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03_05_25_Headlines Gabrielle Mendoza
Johnston ‘confident’ in Denver’s ‘story’ as congressional hearing on ‘sanctuary’ cities approaches
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston is preparing to testify in D.C. before a committee that’s investigating “sanctuary” jurisdictions.
Johnston will speak before the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee today at 8 a.m. MDT, primarily to answer questions about Denver’s response to immigration. He’ll join Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and New York Mayor Eric Adams.
According to Colorado Politics, the committee will likely press Johnston about his criticism of the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans.
Sources close to the mayor say he’s eager to talk about how the City and County “met a sudden immigrant crisis in a way that was faithful to all the best traditions of Denver.”
Back in January, House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer called Johnston out by name, saying that the mayor confirmed he would QUOTE “go to jail to protect illegal aliens from federal immigration authorities.” Comer also said Denver refuses to fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. The chairman is an outspoken critic of sanctuary jurisdictions, saying they hinder the ability of the federal government to effectively make arrests and enforce immigration policies.
Since 2023, at least 43,000 immigrants have arrived in Denver.
Ponderosa High student had “explosive device”
A school resource officer at a Douglas County high school found an “explosive device” inside a student’s backpack Tuesday morning.
That discovery at Ponderosa High School prompted a schoolwide evacuation.
The officers responded to a 9:30 a.m. call that a student had possibly brought in a suspicious device, according to the County Sheriff’s Office in an X post. The officer located and detained the student and found the device.
A Douglas County Sheriff’s office spokesperson confirmed that they think the device was “explosive.” They also said they are waiting to hear confirmation from experts who are investigating the situation.
The sheriff’s office said the bomb team was called to examine the device, and decided to search the building.
Students were let back into school around 11:40 a.m.
Details on the device haven’t been made public.
$100 million settlement propels Colorado reservoir projects forward
Water rights advocates have secured $100 million to develop two new reservoirs.
Leaders from the Northern Integrated Supply Project and the nonprofit environmental group Save the Poudre finalized the settlement on Friday. The deal will funnel $100 million into a fund over 20 years, to sustain 50 miles of the Cache la Poudre River.
The settlement effectively ends decades of dispute over water infrastructure plans related to the river, according to The Denver Post.
The Poudre River Improvement Fund will pay for projects to enhance river flows, water quality, ecosystems, and recreational opportunities.
The deal also ends a 2024 lawsuit by Save the Poudre, that alleged the Army Corps of Engineers did not properly consider the environmental impacts of the Northern Integrated Supply Project when they issued a Clean Water Act permit.
The settlement contributes to plans for a $2 billion water supply project in Northern Colorado.
Once completed, the project will send over 40,000 acre-feet of water annually to water suppliers in Boulder, Weld, and Larimer counties – enough for about 80,000 households.
The project will include Glade Reservoir northwest of Fort Collins, Galeton Reservoir northeast of Greeley, 50 miles of buried water pipelines, and five pump plants.
