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MorningMagazine_2025-02-03 Jack Dawson
CPW working to hire range riders to protect livestock from wolves
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is working to deploy range riders to protect livestock from recently reintroduced gray wolves.
Ranchers have continuously raised concerns about wolves preying on livestock, especially since voters approved reintroduction efforts in 2020. To mitigate these concerns, CPW has already started to recruit range riders, who would patrol ranches day and night to keep livestock safe.
CPW hopes to deploy over a dozen range riders by calving season, the time when livestock is most vulnerable.
At the same time, Republican Lauren Boebert and the three other members of Colorado’s Congressional Delegation are trying to get the gray wolf removed from the endangered species list, and stop wolf reintroduction in the state.
Wildlife biologists and environmental activists continue to argue that wolves are vital to keeping the natural ecological balance, and prevent certain species from becoming overpopulated. That’s according to CBS News Colorado.
Tour guide at former Colorado mine died by falling out of elevator
The tour guide that died at a former Colorado gold mine last year fell out of a crowded elevator after apparently not latching its door closed.
The incident that led to the death of tour guide Patrick Weier and left 23 people trapped 1,000 feet underground for six hours happened at Mollie Kathleen Mine back in October. Initially, sheriffs said that Weier’s death was caused by “operator error” but did not explain how he died or what the error was.
But according to documents recently obtained by The Associated Press, the guide had trouble squeezing himself into the elevator because it was so crowded. He didn’t latch the door fully as a result, and fell out after ringing the bell to stop the elevator, at first trapped between the shaft wall and the still-moving elevator. He then fell out into the top elevator car, onto a tourist as the elevator continued its descent.
Rep. Crow concerned that Buckley Space Force Base is being used to conduct ICE operations
A local Democratic leader says he’s deeply concerned about the Department of Homeland Security’s use of Buckley Space Force Base.
Jason Crow, a Democrat representing Colorado’s 6th Congressional District which includes much of Aurora and all of the military base, released a statement over the weekend expressing worry that the base will be used for “mass deportation efforts.”
This comes nearly a week after the U.S. Northern Command began providing facilities at the base at the request of the Department of Homeland Security. According to the US Northern Command, the base is being used by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) senior leaders, special agents, and analysts, as well as officials from the Department of Homeland Security and other federal law enforcement agencies They added that no military personnel will be involved in the operation.
Grocery workers at King Soopers set to strike
Grocery workers at King Soopers stores in Colorado have approved a strike.
Workers from stores across the state – including in Boulder and Denver – voted overwhelmingly to strike over unfair labor practices late last week. According to their union, a strike date hasn’t been set yet, but will be announced to workers and the public ahead of any official strike.
Union reps have called wage increase offers “unacceptable” and “inadequate,” differing based on ZIP code.
Kroger owns 118 King Soopers and 32 City Market stores in Colorado. Not all are unionized. That’s all according to The Colorado Sun.
KGNU will keep you posted on the strike date, once it’s announced.
Larimer Street in RiNo reopens to vehicle traffic
The 2900 block of Larimer Street in Denver reopened to vehicle traffic yesterday, after nearly five years of being a pedestrian only zone.
The street, located in the city’s RiNo Art District, was blocked off through the Outdoor Places Program, established to help businesses during the pandemic. The program had been so successful that the street remained blocked off for five years. The permit expired on Sunday.
RiNo’s Business Improvement District was exploring the possibility of pursuing the permit, to allow the street to stay blocked off for good.
Flatiron Freddy makes Groundhog Day prediction
Boulder’s own Flatiron Freddy, a deceased groundhog, says there’s six more weeks of winter ahead.
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Rangers held the annual Groundhog Day event yesterday at 8 a.m., at Chautauqua Park. Freddy has seen his shadow five times over the past seven years, including this year.
Although Freddy, amongst other famous groundhogs, predicts six more weeks of winter, many point out that spring will technically begin on Thursday, March 20.