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  • Rockies, federal officials planning active shooter and bombing simulation at Coors Field

    Rockies, federal officials planning active shooter and bombing simulation at Coors Field

    Officials from the Colorado Rockies and a federal cybersecurity agency are planning a “full-scale” active shooter and bombing simulation at Coors Field to practice responding to an attack during a regular season baseball game.

    The May 22 event will bring together stadium and team officials, local first responders and state and federal agencies “to perform response actions that would be taken during an attack at Coors Field,” organizers wrote in an email sent to a Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management mailing list on Friday.

    Organizers are looking for volunteer actors to participate in the simulation, which will take place when the Rockies are scheduled to play in Oakland, according to the email.

    “The scenario involves a simulated explosion followed by an active shooter during a regular season weekend Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field,” organizers with the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency wrote on an intake form for volunteer actors.

    Two 60-minute scenarios will be held during the 6-hour training and will include being “exposed to loud noises, including simulated gunshot and explosive sounds,” organizers wrote.

    Volunteers are required to be 18 years or older and must answer if they are willing to have simulated injuries painted on or applied, including fake bruises, scratches, burns, gunshot wounds and blood, according to the intake form.

    Getting fake injuries applied, which is known as moulage, is not mandatory for participation.

    The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management referred questions about the event to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Representatives for the agency and Colorado Rockies could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

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    Katie Langford

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  • The Book Club: “The Maniac” and more short reviews from readers

    The Book Club: “The Maniac” and more short reviews from readers

    Editor’s note: The opinions of the smart, well-read women in my Denver book club mean a lot, and often determine what the rest of us choose to pile onto our bedside tables. So we asked them, and other readers, to share these mini-reviews with you. Have any to offer? Email bellis@denverpost.com.

    “Five Tuesdays in Winter: Stories,” by Lily King (Grove Press, 2021)

    “Five Tuesdays in Winter: Stories,” by Lily King (Grove Press, 2021)

    Lily King’s novel “Writers and Lovers” is a favorite of mine, so I was willing to read “Five Tuesdays in Winter,” although I tend to avoid short stories. These 10 stories are varied in setting, time, mood, voice, length, character and action, but they are unified in clarity and excellent writing. Each one gave me much to ponder, but I did not feel cheated by their brevity — in fact, I’m amazed how much depth King creates with so few words. My favorite? Hard to choose, but if pressed I would say the title story. — 3 1/2 stars (out of 4); Neva Gronert, Parker 

    “Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon and the Things That Last,” by Wright Thompson (Penguin Books, 2020)

    I had to invoke my 50-page rule for this one; i.e., if it doesn’t grab me by page 50, then drop it and move on.  As I can appreciate a fine bourbon, this one initially intrigued me.  But apparently the author didn’t have enough actual information about this family-owned, Kentucky distillery to fill out a book-length narrative.  It meanders much like a road trip that is detoured, becomes lost and refuses to ask for directions. A fun idea, poorly executed. — 0 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver 

    “Annie Freeman’s Fabulous Traveling Funeral,” by Kris Radish (Bantam, 2006)

    After the death of her friend Annie at age 56, a package arrives for Katherine Givens with the ashes of her free-spirited, altruistic childhood pal, along with instructions. She’s to head a procession from California to Manhattan with a collection of five women, strangers to one another but Annie’s closest friends. Their charge? To spread their friend’s ashes. A funeral becomes the destination and the power base for change and friendship for all. They discover her deepest secrets and share many of their own. These unorthodox mourners come to see the greatness Annie saw in them and attain the courage to act on it. — 2 stars (out of 4); Bonnie McCune, Denver (bonniemccune.com)

    “The Maniac,” by Benjamin Labatut (Penguin Press, 2023)

    "The Maniac," by Benjamin Labatut (Penguin Press, 2023)
    “The Maniac,” by Benjamin Labatut (Penguin Press, 2023)

    This novel shines a light on some of the moral questions presented by new technological advances.  Part 1 follows Paul Ehrenfest, a physicist who strove to understand “the core of things” but who was leery of the potential applications of quantum physics.  Part 2 focuses on John von Neumann, who is credited with inventing game theory and the first programmable computer, and whose work also laid the foundation for artificial intelligence.  Part 3 describes the leaps of AI beyond von Neumann’s work, exemplified by the work of Lee Sedol and his AI program, AlphaGo, which beat all master Go players. The eponymous “maniac” could be the 1950s Princeton-based Mathematical Analyzer, Numerical Integrator and Computer (MANIAC), or it could be the geniuses profiled in this work of historical fiction. You can decide. — 3 stars (out of 4); Kathleen Lance, Denver

    The Know

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  • Woman dies at Loveland Ski Area

    Woman dies at Loveland Ski Area

    A skier died at Loveland Ski Area on Friday afternoon, according to resort officials.

    Katie Langford

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  • 2024 Colorado state basketball tournament brackets, results

    2024 Colorado state basketball tournament brackets, results

    The brackets for the Colorado high school state basketball championships:

    BOYS

    Class 6A

    First round

    Wednesday, Feb. 21

    Higher seed hosts

    Game 1: No. 1 Fruita Monument (23-0) vs. No. 32 Highlands Ranch (10-12), 6 p.m.

    Game 2: No. 16 Overland (14-9) vs. No. 17 Broomfield (17-6), TBA

    Game 3: No. 8 Eaglecrest (16-7) vs. No. 25 Castle View (12-11), 7 p.m.

    Game 4: No. 9 Ralston Valley (18-5) vs. No. 24 Arapahoe (11-12), TBA

    Game 5: No. 5 Rock Canyon (18-5) vs. No. 28 Rocky Mountain (13-10), TBA

    Game 6: No. 12 Douglas County (15-8) vs. No. 21 Arvada West (16-7), 7 p.m.

    Game 7: No. 4 ThunderRidge (18-5) vs. No. 29 Fort Collins (14-9), 7 p.m.

    Game 8: No. 13 Cherry Creek (13-10) vs. No. 20 Fossil Ridge (16-7), 6:30 p.m.

    Game 9: No. 2 Mountain Vista (19-4) vs. No. 31 Fairview (13-10), TBA

    Game 10: No. 15 Monarch (18-5) vs. No. 18 Denver South (16-7), TBA

    Game 11: No. 7 Smoky Hill (17-6) vs. No. 26 Horizon (13-10), 7 p.m.

    Game 12: No. 10 Regis Jesuit (15-8) vs. No. 23 Pine Creek (15-8), TBA

    Game 13: No. 6 Valor Christian (21-2) vs. No. 27 Mullen (12-11), TBA

    Game 14: No. 11 Doherty (18-5) vs. No. 21 George Washinton (13-10), 6 p.m.

    Game 15: No. 3 Chaparral (18-5) vs. No. 30 Rangeview (12-11), TBA

    Game 16: No. 14 Legacy (17-6) vs. No. 19 Legend (12-11), TBA

    Sweet 16

    Saturday, Feb. 24

    Higher seed hosts

    Game 17: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, TBA

    Game 18: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, TBA

    Game 19: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, TBA

    Game 20: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, TBA

    Game 21: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, TBA

    Game 22: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, TBA

    Game 23: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, TBA

    Game 24: Game 15 winner vs. Game 16 winner, TBA

    Great 8

    Thursday, Feb. 29

    at Denver Coliseum

    Game 25: Game 17 winner vs. Game 18 winner, TBA

    Game 26: Game 19 winner vs. Game 20 winner, TBA

    Game 27: Game 21 winner vs. Game 22 winner, TBA

    Game 28: Game 23 winner vs. Game 24 winner, TBA

    Final Four

    Friday, March 8

    at Denver Coliseum

    Game 29: Game 25 winner vs. Game 26 winner, TBA

    Game 30: Game 27 winner vs. Game 28 winner, TBA

    Championship

    Saturday, March 9

    at Denver Coliseum

    Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.

    Class 5A

    First round

    Wednesday, Feb. 21

    Higher seed hosts

    Game 1: No. 1 Northfield (21-2) vs. No. 32 Thornton (13-10), 6 p.m.

    Game 2: No. 16 Longmont (15-8) vs. No. 17 Pueblo South (13-10), 6:30 p.m.

    Game 3: No. 8 Mead (17-6) vs. No. 25 Pueblo West (15-8), 6 p.m.

    Game 4: No. 9 Palmer (19-4) vs. No. 24 Eagle Valley (14-9), 6 p.m.

    Game 5: No. 5 Silver Creek (19-4) vs. No. 28 Frederick (13-10), 6:30 p.m.

    Game 6: No. 12 Dakota Ridge (16-7) vs. No. 21 Durango (11-11), 7 p.m.

    Game 7: No. 4 Mesa Ridge (21-2) vs. No. 29 Sand Creek (13-10), TBA

    Game 8: No. 13 Green Mountain (15-8) vs. No. 20 Falcon (17-6), 6:30 p.m.

    Game 9: No. 2 Vista PEAK Prep (19-4) vs. No. 31 Palisade (10-13), 6 p.m.

    Matt Schubert

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  • Nikola Jokic on NBA’s 65-game rule after Joel Embiid injury: “It forces players to play, even if they’re injured”

    Nikola Jokic on NBA’s 65-game rule after Joel Embiid injury: “It forces players to play, even if they’re injured”

    INDIANAPOLIS — No matter how many All-Stars the NBA filed into a packed room Saturday to talk over one another in simultaneous news conferences, a silence reverberated loudest. Loud enough to be heard in at least a few of the questions.

    The most significant absence in Indianapolis this weekend is the one that’s shaking up the 2023-24 MVP race.

    Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid was the presumptive favorite until early February when he underwent surgery to repair his lateral meniscus. The left knee injury has rendered him ineligible to repeat as league MVP under new NBA policy, which requires players to appear in a minimum of 65 games to be considered for end-of-year awards such as MVP and All-NBA.

    The procedure will sideline Embiid long enough that he almost definitively wouldn’t have won MVP even without the new rule. However, his situation has still sparked debate in league circles about whether or not the 65-game minimum should have been instituted in the first place. Why? Because there was wide speculation Embiid felt pressured to play through a pre-existing knee injury in order to maintain awards eligibility, especially after getting ridiculed for missing his fourth consecutive road game against the Nuggets — and MVP adversary Nikola Jokic — in late January.

    Two games later, Embiid was back in the lineup when Golden State’s Jonathan Kuminga fell on his leg and caused the injury that required surgery.

    Jokic is perversely positioned to benefit from Embiid’s unfortunate situation. The Nuggets center is the new betting favorite to win his third MVP in the last four years. But he takes no joy in that. He was asked about the 65-game rule Saturday during his media session at All-Star weekend.

    “Definitely forcing players to play, even when they’re injured or whatever,” Jokic said. “But we saw what happened with Joel. … I don’t know. I just don’t like it, how it forces players to play even if they’re injured, if they want to achieve something.”

    Arguments against the rule largely depend on the arbitrary nature of the league’s chosen number. No data-driven evidence was provided to explain why 65 makes more sense as a games-played minimum than, say, 67 — one more than the number of games Embiid played last year when he won MVP. In 2022-23, Jokic finished second in voting with 69 games played. Giannis Antetokounmpo was third with 63.

    With the door wide open now, Jokic’s biggest challenger for the 2023-24 crown is his All-Star teammate, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

    The Thunder guard, who ranks second in the league in scoring (31.1 points) and first in steals (2.2), wasn’t as quick to condemn the rule as Jokic was.

    “I’m not too sure. I think no matter what, there’s like a fine line,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “Like, when it comes down to it, there’s always a fine line in games played and availability. And I think the league has the right intention in trying to make that line a little bit bolder and easier to make a decision. Now, I try to be as available as I can every night, not only for that but just for the love of the game. But as far as how the rule goes, I don’t really have an opinion. I’m gonna try to be available for my team to win basketball games every night, and if I can’t be available, then I just can’t, and it is what it is.”

    Bennett Durando

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  • Russell Wilson accepting offers for Cherry Hills Village mansion as Broncos mull his future

    Russell Wilson accepting offers for Cherry Hills Village mansion as Broncos mull his future

    The most expensive home ever sold in the Denver area is quietly being shopped around.

    Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson and singer-songwriter wife Ciara are accepting offers, and providing tours to prospective buyers, for the mansion they own in Cherry Hills Village, sources tell BusinessDen.

    The couple did not respond to requests for comment made through their foundation.

    The couple paid $25 million for the home on Cherry Hills Park Drive in April 2022, weeks after Wilson was traded to the Broncos by the Seattle Seahawks. At the time, the previous record for a Denver-area home sale was $16 million.

    The 20,000-square-foot home on 5 acres has four bedrooms and 12 bathrooms, plus his-and-hers walk-in closets, offices and bathroom suites, according to a previous listing of the property. There’s also a 2,590-square-foot indoor swimming pool, a basketball court and a guest apartment with its own kitchen.

    But Wilson’s tenure with the Broncos has been rocky. In August 2022, before Wilson had played a game for the Broncos, the team extended Wilson’s contract through 2028. But the team went 5-12 in his first season, improving somewhat to 8-9 this past season.

    Thomas Gounley

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  • Students’ fight-turned-shooting near Denver high school sets neighbors on edge

    Students’ fight-turned-shooting near Denver high school sets neighbors on edge

    A fistfight between two Excel Academy students escalated into a shooting this week, sending people running for cover and setting neighbors around the Denver public high school on edge.

    The fight-turned-shooting happened at around 12:15 p.m. Monday in the 3100 block of West Colorado Avenue, around the corner from Excel Academy, a pathway school that is designed to help students who are behind on credits get back on track for graduation.

    Two students and their families were involved in the fight, Principal Cynthia Navarro wrote in a letter to parents Monday.

    “At no point were our students or staff inside the building ever in danger,” she wrote.

    The shooting comes as Denver Public Schools faces increased public scrutiny over its handling of gun violence among students, particularly in the wake of last year’s shooting at East High School in which a 17-year-old student wounded two school administrators.

    People who live near Excel Academy said during a Denver Police Department neighborhood meeting Wednesday that they’ve raised concerns about the school for years — particularly around nuisance issues like students parking across driveways, littering or drag racing in the streets — and questioned whether school officials were doing enough to protect students and residents.

    On Monday, two young women met in the street to fight while a crowd of about a dozen people watched, according to video of the incident reviewed by The Denver Post. Most appeared to be high-school-aged, but there were at least two adults in the mix, said Cyan Santillana, who witnessed the fight. One of the adults was encouraging the fight, she said.

    After a couple of minutes of fighting, at least one of the people watching drew a gun and fired shots, the video shows. The crowd scattered, with people diving behind cars or into alleys for cover. A single adult man was shot in the incident and survived, Denver police said.

    No arrests had been made by Wednesday and police did not answer questions about the man’s condition or about the shooting.

    Fights in the neighborhood, which abuts Federal Boulevard, are not entirely uncommon, Santillana said, but this was the first time she could remember shots being fired.

    “It’s getting to the point where something definitely needs to be done now,” she said. “There are kids in this neighborhood, there is an elementary school right down the street, and there was this active shooting right in front of the houses.”

    She added that most of the 250 students at Excel Academy don’t cause problems, but that the small group who do “give the school a bad rap.” One student just happened to be walking by when the shooting happened and had to run for cover, Santillana said.

    The shooting took place during the school’s lunch hour, when many students were out of the building enjoying warm weather, said Scott Pribble, spokesman for Denver Public Schools. The fight prompted a 20-minute “secure perimeter” at the school, during which staff and students stayed inside and locked exterior doors, Navarro said in the letter to parents.

    Shelly Bradbury

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  • 4 Ways to Turn the ‘Loud Budgeting’ Trend Into a Habit

    4 Ways to Turn the ‘Loud Budgeting’ Trend Into a Habit

    Setting financial boundaries isn’t a new concept, but there’s a new name for it. “Loud budgeting” is a viral money trend that’s encouraging people to be more open about their finances.

    TikTok content creator Lukas Battle is credited with popularizing the term. In one cheeky video, Battle gives an example of loud budgeting: Saying “Sorry, can’t go out to dinner, I’ve got $7 a day to live on.”

    And while Battle’s example might be funny, practicing financial transparency is resonating with many people who are feeling financial strain.

    What is loud budgeting?

    This approach is about looping others into your financial goals and combating money shame.

    “This means making better spending decisions that support your goals, and being honest with friends and family about why you are opting out of gatherings that require you to spend, such as going out to dinner or going away for a weekend trip,” Andrea Woroch said in an email. Woroch is a personal finance writer and consumer savings expert who has appeared on “Good Morning America” and other TV news shows.

    It’s also about aligning how you spend your money with the goals you want to achieve, which can be empowering.

    You can say, “I don’t value this enough to spend money on this because I’m saving money for a down payment, or … I’d rather not spend money on this because I’m saving for a vacation,” Giovanna “Gigi” Gonzalez says. “It gives you the power back, and it shows that you have clarity on your financial goals.” Gonzalez is the author of the personal finance book “Cultura & Cash” and a TikTok content creator.

    Loud budgeting can help you save more, find support

    Strengthening your boundary-setting and communication skills, and holding yourself accountable, can help you save more money to put toward your goals.

    “Having money goals is something to be proud of and something that you should really communicate to your friends and family, so they know where you stand financially, because when you don’t, people just assume that the money you have is a free-for-all,” Gonzalez said.

    Being transparent about money may also open up support. “Speaking openly about your finances leads to more candid conversations about money with others who may have gone through a similar struggle, and [who] can offer advice or tips on how they improved their own financial situation,” Woroch said.

    How to make this a habit, not a passing trend

    Some ways to build loud budgeting into a regular habit include:

    1. Address your feelings about money

    The emotions you have tied to money can affect your financial wellness, and how you feel about money can be shaped by your cultural background and other factors, like generational trauma.

    For example, Gonzalez says, “I think because in my culture, the Latino culture, it’s very much expected that you just provide money … it’s very much seen as an obligation that you have to your elders, for the sacrifices that they put in so that you’re able to now have a better life.” And familial expectations about money can cause conflict and strain your finances.

    Addressing your feelings about money with a professional like a financial therapist can improve your ability to set money boundaries and communicate them.

    2. Get an accountability partner

    Share your financial goals with someone you trust and who will help to hold you accountable.

    “Is there someone else you know who recently proclaimed their loud budgeting efforts on social media or in your circle of friends?” Woroch said. “Reach out to share your goals and support each other by holding each other accountable with monthly check-ins or texts when you’re feeling like spending.”

    3. Set clear goals

    Think about the kind of life you want to live and set money goals accordingly.

    When Gonzalez wanted to travel the world, she bought a map and put it where she could see it every day. “But for somebody else, maybe their big dream is to buy their own home,” she says. “So I tell people to keep the motivation and momentum going … make your lock screen [a picture of] your dream home.”

    Keep your money goals front and center as you navigate the short-term discomfort that might come with having to say “no” to things that don’t align with them.

    4. Show up in other ways

    You can make loud budgeting a habit and still show up for the people you care about.

    Gonzalez suggests finding alternative ways to offer your support. “I’ve had a friend ask me to [co-sign] for his car, and I told him, ‘I love you but that’s a big commitment and I don’t feel comfortable,’” she said. “And I explained to him the reasons why: ‘If you were to default on this, It falls on me or my credit’.” She offered to help her friend research more affordable car options instead.

    Supporting your loved ones in nonmonetary ways might also look like cooking or cleaning for them, babysitting or helping in their job search.

    The article 4 Ways to Turn the ‘Loud Budgeting’ Trend Into a Habit originally appeared on NerdWallet.

    Nerdwallet

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  • 13-year-old boy charged with murder in Denver RTD bus shooting

    13-year-old boy charged with murder in Denver RTD bus shooting

    A 13-year-old boy suspected of fatally shooting a 60-year-old man on a Denver RTD bus in January has been charged with first-degree murder, though prosecutors are still determining if they will seek to move the case to adult court.

    Denver police allege the boy shot and killed Richard Sanchez on a bus near South Federal Boulevard and West Mississippi Avenue on the evening of Jan. 27 because Sanchez’s leg was blocking the aisle.

    Sanchez was pronounced dead at a local hospital due to multiple gunshot wounds. A second person on the bus was also injured but was not taken to the hospital.

    The boy was arrested on Feb. 1 and is facing 14 charges including first-degree murder, Denver District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Maro Casparian said Wednesday.

    Prosecutors consider many factors when deciding whether to pursue trying a juvenile as an adult, according to a statement from the district attorney’s office.

    Those include the circumstances of the crime, the suspect’s age, what contact they’ve had with the juvenile system, their upbringing and background, provisions of the law and the perspective of the victim or victim’s family.

    Katie Langford

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  • ACLU sues Children’s Hospital Colorado for halting adult gender-affirming surgeries

    ACLU sues Children’s Hospital Colorado for halting adult gender-affirming surgeries

    The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado alleges Children’s Hospital Colorado is discriminating against transgender patients by refusing to perform surgeries it offers to cisgender patients with other conditions.

    The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Denver District Court, also states the hospital is discriminating on the basis of disability, because gender dysphoria — distress when a person’s sense of their gender doesn’t align with physical characteristics — is a medical condition.

    The ACLU filed it on behalf of an 18-year-old Denver patient who was on track to receive gender-affirming surgery before the hospital discontinued that service.

    The main reason young cisgender men seek chest reconstruction is if they developed feminine-appearing breasts because of hormonal imbalances or medication side effects, according to the lawsuit. The hospital also sometimes performs breast reduction surgery on young women who have excessive chest tissue that causes pain, it said.

    The patient, who is identified in the lawsuit by the pseudonym Caden Kent, started receiving care at Children’s for mental health concerns when he was 16. He was diagnosed with gender dysphoria a few months later and had undergone about eight months of assessment before determining he was a candidate for surgery once he turned 18.

    In July, the hospital announced it would no longer offer chest reconstruction surgery for transgender patients, though they could still receive other gender-affirming treatment, including counseling, puberty blockers and hormone therapy. The hospital had only offered surgery to patients who were at least 18.

    The hospital stated it had received an unusual number of referrals for gender-affirming surgery as programs shut down in other states, and that it didn’t shut down the program because of threats. It came at a time when children’s hospitals were scrubbing references to transgender care from their websites, though, with at least 21 removing information in 2022. A search on the hospital’s website for its TRUE Center for Gender Diversity no longer turns up any results.

    According to the lawsuit, Kent chose to undergo surgery at Children’s because he received other care there, and hoped to recover from the surgery before leaving for college in the fall. Other surgical providers who accept his family’s insurance are booked up, meaning his parents will have to pay out-of-pocket for him to undergo the surgery in that time frame. Kent had resorted to chest-binding to ease his dysphoria, but found himself withdrawing from others when binding became too painful and he couldn’t otherwise hide the breast tissue, it said.

    Meg Wingerter

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  • Tattered Cover CEO will be paid $120K despite predecessor’s protests

    Tattered Cover CEO will be paid $120K despite predecessor’s protests

    Tattered Cover’s current CEO can be paid a salary of $120,000 this year, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge ruled Monday, despite the objections of its former CEO.

    Kwame Spearman, who owns a minority stake in the company, led Tattered Cover between early 2021 and early 2023, when he stepped down following an aborted mayoral bid to focus on running for Denver school board, ultimately unsuccessfully.

    His successor is Brad Dempsey, a bankruptcy attorney who took over soon before the company filed for Chapter 11 in October and has led it through the bankruptcy process. Tattered Cover’s board of directors wants him to stay on through 2024 in exchange for $120,000.

    That salary had to be approved by a bankruptcy judge. Spearman objected to it.

    “We have not seen any official plan for the reorganization of the business and there is concern that a compensation for Mr. Dempsey at $10,000 per month might be extraordinarily excessive,” Spearman told Bankruptcy Judge Michael Romero at a hearing Monday afternoon.

    Tattered Cover was scheduled to submit its plan by Jan. 16 but asked for and received a one-month extension instead. Gabrielle Palmer, an attorney for the bookstore chain, said Monday that Tattered Cover will likely need another extension this week.

    “If the plan shows merit that Mr. Dempsey should be making $120,000 annually, we’re all fine with this,” Spearman said, before again criticizing Dempsey for not crafting a plan.

    “Moreover, I have not heard (about) the net income situation. I have heard that, allegedly, sales were slightly up from 2022, but as we’re all aware, sales are not the determinant, net income is the determinant. As a creditor, I think there is strong suspicion to believe that the business is actually in a worse financial situation under Mr. Dempsey’s leadership,” he added.

    Palmer defended Dempsey’s tenure as CEO, noted that the company’s six-person board of directors wants him to stay on, and called his proposed salary “fair and reasonable.”

    Tattered Cover is being propped up financially by a $1.3 million loan from Read Colorado LLC, a company formed by local philanthropists. That loan requires Dempsey to remain as CEO and states that Tattered Cover will be in default of the loan if he leaves the company.

    “It doesn’t make sense to change from Brad Dempsey now or to not allow Brad Dempsey to be paid. We are at a critical time,” said Tim Swanson, a lawyer for Read Colorado.

    “It can’t be lost that the lone objector to Mr. Dempsey’s continued employment is someone who is seeking to try to purchase the company,” Swanson said of Spearman.

    Spearman countered that he hasn’t made a bid for the company but acknowledged he has requested Tattered Cover’s financial reports in order “to evaluate the terms of a potential offer” to buy it. At one point, he repeatedly used the word “we” to describe people who doubt “the viability of the (company’s) board of directors and Mr. Dempsey’s leadership.”

    “Who’s ‘we?’” Romero asked. “You’re the only one who filed an objection, Mr. Spearman.”

    Justin Wingerter

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  • RTD Downtown Boulder Station to reopen over a year after meth contamination forced closure

    The RTD will reopen the Downtown Boulder Station lobby on Feb. 19 after over a year of renovations to replace the building’s interior ductwork, which was contaminated with methamphetamines last year.

    The inside of the station at 1800 14th St. in Boulder was closed last January after an investigation into strong odors emitting from a restroom revealed levels of meth exceeding Center for Disease Control limits, according to Regional Transportation District news releases. Residue was also detected in the ductwork and was impossible to clean out, necessitating a full replacement of the ventilation system.



    Michael Braithwaite

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  • Cyberattack shuts down Colorado public defender’s office

    Cyberattack shuts down Colorado public defender’s office

    A cyberattack on the Office of Colorado State Public Defender has forced the office to shut down its computer network, locking public defenders across the state out of critical work systems.

    Colorado public defenders do not have access to their work computers, are unable to access court dockets or court filings and can’t do any significant work for clients in court, according to internal emails reviewed by The Denver Post.

    Office spokesman James Karbach confirmed the breach in a statement Monday, saying officials “recently became aware that some data within our computer system was encrypted by malware.”

    Karbach did not say how long the public defender’s office expects to be shut down or when the attack happened, but emails sent to public defenders indicate the statewide office is effectively “non-operational” and the outage could last as long as a week.



    Shelly Bradbury

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  • Three-car crash in Jefferson County sends three people to the hospital Saturday night

    Three-car crash in Jefferson County sends three people to the hospital Saturday night

    A three-car crash in Jefferson County sent three people to the emergency room Saturday night, according to West Metro Fire Rescue.

    The crash happened on Colorado 470 near Ken Caryl when one car crossed the median and collided with two other cars, West Metro Fire Rescue stated in a post on X at 6:02 p.m. Saturday.

    The total number of passengers involved in the crash is unknown, but three people were taken to the hospital, one with serious injuries, the post stated.

    West Metro Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene.

    This is a developing story and will be updated.





    Lauren Penington

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  • NBA trade deadline winners, losers: Did rest of league catch up with Denver Nuggets?

    NBA trade deadline winners, losers: Did rest of league catch up with Denver Nuggets?

    While the Nuggets didn’t change their 18-man roster at the 2024 NBA trade deadline, other contenders around the league made a variety of moves — mostly on the margins — in an effort to steal the throne from Denver.

    From the view at altitude, here are the winners and losers of the deadline:

    Winner: New York Knicks

    The leader of every other winners-and-losers think-piece is the leader of this one, too. New York landed Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks on deadline day at relatively low cost, but the Nuggets already got a close-up view of the new Knicks when O.G. Anunoby registered six steals against them at MSG. With Milwaukee reeling and Philadelphia hedging after Joel Embiid’s injury (Buddy Hield was a solid middle-ground acquisition), New York suddenly transformed into the most proactive win-now team in the East this deadline.

    Loser: Dallas Mavericks

    In arguably the highest-profile trade on actual deadline day, Dallas overpaid for P.J. Washington, whose 13.6 points per game felt somewhat like empty calories in Charlotte. The trade was simultaneously an admission of failure in the Grant Williams Experiment and a brand-new roll of the dice. More importantly, the Mavericks did what the Knicks avoided: They traded a precious first-round pick (2027). Future: mortgaged. Draft assets are close to extinct now for Dallas, a franchise throwing darts at the wall and hoping one will stick before it’s too late to salvage and extend the Luka Doncic era.

    Winner: Boston Celtics

    Is Xavier Tillman going to be a significant role player in Joe Mazzulla’s playoff rotation? Probably not. Will the Celtics feel a lot more comfortable having an affordable, playable backup big ready to aid the injury-prone Kristaps Porzingis and aging Al Horford? Absolutely. Especially if they’re dealing with six or seven games of Nikola Jokic. This was a depth move that felt tailored to fit a Nuggets NBA Finals matchup, but it cost Boston only two second-round picks to add a salary under $2 million.

    Loser: Oklahoma City Thunder

    The Thunder should have done what Boston did. Don’t get me wrong: Gordon Hayward seems like an outstanding veteran addition to a young team. A lot of teams would have pursued him if Charlotte had bought out his contract. But Oklahoma City’s biggest need still hasn’t been addressed. Back in October, I asked Michael Porter Jr. for his first impressions of Chet Holmgren after Denver won in OKC. “I think he’s very, very talented,” Porter said. “To me, he’s more of a four.” Holmgren, who has an even more injury-prone body type than Porzingis and already missed all of last season, is the Thunder’s starting five. Sophomore charge-taking specialist Jaylin Williams (6-foot-9) backs him up. The center position runs dry from there. For a team so small and with a rebounding weakness (No. 27 in the league), it seems neglectful not to dip into a horde of 10,000 picks and add a more traditional five to at least deploy in bench lineups. Without reinforcements, Holmgren is susceptible to getting worn down by Jokic in a long series.

    Winner: Monte Morris

    Congratulations to one former Nuggets backup point guard, who moved from the league’s most puzzling team (Detroit) to a Western Conference title contender. Smart trade for the Timberwolves, who needed more offense to support their top-rated defense. Minnesota’s two most common lineups involving point guard Mike Conley have net ratings of 9.6 and 7.6, respectively, in 635 combined minutes. The most common lineup without Conley on the floor is a minus-5.1 in 127 minutes (a lineup including Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns), and second-most common without Conley is a modest 4.9 in 100 minutes (using all four starters except him). Morris supplies 3-point shooting and an upgrade in turnover prevention for an offense that’s third-worst in the NBA at protecting the ball in clutch time.

    Loser: Bruce Brown

    Pour one out for a different former Nuggets backup point guard. Brown did the Reverse Morris three weeks ago, getting traded from a young playoff-caliber core in Indianapolis to a losing team. But the league-wide expectation was that Toronto would flip Brown. There was a market for his versatility and recent championship experience. So he waited and waited, until the deadline passed Thursday, leaving him temporarily stranded in Canada. Brown was just one bullet point on a list of head-scratching decisions by the Raptors, also including their forfeiture of a 2024 first-round pick among other assets for Kelly Olynyk and Ochai Agbaji.



    Bennett Durando

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  • Fourth-ranked CU Buffs rack up assists, dominate Oregon to reach 20-win mark

    Fourth-ranked CU Buffs rack up assists, dominate Oregon to reach 20-win mark


    Fast break

    Why the Buffs won: They were incredibly unselfish, posting 32 assists on 36 buckets and were stellar on defense, holding the Ducks to 32.8% shooting.

    Three stars:

    1. Maddie Nolan: She scored a season-high 19 points, hitting 5-of-9 from 3-point range, while also having a season-high six assists and adding four rebounds.

    2. Quay Miller: Posted yet another double-double, with 12 points and 11 rebounds.

    3. Jaylyn Sherrod: Finished with six points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals.

    Up next: Colorado will host No. 17 Oregon State on Sunday at noon at the CU Events Center.

    Maddie Nolan yelled and pumped her fist after another bucket by the Colorado Buffaloes, but while she was the leading scorer on Friday night, this celebration came after one of her passes resulted in points for someone else.

    The unselfish nature of the No. 4-ranked CU women’s basketball team was on full display Friday as it raced past Oregon, 90-57, at the CU Events Center.



    Brian Howell

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  • Colorado civil rights attorney Kevin Williams, who fought to improve lives of people with disabilities, dies at 57

    Colorado civil rights attorney Kevin Williams, who fought to improve lives of people with disabilities, dies at 57

    Colorado civil rights attorney Kevin Williams died this week after 26 years of fighting to improve the lives of people with disabilities. He was 57.

    Williams died Tuesday after a short illness, according to colleagues at the Denver-based Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, where he launched the legal program in 1997 upon graduation from law school.

    A quadriplegic paralyzed from his chest down following a car crash at age 19, Williams steadily increased access for disabled people by filing lawsuits — pressing for enforcement under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act and the Fair Housing Act.

    He began this work as a third-year law student at the University of Denver. Shortly before his graduation, he sued his law school. The issue was compliance with the ADA. He prevailed, leading to required improvements, including a wheelchair-accessible graduation venue.

    Often serving as the plaintiff, Williams repeated that feat again and again, expanding access for Coloradans with disabilities in stores, restaurants, public transit systems, theaters, arenas and travel pathways around the state. For example, his litigation compelled the operators of Red Rocks Amphitheatre to provide accessible parking, seating and ticketing.

    He also led other lawyers into disability rights work.

    Williams grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland.  He made Colorado his home in 1990, the year President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law. He enjoyed drives in the mountains, attending concerts and visiting local breweries and distilleries.

    Friends this week remembered him as passionate in his pursuit of civil rights.

    “Kevin was contemplative, thorough and certain not to leave any stone unturned, especially in litigation,” said Andrew Montoya, who worked in the coalition’s legal program as an assistant and then was inspired to attend law school.

    “Even seemingly mundane legal issues could occupy hours of lively discussion ranging from interpretive case law to contemporary and historical politics to litigation strategy to the meaning of life, and back again,” Montoya said. “His passion for civil rights, both in general and specifically those of people with disabilities, clearly animated his work, both in the courtroom and in the rest of the world.”

    He also had a knack for making light of difficulties. Friends recalled his adaptation of the Beatles’ “Let It Be” — a rendition that he titled “Let Us Pee.” (“When I find myself in times of trouble; The bathroom door is two-foot-three; Whisper words of wisdom; Let us pee, let us pee.”

    “He was intense, passionate, focused and very analytical. What kept him motivated was seeing people with disabilities face discrimination and knowing that the laws that are supposed to protect us are being violated,” said Julie Reiskin, co-executive director of the coalition.

    “What bothered him was the blatant violation of the law, especially by those who should know better, such as courts and lawyers that made excuses rather than working to fix the problem.”

    Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.



    Bruce Finley

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  • Women’s basketball: Events Center crowds making impact on fourth-ranked CU Buffs

    Women’s basketball: Events Center crowds making impact on fourth-ranked CU Buffs


    There have been times this season when players for the Colorado women’s basketball team have been unable to hear play calls from the coaches during a game at the CU Events Center.

    “Yeah, that was something we’ve been talking about,” guard Maddie Nolan said. “(Head coach JR Payne) is like, ‘All right, if you can’t hear us, you just kind of gotta look and tell us because you don’t want to run the play wrong’ and stuff like that.”

    It’s certainly a new “problem” the fourth-ranked Buffaloes are dealing with, but Nolan laughed and said, “Definitely happy to deal with it.”

    They’re dealing with it because fans are flocking to the Events Center to see the Buffs, who can’t wait to get in front of the home crowd again on Friday when Oregon comes to Boulder. After two straight road trips, it’ll be CU’s first home game in 19 days.

    “Very excited to play at home this week,” said Payne, whose team will also host No. 17 Oregon State on Sunday. “We need big crowds, great energy. These will be two big ones this weekend.”

    Through 10 home games, the Buffs are getting 5,374 fans per game, ranking third in the Pac-12 and 19th nationally in average attendance. The average is on pace to be the second-best in program history, behind the 1994-95 season (5,538). The only other season with at least 4,000 on average was 1993-94 (5,167).

    This season, CU has already had four of the 15 largest crowds in program history, including a program-record 11,338 for the Jan. 19 matchup with UCLA.

    A year ago, despite having a team that went to the Sweet 16 and spent the second half of the year in the national rankings, the Buffs averaged just 1,660 fans per game.

    “This year it’s just nice that we’re starting to get the actual recognition that we need,” guard Tameiya Sadler said. “This is how much we built, this is what we’ve done. It’s nice to see that everybody’s starting to recognize that we’re a really good program and we can really make some noise this year.”

    On the court, the Buffs are making a lot of noise. With seven games to play in the regular season, they are tied for first in the Pac-12 with Stanford (while holding the tie-breaker over the Cardinal) and they’re projected as a top two seed for the NCAA Tournament.

    The Buffs have been stellar on the road (10-2 away from Boulder), but Sadler believes they’re a different team at home. They’re 9-1 at the Events Center, with the only loss coming to then-No. 5 UCLA.

    “Our camaraderie is great at home. We just play really well together,” Sadler said. “On the road, you have no energy besides your own and maybe like five fans behind your bench. Here, it’s just everyone’s really just feeding into us. We just thrive on that.”

    Nolan agrees. Although she’s a first-year Buff after four seasons at Michigan, she can already see the impact of the crowd. The fans have helped fuel game-changing runs and get the Buffs out of ruts.

    “It’s a huge difference,” Nolan said. “You can feel that energy and you can hear everyone screaming. In the UCLA game, to have a sellout crowd and have that student section behind us and even when things weren’t going our way, to hear encouraging words is just super helpful.”

    Nationally, Iowa and star Caitlin Clark have been a main attraction, playing to sold-out crowds in Iowa City and on the road. Top-ranked South Carolina, defending champion LSU and perennial power Connecticut join Iowa in averaging over 11,000 fans per game.

    Overall, 23 women’s basketball teams are averaging at least 5,000 fans – up from 18 last year (and Baylor is just shy, at 4,994). In the 10 years before that, there was never more than 17 teams averaging at least 5,000.

    Nolan said the Buffs are pleased to be a part of the growing interest in the sport.

    “It’s been awesome,” she said of playing at the Events Center. “I think it’s a really cool trend to see all across women’s college basketball recently; just constant sellouts from really big-time programs, which is cool. … That energy (from the home crowd) makes it so much fun to play and then it gives us momentum. When you go on a run and you can feel that energy building, it’s really rewarding.”

    Colorado guard Maddie Nolan heads to the basket against Stanford during the Jan. 14, 2024 game in Boulder.(Cliff Grassmick/Staff Photographer)

    No. 4 CU Buffs women’s basketball vs. Oregon Ducks

    TIPOFF: Friday, 7 p.m., CU Events Center in Boulder

    TV/RADIO: Pac-12 Network/630 AM

    RECORDS: Colorado 19-3 (9-2 Pac-12); Oregon 11-12 (2-8 Pac-12)

    COACHES: Colorado — JR Payne, 8th season (138-96; 239-209 career). Oregon — Kelly Graves, 10th season (223-102; 605-265 career).

    KEY PLAYERS: Colorado — G Frida Formann, 5-11, Sr. (13.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.3 spg, .457 FG%, .423 3PT%, .918 FT%); C Quay Miller, 6-3, Sr. (9.8 ppg, 8.1 rpg, .338 3PT%); G Maddie Nolan, 5-11, Sr. (5.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .379 3PT%); G Jaylyn Sherrod, 5-7, Sr. (13.2 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.7 apg, 2.1 spg, .461 FG%); C Aaronette Vonleh, 6-3, Jr. (14.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .595 FG%); G Kindyll Wetta, 5-9, Jr. (5.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.8 apg, 1.8 spg, .485 FG%). Oregon — G Sofia Bell, 6-1, Fr. (7.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.3 spg); G Chance Gray, 5-9, So. (14.7 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.3 apg, .383 3PT%); C Phillipina Kyei, 6-8, Jr. (13.2 ppg, 12.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.4 bpg, .558 FG%); F Grace VanSlooten, 6-3, So. (15.4 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 2.6 apg).

    NOTES: CU returns home after a four-game road swing. The Buffs are 9-1 at home this season. … Oregon leads the all-time series 19-11, but the Buffs have won the last three meetings. … CU beat the Ducks, 61-48, on Jan. 28 in Eugene. Vonleh had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Buffs. … Oregon is making its first trip to Boulder since Feb. 23, 2022. … CU is 15-0 against unranked opponents this season, while the Ducks are 0-7 against ranked opponents. … Oregon is 2-8 on the road, losing its last eight. The Ducks have lost five games in a row overall. … In conference play, CU has had the best 3-point percentage defense (.289), while Oregon is tied for second (.300). Offensively, the Buffs are fourth in scoring (70.5) and the Ducks are last (55.5) in conference games. … Miller has averaged 10.0 rebounds over the last 10 games. … Miller needs 10 points to become the 35th player in CU history to reach 1,000 points as a Buff. Formann needs three points to become the 25th Buff to reach 1,200 points. … Kyei has had four consecutive double-doubles for the Ducks, averaging 16.0 points and 16.3 rebounds in that stretch. She leads the Pac-12 with 15 double-doubles this season.



    Brian Howell

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  • Marijuana prevention speaker to present in Weld RE-4, sparking controversy – Greeley Tribune – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Marijuana prevention speaker to present in Weld RE-4, sparking controversy – Greeley Tribune – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Though many school students have sat through presentations about the dangers of drugs, some community members worry about the tactics of an upcoming speaker in the Weld RE-4 School District.

    Laura Stack, founder of the marijuana prevention nonprofit Johnny’s Ambassadors, will speak this month at multiple schools across Weld County, teaching students and their guardians about the negative impact of THC, the component of cannabis that makes users feel high.

    Stack said her findings are based on research about the difference between today’s marijuana and the marijuana past generations ingested.

    In 2022, 30.7% of 12th graders reported using marijuana in the past year, and 6.3% reported using marijuana daily in the past 30 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Stack intertwines her son’s story with marijuana use into her attempts to wean middle and high school students off or keep clear of marijuana.

    Three days before Johnny, Stack’s son, died by suicide at the age of 19, he told his mother that weed ruined his life and his mind. Stack said Johnny began using marijuana at 14 in the form of heating and inhaling highly potent marijuana concentrates, known as “dabbing.”

    Stack’s upcoming stops in the Weld RE-4 School District to educate children about the dangers of THC generated a handful of concerned community members and parents who question Stack’s credibility and bias, arguing she conveys a fear-based approach that may not have…

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  • Board of County Commissioners organizes marijuana regulation hearing – Longmont Times-Call – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    Board of County Commissioners organizes marijuana regulation hearing – Longmont Times-Call – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

    The Boulder County Commissioners will hold a public hearing Thursday to discuss marijuana licensing regulation updates.

    The hearing will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday in a hybrid format, with community members able to attend and comment virtually via Zoom or in person at the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 1325 Pearl St.

    The proposed amendments largely deal with changes in terminology due to the Colorado Medical Marijuana Code and Colorado Retail Marijuana Code being combined into the combined Colorado Marijuana Code and other state and county name and department changes.

    The regulations would also strike a prohibition against stores selling products online and allow in-person pickup for marijuana products with sufficient identification would provide hearings for alleged violations.

    To register for the virtual meeting, visit www.boco.org/BOC-NOV30-2023 or call in by dialing 1-833-568-8864. The Webinar ID is 160 534 0974.

    Reach out to the Permit and License Operations Manager Kathy Gissel with any questions at kgissel@bouldercounty.gov or call 720-564-2626.

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