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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Front Page

  • Point in Time counts those experiencing homelessness

    Coordinated effort provides data on building comprehensive strategies to help end homelessness 
     
    ARAPAHOE COUNTY—Jan. 18, 2023—Arapahoe County will participate in the annual Point in Time Count of those experiencing homelessness on the evening of Jan. 23, 2023.  Volunteers and community partners conduct the count throughout the County.  
    The effort raises public awareness, promotes collaboration across the region, and provides needed data. The goal is to inform local government and community partner response efforts to help house neighbors experiencing homelessness. 
    The count is conducted in coordination with seven metro area counties through the Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) and is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 
    Arapahoe County counts those experiencing homelessness across all jurisdictions except within the City of Aurora, which stands alone as an individual HUD jurisdiction. Homelessness knows no boundaries and the data collected across the metro region informs coordinated efforts to support our most vulnerable community members. Including Aurora figures, more than 1100 individuals were counted in 2022—a 55% increase in just two years. 
    The 2023 numbers will be released later this year. In 2022, Arapahoe County kicked off a coordinated effort with local municipalities, service providers and community agencies to strategically work toward ending homelessness through a Homeless Coordinating Committee.  
    Data from 2022 is available from the MDHI website. 

  • Keep safe in the backcountry this winter, check avalanche forecasts

    Photos by: CPW/Bridget O’Rourke

    DENVER – Ahead of the holiday weekend, Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to remind winter outdoor enthusiasts to check avalanche forecasts at www.colorado.gov/avalanche before going into the backcountry.

    Early-season snowfall followed by heavy snow in December and early January has created dangerous avalanche conditions. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) interactive online map provides valuable, and potentially life-saving, information about dangerous avalanche areas around the state.

    The CAIC recorded over 870 avalanches since Dec. 26, 2022. There has been a fatal avalanche accident each of the last three weekends, killing four people. The avalanche danger is not going down and people can expect these dangerous conditions throughout the holiday weekend.

    “We have seen more avalanches this year than we do on a typical year, and recently they’ve gotten much bigger,” said CAIC’s Director Ethan Greene. “We want everyone to enjoy the wonderful public lands in Colorado and go home alive and well to their family and friends. We need everyone headed into the backcountry to plan their trip carefully and avoid avalanche hazards.”

    In Colorado, outdoor adventurers must be mindful of the risks that winter weather and constantly shifting weather patterns can present. Dangerous weather conditions that raise concerns are unpredictable, such as strong wind gusts, heavy snow storms, cold water temperatures and avalanches.

    Before heading out in the backcountry or on trails that go through avalanche terrain, CPW advises the following winter recreation safety tips:

    • Check the CAIC avalanche forecast and plan backcountry travel accordingly.
    • Take avalanche training.
    • Carry all required safety gear. Make sure you and every member of your group carry an avalanche-rescue transceiver, a probe pole, and a shovel – and know how to use this equipment.
    • Keep wildlife wild. Wildlife viewing ethics are particularly important during the winter. Maintain distance and do not chase animals.

    Regardless if you enjoy relaxed activities like snowshoeing and ice fishing or more advanced activities like snowmobiling and skiing, CPW encourages people that plan to spend time outside this weekend and winter to recreate safely and be mindful of avalanches and wildlife on our landscapes.

    Watch this Know Before You Go video to learn about why and when avalanches happen. For more information about CAIC’s education resources page, visit https://avalanche.state.co.us/education/resources.

    To support avalanche safety programs in Colorado, visit cpw.info/keepcoloradowild. Colorado residents who get a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass with their vehicle registration through the Division of Motor Vehicles help support local search and rescue teams and avalanche safety programs.

  • Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year!

    Happy New Year from the team at the I-70 Scout! We wish you a wonderful, beautiful, and safe year!

  • Plan Ahead This New Year’s Eve

    Troopers will be looking for partygoers who fail to get a sober rider

    (COLO) – Drive sober. It sounds obvious, yet hundreds of Coloradoans will get behind the wheel of a vehicle this weekend feeling buzzed, stoned or wasted. No matter what the substance is that impairs you, Colorado State Troopers are sending a message.  Laws don’t care how you “feel” after you’ve consumed. Any time that you are impaired, you are violating the law.

    So, this year, while you search for a babysitter or select the best outfit to wear to ring in the New Year, your Colorado State Troopers want you to arrange for a sober ride if you plan on consuming.

    Looking at data from the Colorado State Patrol, last December (2021) troopers issued 388 citations for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and investigated 44 fatal or injury crashes caused by impaired driving.

    “Historically December is a busy month for law enforcement due to poor decision-making at holiday parties which leads to impaired drivers on Colorado’s highways and community streets,” explains Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol. “When you fail to call a rideshare or a sober friend, you endanger every motorist and pedestrian on your path home.”

    In addition to struggling with maintaining a consistent speed and erratic breaking, an intoxicated driver often drifts between lanes and sometimes hovers over a lane line. In a worst-case scenario, this could lead to a head-on collision, forcing another driver off the road or a side-swipe crash.

    When the Colorado State Patrol looked at DUI/DUID fatal and injury crashes investigated by the Patrol for the first six months of 2022 (Jan – June 2022), the top five counties were:

    stats

    In addition, with these same crashes, Troopers found that the at-fault driver of these DUI/DUID fatal and injury crashes was not wearing their seatbelt 63% of the time.

    “We want you to live to celebrate the holidays,” states Col. Matthew C. Packard. “If you are going out, get a sober ride.”

    Troopers continue to take a low tolerance approach to lane violations while launching a yearlong campaign called “Stay in Your Lane.” This campaign is designed to remind people to control their lane position based on their current driving environment. This campaign also aims to bring attention to three of the most common and avoidable behaviors that contribute to lane violations – driving aggressively, driving distracted or driving while impaired.

  • Anythink Libraries announces New Year’s holiday Closure

    THORNTON, Colo.–Dec. 27, 2022–All Anythink libraries and administrative offices will close at 3 pm on Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, and will be closed through Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in observance of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Anythink locations will return to regularly scheduled hours of operation on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023. 
     
    About Anythink™ 
    Anythink is a new style of library – a place of unlimited imagination, where play inspires creativity and lifelong learning. Anythink serves the residents of Adams County, Colo., with seven libraries and a bookmobile. With a focus on innovation, Anythink’s award-winning approach to library service is recognized by industry leaders and organizations across the globe. For more information, visit anythinklibraries.org.  

  • County Judicial Services office at Lima Plaza is closed due to water damage

    The Arapahoe County Judicial Services office at Lima Plaza is closed until further notice due to water damage caused by a broken water pipe. The Judicial Services satellite office at Altura Plaza in Aurora is open with normal business hours.

  • County Judicial Services office at Lima Plaza is closed due to water damage

    The Arapahoe County Judicial Services office at Lima Plaza is closed until further notice due to water damage caused by a broken water pipe. The Judicial Services satellite office at Altura Plaza in Aurora is open with normal business hours.

  • Colorado National Guard Media Advisory: Colorado National Guard assists state with shelter support during extreme cold weather

    By Colorado National Guard Public Affairs

    CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado National Guard is assisting the state emergency operations center (EOC)  with extreme cold weather support in Denver starting Dec. 21, 2022 through Dec. 23, 2022.

    Approximately 50 servicemembers will support local authorities at a warming center at the Denver Colosseum, Denver YMCA, East Boulder Community Center, and other locations in Metropolitan Denver to help Colorado people need assistance during the extreme cold front. Additional service members will support warming centers in the Denver metro area.

     

    “During the holiday season the members of the Colorado Army and Air National Guard are here to help the people of Colorado in times of need, such as the extreme weather event we are about to experience,” 140th Wing Commander U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher Southard said.  “As citizen airmen and soldiers, we are always ready to support our community members in times of need and it’s an honor to serve our community when called upon.” During COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020, over 130 servicemembers assisted Coloradans at local shelters as part of Task Force Shelter Support.

    People are our priority which includes supporting our local,  state, and federal partners, while continuing to maintain our wartime readiness. We are postured to provide additional support if officially requested through the Colorado state EOC.

  • State Fire Agency Urges Fire Safety During Extreme Weather Conditions

    Lakewood, CO- As the winter storm makes its way through Colorado this week, it’s vital to be aware of heating sources in your home that could start a fire. From a space heater and candles to your oven and even your Christmas tree, those are all things that could start a fire if you’re not careful.

    The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) urges those that live, work, and play in Colorado to keep safety at the forefront of their minds. “With a lot of people staying in their homes because of the extreme conditions, being fire cautious is essential,” said DFPC Director Mike Morgan. “Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.”

    Winter Fire Safety Tips:

    • Working smoke alarms are especially important during a loss of power when people may use alternate forms of heating equipment, portable generators and candles.
    • Never use candles for emergency lighting. Many things in your home can catch fire if they are too close to a candle’s flame.
    • Use flashlights for emergency lighting and stock up on batteries.
    • Have a qualified repair company or licensed electrician inspect water-damaged appliances and home wiring after a flood.
    • Portable generators are useful during storms, but if not used safely, they can cause injury and death. Keep portable generators outside, away from windows, and as far away as possible from your home.
    • Install and test carbon monoxide alarms at least once a month.
    • Do not use the following devices indoors as supplemental heat sources, due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning: propane grills, propane heaters, charcoal grills, or similar types of devices.

  • New study ranks Colorado as one of the Most Dishonest States in America

    Which US state is home to America’s biggest bluffers?

    • Through the creation of an index, Gambling.com reveals the most dishonest states in the US.
    • The people of Wyoming came out as America’s biggest bluffers, with an index score of 80.5 out of 100.
    • California ranked 50th and was named America’s most honest state, with a score of 21.2 out of 100.

    Let’s face it, we all know someone who’s a bit of a bluffer – whether it’s a work colleague, a best friend or a family member. Whoever it is, they might simply sugar-coat the truth, or maybe they actively tell serious untruths?

    Well, Gambling.com wanted to find out if people’s location factors into telling more white lies. By researching the most dishonest states in America using Google search data on ‘tips on lying’, ‘how to bluff’, ‘Ashley Madison’, as well as divorce rates and Integrity Scores, Gambling.com created an index ranking the most dishonest states in America, finding some interesting stats and correlations.

    So, which are the most dishonest states?

    Below is a list of all of the US states, in order of index score:

    Rank State Tips on Lying* How to Bluff* Ashley Madison* Divorce Rates Integrity Scores Index Score
    1 Wyoming 74 300 224 12.2% 51 80.5
    2 Vermont 76 281 247 12.5% 60 75.3
    3 Maine 51 202 263 13.9% 59 64.0
    4 North Dakota 65 251 200 9.4% 50 60.2
    5 Delaware 66 250 159 11.2% 56 60.0
    6 Nevada 55 150 207 13.8% 57 58.2
    7 New Hampshire 54 205 259 12.0% 61 56.6
    8 Montana 53 199 263 12.5% 64 55.7
    9 South Dakota 55 219 178 10.8% 56 52.0
    10 Oregon 44 138 280 12.7% 59 51.4
    11 New Mexico 46 147 207 13.3% 61 48.9
    12 Colorado 44 128 375 11.9% 67 48.4
    13 Oklahoma 43 146 202 13.1% 59 47.7
    14 Alaska 77 248 119 11.4% 76 47.2
    15 Rhode Island 62 215 172 11.1% 68 46.3
    16 Arizona 44 122 304 12.2% 64 45.9
    17 Michigan 38 131 219 11.6% 51 45.6
    18 West Virginia 45 191 163 13.2% 66 45.2
    19 Missouri 37 136 292 12.2% 62 45.1
    20 Nebraska 49 164 332 10.2% 67 44.2
    21 Idaho 46 162 190 12.0% 62 43.5
    22 Kansas 43 148 223 11.2% 59 42.3
    23 Virginia 45 123 378 10.1% 66 42.2
    24 Florida 39 105 224 13.0% 61 41.9
    25 Connecticut 54 127 335 10.5% 71 41.5
    26 Washington 47 126 281 11.5% 67 41.2
    27 Arkansas 42 147 145 12.9% 61 40.9
    28 Georgia 47 120 248 11.2% 63 40.3
    29 Indiana 34 140 216 12.3% 62 39.0
    30 Maryland 53 137 236 9.9% 64 38.0
    31 Pennsylvania 38 112 310 9.7% 58 37.9
    32 Utah 44 144 293 9.0% 62 37.0
    33 Hawaii 71 163 163 9.1% 69 36.1
    34 Ohio 35 120 279 12.0% 68 36.0
    35 Minnesota 41 129 256 10.2% 62 35.8
    36 Texas 41 97 247 10.5% 60 35.1
    37 Massachusetts 49 111 312 9.4% 67 34.9
    38 Louisiana 41 120 141 11.6% 59 34.3
    39 Wisconsin 36 122 249 10.9% 63 34.2
    40 Kentucky 33 137 178 13.0% 67 34.1
    41 Tennessee 35 126 211 12.2% 66 34.0
    42 North Carolina 39 116 255 10.7% 65 33.6
    43 South Carolina 39 122 190 10.7% 60 33.1
    44 Illinois 41 116 316 9.7% 67 33.0
    45 Alabama 36 125 195 12.2% 67 32.8
    46 New York 44 96 297 8.8% 61 32.6
    47 Mississippi 40 136 98 11.5% 61 30.6
    48 Iowa 36 137 205 10.8% 67 29.2
    49 New Jersey 44 103 289 8.6% 65 28.7
    50 California 49 86 226 9.2% 73 21.2

    *(Average monthly search volume per 100,000 of the population)

    Wyoming is officially the most dishonest US state, taking the top spot on Gambling.com’s index. This state had the highest number of searches for ‘How to bluff’ (300 searches per 100,000 residents) and the highest index score, at a whopping 80.5 out of 100! So, maybe think twice about who you believe in this spot…

    • Vermont ranks second (75.3)
    • New England ranks third (64).

    The most honest state is California

    It seems sunny California is the place to find the most honest US residents, having the second-highest integrity score (73) as well as the fifth-lowest divorce rate (9.2%) in America!

    To find out more about this research, head over to https://www.gambling.com/us/news/where-can-you-find-america-s-biggest-bluffers-3702500.