Headlines — October 21 2022

October 21, 2022

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Fire Crews Contain Grass Fire North Of Boulder 

Boulder County fire crews contained a 19-acre grass fire that started north of Boulder, in the Lakeridge trail area yesterday afternoon. The occupants of four homes evacuated with additional nearby residents receiving evacuation warnings. Authorities closed a portion of U.S. 36 between Nelson and Neva Roads because of smoke backing up traffic. The fire did not harm any homes or structures but did damage approximately 150 feet of fence. By early evening, the Boulder County Sheriff’s office announced that fire crews reached 100% containment of the fire. According to the Daily Camera, the cause of the fire is under investigation.

St Vrain School District Considering Long-Range Rifle Storage At Two Schools

The St. Vrain Valley School District will vote next week on a proposal to store long-range rifles at Niwot High School and Lyons Middle Senior High School. If the vote passes, the board will vote again on implementation once they have seen a draft of a more detailed proposal. 

The Boulder County Sheriff’s office remarked at a school board workshop in August that these long-range rifles would be most effective if placed in the school for easy access during a school shooting emergency.

St. Vrain SuperIntendent Don Haddad and the Sheriff’s Office remarked that the placement of these rifles is adding another layer of safety for the schools. Haddad is recommending the school board go through with the placement after gaining support of the movement by the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. 

Superintendent Haddad said the school would keep the rifles under heavy security if the vote were to go through. Law enforcement would use identification and biometric scanning to access the rifles.

Authorities Investigating Human Remains Found Behind Thornton High School 

The Thornton Police Department said Thursday they are conducting an outdoor death investigation following the discovery of human remains by students in an open area near Thornton High School. 9News reports several students found the remains and immediately called 911. The Department did not release any extensive details on their investigation but said there is no current danger to the public and the death does not appear to be school-related. Authorities believe the remains have been in the field for a while. 

Boulder City Council Approves Next Year’s Budget 

The Boulder City Council approved next year’s budget of $515.4 million last evening by a vote of six to two. Mayor Aaron Bracket was absent from last night’s meeting due to his visit with one of Boulder’s sister cities. Councilmembers Lauren Fokerts and Nicole Speer voted no on the budget by saying it does not adequately address the city’s ongoing homeless encampment issues. 

According to the Daily Camera, among the budget priorities are $2 million for wildfire resistance and emergency response, $1 million for homelessness and case management, close to $1.3 million as continuance for the public space management pilot program, $1.5 million for increased construction costs of the new Boulder Station 3 firehouse, and $80,000 for trash management strategies. 

Prior to the vote, some residents raised concerns with ongoing homeless encampments while others requested support for art programs.

Denver Art Museum Returns Stolen Relics To India Linked To Smuggler Investigated By Manhattan DA

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office returned roughly 300 smuggled antiquities to India this week during a repatriation ceremony, with 22 of the objects being relinquished from the Denver Art Museum. The mass return of stolen relics – valued at nearly $4 million – results from a 15-year investigation into a former New York City gallery owner, Subhash Kapoor, who smuggled relics from the Middle East and Southeast Asia through a vast global network. Kapoor is currently standing trial in India for theft, smuggling, and trafficking charges and has been jailed in the country since 2011.  

According to the Denver Post, the Denver Art Museum reported 31 pieces associated with Kapoor to the Manhattan DA last year, who then requested 22 for return to India. The museum released the artifacts in July, with the remaining nine being kept from display.

Besides the relics associated with Kapoor, the Denver Art Museum has also given up other artifacts this year associated with looting, which included four looted Cambodian relics associated with disgraced dealer Douglas Latchford and a Benin plaque from Nigeria. According to the Denver Post, authorities are ramping up cultural property investigations as collectors and art organizations worldwide face reckoning over provenance, cultural heritage, and the role of colonialism in their collections.

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