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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Front Page

  • State Patrol is Asking for Assistance in a Fatal Hit and Run Crash

    State Patrol is Asking for Assistance in a Fatal Hit and Run Crash

    On April 11, 2023, at approximately 7:45PM, Colorado State Patrol Troopers responded to a hit and run crash on 76th Avenue and Leyden Street in Adams County.   A red Dodge Magnum hit and killed a 16 year old female juvenile pedestrian and then fled the scene.

    The initial investigation revealed the pedestrian was crossing 76th Ave. in a southbound direction at Leyden street.  The Dodge Magnum was traveling east on 76th Ave. when it struck the pedestrian in the crosswalk.  The driver has not yet been identified.

    Investigators need your help identifying the vehicle and driver of this hit and run.  The vehicle is believed to be a red Dodge Magnum which should have damage to the front headlights.  The license plate is unknown.  We have included a picture of the actual vehicle below.  If you witnessed the crash, or have any information and have not spoken to investigators, please contact Colorado State Patrol Dispatch at (303) 239-4501.  You can reference the case number as 1D231494.

  • Arapahoe County offices at Altura Plaza closed for the day

    Arapahoe County’s Altura Plaza offices at 15400 E 14th Pl, Aurora will be closed for the rest of the day due to emergency sewer pipe repairs taking place adjacent to the building.

  • April 3rd Rally at State Capitol Launches Child Abuse Prevention Month

    Attendees will be wearing blue to bring awareness to the role we all play in strengthening families to prevent child abuse and neglect

    DENVER (March. 31, 2023) — The Colorado Department of Human Serivces, Office of Children Youth and Families, along with their partners, is marking the start of National Child Abuse Prevention Month (April) with a rally at the Colorado State Capitol. The event will feature speakers who reflect the continuum of child abuse prevention – from families who have accessed support to community-based organizations that connect families to the resources they need, to the prevention work and resources provided by caseworkers and the child welfare system.

    Event attendees will join thousands of people around the country in wearing blue to show support for promoting positive childhood experiences to inspire Colorado to grow a better tomorrow for all children. The event is also the start of a month-long campaign by partners across the state to promote #PreventionInPartnership and #BuildingTogether during the month of April to raise awareness of the many ways Coloradans can help to strengthen families in their community to ensure all children have the opportunity to thrive.

    WHO: 
    Event speakers and interview subjects include:

    • Minna Castillo Cohen – Director of the Office of Children, Youth and Families at the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS)
    • Mary Alice Cohen – Deputy Director, Colorado Department of Early Childhood
    • Lupita Cardoza – Lafayette mother
    • Mekialaya White, Event emcee – News Anchor, KCNC/CBS Denver
    • Timiya Jackson – Executive Director, Heart and Hand Center of Denver
    • Stacey Tracy – Prevention Caseworker, Denver Human Services
    • Jade Woodard – Executive Director, Illuminate Colorado

    Approximately 100 community partners, county leaders and child advocates are expected to attend the annual event.

    WHEN:
    Monday, April 3, 2023 | 1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

    WHERE:
    Colorado State Capitol
    West Steps (or West Foyer if weather requires)
    200 E. Colfax Avenue


    HISTORY/Background:
    In 2015, the Colorado Department of Human Services, in partnership with more than 150 community partners throughout the state, launched the ongoing CO4Kids Child Abuse and Neglect Public Awareness Campaign to engage all Coloradans in the prevention of child abuse and promote the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437). 

  • Air Quality Health Advisory for Blowing Dust- Eastern Plains of Colorado and San Luis Valley

    Issued for the eastern plains of Colorado and the San Luis Valley Issued at 10:00 AM MDT, Thursday, March 30, 2023

    Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

    Affected Area: Alamosa, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Prowers, Otero, Baca, Bent, Huerfano, Crowley, Las Animas, eastern Pueblo and southern Elbert Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Alamosa, Lamar, Limon, Cheyenne Wells, Burlington, Hugo, Springfield, La Junta, Eads, La Veta Pass, Trinidad, Boone, and Las Animas.

    Advisory in Effect: 10:00 AM MDT, Thursday, March 30, 2023 to 8:00 PM MDT, Thursday, March 30, 2023.

    Public Health Recommendations: If significant blowing dust is present and reducing visibility to less than 10 miles across a wide area, People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children in the affected area should reduce prolonged or heavy indoor and outdoor exertion.

    Outlook: Strong and gusty winds will produce areas of blowing dust on Thursday. The threat for blowing dust will gradually diminish by Thursday evening.

    For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit:

    http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

    Social Media:

    http://www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd http://twitter.com/cdpheapcd

  • CPW continues human-bear conflict reduction grant program; offers $1 million in grants to reduce conflicts in local communities

    Photo courtesy of DJ Hannigan

    DENVER – In an effort to help communities co-exist with bears, Colorado Parks and Wildlife will continue its Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program, providing local Colorado communities with financial resources to support efforts that reduce human-bear conflicts.

    CPW will be offering up to $1 million that it will distribute through a competitive grant process this spring to be used on projects that reduce conflicts with bears in local communities. This grant program strives to foster innovative solutions to human-bear conflict that can be replicated in other parts of the state and bolster those efforts in all communities in Colorado.

    Last year, funding for the program was made available through House Bill 21-1326, which passed the General Assembly and was signed by Governor Polis in 2021. This program was so successful that CPW decided to continue the program and fund it themselves.

    Local governments, NGOs, HOAs, community groups, businesses, tribes, universities and individuals are all eligible to receive funding. Applicants can apply for grants between $50,000 and $500,000. 

    “Human-bear conflict measures cannot be successful without collaboration between local communities, wildlife managers and individuals,” said CPW Grant Manager Travis Long. “Fortunately, CPW saw success with this grant program last year with many communities taking advantage of the opportunities this funding provided and implementing projects to help reduce conflicts with bears.”

    Eligible Projects
    The goal of the Human-Bear Conflict Reduction Community Grant Program is to reduce conflicts between local communities and black bears. Characteristics of projects that help meet this goal include:

    • Reducing the availability of attractants to black bears in communities experiencing human-bear conflict or disincentivizing black bears from entering areas of high conflict (i.e. hazing).
    • Have local community support or detailed plans to build local support.
    • Are cost-effective investments that have the potential to last beyond the funding time frame.
    • Utilize proven techniques for preventing conflict or explore an innovation with promise to prevent conflict.

    How to Apply
    Applications are available on CPW’s website and are due by May 5, 2023 at 5 p.m. For questions or application assistance, please contact CPW Grant Manager Travis Long at . Successful grant recipients will be announced in June, 2023.

    Click here to view the 2022 grant recipients to see what types of projects were selected during the competitive grant process.

    Bears activity in Colorado
    Wildlife managers estimate that Colorado has between 17,000 – 20,000 bears and the population is stable and growing.

    “Bear behavior is consistent and predictable,” said Area Wildlife Manager Tim Kroening. “They spend all day looking for food and most conflicts with humans can be traced back to a human provided food source like trash and bird seed. That is why humans are the focal point for wildlife managers when trying to reduce conflicts with bears.”

    From 2019-22, CPW received over 18,000 reports of sightings and conflicts with bears. Nearly one-third of those reports involved trash cans and dumpsters as an attractant, which will be a target area CPW looks to address when awarding grants. 

    Other constant sources of conflict include birdfeeders, livestock, bears accessing open garages and other human originated items that are left unsecured.

    Increasing human-bear conflicts can lead to property damage and increased demands on time and effort to respond to the conflicts by CPW and local government personnel. Expanding existing conflict reduction efforts or developing new approaches will help reduce impacts on bear populations and community resources, and improve public safety. 

    Learn more about CPW’s other grant programs on our website: https://cpw.state.co.us/aboutus/Pages/GrantPrograms.aspx

  • Arapahoe County Honors National Public Health Week

    Board of County Commissioners proclaims the week of April 3-9, 2023, as National Public Health Week 
     
    ARAPAHOE COUNTY – Mar. 28, 2023 – Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners, in recognition of the numerous contributions of public health professionals within the county, will proclaim April 3-9, 2023, as National Public Health Week, with this years’ theme being “Centering and Celebrating Cultures in Health.” The proclamation comes as the county’s Public Health Department begins its fourth month of operation. 
     
    Arapahoe County Public Health Department opened its doors Jan. 1 with 180 employees ready to serve the county’s diverse community. The department provides a full scope of programs, including nurse home visitation, family planning, restaurant, childcare inspection, water quality, communicable disease prevention, emergency preparedness and response. protect our environment and prevent disease. 
     
    Who:     Arapahoe Board of County Commissioners 

    What:   National Public Health Week Proclamation  

    When:  9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 28, 2023 
    Where: 5335 South Prince Street, Littleton, CO 80120 

  • CBI labs recognized for implementing national standards

    DENVER, Colo. — CBI — March, 16, 2023  The Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is proud to announce its forensic labs were nationally recognized as a “OSAC Standards Implementer” for their application of high-quality standards and practices in forensic science by the National Institutes of Science and Technology (NIST)-sponsored Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).

    All four labs have been awarded an OSAC Registry Standards Implementer Certificate. The certificates recognize each of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation laboratories: Denver, Grand Junction, Pueblo, and Northern Colorado Regional Forensic Laboratory.

    “The CBI Forensic Services is committed to following national standards and best practices. Over the years several CBI Forensic Scientists have been members of the OSAC discipline-specific committees to help create the OSAC standards. I’m proud of the work by the CBI scientists and all of Forensic Services to now implement these standards in our analysis,” said Deputy Director Lance Allen who oversees the CBI’s Forensic Services section.

    OSAC recognizes crime labs that implement rigorous standards into their procedures as defined in their Registered Standards. The Registry is a repository of technically sound standards and best practices for forensic laboratories, and covers a broad spectrum of forensic disciplines including DNA, toxicology and digital evidence.

    According to OSAC, these standards can “improve consistency across forensic science disciplines, ensure confidence in the accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of laboratory results, and positively increase the impact of admissibility and expert testimony in courts of law.”

    “We congratulate the four Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Forensic Science Laboratories for joining the growing list of agencies implementing the high-quality standards on the OSAC Registry into their operations. By embracing national standards and participating in their development, CBI is actively demonstrating its commitment to quality. Implementation of these standards should provide additional confidence to CBI stakeholders that their laboratories are analyzing forensic science evidence on a consistently sound foundation.  We appreciate CBI’s support of OSAC and look forward to continuing to work with CBI as an OSAC Implementer as new standards are posted on the OSAC Registry and enhance the practice of forensic science in the United States,” said John Paul Jones II, OSAC Program Manager with the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

    OSAC certificate

  • Gov. Polis Signs Bipartisan Bills into Law to Cut Red Tape, Support Colorado’s Teachers & National Guard Servicemembers

    DENVER — Today, Governor Polis signed bipartisan legislation into law to support Colorado’s national guard servicemembers, cut red tape, and reduce interstate barriers to strengthen Colorado’s workforce. Enacting the Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact makes it easier for people, including eligible military spouses, to transfer their certificates when moving to Colorado. This added flexibility is the latest in a series of steps the Polis administration in partnership with the legislature has taken to advocate for Colorado as the best and rightful home for Space Command which the Governor, Lt. Governor, and local leaders pushed for this week in a letter to the President. 
    Governor Polis signed the following bills into law in ceremony:
    • HB23-1034 Measures To Expand Postconviction DNA Testing – Representatives Lindsey Daugherty & Matt Soper, Senators Julie Gonzales & Cleave Simpson
    • HB23-1053 Veterans’ Cemetery Department of Public Safety Gifts Grants Donations – Representatives Anthony Hartsook & David Ortiz, Senators Rachel Zenzinger & Janice Rich
    • HB23-1045 Employee Leave For Colorado National Guard Service – Representative Gabe Evans, Senators Byron Pelton & Nick Hinrichsen
    • HB23-1064 Interstate Teacher Mobility Compact – Representatives Meghan Lukens & Mary Young, Senators Janice Marchman & Chris Kolker
    Governor Polis also signed the following bills into law administratively:
    • SB23-010 Water Resources And Agriculture Review Committee – Representative Barbara McLachlan, Senators Jeff Bridges & Cleave Simpson
    • SB23-040 Staffing Agency CAPS Checks – Representative Mary Young, Senator Rhonda Fields 

  • It’s almost Oscars time. Here’s everything you need to know

    By The Associated Press

    NEW YORK (AP) – Hollywood is gearing up for the 95th Academy Awards, where “Everything Everywhere All at Once” comes in the lead nominee and the film industry will hope to move past “the slap” of last year’s ceremony. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 Oscars, including when they are, where to watch the live show and this year’s controversies.

    ___

    WHEN ARE THE OSCARS?

    The Oscars will be held Sunday, March 12, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony is set to begin at 8 p.m. EST and be broadcast live on ABC.

    CAN YOU STREAM THE OSCARS?

    The broadcast can be streamed with a subscription to Hulu Live TV, YouTubeTV, AT&T TV and Fubo TV. Some of these services offer brief free trials. You can also stream the show on ABC.com and on the ABC app by authenticating your provider.

    WHO’S HOSTING?

    WHAT’S NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE AT THE 2023 OSCARS?

    The 10 movies competing for best picture are: “All Quiet on the Western Front,” “Avatar: The Way of Water,” “The Banshees of Inisherin,” “Elvis,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “The Fabelmans,” “Tár,” “Top Gun: Maverick,” “Triangle of Sadness,” “Women Talking.” Here’s a guide to how you can watch them.

    WHO’S PRESENTING?

    Presenters include: Halle Bailey, Antonio Banderas, Elizabeth Banks, Jessica Chastain, John Cho, Andrew Garfield, Hugh Grant, Danai Gurira, Salma Hayek Pinault, Nicole Kidman, Florence Pugh and Sigourney Weaver. They join a previously announced group including: Riz Ahmed, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Jennifer Connelly, Ariana DeBose, Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, Troy Kotsur, Jonathan Majors, Melissa McCarthy, Janelle Monáe, Deepika Padukone, Questlove, Zoe Saldaña and Donnie Yen. A third wave was announced Thursday: Halle Berry, Paul Dano, Cara Delevingne, Harrison Ford, Kate Hudson, Mindy Kaling, Eva Longoria, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Andie MacDowell, Elizabeth Olsen, Pedro Pascal and John Travolta.

    WHAT ELSE IS IN STORE FOR THE SHOW?

    The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has said that winners to all categories will be announced live on the show. (Last year, some categories were taped in a pre-show, something that caused an uproar among academy members.) All signs point to a full slate of musical performances, with Rihanna performing
    “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava singing Chandrabose and M.M. Keeravaani’s “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR.” Nominee Lady Gaga, on the other hand, will not sing “Hold My Hand,” from “Top
    Gun: Maverick,” during the show. On Monday, show producers announced that Lenny Kravitz will deliver the “In Memoriam” performance.

    WHO ARE THE FAVORITES?

    Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert’s indie sci-fi hit “Everything Everywhere All at Once” comes in with a leading 11 nominations. Close on its heels, though, is the Irish friends-falling-out dark comedy “The Banshees of Inisherin,” with nine nods, a total matched by Netflix’s WWI film “All Quiet on the Western Front.”
    Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) may have a slight edge on Cate Blanchett (“Tár”) for best actress. Best actor is harder to call, with Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”) and Austin Butler (“Elvis”) in the mix. In the supporting categories, Angela Bassett (“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”) and Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”) are the frontrunners, though Jamie Lee Curtis’ Screen Actors Guild Awards win may have thrown a wrench into the supporting actress category. Steven Spielberg (“The Fabelmans”) may win his third best director Oscar, though the Daniels may have emerged as the frontrunners. AP Film Writers Lindsey Bahr and Jake Coyle are predicting a big haul for “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

    WHAT’S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL THIS YEAR?

    Aside from the usual snubs and surprises, this year’s biggest to-do has been the debate surrounding Andrea Riseborough’s unexpected nomination for best actress. Riseborough was nominated for the little-seen, Texas-set drama “To Leslie” after
    many A-list stars rallied around her performance. When two other best-actress contenders – Danielle Deadwyler (“Till”) and Viola Davis (“Woman King”) – were snubbed, some saw that as a reflection of racial bias in the film industry. The academy launched an inquiry into the star-studded, grassroots campaign for Riseborough but found no reason to rescind her nomination.

    WHAT ELSE SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR?

    Just the reading of the title to one of this year’s short film nominees should prompt a wave of giggles. John Williams (“The Fabelmans”), up for best score, is the oldest nominee ever, at 90 years old. After historic back-to-back best- director wins by Chloé Zhao (“Nomadland”) and Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”), no women were nominated this year for best director. Also don’t expect to see Will Smith at the Oscars anytime soon. After striking Chris Rock at last year’s ceremony, Smith was banned by the film academy from attending for 10 years. In a live Netflix special on Saturday, Rock finally punched back at Smith
    with a blistering stand-up set about the incident.

    ___

    For more on this year’s Oscars, visit: https://apnews.com/hub/academy-awards

  • Scheduled Upgrades to ColoradoSOS.gov to Take Place March 10-13

    Denver, Colo – The Department of State’s website, www.ColoradoSOS.gov, will be undergoing scheduled upgrades beginning Friday, March 10 at 6 p.m. and continuing as late as Monday, March 13 at 6 a.m.

    Online services, including business filings and online voter registration, will be unavailable during this time. Business owners and other filers should complete any online filings before 5 p.m. on March 10.

    For information on when this work is completed and services are restored, please visit the Secretary of State’s Office’s Social Media pages by clicking the links below: