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Castle Rock’s new library celebrated a construction milestone this month as it nears the expected August grand opening.  Despite a sprinkling of snow, more than 100 community members …
As a former small business owner, chamber member and chamber staffer of eight years, Castle Rock Chamber’s new president Stacy Garmon knows the business inside and out. “I’ve …
Douglas County deputies arrested two Highlands Ranch residents after a booby trap on their property sent a man to the hospital. Brian Hill, 61, and Tracy Remington, …
Weekend brunch is the latest change to come to El Mesón Authentic Mexican Cuisine in Highlands Ranch since it came under new management last winter. “I think it’s gonna be a good surprise for …
There’s nothing wrong with taking a new approach to a beloved event — that’s how new perspectives and stories get added to familiar ones. In his second year as general manager of the JCC Mizel …
The Original Evergreen Farmers’ Market Where: Church of the Cross – 28253 Meadow Drive, Evergreen
AURORA -- Callie Kryder said the people who attended a celebration of life service for her late father, former Colorado High School Activities assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann, knew him for …
In light of public libraries across the state finding drug contamination in communal spaces, a woman from Evergreen wants people to know contamination could be lurking anywhere — even in homes — and that’s why she’s teaming up with State Sen. Lisa Cutter to introduce a bill that would hold remediators accountable. 
Real news. Real local.
More Local News

Students to take computer-based SAT next year

Colorado high school students will continue to take the SAT and PSAT as the state’s way of measuring school and district academic performance, but they’ll switch to the computerized version in …

Communities try design to improve public safety

Mike Burns bought a home right on the river near Delta, Colorado, with plans to spend the summers fishing outdoors with his grandkids. But those kinds of excursions haven’t always felt safe, since …

Colorado lawmakers want to offer scholarships to help fill workforce gaps

As Colorado hurts for more early childhood educators, nurses, firefighters and workers across other industries, state legislators are attempting to fill critical workforce gaps with a pair of bills …

Some Coloradans could save big on electric vehicles

State officials are putting finishing touches on an electric vehicle rebate for income-qualified buyers willing to trade in an older gas-fueled vehicle, adding up to $6,000 in price cuts on a new …

Hopes for designation for colleges serving first-gen students ends

On the surface, the bill had a simple premise — to recognize Colorado universities and colleges that enroll a high number of students who are the first in their family to go to college and …

Xcel Energy will cut Colorado bills again in April

Xcel Energy is again cutting natural gas costs passed through to consumers starting with April bills, the third price decrease announced in two months, even as a special legislative committee pursues …

Two Democrats, two views on rent control

As a bill moves through the Colorado Legislature that would allow local governments to implement rent control, two representatives from North Metro Denver don’t see eye to eye. According to …

Metro-area arcade bars build local gaming communities

After more than 20 years of collecting pinball machines, Dan Nikolich’s basement had run out of space to store them all. So Nikolich opened the Colorado Pinball Pub in Littleton to share his collection.

Rocky Mountain Refuge helps unhoused Coloradans find peace in the face of death

As the population of unhoused people continues to grow across the country and Colorado, thousands of people die every year, often while living in the streets, in cars or tents. Despite this, there …

Blame Utah for state's air pollution

There’s a new strategy in Colorado’s fight against dangerous ozone air pollution: Blame Utah. Coal-fired power plants and oil and gas drilling in northeastern Utah are responsible for ozone …

Social media apps have made buying illegal drugs as easy as ordering pizza

How easy is it to find illegal drugs on social media apps? Nearly as convenient as calling an Uber or ordering a pizza, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office said in a report released March 8. …
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CULTURE STORIES

Bringing Music to Life returns for 13th year

Anyone who has seen a child fall in love with music knows the lasting impact the art can have on a life. But if children never have access to those instruments, all the love of music in the world …

Make-A-Wish Colorado alumni, volunteers celebrate its 40th anniversary

Make-A-Wish Colorado celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, and is hosting an anniversary celebration and fundraiser in April in Denver. Since it started, the organization has granted more than 6,000 wishes for children with critical illnesses as a way of giving them hope and something to look forward to during their treatment.

Stewards of improving aquatic life

When walking the path next to the South Platte River, you don't think about how the environment impacts the microspecies and fish in the water. Metro Water Recovery scientists, through testing, …

Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival celebrates AAPI stories

Proving the power of storytelling has been part of the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival since its inception and this year it is taking the time to celebrate all the voices that share their stories.
Lifestyle and Entertainment
Life
Governor, lawmakers focus on low math scores
As Colorado students’ math scores have continued to plummet during the pandemic, Gov. Jared Polis and a bipartisan group of state lawmakers are intervening with legislation that aims to expand both …
Jeannie Ritter is still working to break mental health stigma
Jeannie Ritter jokes that she could have chosen bicycle helmets as her “first lady cause” while her husband, Bill, was Colorado governor. At least she could have counted the number of children …
Board defers vote to rename Mount Evans
In an unexpected twist on March 9, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names deferred a vote that would have changed the name of Mount Evans. Many had expected the federal board to approve a new name, Mount …
Democrats unveil effort to shield abortion, transgender patients
Colorado Democrats on March 9 unveiled a trio of bills aimed at ensuring abortion and gender-affirming care in Colorado isn’t subject to legal action initiated in other states, as well as reshaping …
Teachers often spend own money on classroom supplies
Everywhere you look in Lucy Squire’s classroom, you can spy the teacher’s touch. Strands of lights carefully strung across the ceiling cast the room in a calming glow. Curtains fashioned from …
Advocates want to send schools a message: It is not OK to hit kids
Colorado would ban corporal punishment by schools and day care centers, if a bill proposed by two Democratic legislators becomes law. The state is one of 22 states that allows corporal punishment in …
Arts, Culture, Music

‘In the Trenches’ looks at parenting

Kristina and Graham Fuller first presented their new musical, “In the Trenches: A Parenting Musical” as part of the fall JAAMM Festival at the Mizel Arts and Cultural Center in Denver — …

Northglenn celebrates Betty grace Gibson

For the late Betty grace Gibson, being a self-taught artist didn’t mean never taking an art class or workshop. As her daughter, Linda Drumm, recalls, being self-taught meant was taking things she …

A musical reflection of 2022

I don’t know about y’all, but I’m extremely glad this year is over. 2022 may well go down as the most challenging of my life, and since we’re still living through the aftershocks of a global …

‘Entanglements’ with nature

Metropolitan State University’s Center for Visual Arts starts off a new year with “Entanglements,” a new lens-based exhibit of works by 11 national and international artists, which will run …

Native artist and author shares her work, journey at Koelbel Library

Whether it be painting captivating murals on a high school’s cafeteria wall or decorating the decks of skateboards, the versatile artwork Danielle SeeWalker creates is representative of what …
SPORTS
Sports

Shongolo, former ACHS athlete, giving back to area

Former Adams City High School athlete Liban Shongolo had a pretty good prep career. In 2017, he played quarterback for the Eagles, threw for more than 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns. In 2018, Shongolo …

Ranch girls’ season ends in Great 8

When the Highlands Ranch and Grandview girls basketball teams got together for a nonleague game back in early January, Sienna Betts could only watch from the sideline in a walking boot as Ranch …

Valor girls, RC boys stall short of Final Four

Being one of the top seeds in the Great 8 doesn’t necessarily assure a passage into the Final Four. Take the Valor Christian girls team and the boys squad from Rock Canyon for example. Arapahoe, …

Lutheran wins in OT to advance to Final Four

With time running out on the Lutheran boys basketball team’s season, Kade Speckman corralled the ball, spun and banked it home — twice — to keep the Lions’ year and state-championship hopes …

Arapahoe girls outlast ThunderRidge

It was a game of scoring droughts but ThunderRidge’s was really costly. The Arapahoe girls notched a 38-29 victory over the Grizzlies in a Sweet 16 playoff game on Feb. 24. ThunderRidge went close …

6A boys hoops playoffs underway

It seems like the seedings for the Class 6A boys state basketball playoffs have been right so far. Top-seeded Mountain Vista and No. 2 Rock Canyon won Sweet 16 games on Feb. 25 to advance into the …

Vista win over rival is instant classic

The Mountain Vista and ThunderRidge boys basketball teams have authored plenty of great moments together throughout their decades-old rivalry. But the Golden Eagles and Grizzlies’ latest …
VOICES
VOICES

Column: Presentation to spotlight ageism

Ageism is all around us: in the workplace, in commercials, movies and TV shows we watch, in the cards we buy, the products marketed to us and yes, even in the language we speak. Has anyone ever said …

Marshall Response: Only roadkill is middle of the road

“I don't fear losing, but winning.” I spoke those words when accepting the Democratic nomination for House District 43 (Highlands Ranch). I expected to win. (Why run to lose?) But I knew when I …

Column: Vulnerable and transparent, and the courage to be both

The team building event was held at Top Golf. The vice president of sales was reluctant to have the meeting there as he had never played golf and didn’t want to embarrass himself. His team …

From the Editor: Support for SROs

Over the last few years, the idea of defunding the police was tied to the idea that we would have better outcomes with depleted law enforcement resources. While I am continually in support of more …

From the Editor: Small gestures are big

I recently took my children to an event created by a mom and employee of a local school district. I only found out about the monthly gathering hosted in my community by chance at a birthday party. …
Columnists
Column: Mindset is crucial when planning
Investors have been on the stock market and interest rate roller coaster so long they may feel as though they have gone mad. Planning around continued volatility is a challenge unless you are …
Column: Courage, discretion and making a choice
Discretion is the better part of valor,” “Caution is preferrable to rash bravery,” and “The better part of valor is discretion, in the which better part I have saved my life.” - All …
Column: Success is achievable …together
Last month we celebrated Black History Month and as the first African American commissioner in Arapahoe County, it is important to me to take stock of not only the achievements and progress we’ve …
Castle Rock Town Talk: More ways to enjoy the outdoors coming
It’s felt like a long winter in Castle Rock, but signs of spring are starting to appear. When the weather finally allows our residents to get outside regularly, they’ll find that the Parks and …
Parker Town Talk: Parker banner program honors fallen military veterans
The Town of Parker is the home of many active duty members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Our community is proud to support our native sons and daughters who have elected to commit …
Column: Know before saying ‘no’
There is an old saying, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get” or, “If you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.” Many times these are associated with salespeople who stopped short of …
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