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10_09_Headlines Jack Dawson
Colorado Supreme Court dismisses case against Lakewood baker over transgender cake
The Colorado Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit against Lakewood baker Jack Phillips, who refused to make a cake for a transgender woman. Autumn Scardina, who ordered the cake in 2017 to celebrate her gender transition, sued Phillips for discrimination after he refused. Phillips cited his religious beliefs, arguing that making the cake would violate his free speech rights.
Phillips has been the target of several lawsuits after his high-profile refusal to make a wedding cake for a gay couple in 2012. That case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which gave him a partial victory in 2018. LGBTQ+ advocates, including Scardina, have continued to challenge whether his refusal to serve LGBTQ+ customers violates Colorado’s Anti-Discrimination Act.
Phillips’ legal team argues these lawsuits are part of an effort to target him for his religious beliefs. LGBTQ+ advocates claim his refusal discriminates against customers based on identity. Scardina’s lawyer said they will explore other legal options after the court’s dismissal.
Trump to hold rally in Aurora after false claims about immigrant gangs
Donald Trump will hold a rally this Friday at the Gaylord Rockies in Aurora as part of his 2024 presidential campaign. The event comes after weeks of Trump repeating debunked claims that Venezuelan gang members have turned Aurora into a “war zone.” Trump’s campaign has tied these claims to the broader immigration issues he blames on Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden administration’s border policies.
Despite Trump’s rhetoric, Aurora police and city officials, including Republican Mayor Mike Coffman, have pushed back, saying that Trump’s allegations about gangs overrunning the city are false. Police confirmed the presence of some gang members but said the problems are isolated and tied to mismanagement at three apartment complexes, not widespread gang activity.
The rally is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Gaylord Rockies, a venue Trump’s campaign selected for its size and prominence. Local Democrats quickly criticized the visit, accusing Trump of using immigration and fear to divide voters ahead of the election. Trump’s campaign defended the rally, insisting it highlights the dangers of immigration policies and the impact they claim they’ve had on Colorado.
Denver Public Schools see enrollment rise, but closures still planned
Denver Public Schools (DPS) reported a second consecutive year of increased student enrollment, driven primarily by new immigrant students. As of Sept. 30, the district enrolled 85,313 students, up 2% from last year. Despite this boost, Superintendent Alex Marrero announced that DPS will still move forward with plans to close some schools with low enrollment.
Immigrant students, mainly from Venezuela and other South American countries, have played a significant role in this enrollment increase. DPS retained about 80% of last year’s migrant students, higher than the 75% predicted. However, overall student numbers are still below pre-pandemic levels, when DPS had nearly 87,000 students.
CU Boulder sees enrollment surge, prepares for housing expansion
The University of Colorado Boulder saw its student enrollment grow faster than expected this fall. The university had predicted a small increase of 200 students but ended up with 1,275 more, a 3.4% jump. Despite this overall increase, the incoming first-year class is actually smaller by about 100 students compared to last year, which was intentional due to higher student retention.
CU Boulder is confident it can handle the larger student body this year, both academically and with on-campus resources.
While the university plans to build a new 330-bed residence hall by 2026, with longer-term goals to add 4,400 to 6,000 more bed, for this year students will likely struggle to find housing. Boulder has fewer than 900 available units to rent for students city-wide.
Amazon buys $96M in land and warehouse near Denver International Airport
Amazon has purchased three properties just south of Denver International Airport for a combined $96 million. This includes a massive 625,000-square-foot warehouse, sold for $86.1 million by Ambrose Property Group, and additional land for $10.2 million. The warehouse features 40-foot ceilings, nearly 300 parking spaces, 92 loading docks, and almost 200 spaces for trailers.
Amazon has confirmed the purchase but mentioned that further work is required at the facility, and plans for the land are still in the early stages. The purchase is part of Amazon’s strategy to meet increasing demand for last-mile delivery services in the Denver area, which has become a key logistics hub for Fortune 500 companies due to its location and accessibility.
Local real estate experts noted that the acquisition signals the growing importance of the Denver market for logistics and e-commerce, while smaller local tenants in industrial real estate are feeling the pressure as Amazon continues to expand its presence.
Denver International Airport expands with 14 new gates
Denver International Airport officials have opened 14 new gates. KGNU’s Grace Maruska has the details.
DIA completed their $220 billion dollar Concourse A project, allowing Frontier Airlines passengers to now climb stairs or a ramp to enter aircrafts. The new gates – 9 remodeled and 5 built from scratch – were added with the goal of increasing the capacity to handle 120 million passengers a year.
DIA’s chief executive, Phil Washington, called the Frontier Airlines expansion a “major milestone” for airport growth. The Denver Post reports that the company is growing, with nearly 200 new Airbus aircrafts on order, adding to the current fleet of 150.
A Frontier spokesperson added that the use of ground boarding is designed to significantly cut down boarding and deplaning times.
The new gates feature device charging areas, a nursing room, pet care facilities, a family restroom, and food facilities.
Starting in 2026, contractors will install 11 new gates as an expansion of Concourse C.
For KGNU, I’m Grace Maruska.
