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Denver teachers cost of living increase, Fatal shooting of Kilyn Lewis, Rezoning plan around Ball Arena approved, Enormous bear in Durango, Wolf Creek ski area opens today Andraa VonBoeselager
Denver teachers demand cost of living increase
About 300 educators and Denver Classroom Teachers Association members took to the Capitol steps on Monday to demand their full Cost of Living Adjustment – or COLA –, which they say Denver Public Schools (DPS) owes them.
COLA adjustments are intended to keep up with the cost of living. Raises are separate from this cost-of-living increase.
According to Denver Gazette, DPS officials argue that not all of the contract triggers required were met for the full cost of living increase. District officials say that because state funding criteria was not met, teachers were only entitled to a cost-of-living adjustment and a step-and-lane raise increase that totals 5.2%, along with a $1,000 raise.
Teachers Association president Rob Gould told The Denver Gazette that DPS is finding loopholes so they don’t have to pay people what they’re owed. He added that union members have received both raises – called “steps and lanes” – and COLA for the first two years of a three-year contract, but not this school year. A union spokesperson said educators actually only received a 2.06% cost of living adjustment this year.
The “Budget Stabilization Factor” or BS, stands as a tool for the legislature to reduce funding for school districts in order to balance the state budget. The BS factor was eliminated earlier this year, returning public education funding to 1989 levels.
Police watchdog raises critical questions about fatal shooting of Kilyn Lewis in Aurora
A new report by an Aurora police watchdog raises questions about the fatal shooting of Kilyn Lewis by officer Michael Dieck.
37-year-old Lewis was raising his hands in the air, unarmed, when Dieck shot and killed him on May 23 while executing an arrest warrant. Lewis died from a single gunshot wound two days later.
The City of Aurora set up an independent consent decree monitor following the death of Elijah McClain, also in Aurora, to improve how officers in the area use force and to hopefully decrease racially-biased profiling. They hired IntegrAssure, a Florida-based firm that specializes in overseeing police departments, as that monitor.
In a report by IntegrAssure released last week, they raised “several critical questions” for the Aurora Police Department to address during its administrative review of the fatal shooting. They’re asking why Aurora’s SWAT was involved in executing a Denver-based arrest warrant, why SWAT members didn’t attempt to use any less lethal options when trying to arrest Lewis, and why Officer Dieck was retained within the police department and SWAT after being involved in previous shootings.
IntegrAssure added that Dieck’s history of involvement with shootings could raise further questions about Aurora PD’s selection criteria and retention policies for SWAT team members.
While the Arapahoe County District Attorney John Kellner decided earlier this month to not file charges against Dieck for Lewis’ death, the police department is still conducting an administrative review of the shooting.
Denver City Council approves rezoning plan around Ball Arena
The Denver City Council voted last night to approve a plan to rezone the area around the Ball Arena for a development proposal.
CBS News Colorado called it a “historic step forward” in the ongoing collaboration between Kroenke Sports and Entertainment, and community groups pushing for downtown developments that make the city more vibrant and inclusive.
The proposed project would redevelop 70 acres of property, creating a residential neighborhood with parks, paths, retail space and 6,000 units of housing. About 1,000 of these units would be affordable housing, along Auraria Parkway and Speer Boulevard.
At last night’s council meeting, supporters of the development proposal said it will help the city’s housing affordability problem. Other residents expressed concerns for the walkability between the proposed subdivision and Auraria Parkway.
The projects around Ball Arena could break ground before 2026, according to CBS.
Enormous bear caught on camera in Durango
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) team recently posted a photo to X of one of the largest bears ever seen in the Southwest part of the state.
The bear was spotted in Durango.
The photo comes at the tailend of the hyperphagia season where black bears consume up to 20,000 calories a day to pack on the pounds for winter. During this time, many bears forage for nuts, berries, and acorns. It is rare for a hungry black bear to take down a prey animal, which is a common misconception about the animal.
According to CPW, bears can lose up to 30 percent of their body weight during hibernation, which will begin in November. There is no way for them to tell how much the bear weighed, but by his looks, they say he should be set for the long winter ahead.
Wolf Creek ski area opens today
Wolf Creek ski area opens today, staking its claim as the first ski area to open for the 2024-25 season.
Wolf Creek received 26 inches of snow in recent days, and will open 11 trails at 9 a.m. today with an 18-inch settled base. Those trails represent 30% of Wolf Creek’s overall skiable terrain.
For three decades now, Colorado has paved the way for skiers to start hitting the slopes in October.
The last time Colorado failed to open any ski area in October was in 1992.
