Headlines — September 21, 2022

September 21, 2022

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Investigators Say Polis didn’t break campaign laws 

Colorado election officials determined Gov. Jared Polis did not break campaign law when he sent Colorado residents a letter with their state tax refund checks earlier this summer. 

Chairwoman of the state Republican Party, Kristi Burton Brown, filed a formal complaint claiming that Polis misled Colorado voters by rebranding the mandatory refund under the Taxpayers Bill of Rights as the Colorado Cashback program.

According to The Denver Post, Polis has said he sent the letter to explain the purpose of the checks. Republicans have accused him of using public funds for his reelection campaign.

The investigators wrote that his letter “fell within the confines of his official duties as governor, and the ‘Colorado Cashback’ program was a legislatively approved program, rather than a campaign effort, as Burton Brown had alleged.”

Longmont City Council supports wildfire mitigation

Longmont City Council members expressed their support for tax-funded countywide wildfire mitigation efforts during Tuesday’s council meeting. If approved, a 0.10% sales tax will be used to fund wildfire mitigation efforts. Those efforts include strategic forest and grassland management. The tax will add one penny to every $10 spent.

According to The Daily Camera,the Boulder County Commissioners voted unanimously in August to include sales and use tax questions on the Nov. 8 ballot. Accompanied with a separate transportation sales tax extension.

Student Arrest Leads To All Adams City High School Classes Canceled

Adams City High School canceled all classes today in order to give police time to investigate a threat circulated on social media.

Wednesday’s class cancellation comes on the heels of the arrest of an Adams City High School Monday. The student was taken into custody Monday after bringing a handgun to school with him.

The same day, three separate school districts in Colorado reported having experienced “swatting” in which false emergency reports are called in for the purpose of mobilizing police.

Late last night, Adams City High School announced the decision to call off classes today, citing district safety protocols. The Commerce City Police Department is assisting the school district in its investigation.

Commercial Trucks On Fire In Loveland

A fire in Loveland damaged five commercial trucks Tuesday morning. 

Loveland Fire Rescue Authority sent fire crews to SW 14th Street and Taft Avenue after reports of a large fire in the area and found the trucks ablaze at the scene.

Crews tamed the fire within 20 minutes of their arrival. Authorities say no injuries occurred. The cause of the fire remains unknown. 

Affordable Housing Project Begins In Broomfield 

Developers have kicked off construction work on a new affordable housing project in Broomfield. The Northwest Apartments are rental homes meant for families earning 30% to 60% of the area’s median income. Construction of the 50 apartments should be complete by next fall according to BizWest. 

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless Names New CEO

Boulder Shelter for the Homeless announced Monday they have appointed a new Chief executive officer. Greg Morris will take over for Spencer Downing next month. Downing has served as the shelter’s interim executive director since October of last year. 

According to a press release, Morris has served in senior leadership roles for homeless and at-risk populations. Most recently, he was the executive director and co-CEO of HopeWorks, the largest homeless service provider in New Mexico. There, he helped create the first newly-constructed, single-site permanent supportive housing project in the state.

The Boulder Shelter has 160 beds and has been in operation for 40 years. 

Updated Flood and Stormwater Master Plan In Boulder

Boulder City Council approved an updated comprehensive flood and stormwater master plan last week Councilmembers say the plan focuses on keeping flood risk under control at the 16 major drainageways in Boulder. 

The 308 acres of land is owned by CU Boulder. The plan will persevere 119 acres of land and 155 acres towards flood mitigation. 

According to The DailyCamera, Boulder plans to emphasize the projects that “do the greatest good”, first by analyzing a set of criteria, including cost, effectiveness, equity, life safety, and whether it has multiple benefits.

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