-
play_arrow
DPS Teachers Vote on Union Contract; Rallies Across the Country and County Jack Armstrong
Headlines Monday August 18, 2025
DPS Teacher Contract Vote
Teachers in Denver Public Schools are expected to begin voting on a tentative, three year contract agreement.
Bargainers for the Denver Classroom Teachers Association reached the tentative agreement in June, but the teachers are just now voting whether to ratify it.
The new contract includes a pay raise to $57,666 for first-year teachers, according to Denver7, as well as a one thousand dollar, yearly cost of living increase.
Another provision in the contract addresses classroom size. It says that the district will try to limit the number of students in K-5 classrooms to thirty or fewer, beginning in 2026.
Union president Rob Gould said Denver teachers already have too many responsibilities that are impacting their ability to teach. If teachers vote to ratify the contract, it would go into effect on September 1st.
Fight the Takeover Rallies
Demonstrators rallied across the country Saturday, in what organizers called a National Day of Action against Republican redistricting plans in Texas.
Several of those rallies were scheduled for Boulder County.
A new Trump-backed redistricting map would give Texas Republicans five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to CNN. Democratic lawmakers say it’s an attempt to steal the 2026 midterm elections, and in Texas, many have fled the state in order to deny lawmakers the quorum they need to vote on the new map.
In Superior, about two hundred protestors rallied outside a Tesla dealership on McCaslin Boulevard.
Audio Transcript from Demonstrators:
Demonstrator 1: Right now the main thing we’re trying to draw attention to is the attempt of Republicans in Texas to redraw the districts.
Demonstrator 2: They’re gonna try to steal the 2026 election. You know, with, uh, especially starting in Texas,redistricting so that there’s no way that a Democrat or an independent or anyone else can get in there.
Demonstrator 3: Everywhere we turn, we are seeing erosion of who we are as a nation. The norms by which we govern ourselves, not just the laws, but the norms, which are being blasted away.
The demonstrators in Superior also drew attention to the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, its use of the National Guard in Democrat-led cities, the war in Gaza, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Western Slope Wildfires
Over the weekend, the Lee fire grew to almost 137,500 acres. It is now close to becoming the fourth-largest fire in Colorado’s record.
As of Sunday night, the Lee fire is 42% contained. Saturday afternoon thunderstorms aided the efforts and also resulted in the full containment of the Elk fire nearby.
This upcoming week’s weather is expected to be warmer and drier. Rain will return this coming Saturday. Fire danger will remain high in the area.
Fire crews are also vigilant of embers from the Elk fire creating spot fires.
According to The Denver Post, “the wildfire burn areas are closed to the public, and multiple zones on the Lee fire’s southern edge remain under mandatory evacuation orders” while others have been moved back to pre-evacuation status.”
County Road 13 is now open to residents only.
Grand Junction Measles
Colorado has recorded its twentieth case of measles for the year, this time in Grand Junction. The Mesa County resident has seemingly contracted measles within the community, as they had not traveled out of the state and has had no previous exposure to other measles cases in the state.
In a news release last week, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment officials said that the case could be a, “community infection.” Officials noted that the patient had traveled around the grand junction while contagious.
Symptoms from the infection include a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads. Any experiencing these symptoms should contact the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment immediately.
