Officer in McClain case sentenced

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Demand for Cemex to comply with Clean Air Act

Close to 100 community members met Friday to protest the reissuing of Cemex Title 5 permits. Boulder County residents are telling state regulators they want improved air quality monitoring at the Cemex Cement plant in Lyons.

At a virtual hearing Friday, a spokesperson for a citizens’ group called Good Neighbors of Lyons said that Cemex has been non-compliant with Clean Air Act regulations for years but hasn’t been held to account, according to the Daily Camera.

A spokesperson for the group said Cemex should either be forced to comply with the Clean Air Act or shut down.

Some of those speaking at the meeting said they have concerns about their health because of emissions from the plant.

The hearing was requested by Good Neighbors of Lyons and hosted by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission.

The Daily Camera said there is no indication at this time when there will be a decision on the permit.

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Police officer involved in McClain’s death sentenced

Former Aurora Police officer Randy Roedema has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for his role in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain.

At the sentencing on Friday, the judge expressed shock at the bodycam footage of the confrontation between authorities and the 23-year-old McClain. Judge Mark Warner stated that the video revealed indifference to McClain’s suffering after he had been handcuffed and detained.

The judge characterized McClain as a peaceful and hardworking young man.

Roedema was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault for his involvement in McClain’s death. Alongside the prison sentence, he received four years of probation and 200 hours of community service.

After the sentencing, McClain’s mother voiced her dissatisfaction, stating that she does not consider it justice.

The 23-year-old McClain was detained as he walked home from a convenience store, despite having done nothing wrong. Two paramedics who were called to the scene and injected him with ketamine were also found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and await sentencing. Two other Aurora police officers were acquitted in separate trials.

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Over 600 delayed flights at DIA

A baggage handling system malfunction is being blamed for hundreds of flight delays at Denver International Airport.

On Sunday, airlines delayed 606 flights and canceled 63 flights as of last night, according to FlightAware.

The affected airlines were mainly Southwest and United Airlines, both of which issued public statements addressing the issues.

Southwest confirmed trouble with a mechanical baggage belt but stated they were able to fix the issue. United and Alaska Airlines grounded all of their Boeing 737 Max 9 planes after the fuselage of one of those planes blew out during a flight on the Pacific coast Friday night. No one was seriously hurt.

Officials reported that the baggage handling system issue at DIA has been resolved.

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National Western Stock Show Kickoff in Denver

This weekend marks the start of the 118th National Western Stock Show in Denver, expecting over 700,000 attendees in the next two weeks.

Running from Saturday through January 21st, the event will showcase rodeos, livestock, horse and trade shows with participants from over 30 different countries.

Construction works on the new Sue Anschutz-Rogers Livestock Center, set to finish in 2025, will come to a halt during the event. According to The Denver Post, the Center will include a 5,000-seat arena, a 200,000-square-foot livestock hall, and a food market.

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Winter storm brings chaos to the roads

Drivers should take care this morning as an overnight snowstorm swept through the Denver metropolitan area and eastern Colorado. Winds with speeds of up to 55 miles per hour are expected.

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