Areas scorched during last year’s historic wildfire season could pose flash flooding risks through the summer as rain picks up speed along steep terrain in the burn scars, sweeping debris onto major roads. While heavy rain is typical of the summer monsoon season, Colorado is seeing “an abnormal year of flooding events,” partly because of […]
Olivia Prentzel
Olivia Prentzel is a general assignment writer for The Colorado Sun. Email: oliviaprentzel@coloradosun.com
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Denver DA’s husband pleads guilty to two counts of attempted arson
The husband of Denver’s District Attorney pleaded guilty Thursday to leaving several slash fires burning unattended near his home in Grand County during a fire ban last year. Christopher Linsmayer, 69, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted arson, one felony and one misdemeanor, in exchange for a deferred sentence, according to the 14th Judicial […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Transportation
One dead, three missing after flash floods sweep mud and debris from wildfire scars into Poudre Canyon
One person is dead and at least three others are missing after flash floods sent debris flowing into Poudre Canyon northwest of Fort Collins on Tuesday night. More than an inch of rain fell in the Cameron Peak fire burn zone near Crown Point, washing debris into the Poudre River near Black Hollow Road, upstream […]
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government
Michael Bennet believes the child tax credit expansion will be made permanent. But he’s not sure how long it will take.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet said Monday that he’s confident the one-year expansion of the federal Child Tax Credit will be made permanent. But the Colorado Democrat conceded that he’s not sure when that will happen. “The question is going to be how long will that take and how much fighting will there be,” he said […]
Posted inHealth, News, Outdoors
Plague found in fleas collected after death of 10-year-old girl in southwest Colorado
Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the plague in fleas collected in La Plata County after a 10-year-old girl died from the disease earlier this month, public health officials said. The plague-positive fleas were collected from a private property in south central La Plata County after residents reported a nearby prairie dog colony had gone […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Men arrested at Denver’s Maven hotel now face federal charges for allegedly selling guns, drugs to each other
Three men arrested last week at The Maven hotel in Denver after a housekeeper discovered several guns inside their rooms and tipped off authorities now face federal gun charges, court documents show. Gabriel Rodriguez, Ricardo Rodriguez and Richard Platt are accused of possession of a firearm or ammunition by a previous offender. Gabriel Rodriguez also […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Colorado’s largest jails cut their populations because of coronavirus. Now the numbers are creeping back up.
Colorado’s largest jails are becoming more crowded after population levels dropped to historic lows last year as officials made efforts to slow the spread of COVID-19 behind bars. Now, as the world returns to a version of “normal” and court hearings have resumed, numbers are creeping closer to pre-pandemic levels at many of Colorado’s largest […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Denver police found loaded weapons, high-capacity magazine and drugs inside hotel room near Coors Field
Police found more than a dozen guns, a high-capacity magazine and a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin inside two hotel rooms one block from Coors Field on Friday, court documents show. While cleaning a room at The Maven hotel Friday evening, a housekeeper saw a rifle, numerous metal objects that appeared to be possible […]
Posted inHealth, News
A person may have died from plague in Colorado for the first time in six years
Public health officials are investigating what may have been Colorado’s first human plague death in six years. San Juan Basin Public Health was notified of the potential case in La Plata County on July 7, according to a news release from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, which is leading the investigation. CDPHE […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Woodland Park’s former police chief intimidated employees, led “extremely toxic” department, report says
The Woodland Park Police Department is “an extremely toxic environment” filled with gender bias, harassment and intimidation, according to a report by a consulting firm. Firing Chief Miles De Young was the only option to correct the “dire” state of the small mountain town’s police department, JEH Consulting said after several employees recounted intimidation tactics […]