Dozens of interviews show hidden perils for immigrants working at Colorado Mushroom Farm, which sold produce at Whole Foods and King Soopers before going bankrupt.
Shannon Najmabadi
Shannon Najmabadi has covered rural affairs and the rural economy for The Colorado Sun since 2021. She was previously a reporter at The Texas Tribune.
Email: shannon@coloradosun.com Twitter: @ShannonNajma
Posted inCrime and Courts
Colorado principal facing prison after investigating student sexting says nude photos weren’t deleted from work phone
No one has accused Bradley Bass of having bad intent when he preserved Snapchat images. A ruling is expected later this month.
Posted inEducation
Colorado principal facing prison after investigating student sexting expected to testify Friday
The case has been cited as an example of how decades-old child pornography laws can ensnare administrators unaware that possessing explicit images of children is sexual exploitation, no matter the person’s intent.
Posted inSocial Services
Colorado lawmakers to consider $5 million proposal to target youth homelessness after current programs fall short
On a typical day in Colorado, there are about 600 homeless children and 262 homeless young adults ages 18 to 24
Posted inCrime and Courts
Colorado has no mandatory training on how to investigate school sexting. Educators face prison time if they do it wrong.
In one case, an Eastern Colorado principal faces 12 years in prison
Posted inEducation
School resource officer at center of controversial teen sexting case in rural Colorado didn’t take notes of key events
The key role Officer Jared Barham has played in the case highlights the lack of consistent regulation around school resource officers
Posted inSocial Services
Many Colorado foster kids don’t get behavioral health screenings as fast as they should
Data recently reviewed by state lawmakers reinforces findings from a Colorado Sun investigation that found 13% of adoptions of foster children have failed in the last decade — mainly due to behavioral issues
Posted inNews
Case of Eastern Colorado principal accused of exploitation after investigating student sexting heads to hearing
Under Colorado law, even unintentionally possessing explicit images of kids is akin to having child pornography. The man faces up to 12 years in prison.
Posted inSun Investigation
Colorado’s mental health system ill-equipped to handle adopted children with severe trauma
The primary reason adoptions of foster kids in Colorado fail is “child’s behavior problem.” How do you fix reactive attachment disorder or adoption-related loss?
Posted inSun Investigation
Colorado funds only one agency to help families and adopted kids with their trauma-filled past. And its budget just got slashed.
No family who has received trauma-informed coaching by Raise the Future has reported a disrupted adoption, according to the agency and the state.