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Bond Lowered For Funeral Home Owners
A judge lowered the bond of the funeral home owner responsible for almost 200 improperly stored bodies.
As of yesterday, Jon Hallford’s bond was lowered from a $2 million cash-only bond to a $100,000 cash, property or surety bond. According to the judge, Hallford’s nonexistent criminal record helped his case.
He is being held on hundreds of counts, including abuse of a corpse, forgery, theft and money laundering after the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office discovered 198 decomposing bodies inside Return to Nature Funeral Home on Oct. 4.
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Zuni Street Migrant Encampment Shut Down
The city of Denver shut down a migrant encampment near Zuni St. and Speer Blvd. Wednesday, where hundreds have lived for months.
According to The Denver Post, the process was “organized chaos,” with migrants packing up their belongings in bags and some leaving their tents behind.
The migrants were transported by bus to apartment rentals and other shelters. Mayor Mike Johnston says people are safer indoors, with more support and stability.
As of Wednesday, more than 36,000 migrants have passed through Denver since Dec. 2022, with over 4,000 currently living in the city.
Johnston says Denver is expected to spend about 10% to 15% of its general fund budget on the migrant response, but Colorado’s Democratic Congressional delegation has asked the Federal Management Agency to increase their support for the city’s crisis.
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Roedema Sentencing
A former Aurora police officer convicted for his role in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain will be in court for sentencing today.
Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, and could get up to six years in prison.
He was among five people tried in three separate trials in connection with McClain’s death. Two other officers were acquitted. Two paramedics were convicted last month of criminally negligent homicide in McClain’s death. They face sentencing on March 1st.
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United Airlines Expands Site At DIA
United Airlines plans to create a 114-acre campus near the Denver International Airport.
The airline purchased the land in August of last year and submitted the plans to the City and Council of Denver.
If approved, the campus will include a flight training facility with twelve flight simulators and support facilities.
According to CBS, the campus is set to open in 2027 and will generate around 5,000 new jobs.
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Lower Than Usual Snowpack In Colorado
Winter is settling in across the Front Range, with snow peaking over the horizon.
Historically, Colorado sees higher snowpack levels at this time of year The state currently has 68% of its usual levels. That’s according to the Natural Resources Conservation Services.
Ski resorts are at a mid-20-inch base, lower than the 40-inch at resorts this time last year.
Even with storms moving in today, the state won’t see much snowpack accumulation. Higher elevations may see double digit snowfall next week, but in Denver and surrounding areas there’s only one inch anticipated.
Axios Denver says El Niño in the Pacific Ocean may be the cause of mild weather conditions in Colorado, the Western U.S. and Canada.
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