The goats will be in the open space north and south of Mount Sopris Parkway and east of Indiana Street near Eldorado PK-8 School. The animals arrived May 20 and will continue grazing until Sept. 2.
What is goat grazing?
According to Goat Bros Grazing Services, the company Superior has partnered with, goat grazing can help control vegetation, mitigate the risk of wildfires and provide natural fertilization to the land.
The areas set for grazing will be encircled by electric fencing. People should not enter the grazing areas, as the goats will be busy at work.
The vendor will reportedly have herding dogs inside the fenced-in area. The vendor will also be on the site throughout the grazing period to monitor the goats.
Travelers can expect sobriety checkpoints and extra patrols across the state. That’s because CDOT annually sees deadly crashes in Colorado increase by 30% over the summer. Last summer, 91 people lost their lives during one month, marking the highest number of traffic deaths in a month ever recorded in the state.
From May 16 through June 5, CDOT will support CSP and 72 local law enforcement agencies for the 21-day “The Heat Is On” Memorial Day DUI enforcement period.
“Keep your speeds down, stay off your phone, never drive impaired; just play it safe so you can make it to the end of the summer,” said CDOT spokesperson Sam Cole.
CDOT’s 20-day “Click It or Ticket May Mobilization” seatbelt campaign started on May 13. During last year’s enforcement campaign, CDOT reported there were 2,295 DUI arrests made.
Experts recommend that anyone planning to celebrate should put together a safety plan and choose a designated driver who will not be consuming alcohol or using marijuana or other drugs.
CDOT said during last year’s Memorial Day Weekend enforcement, law enforcement made 479 reported DUI arrests. CSP is also reminding drivers that alcohol impairs the ability to concentrate while driving and increases the risk of a crash. CSP also is reminding drivers that buzzed driving is drunk driving and can result in a DUI.
DENVER (KDVR) — A dog in Larimer County was recently given a second chance at life, thanks to his community coming together to help out.
Chance, a lab mix who is assumed to be around two years old, was found wandering injured along a median on Interstate 25 near Wellington. Left for dead more than once, he is now healthy and thriving with the help of many different people.
“He’s become part of our family,” said Krysta Steinmark, owner of Chris P’s Rescue and Rehabilitation.
A family that just a month ago Chance didn’t have. The lab mix was found walking freely in the middle of the highway, although he was injured.
“A good citizen had picked him up and took him to CSU because he was badly injured,” said Dr. Chad Zadina with Tabby Road Animal Hospital.
Doctors at Colorado State University discovered Chance had multiple fractures in his pelvis. Surgery would cost thousands of dollars, and with no one to pay it, he was scheduled to be euthanized.
That’s when Tabby Road and Chris P’s Rescue stepped in to raise money.
“He was failed by humans, but humans came together and saved him,” said Zadina.
A GoFundMe raised more than $8,000 to fund the surgery. Dr. Joey Zapora and Dr. Catriona MacPhail at CSU completed the surgery.
“Basically, a plate to stabilize the loose fracture in his pelvis,” said Zadina.
Tabby Road and Chris P’s Rescue are continuing to help with Chance’s rehab. This comes despite strong winds that recently destroyed a building at the rescue.
“In the midst of all of that, and I saw this and I looked at my husband and I said ‘nope, we’re doing it anyway,’” said Steinmark.
She says it was the least she could do after what the dog had been through.
“How hurt he was and how somebody would just abandon him in the middle of the highway,” says Steinmark.
A community effort to give Chance exactly what he was named for:
“A second chance at life,” said Zadina.
Chance’s rehab includes acupuncture and physical therapy, and his veterinarians say he’s recovered from the surgery better than expected. Although the Steinmarks originally planned to have Chance just for rehab, Krysta says the pup isn’t going anywhere: He has his forever home with them.
DENVER (KDVR) — The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration has renewed its over 40-year partnership with Colorado State University through a $308 million grant over five years to research and forecast Earth’s weather and climate systems.
Specifically, the grant will fund the operation of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere at CSU. CIRA is the collaboration between NOAA and the university’s atmospheric sciences department.
“This award ensures that a strong, nearly half-century research partnership between CSU and NOAA continues without skipping a beat — providing a connection between academic and applied research that makes a difference in our everyday lives,” Steve Miller, CIRA director and a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science, said in a release.
Miller called CIRA a “game-changer” for getting scientific research and data into society.
According to CSU, the grant will allow the university to remain “one of the top atmospheric programs in the country, with shared research portfolio in key areas such as: satellite remote sensing, tropical storm research, carbon cycle and numerical model studies, fire weather forecasting and detection, and development of artificial intelligence tools.”
“This award sets the stage for CIRA’s direct influence on NOAA’s next-generation forecast models and satellite observing systems – our scientists strive to connect the two in a way that maximizes their positive impact to society and national interests,” Miller said.
CIRA research has provided advanced modeling and imagery of wildland fires and also resulted in partnerships with agencies like NASA, the National Park Service, the U.S. Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.
“Atmospheric Science and CIRA have a symbiotic relationship in both atmospheric science research and education, and we look forward to strengthening this relationship over the next five years,” said Eric Maloney, professor and head of the Department of Atmospheric Science.
CIRA is one of 16 cooperative institutes that work with NOAA across the U.S., serving as a nexus for research involving the NOAA scientists and CSU research staff, faculty and students.
DENVER (KDVR) — On Friday, a jury found a man guilty of murder in a 2022 Father’s Day weekend shooting that left a father of three dead on Interstate 70.
Jeremy Rocha, 22, has been in custody since June 23, 2022, according to court records, under a $2 million bond. He was charged with felony counts of:
First-degree murder after deliberation
First-degree murder with extreme indifference
Four counts of attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference
A sentence enhancement of violent crime using a weapon
The jury found Rocha guilty of second-degree murder (a lesser charge under the first-degree murder after deliberation count), first-degree murder with extreme indifference, and all four attempted murder charges.
On Thursday, Rocha testified that he only shot at 37-year-old John Jaros because Jaros pointed a gun at him first. According to court records, Rocha fired his firearm nine times in two seconds on the night of June 18, 2022.
Jaros was shot and killed in what’s been described as a “street racing incident” on I-70 near East Colfax Avenue. Jaros was driving a Dodge pickup truck and was accompanied by his wife and three children. They were heading to a nearby campsite, according to investigators.
According to an arrest affidavit issued in 2022, street racers on I-70 were slowing down traffic, and one of the racers may have been “brake checked” by Jaros. Aurora police said at least four cars were racing that night.
Rocha’s sister spoke to FOX31 shortly after leaving the courtroom on Thursday.
“Everything that occurred that day was brought upon because of Jaros. So, him chasing my brother down. Flashing a gun right in his face. The only reason he (Rocha) ever pulled out his gun is, when a gun is pointed at you and you are looking down the barrel the only thing you will do is defend yourself when you have two seconds to think about it,” Jenna Rocha said.
Rocha is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, May 23.
MORRISON, Colo. (KDVR) — Thursday’s nine-hour-long Interstate 70 closure after a deadly crash and semi fire left drivers searching for other routes and some, including folks hauling loads on big rigs, waiting it out for hours.
This crash and the aftermath are likely going to make a lot of deliveries later than expected.
Anyone near I-70 on Thursday afternoon likely saw more traffic than usual. Even along Colorado Highway 93 in Golden, drivers were looking for any route westward when I-70 was closed.
Emmanuel Terane was hauling a load westward when he, like other big rig drivers, found themselves coming to a stop when trying to get on I-70.
“I’m late with my load right now so I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Terane said.
Heavy traffic in Morrison on Interstate 70 for a tanker trailer fire on May 16, 2024. (KDVR)
His haul, a truckload of wallpaper on its way to Utah, likely will not make it to its destination by his 5 p.m. deadline, a casualty of the interstate closure.
“My GPS said like 5 o’clock,” Terane said on Thursday afternoon, “but look at the time right now. There’s no way I’m going to make it. I’ve been sitting here like an hour.”
Roads around I-70 clogged with traffic
The roads around I-70 were clogged with traffic. Folks tried to find any way around the closure to get west.
“I may have to just stop for the night. It is what it is,” Terane said. “I sent pictures to my company, everybody else, to let them know what’s going on.”
Terane, like other drivers, was forced to keep an eye on the road, calling family, employers — anything to pass the time.
“That’s the only thing we can do to keep you company,” Terane said. “I cannot go back there and take a break, like lay down, in case if it’s clear.”
Finding another route was an option for some drivers but not Terane, who had to wait out the road closure.
“I don’t know any other ways, you know, it’s Colorado,” Terane said, “I don’t want to go somewhere I may be stuck. It’s not space for the truck. I don’t know, I may sleep there.”
DENVER (KDVR) — After a possible attempted abduction on Wednesday, May 8, Parker police have released a composite sketch of what the suspect might look like.
The incident occurred in the 23000 block of East Bay Oaks Avenue around 7:50 a.m. and involved an elementary-aged victim walking to school.
The victim described a white male, approximately 50 years old, with graying hair and a mustache. He was reportedly driving a black four-door Audi with Colorado plates, tinted windows and a rack. Parker police previously reported that the Frontier Valley Elementary School student told a staff member that the suspect approached him and began attempting to talk to him.
Parker police released this composite sketch of a man who allegedly attempted to abduct an elementary student on May 8, 2024. Photo courtesy the Parker Police Department.
Parker Police Department is asking residents near Frontier Valley Elementary School and Cimarron Middle School to review their security cameras for potential video of the incident, the suspect or the victim. The video would likely be taken between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8.
Parker police commended residents who registered security cameras with the Video Increasing Safety In Our Neighborhoods program.
“Knowing which residences might have video allowed our officers to obtain surveillance video quickly,” the department said. Residents can learn more about the VISION program and register at parkerpolice.org/vision.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or submit a tip online at metrodenvercrimestoppers.com/anonymous-tips.
(FOUNTAIN, Colo.) — The Walmart off Highway 85/87 in Fountain has been evacuated after a customer in the parking lot reported being threatened with a gun.
A spokesperson with the Fountain Police Department (FPD) said the El Paso County Communications Center first received a call around 9 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15 from a person who said they were in the parking lot of the Walmart when two people approached and pointed a gun at them.
FPD said the suspects then went inside the store and brandished the gun inside. Officers responded and at least two suspects have been taken into custody. FPD said officers are in the process of searching for an additional person of interest.
Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Dez Rowe
Courtesy: Fountain Police Department
Courtesy: FOX21 News photojournalist Dez Rowe
FPD said the Walmart has been evacuated until officers secure the area. No one was injured during the incident.
This is a developing story. FOX21 News will provide updates as information becomes available.
Photos taken from a drone showed the bear, which appeared to be between 1 and 2 years old, lying on a tree in that area. Bears are active from around mid-March to early November when food sources deplete and hibernation begins.
The number of human-bear conflicts has dropped in the last few years, with 15% fewer interactions in 2023 than in 2022. Of the 3,526 human-bear conflicts last year, just over half resulted in property damage of some sort.
DENVER (AP) — Nikola Jokic celebrated his third NBA MVP award by scoring 40 points and the Denver Nuggets shut down Anthony Edwards in a 112-97 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night. That put the reigning NBA champions one win away from the Western Conference finals.
Jokic also had 13 assists and seven rebounds with no turnovers as the home team won for the first time this semifinal series. Aaron Gordon added 18 points and 10 boards, and Jamal Murray scored 16.
Edwards was held to 18 points on 5-of-15 shooting. Karl Anthony-Towns led the Wolves with 23 points and Rudy Gobert scored 18.
With their first three-game losing streak of the season, the Wolves will have to snap their skid Thursday night at Target Center to force a Game 7 back in Denver.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert during the first half of Game 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Denver (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Jokic, who was presented with his third MVP trophy by commissioner Adam Silver in a pregame ceremony, scored 19 first-half points in leading Denver to a 50-44 lead at the half. He added 16 points in the third quarter when the Nuggets pushed their lead to 14.
Jokic’s dunk with 7:12 left in the fourth gave Denver a 98-80 lead. After the Wolves used a mini-run to pull to 103-92, Jokic nailed a 3-pointer at the shot clock buzzer over a helpless Gobert, who recently won his fourth NBA Defensive Player of the Year award, to make it a 14-point lead with just over 3 minutes left.
After the Wolves inched ahead 55-53 early in the third quarter, Jokic assisted on four consecutive baskets during Denver’s 11-2 response for a 64-57 lead that would stand the rest of the way.
Edwards averaged 33.3 points in the first four games of the series and the Wolves were looking for somebody else to step up. Although KAT did just that, Edwards missed eight of his first nine shots, had five points at halftime and didn’t find his shooting touch until the game had gotten away from the Timberwolves.
Timberwolves veteran point guard Mike Conley was scratched just before tipoff with a sore right Achilles. He was injured when he missed a 3-pointer on the Wolves’ final possession in their loss on Sunday. Nickeil Alexander-Walker started in his spot and had 14 points and five assists.
Minnesota coach Chris Finch said before the game that the Wolves were looking to add to their rotation whether or not Conley played and he found some time for Monte Morris after Denver’s bench outplayed the Wolves’ reserves in Minneapolis. Morris scored six points.
In his pre-game comments, Finch also expressed dismay at the NBA fining Rudy Gobert $75,000 for making a money gesture following a call by referee Scott Foster in Game 4.
DENVER (KDVR) – After one of the 10 wolves reintroduced to Colorado was found dead in April, a two-month long investigation revealed the cause of death.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it “became aware” of the wolf’s death in Larimer County on April 18. The death was then investigated by federal authorities.
Initial evidence suggested that the wolf likely died of natural causes, but a final determination would be made after a necropsy to determine the cause of death.
On Tuesday, the service said the initial necropsy report found that the cause of death was trauma, consistent with predation.
“Although not definitive, the puncture wounds in the skull are consistent with those typically inflicted by a mountain lion,” the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service told FOX31.
The wolf’s death was investigated by the authorities because it’s listed under the Endangered Species Act.
It’s not only illegal to kill a gray wolf outside of protocol, but it could also come with a hefty fine and possibly jail time. Unlawful penalties can vary and can include fines up to $100,000, jail time and loss of hunting privileges.
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Elehuris Montero had two hits and three RBIs to lead Colorado to a 5-4 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night and extend the Rockies’ winning streak to five games.
Colorado relievers walked the bases loaded in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the Padres failed to score in either inning. San Diego drew 11 walks in the game and stranded nine runners in the loss.
The Rockies are 4-16 away from home with eight games over the next 10 days on their current road trip. The win snapped Colorado’s five-game losing streak at Petco Park, dating to the opening series of the 2023 season.
Colorado’s Jalen Beeks walked the bases loaded in the ninth, but didn’t give up a run and earned his fourth save. He got Manny Machado to hit into a game-ending double play. Rockies right-fielder Jake Cave made an outstanding diving catch on the run to take away a possible hit by Luis Arraez in the inning.
Rockies reliver Justin Lawrence also had control difficulties in the eighth, walking three batters. But, he was able to get out of the jam without giving up a run as he coaxed Luis Campusano to hit into a flyout to preserve the Rockies’ 5-4 lead.
The Padres generated all their offense on home runs. Jurickson Profar hit a two-run shot and Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill added solo homers.
Colorado jumped on Padres starter Randy Vásquez (0-2), scoring one run in the first inning and four in the third. Montero singled in the run in the second and doubled in two runs in the fourth.
Rockies starter Dakota Hudson (1-6), who came into Monday’s gave having lost all six of his previous starts this season, earned his first win. He gave up three runs and three hits in 5-2/3 innings.
Vásquez lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up five runs, four earned, and eight hits in the loss.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: IB Kris Bryant (low back strain) worked out in Denver on Monday and is headed to Triple-A Albuquerque for an injury rehab assignment starting May 14. He may join the Rockies in San Francisco starting May 17. … OF Nolan Jones (low back strain) is expected to begin an injury rehab assignment in Albuquerque on May 14 and could also return on May 17. … LHP Kyle Freeland (left elbow strain) is “a week or 10 days away from getting on the mound,” Rockies manager Bud Black said.
Padres: SS Ha-Seong Kim was back in the lineup on Monday, a day after he left the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after being hit in the left wrist. The X-rays came back negative. “I thought that didn’t look good at all, so we’re very pleased that he’s negative in the imaging and able to perform today,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said.
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver is not the same city in 2024 as in 1924, and there is no better way to demonstrate this than through photos.
While Denver is in no way unrecognizable from its 1920s flapper-era self, there are a few notable ways that the Mile High City has changed.
16th Street
In the 1920s, the Colorado State Capitol could be clearly seen from 16th Street, however, in the 100 years since, taller buildings have obscured the view a bit.
View of Denver’s 16th Street. Left: Denver Public Library Special Collections [Rh-5971]; Right: Getty Images
Some of the buildings have since been demolished, but many older buildings have withstood the test of time.
The skyline
People in neighborhoods southeast of downtown used to have a better view of the mountains, due to a lack of super-tall buildings.
View of downtown Denver from the Colorado State Capitol in 1924 (Denver Public Library Special Collection [MCC-2800])
Aerial view of Denver downtown (Getty Images)
One very notable change from 1924 to now is that the Arapahoe County Courthouse, which can be seen in the earlier image, no longer exists.
It was located at 16th Street and Court Place, which is now where part of the Sheraton Hotel is.
The building was demolished in the 1930s, as was the Denver City Hall at 14th and Larimer Streets.
The Denver City and County building, built in 1932, effectively replaced both and still stands today.
Union Station
Denver’s Union Station, as we know it today, first opened in 1914. It has been renovated over the years, but much of the building still stays the same.
Union Station in the early 1900s and now (Left: Denver Public Library Special Collections [Rh-1324], Right: Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
However, one thing has disappeared since then: the Mizpah Arch.
The bronze arch was originally emblazoned with “Welcome” on both sides. However, the side facing out toward the city was changed to “Mizpah,” a Hebrew word of parting.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Denver Nuggets were far from done after dropping the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals at home in humbling fashion.
Nikola Jokic scored 16 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, and Aaron Gordon had 27 points on 11-for-12 shooting to propel the Nuggets to a series-tying 115-107 victory over the Timberwolves on Sunday night in Game 4 .
“It’s just like a laser-sharp focus,” Gordon said, “and a surgical execution.”
Jamal Murray had 12 of his 19 points in the third quarter for the derfending champion Nuggets in a momentum carryover from his buzzer-beating swish from behind half court, and the Wolves only had the deficit below double digits in the second half for a total of 3:19.
Anthony Edwards scored 44 points in another spectacular performance for Minnesota that set the franchise postseason record, shooting 16 for 25. But despite a 42-31 rebounding edge, the Wolves were beaten at their own game for the second straight time at home.
“Game 2 definitely woke us up,” Murray said. “We realized we can’t hold ourselves back.”
The series goes back to Denver for Game 5 on Tuesday night.
“This is a series. We won two games, but we didn’t think it was going to be easy,” Edwards said.
Mike Conley had 15 points, Karl-Anthony Towns went just 5 for 18 from the field for 13 points and 12 rebounds, and Rudy Gobert came alive late to score 11 points and grab 14 rebounds. Still, the Wolves were on their heels at home for a second straight game.
The Nuggets scored eight straight points in 20 seconds to close the first half, highlighted by Murray’s improbable heave.
Gordon didn’t miss until there was 3:39 to go. Most importantly, he took the lead in hounding Towns and even took some turns trying to slow Edwards.
“The shot-making, the play-making, the physicality, the defense on two All-Stars, so much is being asked of him right now,” coach Mike Malone said. “What you love about Aaron Gordon since Day 1, when he put on that Nuggets uniform, It’s always been about the Nuggets first. He is truly selfless.”
The three off days between Games 2 and 3 did the Wolves no good, yielding a 27-point defeat after which coach Chris Finch declared them feeling “fat and lazy” after all the fawning near and far for their performance in Denver. They needed to reintroduce their edge right away to keep the crowd consistently roaring, and Edwards dutifully led that response.
The 2020 first overall draft pick scored nine points in the first four-plus minutes before Murray even touched the ball, with Gordon and Jokic sharing the point guard duties to reduce the burden on Murray and his strained left calf muscle.
After a quiet Game 3, Edwards was on a mission to will the Wolves to win, as the Nuggets fully expected. Their loading up on him in the lane wasn’t enough, as he hit from everywhere on the court, but the rest of the Wolves frequently failed to make the Nuggets pay for leaving them open.
They missed tip-ins at the rim, not just corner 3s. Towns missed his first seven shots, and while his effort and defense never suffered, he was a mess trying to get the ball to the basket, rarely drawing the fouls he argued for.
“It’s unfortunate that on Mother’s Day I have a shooting performance like that,” Towns said. “But it’s the way the game goes. It’s not a fun game sometimes.”
The Wolves showed off their league-best defense and their enviable depth in the first two games, but the Nuggets copied and pasted that formula on the road. When their secondary scorers and bench players are hitting their jumpers, they’re awfully tough to beat.
Gordon, Justin Holiday (10 points), Christian Braun (11 points) and Reggie Jackson (six points) went a combined 8 for 11 from 3-point range. They fueled a 26-4 run that bridged the first and second quarters, and all but five points on that surge came with the four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Gobert resting on the bench.
“They are doing all the dirty, small things that nobody notices,” Jokic said.
DENVER (KDVR) — Did you know Colorado is the host of the longest-running gay rodeo event in the United States? The Rocky Mountain Regional happens every year right here in Denver and supports several local charities.
The Colorado Gay Rodeo Association has been around for more than 40 years and will host the 41st Rocky Mountain Regional Rodeo later this summer.
Participants say it’s not just about the horses and the lassos, it’s about creating a better community.
“I don’t think many people know that we’ve had a rodeo for 41 years. A gay rodeo, in fact, for 41 years, and I think that’s what makes Colorado so special,” said Jordan Roberts with the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association.
While some may have never heard of a gay rodeo, they aren’t much different from your traditional one.
Classic sports like bull riding are mixed in with a few unique events. Ever wanted to see a drag queen in the arena? This is the place for you.
“What may not be accepted as the norm is accepted here at our rodeo,” said Christina Miner, who sports the title of Ms. International Gay Rodeo 2024.
That welcoming community is what attracted Miner to the sport.
“We all love rodeos, you know?” she said. “And horses.”
Did you know Colorado is the host of the longest-running gay rodeo event in the United States? The Rocky Mountain Regional happens every year right here in Denver and supports several local charities. (KDVR)
Did you know Colorado is the host of the longest-running gay rodeo event in the United States? The Rocky Mountain Regional happens every year right here in Denver and supports several local charities. (KDVR)
Did you know Colorado is the host of the longest-running gay rodeo event in the United States? The Rocky Mountain Regional happens every year right here in Denver and supports several local charities. (KDVR)
Did you know Colorado is the host of the longest-running gay rodeo event in the United States? The Rocky Mountain Regional happens every year right here in Denver and supports several local charities. (KDVR)
The Rocky Mountain Regional welcomes contestants from all across the country, raising money that the Colorado Gay Rodeo Association donates to charities around the state. Last year, it raised $12,000.
“This year we’re focusing on six figures, that’s our big goal,” said Roberts.
For Trixxie Deluxxe, the grand marshal of this year’s event, it isn’t their first rodeo.
“I’ve been a part of the rodeo system since 2012,” Deluxxe said.
They say that sense of unexpectedness is what makes the event so special.
“Rodeos just really bring together a bunch of people that you would never see, a huge group of people that you would never see at a gay pride or just brings different groups and organizations together that you may not think would actually come together to make up a stronger community,” Deluxxe said.
A stronger community that welcomes even those brand new to the rodeo.
“Even if you’ve never come to a gay rodeo before, or a rodeo for that matter, come on out, give us a try and we’d love to have you,” said Roberts.
The Rocky Mountain Regional is a three-day event, lasting from July 12 to 14. Tickets are on sale now.
DENVER (KDVR) — The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is celebrating the newly gained U.S. citizenship of one of its deputies.
Deputy Jackson Kato is from Kampala, Uganda. Before moving to the United States he served as a security contractor with the U.S. Department of Defense in a tour of duty in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. In that role, he supported U.S. troops and coalition forces, according to ACSO.
In 2017, he moved to the U.S. and worked as a security guard at the Arapahoe County Justice Center. There, he met and worked alongside some Arapahoe County court deputies, who ACSO said inspired him with their commitment to serving the community.
That’s why he decided to join law enforcement. He joined ACSO in 2022, becoming Colorado’s first POST-certified officer of Ugandan.
Deputy Jackson Kato with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is from Kampala, Uganda. After six and a half years, he finally gained U.S. citizenship. (Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputy Jackson Kato with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is from Kampala, Uganda. After six and a half years, he finally gained U.S. citizenship. (Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office)
Deputy Jackson Kato with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is from Kampala, Uganda. After six and a half years, he finally gained U.S. citizenship. (Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office)
DENVER (KDVR) — Americans have lost $311 million to wire transfer scams, according to the Federal Trade Commission, and those looking to buy their dream home are common targets.
One homeowner told FOX31 that he and his wife saved nearly $100,000 for a down payment on their new home, but it only took a matter of seconds for scammers to steal all of it.
“This is people’s livelihood that you’re messing with, people spend their whole lives saving to be able to afford a house,” he said.
Like other victims across the nation, the couple received a realistic-looking email from the bank requesting the wire transfer to complete their home purchase. It even included accurate account information. The homeowner suspects his emails were hacked.
“Some of that stuff was happening outside of, you know, an encrypted system, so they were able to get into emails,” he said.
Once the money was transferred to the scammers, it was gone and could not be recovered.
The FBI received more than 2,000 wire fraud complaints per day in 2023, a 10% increase over the year before.
Real estate consultant Grant Muller of Compass Real Estate said the swift development of faster and easier ways to complete home sales has presented some challenges for buyers.
“Technology is an incredible way to save time. We no longer have to run across town with paper checks, but at the same time, we need to understand what the weaknesses are,” Muller said.
How homebuyers can avoid getting scammed
Muller has a firm policy when it comes to down payments sent through wire transfers.
“Do not send any money unless you’ve heard from me or had a conversation with me,” he said.
Muller said clients should be educated about wire fraud as part of the home purchase process.
“We send out wire fraud disclosures and wire fraud warnings in our emails, so we’re trying to cover all of the bases,” he said.
Muller advises all homeowners to investigate security options at banks and title companies.
“Great title companies will have secured the online portals and they’ll use those portals for secure confirmations, secure communications, and that often adds another layer of protection,” he said.
The FTC advises homebuyers to talk to the intended recipient of any funds being transferred before completing a transfer, including while using Zelle and other payment transfer services.
Always look up the bank’s phone number for yourself. Scam emails requesting a money transfer can include a phone number to call, which is fake and will only lead victims to yet another scammer who will answer the phone and pose as a legitimate bank employee.
DENVER (KDVR) — Denver advanced as one of the 10 worldwide cities that could host the Gay Games sports competition in 2030.
The Federation of Gay Games announced that 10 cities across five continents are still in the bid to host Gay Games XIII, and Denver is the sole U.S. city listed.
Denver will present its case to host this fall in Washington, D.C., along with nine other cities.
What is Gay Games?
The event started in 1982 and happens every four years, bringing over 10,000 LGBTQIA+ people to compete in over 30 sports. The games welcome adults of all genders, gay or straight, whether beginner athletes or Olympic medalists, according to the website.
Denver was a top eight finalist for the 2022 games, and both Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston are in full support of Denver’s bid to host Gay Games in 2030.
“Colorado is a state where athletes can thrive no matter who they love or how they identify. Colorado is the best state for athletic training and events, and we welcome athletes of all backgrounds. I hope to welcome the Gay Games to Colorado in 2030, and maybe I’ll even try out for the baseball team,” Polis said.
Members of the Gay Games Denver 2030 Bid Committee with Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Council Member Darrell Watson (Courtesy of Gay Games Denver)
What happens next?
Denver’s bid committee will work to finalize the proposed venues and details over the next few months.
In October, Denver will present its case in Washington, and the top contending cities will be announced toward the end of the year. The official host city will not be decided until November 2025.
These are the other cities that are still in the running:
According to a Federation of Gay Games impact study, hosting the Gay Games has economic value. The federation reports that when Paris hosted the games in 2018, it saw community profits of 107€ million, and Cleveland-Akron recorded $52 million in 2014.
Eighteen variable speed limit signs will go up in Dowd Canyon along Interstate 70 in the Eagle-Vail area.
I-70 Variable Speed Limit Signs project map located between Eagle and West Vail, from MP 169 to MP 173 (CDOT)
Each sign will have an LED display of the speed limit number that can be changed to best suit conditions on the highway. The signs will change the speed along I-70 as needed based on traffic speed and volume, weather conditions, road conditions and traffic incidents.
“It looks like a regular speed limit sign, except it’s electronic,” said CDOT Spokesperson Elise Thatcher. “This means operators can change the exact speed limit that’s posted, based on conditions at the time.”
The project begins soon, and overnight, single-lane closures could start as early as Sunday night.
The ongoing schedule will be from Sunday through Thursday, and last from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. This work schedule is weather-dependent and subject to change.
AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Concerned parents met with school district leaders again Thursday morning about how they handled the attempted kidnapping at Black Forest Hills Elementary last month.
Police arrested a man with a record of sexual offenses after they say he walked onto school grounds and lunged at a child. Parents still want answers from Cherry Creek Schools.
The meeting came after the school made an administrative change by replacing the principal. Parents who spoke with FOX31 said while they thought they were getting closer to a resolution, the meeting Thursday morning left them discouraged.
An internal investigation into the attempted kidnapping, which was caught on surveillance video, is wrapping up. Parents are hoping for full transparency.
“We had some really clear action items that we discussed during our previous meeting with administration — Superintendent Chris Smith and the rest of leadership,” said Dante White, whose child encountered the suspect. “We were told there were going to be some action items that followed it.”
A newly released video shows the moment a registered sex offender allegedly tried to abduct a child from Black Forest Hills Elementary School in Aurora. (Black Forest Hills Elementary School)
Parents push for safety changes at Aurora elementary school
Among the action items requested were increased safety training, new surveillance equipment and more fencing around the school. Police say 33-year-old Solomon Galligan, identified as a registered sex offender, walked onto school property and approached students.
“We were told by the police department that the fencing wouldn’t be a good idea because it might create an element where the children are then trapped should somebody get in,” White said. “I see plenty of schools with fencing, so that’s really kind of a fallacy. That’s a really simple, quick fix with surveillance equipment that can geofence those areas. So if someone does cross the area, you become immediately aware.”
Parents also want to know if the remaining personnel involved that day will be terminated. That question was not answered on Thursday morning.
“We’re asking for accountability. They want to be held accountable, but they can’t tell us what they are going to do. That doesn’t make any sense,” White said. “We were excited to hear the principal was let go, but now we can’t figure out if the rest of the personnel is going to be let go. The kind of statement they gave us is that it’s a part of their personnel file and they can’t let us know that, but they let us know the principal is going to be let go — why not the rest of district leadership? They’ve all taken blame that they didn’t do the right thing here, and from what we can see, no action is being taken.”
He told FOX31 that his fifth-grade son, who encountered the suspect, is still shaken about the situation.
“He’s doing a little bit better. There’s obviously still some emotional impact there,” White said. “We’re working through that with therapy trying to rebuild his confidence and ensure him that the world is a safe place. We all know it’s not perfect, but all we can do is give the tools to move forward, right, and give the training to make sure they feel secure should anything else happen.”
Black Forest Hills principal sends letter to community
Cherry Creek Schools leaders sent FOX31 the letter they sent to parents on Sunday.
I want to introduce myself – I am Chuck Puga and I will be serving as acting principal starting today and through the end of the school year. I’m honored to join the team and look forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
I recognize the last few weeks have been challenging. In the final three weeks of school, I’m hopeful we can come together as a community to support one another and celebrate the year overall.
I want to reiterate our commitment to the safety of all students here at Black Forest Hills. I’d like to again share some of the changes that have been made in response to feedback from parents, students, and staff:
Midge Eidson will be serving as acting assistant principal starting today through the end of the school year. Ms. Eidson is a former elementary principal in CCSD with many years of experience.
There will be increased presence of district security coordinators at the school.
The Aurora Police Department and the Cherry Creek School District security team will be conducting additional patrols in the area throughout the remainder of the school year.
All Black Forest Hills staff have reviewed security protocols at the school, including Hold, Secure and Lockdown status.
The supervision structure and perimeter of the playground has been adjusted to ensure greater visibility of students when they are outside.
Watchdog Dads/Moms has been reinstated so that parents and guardians can help play a role in keeping our school safe.
Mental health resources continue to be available for students and staff as well as our in-school social worker, school psychologist, and nurse to support students’ wellbeing.
Additional security measures at the district level have been reinforced, which were outlined in a communication to families on Friday.
The students of Black Forest Hills have grown academically and personally. These accomplishments deserve to be celebrated and will be the focus for the remainder of the year. Thank you in advance for your partnership in making the next three weeks a positive experience for our students and our community.
Thank you,
Chuck Puga
Cherry Creek Schools
Parents who spoke with FOX31 say more needs to be done.
“We got a bond issue coming up in November, so that’s another thing the community can get involved with as well. Making sure we get the proper funding and allocated where we need it,” White said.
Cherry Creek Schools board meeting set for Monday
White also said there will be a school board meeting on Monday at 7 p.m. at Thunder Ridge.
“Take action Monday … if you want to learn more and if you want to be part of the solution definitely,” he said.
Community members are invited to speak during the time specified for public comment. Speakers must complete the public comment form and submit it electronically before noon on the day of the meeting.
