Even though the 2021 Marshall Fire made it clear that the fire threat posed by Colorado’s grasslands endangers large urban areas, federal, state and local rules continue to make it difficult to address the risk
ProPublica
Posted inCrime and Courts
Colorado lawmakers mandate audit of halfway houses for first time in decades
A new state law directs Colorado’s Division of Criminal Justice to hire a third-party auditor to evaluate the finances of halfway houses every five years, including the costs imposed on residents of the facilities.
Posted inHousing
HOA foreclosures “lose-lose” game for Coloradans, but these lawyers win regardless of the outcome
A retired NFL player’s legal battle with a homeowners association spotlights why critics say Colorado law incentivizes attorneys to advise that HOAs foreclose on residents rather than find less expensive solutions.
Posted inPolitics and Government
Colorado lawmakers consider reforms to how family courts handle abuse allegations
Several people who testified in favor of the proposed reforms are plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against former custody evaluator Mark Kilmer, alleging fraud and breach of contract.
Posted inMarshall Fire
This Colorado scientist fled the Marshall fire, then returned to study how it happened
In 2021, the devastating Marshall fire showed wildfire can strike Colorado in almost any place or season. Scientists now hope to glean lessons from it for communities across the West.
Posted inNews
Colorado suspends family court custody expert, reviews all evaluators following ProPublica investigation
A state-approved list of custody evaluators included some who had been accused of domestic violence and disciplined by the State Board of Psychologist Examiners.
Posted inSocial Services
A Colorado custody evaluator who disbelieves 90% of abuse allegations recommended a teen stay under her abusive father’s control
In Colorado family courts, parents can request an expert evaluation of their case, which sometimes includes allegations of abuse. Mark Kilmer is routinely appointed to evaluate families despite his own history of domestic violence.
Posted inCrime and Courts
“Another place to warehouse people”: Colorado’s halfway houses are a revolving door to prison
Of every 100 people in a halfway house, only two will be reincarcerated for a new crime, while 26 will fail and likely end up behind bars for technical violations and 14 for running away from a facility
Posted inHousing
Nearly $30K vanished from the HOA’s account. Colorado can’t investigate the management company.
State records show the majority of Colorado’s 10,000-plus HOAs hire professional companies to handle their community’s day-to-day needs, delegating a great deal of responsibility — and power — to them
Posted inHousing, News
These Coloradans faced foreclosure not from their mortgage lender, but from their HOA
By Brittany Freeman, Rocky Mountain PBS. Data analysis by Sophie Chou and research by Mariam Elba, ProPublica This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with Rocky Mountain PBS. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. AURORA — In a year when it felt […]