The 2020 Census revealed that cities in the north Denver metro area have become more diverse in the past decade, but representation on local city councils has not kept up. About 49% of residents in Brighton, Commerce City, Thornton, Northglenn and Westminster are non-white, according to an average of 2020 Census data. Meanwhile, about 18% of members […]
Liam Adams
Posted inCOVID, Education, Health, News
Adams County opts out of Tri-County’s students mask mandate
The Adams County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 on Tuesday to opt out of a Tri-County Health Department order that requires masks for kids ages 2 to 11 in indoor school and child-care settings. The vote followed an anti-mask rally outside the Adams County Government Center in Brighton and a 30-minute discussion among the board […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Westminster police union alleges “troubling state” at department as rift lingers after chief’s suspension
The city of Westminster’s suspension of police Chief Tim Carlson and another top official came as the police union backed a push for new bargaining powers to address “troubling” flaws in the department, a union representative said. As complaints from the rank and file piled up and went ignored, it “became necessary” for Carlson and […]
Posted inColoradans, News
The Denver metro area may be more religiously diverse than you think
The Denver metro area is religiously diverse and it’s becoming increasingly so. A new study by the Public Religion Research Institute – called the 2020 Census on American Religion – found that “religious diversity scores” for Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties in 2020 were all above average when compared to the rest of the U.S. The array […]
Posted inGrowth
Scrutiny intensifies over Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport’s future plans
A community group and neighboring municipalities asked the Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport to pump the brakes after the airport published a draft of a new strategic business plan The airport identified about 200 acres of land where it can develop new facilities to help keep up with future industry demands. For the airport’s many neighbors […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Transportation
RTD faces backlash after slashing bus service to Adams County courthouse
The Regional Transportation District on Monday responded to frustration from Adams County officials about buses no longer stopping to drop riders off at the Adams County Justice Center. The district argued that it technically hasn’t discontinued service as buses still go to two nearby stops. But Adams County commissioners and officials in the 17th Judicial District […]
Posted inEconomy, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Adams County adopts new oil and gas regulations that critics say will effectively ban drilling
The Adams County Board of Commissioners voted 3-1 to adopt new oil and gas regulations at a public hearing on Tuesday, making the county one of the first in Colorado to revise its policies since new statewide regulations took effect in January. The regulations increase setback distances for new drilling to 2,000 feet from homes, […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Westminster police told the world Armando Valdez Gonzalez stole a bag of cash and assaulted a woman. Except he didn’t.
Trouble has followed Armando Valdez Gonzalez since the day he was jailed for a crime that didn’t occur. In early June, Westminster police linked Valdez Gonzalez to an aggravated robbery, saying he dragged a woman in her 70s with his pickup after stealing a bag of cash from her garage sale. Police arrested Valdez Gonzalez […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Westminster city councilman will keep his seat after contentious, expensive recall election
Jon Voelz will keep his seat on Westminster City Council after unofficial results in Tuesday’s contentious, expensive recall election showed him with 62% of total votes. “I’m glad the common sense of our residents prevailed,” Voelz said in a phone call Tuesday night. “This misleading, and wasteful and shameful recall is coming to an end. I look […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Westminster’s elections may be nonpartisan, but partisanship is a big theme in recall contest
Though Westminster’s pro- and anti-recall election groups say they are not motivated by partisanship, an analysis of campaign materials and new financial filings show that liberal and conservative ideology are major themes of campaign messaging. The recall election for city Councilor Jon Voelz happening on Tuesday was initiated last year when the Water Warriors group sought to […]