Headlines Monday, July 27, 2026
-
play_arrow
Victor Marx campaign finance violated limits; Oakland, CA resident detained at DIA; Mark Wallach resigns after municipal airport vote KGNU News
Victor Marx campaign finance violated limits
The state says Republican gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx’s campaign violated campaign finance limits during the primary election.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s office has filed a formal complaint against the Marx campaign. It says the campaign accepted $78,000 in donations over the legally allowed limit. And 111 donors sent the campaign money over that limit.
State law restricts the amount of individual donations and bans cash donations over 100 dollars. Victor Marx’s gubernatorial campaign said it is cooperating and working with the state to address the issue and takes campaign finance compliance seriously.
Marx defeated two other Republicans to win the GOP’s nomination for governor. He faces Democrat Phil Weiser this November.
Oakland, CA resident detained at DIA
A California resident was detained at Denver International Airport last Monday before her flight home to Oakland. Chantel Morales Rojas is currently being held in the ICE GEO Group facility in Aurora.
As of Thursday, the Denver Post reported that Morales Rojas’ lawyers have filed a habeas corpus petition challenging her confinement at the ICE facility. ICE had told the Post previously that Morales Rojas had overstayed her visa after previously residing in Ecuador. ICE said the visa allowed her to stay in the country until January of 2025.
Morales Rojas’ lawyers say she had a pending ability to stay in the country and the U.S. government knew of her pending citizenship status. The habeas corpus petition filed on her behalf asks the federal court to order Morales Rojas’ immediate release or require the government to provide an individualized custody determination.
Lawyers from Lichter Immigration Law in Denver say the case is important going forward to know how the federal government sees the importance of due process.
Mark Wallach resigns after municipal airport vote
Boulder City Councilmember Mark Wallach resigned this past Thursday moments after the council voted to keep Boulder Municipal Airport open indefinitely. Wallach made the surprise move, stating that the vote conflicted with his values.
Council voted to keep open the Boulder Municipal Airport 8-1. Advocates for closing the airport have cited environmental, safety and noise pollution concerns as reasons to close the airport.
Wallach was an advocate for reusing the land at the airport; supporters of reusing the land say it could provide a new avenue for affordable housing. Wallach was the only council member to vote against keeping the airport open.
The 8-1 decision means that the city will pursue the Federal Aviation Administration. Debate over keeping the airport open at last Thursday’s meeting mostly centered around fiscal responsibility in keeping the airport open, according to the Boulder Reporting Lab.
A federal grant could support the airport for years.
Last week was Wallach’s return to his council seat after a fall, his third term now cut short.
Wildfire update
A Wildfire evacuation has been issued in Douglas county west of Sedalia. The evacuation is set for a two mile radius around Doug Co fire station 132. Denver 7 says the amount of homes evacuated in the area is unknown, but asks residents to report displacement to the Sedalia post office.
The Penley fire is spread about 3 acres as of Sunday evening and already threatens at least a dozen structures in it’s growth path.
Other fires continue to burn more acreage within the state. Evacuation orders were lifted for the Aspen acres fire. The fire sits at 61 percent containment. Threat of new fire growth is not over in the area, as lightning caused fire could add to the Aspen acres flames during the week. A total of over 800 structures, including 337 homes, have been destroyed in the fires wake.
Other growing fires in our state include the Elk fire, under 0 percent containment as of yesterday burning over 2,300 acres in Hinsdale county and the Gold Mountain Fire, which has burned over 32,000 acres under 37 percent containment by crews south of OURAY colorado.
Denver heat
Denver saw back-to-back triple-digit heat days this weekend; Sunday was the hottest day of the year thus far, hitting 103 degrees in the Mile High. Saturday topped out at at least 101 degrees
You can hear daily headlines on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show, with coverage of local and regional public affairs and news with headlines and commentary. Click here to listen to full episodes of the Morning Magazine.
