Headlines — August 18, 2022

August 18, 2022

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Denver Police Release Body Cam Footage Of LoDo Shootings

The Denver Police Department has released body camera footage of a police mass shooting in the city’s LoDo district in mid-July. In the incident, three police officers fired shots into a crowd outside of the Larimer Beer Hall, wounding six bystanders and a man accused of brandishing a gun. 

Some of the shooting victims say that the footage tells a different story than what the police have been saying. District Attorney Beth McCann is asking for a grand jury to open an investigation into the incident. 

Jordan Waddy – the man police said was aggressive towards others – is shown on footage complying with police and putting his weapon down before police started firing. The Denver District Attorney’s Office won’t comment further until the investigation is complete.

Colorado To Receive More Monkeypox Vaccines Due To An Increase In Cases

Seven thousand six hundred monkeypox vaccines are making their way to Colorado in the next few days.

As of this week, there are 155 confirmed monkeypox cases statewide according to the Denver Post. This number is said to be higher due to cases that have not gotten medical attention.

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response is distributing the Jynneos vaccine to fight monkeypox–  a vaccine originally meant it to prevent smallpox but it may be effective against monkeypox as well. 

In total Colorado will have eighteen thousand five hundred and twenty-five doses. To be effective patients must receive two shots so in total just around nine thousand Coloradans will receive the vaccine. 

The vaccine is also only available to men who know they have been exposed, have had multiple male partners, or had an anonymous partner.

Colorado Students’ Tests Are Still Showing Pandemic Effects

On Wednesday, The Colorado Department of Education released the state standardized test scores. Students take tests in Spring and the state uses these scores to gauge student performance.

The state put testing on hold during the height of Covid-19. It made a return post quarantine last year. 

According to The Denver Post, the English arts and math test results are still lower than the results from 2019. 

“We did return to more typical school types of experiences, (but) some students still had some reduced or disrupted learning opportunities and we need to keep that in mind as we review these assessments,” Joyce Zurkowski, chief assessment officer at the state education department said to the post.

Aurora Public Schools Will Start To Pay Its Board Members

Future Aurora Public Schools board members may receive a stipend of $450 per month starting next election cycle.  At Tuesday’s board meeting, members passed a unanimous vote saying the position is difficult and takes a lot of time. 

“To participate in this board is going to be hard. I never want a financial restriction to be a reason why an individual is not on this board, “ said Michael Carter at Tuesday’s meeting. 

Aurora Public Schools is one of the most diverse districts in the country comprised 86% of its student population is students of color.

Broomfield Public Library Request Multimillion-Dollar Expansion

The Broomfield Public library is requesting $86 million dollars to remodel and expand its current branch and build a new northern branch. 

The request came during a presentation of the Library, Arts, History, and Extension Facilities Master Plan to Broomfield City Council Tuesday. 

The Daily Camera reports the plan calls for a 50 to 60,000 square feet expansion to the current branch and the creation of spaces for family and children programming, indoor and outdoor events and multi-use facilities. Local authorities in Broomfield are reportedly considering putting a tax on the ballot in November of 2023 to fund the library expansion.

Nearly Two Dozen Sex Trafficking Victims Rescued By The FBI

The Denver Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – FBI – says it rescued nearly two dozen adults and children from sex trafficking operations earlier this month. 

The actions were part of Operation Cross Country, a nationwide effort involving local, state, and federal authorities. 

The Denver FBI indicates in a press release its partner agencies recovered and provided services to 11 child victims of sexual exploitation, located 27 missing or endangered children, and recovered 11 adult victims. Authorities also say they identified six traffickers and arrested two on unrelated felony warrants.

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