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12_10_2024amheadlines Greta Kerkhoff
BVSD acts to protect vulnerable students
The Boulder Valley School District (BVSD) is preparing to protect vulnerable students from potential threats under the incoming Trump administration.
BVSD students and families have expressed fear about what’s to come, according to Boulder Reporting Lab.
In response, the district has drafted a resolution confirming its intention to protect students in groups already being marginalized by Trump, including those who are undocumented, and those a part of the LBGTQ+ community.
The board is set to take action on the resolution at its meeting today.
BVSD does not collect data on the immigration status of its students; however, 790 students are currently enrolled in the district’s Newcomer Program. Students in the program have recently arrived in the country and are low in English language proficiency.
Investigation finds Colorado voter system passwords were not intentionally posted
An investigator has found that Colorado voter system passwords were not intentionally posted online, and ended up available to the public due to “a series of inadvertent and unforeseen events.”
The passwords were posted via a spreadsheet on the Secretary of State’s website back in June, and discovered by a 2020 election denier on Oct. 24. Some of the passwords were still active, though someone would have to have access to highly secured voting systems to actually use them.
A Denver attorney said the breach was an accident by Secretary of State Jena Griswold or staff in her office, but nevertheless violated two policies. In her report, attorney Beth Doherty Quinn recommended that the agency more thoroughly review any documents before they are uploaded online.
Though no employees knew that what they posted contained active passwords, Doherty Quinn recommended that from now on passwords are kept safe using special software, and that any meta data is removed before publication.
Colorado loses House Majority
Recounts confirm that Democrats no longer have a supermajority in the Colorado House of Representatives.
The recount in House District 16 in Colorado Springs resulted in a net gain of only three votes for Democrat Stephanie Vigil. That means she’s officially lost her spot to Republican Rebecca Keltie.
Meanwhile in House District 19, the recount didn’t grant any votes to Democrat Jillaire McMillan. Republican Dan Woog, however, picked up one extra vote, officially winning the seat.
Republicans also flipped the House seat in District 50. Democrat Mary Young of Greeley lost her reelection bid to Republican Ryan Gonzalez.
The three flipped seats will reduce the Democratic edge in the House. Dems used to have a supermajority of 46 seats, to Republicans’ 19. Now, Dems have 43 seats and Republicans have 32.
Colorado law requires a recount when the difference between candidates is less than 0.5%.
Colorado communities oppose Utah railroad
The U.S. Supreme Court will continue to hear arguments today regarding the battle over a proposed railroad along the Colorado River. KGNU’s Grace Maruska has more details.
The proposed Uinta Basin Railway would run near critical water sources in Colorado. Opponents successfully stopped the 88-mile project from moving forward in 2023 when a federal appeals judge ruled that the impacts of the line needed further consideration.
However, various private companies and Utah communities backing the project petitioned the Supreme Court to review the appeals judge’s decision. According to The Denver Post, the petition was accepted by the court in June.
If the project goes forward, the line would allow Utah oil fields to be connected to the national rail network, greatly increasing the amount of crude oil transported across Colorado State lines.
Multiple government officials, including Attorney General Phil Weiser, say the project would greatly increase the risk of spills, threatening Colorado’s water supply quality.
Justices will hear both sides’ arguments today; however, a decision is likely months away.
Opponents of Gross Dam expansion continue to fight
Opponents of the $531 million Gross Dam expansion are asking a judge to halt construction.
Save the Colorado, along with another environmental coalition, have tried to halt the expansion for years. They tried to negotiate with project leaders earlier this year, after senior U.S. District Court Judge Christine Arguello ruled that Denver Water had received an invalid permit for the project from the Army Corps of Engineers. The permit was found to violate the Clean Water Act and National Environmental Policy Act, by bolstering reservoir capacity with a bigger dam.
Since then, the groups have failed to negotiate a remedy for the illegal permit.
Now, opponents are asking Arguello to issue an injunction that would halt the project while she considers other solutions.
Denver Water says that pausing the project would threaten dam safety, while their opponents warn of “catastrophic” environmental damage if the project continues.
CU Boulder recognized at Gold level by American Heart Association
The American Heart Association awarded the University of Colorado Boulder gold-level recognition for its efforts to support the health of its employees.
CU Boulder’s 2024 Well-being Works Better Scorecard promoted health equity, burnout prevention and emphasized both physical and mental health. According to The Daily Camera, the scorecard allows CU Boulder to assess its health and well-being strategies compared to recommended best practices.
