).

    Cowboys and East Indians. The Singleton Theatre, 1400 Curtis St. 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. $93-$105.50.

    Jackie Kashian. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. $28-$33.

    Michael Carbonaro. Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. 7 p.m. Prices vary.

    Ron Funches. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 7 p.m. $34-$39.

    Art, culture, and media

    Loving Gestures. ASLD Englewood Branch | 901 Englewood Parkway, Unit 108, Englewood. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

    Moments That Made US and Mountains Majesty: On the Summit with John Fielder. History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children), $20 (adults).

    What We’ve Been Up to: People. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children ages 18 and younger), $19-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $22-$30 (adults). 

    Poetry Slam with Slam Nuba. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. Noon-4 p.m. Free (members, visitors ages 18 and under or with code), $19-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans and guests ages 65 and older), $22-$30 (adults).

    Lumonics Immersed. Lumonics Light & Sound Gallery, 800 E. 73rd Ave., Unit 11. 8-10 p.m. $15-$25. Advance registration required.

    Eat and drink

    Valentine’s Pop-Up. Church and Union Denver, 1433 17th St. 3 p.m.-midnight. Reservations recommended.

    Culinary Date Night: Italy. Cook Street, 43 W. Ninth Ave. 6-9:30 p.m. $132 (per person). Advance registration required.

    Music and nightlife

    Five Points Jazz Roots. Welton Street Corridor, along Welton Street between 20th and 30th avenues. Noon-midnight. No cover.

    Laser Taylor Swift. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 3 p.m. Prices vary.

    Laser Bad Bunny. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 4 p.m. Prices vary.

    Denver Celtic Night – Open Irish/Trad Session. Fiction Beer Co., 7101 E. Colfax Ave. 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free.

    Sidepiece. Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. 8:25 p.m. $78.84.

    Sports and fitness

    Rainforest Yoga. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 7:45 a.m. $12 (member), $15 (non-member). Advance registration required.

    WinterFest 2026 Ice Climbing World Cup & Festival. The Climbing Collective, 155 Pinnacle St., Longmont. 8:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Free (Climbing Collective members and children ages 11 and under), $10 (one day, general admission), $14 (all weekend, general admission), $55-$99 (VIP).

    2026 Kickoff Party. Barquentine Brewing Co., 5505 W. 20th Ave., Suite 178, Edgewater. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Advance registration recommended.

    *Ice Skating. Throughout the Denver metro, locations listed here. Times vary. Costs vary.

    Sunday, Feb. 22

    Just for fun 

    Colorado Garden & Home Show. Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (children ages 12 and under), $12 (guests ages 65 and older), $15 (guests ages 13-64).

    Lunar New Year. Far East Center, 333 S. Federal Blvd. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free.

    Lucky Strike Lone Tree Lucky Launch Party. Lucky Strike Lone Tree, 9255 Kimmer Dr., Lone Tree. Noon-3 p.m. Free.

    R&B Bingo & Karaoke. Spangalang Brewery, 2736 Welton St., Unit 102. 4-7 p.m. Free.

    Kids and family

    Brick Planet: A Magical Journey Made with LEGO Bricks. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (guests ages 2 and under and members), $20.95 (guests ages 3-18), $22.95 (guests ages 65 and older), $25.95 (adults). (Learn more about the exhibit here.)

    Dinos Alive: An Immersive Experience. Exhibition Hub Art Center Denver, 3900 Elati St. 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Prices vary. All ages.

    Comedy and theater

    2026 Colorado Environmental Film Festival. Green Center at Colorado School of Mines, 924 16th St., Golden. 10 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. $15 (single ticket), $60 (Saturday pass), $30 (Sunday pass), $60 (five-ticket pass), $99 (all access).

    Ron Funches. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 4:30 p.m. $28-$33.

    Sam Adams. Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village. 7 p.m. $14.

    Jeffrey Keller. Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. 8:15 p.m. $20.

    Art, culture, and media

    Loving Gestures. ASLD Englewood Branch | 901 Englewood Parkway, Unit 108, Englewood. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

    Conversation Pieces. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and visitors ages 18 and under), $19-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans and guests ages 65 and older), $22-$30 (adults).

    What We’ve Been Up to: People. Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free (members and children age 18 and younger), $19-$27 (students, teachers, active military members, veterans, seniors ages 65 and older), $22-$30 (adults).

    Eat and drink

    Sushi-Making Class. Blanchard Family Wines, 1855 Blake St., Unit 120. 1-3 p.m. $129 (includes wine flight or two glasses of wine). Advance registration required.

    Valentine’s Pop-Up. Church and Union Denver, 1433 17th St. 3-10 p.m. Reservations recommended.

    Traditional Peruvian. Stir to Learn, 3215 Zuni St. 5-8 p.m. $127.20 (per person). Advance registration required.

    Music and nightlife

    Laser Billie Eilish. Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. 3 p.m. Prices vary.

    Nani Vazana. Swallow Hill Music, 71 E. Yale Ave. 7 p.m. $37.04 (in advance), $42.19 (day of).

    Sports and fitness

    Rainforest Yoga. Butterfly Pavilion, 6252 W. 104th Ave., Westminster. 7:45 a.m. $12 (member), $15 (non-member). Advance registration required.

    *All-Out Mardi Crawl. Starting at the Apex Center, 13150 W. 72nd Ave., Arvada. Starting at 9 a.m. $39-$48 (virtual 5k), $43-$54 (5k or virtual 10k), $52-$65 (10k or virtual half marathon), $68-$86 (half marathon).

    WinterFest 2026 Ice Climbing World Cup & Festival. The Climbing Collective, 155 Pinnacle St., Lonmont. 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Free (Climbing Collective members and children ages 11 and under), $10 (one day, general admission), $14 (all weekend, general admission), $55-$99 (VIP).

    *Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors. Watch on ABC, or listen on 92.5 FM. 1:30 p.m. 

    Flexi-Verse: Buti Glow. Meow Wolf, 1338 First St. 4 p.m. $37.75.

    *Ice Skating. Throughout the Denver metro, locations listed here. Times vary. Costs vary.

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  • Denver hopes $4.6M for artificial intelligence will speed up development

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    A crane hangs over central Denver. March 11, 2025.

    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    Denver City Council is considering a $4.6 million contract with ComplyAI to use its CivCheck tool to speed up the city’s development plan reviews. 

    For years, developers complained Denver’s permitting process just kept getting slower. The complaints led to a damning 2024 audit and Mayor Mike Johnston’s creation of a new permitting office. 

    The city says it has shortened the plan review process from an average of 90 to 63 days. Yet there are stumbling blocks that slow reviews, according to a city presentation. 

    Developers turn in incomplete applications and submit items multiple times. It’s impossible to predict when there will be a surge in demand for new permits. And the cost of building in Denver goes up as permitting timelines drag, leading to frustrations, according to the planning office. 

    So the city is hoping to use CivCheck to speed up the process with AI-guided intake to reduce customer errors and create a consistent, albeit less human, process across reviews. 

    The investment comes after the planning department was hit hard by city layoffs. Community Planning and Development lost 19 workers and 40 open jobs were eliminated, representing almost 20 percent of its headcount.

    The layoffs included at least three plan review specialists who did the kind of work the city now is hoping to automate. Hundreds of people were laid off and vacant jobs closed citywide.

    The new system could be implemented this spring.

    The city started researching AI-assisted plan reviews in 2024 and eventually settled on CivCheck.

    CivCheck would help customers check whether their applications are complete, offer immediate feedback, shorten the overall plan review time by increasing accuracy on earlier drafts, and reduce the number of review cycles, according to the plan. 

    The company will not be allowed to use data collected for training, human oversight is required for any final product, and data will be deleted according to data retention policies. 

    The implementation of the technology will not lead to further layoffs, said Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office. 

    Seattle, Honolulu and New York City all use similar programs. The planning office says these programs have led to up to 70% cost and time savings and that the AI is nearly always accurate. 

    On Monday, a city council committee unanimously sent the contract to a full council vote that will take place in the weeks to come.  

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  • Daily Horoscope for February 20, 2026

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    Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in ARIES.

    Happy Birthday for Friday, Feb. 20, 2026:

    You are thoughtful, people-pleasing and sympathetic. You have a genuine concern for the welfare of others. This year holds exciting changes that will bring increased personal freedom. Stay flexible. Let go of what holds you back. Seek new opportunities and be ready to act fast. Expect to travel.

    ARIES

    (March 21-April 19)
    ★★
    Today the Moon is in your sign bringing you a bit of extra good luck. However, both Saturn and Neptune are also lined up in your sign, which can make you self-critical or disappointed in yourself for some reason. Secretly, you might have heroic expectations, which are tough to live up to. Tonight: You’re blessed.

    TAURUS

    (April 20-May 20)
    ★★
    For some reason, you might feel self-critical today. Cut yourself some slack. Saturn is lined up with Neptune, and those two planets are so different they don’t even like to be in the same sentence. Saturn’s reality combined with Neptunian idealism leads to disappointment. Tonight: Solitude.

    GEMINI

    (May 21-June 20)
    ★★★
    Fortunately, you look great in the eyes of others because the Sun and Venus are high in your chart, which is flattering to you. Meanwhile, today you might feel disappointed in a friend or a group. Or they might be disappointed in you. Or everyone’s disappointed! This, too, shall pass. Tonight: Friendships.

    CANCER

    (June 21-July 22)
    ★★
    Be careful about judging parents, bosses or VIPs today (unless you’re looking in the face of blatant abuse of authority) because many people feel disappointed in authority figures today. It’s just what’s happening. Make sure that your expectations are realistic. Tonight: Show respect.

    LEO

    (July 23-Aug. 22)
    ★★★
    This is the classic day to be disappointed in your ideals as they relate to religion, the government, universities or any institution where you expect high standards. Today you might feel disillusioned. Perhaps this is a wake-up call to investigate and get more information. Tonight: Explore!

    VIRGO

    (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)
    ★★★
    It would be wise to postpone important financial decisions, especially concerning inheritances, shared property, taxes and debt for another day. Your thinking might be confused today. Give yourself 48 hours to have room for a sober, second thought. Tonight: Check financial paperwork.

    LIBRA

    (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)
    ★★
    Relationships are important to you because you are a people person. You like to have others in your life. Today someone close might disappoint you. But perhaps you might ask yourself: Did I express my expectations? Unexpressed expectations almost always lead to disappointment. Tonight: Listen with sympathy.

    SCORPIO

    (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
    ★★★
    Be gentle with co-workers and customers today because it’s easy to jump on someone if you think they made a mistake. Possibly, the reverse is true and someone might be jumping on you today. No one is perfect. We all goof up. Be tolerant and kind, and hope that others will be this way with you. Tonight: Get organized.

    SAGITTARIUS

    (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)
    ★★★
    Romance might disappoint you today. Likewise, your relations with your kids might discourage you. In part, this might be because we tend to set the bar too high when it comes to our expectations from others. Yet, when it comes to our own actions, we expect understanding and sympathy. Tonight: Relax.

    CAPRICORN

    (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)
    ★★
    You can be a perfectionist – a quality that might lead to disappointment in a family member today. Or, conversely, it might lead to someone being disappointed in you. Don’t get hung up on this. Look for common understanding, common courtesy. Everyone benefits. Tonight: Enjoy home and family.

    AQUARIUS

    (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)
    ★★★
    Be careful, because with fiery Mars in your sign, you’re pumped! However, Saturn and Neptune are muddying the waters in the part of your chart that influences your thinking and your everyday world. This means even though you’re confused, you’re still raring to go! Not good. Take a beat. Tonight: Conversations.

    PISCES

    (Feb. 19-March 20)
    ★★
    Financial matters or something to do with your possessions or something that you own are subject to confusion today – at least, in your mind. Therefore, this is a poor day for you to make important financial decisions, especially about buying or selling. Forewarned is forearmed. Tonight: Check your money and possessions.

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    Georgia Nicols

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  • Magnus’ Law: Bill would change how Colorado law enforcement responds to serious crashes

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    DENVER — A bill that is expected to be introduced in the Colorado State Capitol within the next week would change how law enforcement responds to crashes where someone is seriously injured or killed.

    The legislation, which will be called Magnus’ Law, was shaped by what happened on a devastating day in the summer of 2023 when Magnus White, a 17-year-old decorated cyclist, was killed while on a training ride in Boulder County.

    ▶️ Watch the full report in the video player below.

    Magnus’ Law: Bill would change how Colorado law enforcement responds to serious crashes

    The driver, Yeva Smilianska, was convicted of vehicular homicide and sentenced to four years in prison in 2025 after admitting to passing out behind the wheel.

    “What people are just so blown away by, so upset about, is the only person ever tested that day was Magnus, the dead child. Not the person who killed him,” said Michael White, Magnus’ father, about Smilianska not receiving a sobriety test at the scene of the crash.

    During the trial, prosecutors pointed to video evidence that showed Smilianska drinking late into the night prior to the crash.

    “The individual blamed her car steering,” Michael White said about Smilianska’s original explanation that an issue with her car caused the crash. “So, for 20 months, that was a story until trial. That a car malfunctions, crashes into the back of our son, no drugs or alcohol suspected.”

    The Whites believe if Smilianska would have been administered a breathalyzer at the scene of the crash, it would have changed their son’s case.

    Submitted to Denver7

    “We would have gotten to the truth faster. We wouldn’t have been waiting,” said Jill White, Magnus’ mother.

    According to a report from The White Line, the nonprofit founded by the Whites in the wake of Magnus’ death, more than 80% of Coloradans are in favor of mandatory drug and alcohol testing after a serious crash.

    Magnus’ Law would require law enforcement to offer drivers a breathalyzer test when responding to scenes where someone has been seriously injured or killed. The driver would have the ability to refuse that test.

    “This is for every family after us that’s going to go through this, because this isn’t going to stop. It’s going to continue,” said Michael. “We hope to cut down the numbers with this, with this law, but also providing, you know, victims and their families a sense of justice and accountability.”

    Magnus White

    Denver7

    State Sen. Dylan Roberts, D — District 8, is one of the legislators who will be sponsoring Magnus’ Law. Roberts said the bill has bipartisan support in the Senate.

    “What we’re hoping with this bill is to ensure that every time there is a serious injury or a death as the result of a car crash that an officer needs to offer the driver of that crash a portable breath test or some sort of preliminary screening to see if there is potentially alcohol or other intoxicants involved,” said Roberts. “Let’s try to figure out the full picture of what’s going on here. Maybe it was truly an accident, but if there was foul play, if there was intoxication, we need to have that investigation, and that’s what the victims deserve.”

    The bill would require every Colorado law enforcement officer to take that step at such crash scenes. When asked about what opposition lawmakers have heard so far related to the bill, Roberts said it is centered upon ensuring the new mandate would not infringe upon Constitutional rights.

    Still, Roberts said pushback has been minimal so far.

    “This is an idea that was included in a larger bill last year that didn’t move forward, but we heard a lot of really good feedback, and so we’ve been using that to craft this language,” said Roberts. “The groundwork that’s been laid for this bill has been very extensive, and I think it’s going to lead to very broad support here.”

    Boulder

    Parents of Magnus White say son feels ‘further away’ after driver’s conviction

    Roberts does not expect there to be a cost associated with the bill, which is notable in a year where lawmakers are staring down a multi-million dollar budget shortfall.

    “We’re hoping to just get this in the minds of officers, like we wished could have happened in Magnus’ case, of what’s going on here? Let me look at the evidence. Let me try to figure out what we could do to support justice in this case,” Roberts said.

    For Magnus’ parents, this bill passing through the Colorado State Capitol would become part of their son’s legacy — a legacy they believe will save lives in the future.

    “That’s the key difference. Is when somebody is impaired, that’s a crime. When there’s a crash, somebody’s at fault, but when there’s impairment, that’s a crime. And so that’s what we want to root out or detect at the very beginning,” Michael said.

    Denver7 will update this article once the bill is introduced.

    We are committed to shining a light on the dangers vulnerable road users face in Colorado.

    In a special Denver7 report below, the White’s shared more about their foundation, The White Line, and how they are working to create a safe space for other impacted families to tell their stories.

    Also in ‘On Two Wheels presents: Love, Loss and the Safer Road Ahead’, they are joined by Josh Stewart, the father of a Littleton 7th grader killed while riding his bike to school.

    Two Families. Two Cyclists. A Movement for Safer Streets

    COLETTE CALL TO ACTION.jpg

    Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Colette Bordelon

    Denver7’s Colette Bordelon covers stories that have an impact in all of Colorado’s communities, but specializes in reporting on crime, justice and politics. If you’d like to get in touch with Colette, fill out the form below to send her an email.

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    Colette Bordelon

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  • Audit: Denver nonprofit spent thousands on food, alcoholic beverages

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    A Denver addiction and mental health foundation spent thousands of taxpayers’ money on alcohol and food, according to a city audit.

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    Shaul Turner

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