Author: Nicole C. Brambila [email protected]
-
Cherry Creek school board fills vacancy left by Terry Bates’ resignation
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the Cherry Creek School District Board of Education appointed Keith Frazier to the position left vacant by former Director Terry Bates, who resigned abruptly after making “racialized remarks.” The board considered five eligible candidates. The other candidates interviewed were:Christopher Locky, April Rasheeda Ouedraogo, Ross Peterson and Amanda Thayer. It’s unclear…
-
DPS students back bell-to-bell phone ban | CLASSNOTES
The bell-to-bell cellphone ban doesn’t just enjoy wide support from the Denver Public Schools committee that recommended it, but also an overwhelming number of students are ready to ditch their devices during school. A survey of parents, students and staff found: The results of the survey were to be presented at Thursday’s board meeting. The…
-
DOJ joins challenge to Colorado U-Visa law
The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to challenge Colorado’s U-Visa law, arguing it conflicts with federal immigration rules by broadening who qualifies for law enforcement certifications used in visa applications. HB21-1060 was signed into law by Gov. Jared Polis in 2021. The law was designed to create uniformity and fairness for immigrant crime survivors.…
-
Tapped: Facing similar drought conditions, Utah declares emergency while Colorado relies on Phase 2 response
Editor’s Note: The Denver metro region sits at the center of one of the American West’s most complex and consequential water challenges. This series examines the interconnected systems that determine how the region secures, stores, and conserves its water while navigating the competing demands of fast‑growing urban communities and the increasingly unpredictable mountain snowpack that…
-
Cherry Creek School District withholds cost of investigation of former top officials
The Cherry Creek School District hired an outside law firm to investigate former Superintendent Chris Smith and former Human Resources Chief Brenda Smith, but officials are withholding records that would reveal how much taxpayers spent on the investigation. Chris and Brenda Smith are married. On May 15, The Denver Gazette requested under the Colorado Open…
-
VA mammography lapse in Colorado facility raises new concerns about women’s care
A VA facility in Aurora has gone more than two years without in-house mammography services, a lapse that federal investigators said contributed to delayed diagnoses, gaps in follow-up care and patient safety concerns for female veterans. Officials with the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System said that the gaps in service did not jeopardize women’s…
-
Tapped: Colorado River overallocation collides with record drought conditions
Editor’s Note: The Denver metro region sits at the center of one of the American West’s most complex and consequential water challenges. This series examines the interconnected systems that determine how the region secures, stores and conserves its water while navigating the competing demands of fast‑growing urban communities and the increasingly unpredictable mountain snowpack that…
-
Cherry Creek School District leaders likely violated policy through travel, vendor dealings, investigation finds
An independent investigation into the business travel and vendor relationships of former Cherry Creek Superintendent Chris Smith and his wife, former Human Resources Chief Brenda Smith, found a pattern of poor judgment, favoritism toward a vendor and lax oversight that investigators concluded likely violated district policy. Investigators with Caplan and Earnest found no evidence of…
-
CU Regent Wanda James sues over censure, claims retaliation for criticizing THC campaign
University of Colorado Regent Wanda James has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the regents who censured and stripped her of committee assignments, alleging the action was retaliation for speaking out against racism on campus. James’ attorneys also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against seven of her fellow regents. “Indeed, it is…
-
Denver teacher fired after ‘same-gender’ kissing skits in French class
An administrative law judge has recommended the dismissal of a teacher at Northeast Early College — a high school in the Denver Public Schools district — after finding classroom activities and personal disclosures to students amounted to “incompetence and neglect of duty,” setting up a final vote by the school board. After meeting in executive…