Commerce City Sentinel Express 091423

Commerce City schools fight reorganization

More fines for Suncor

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

e Environmental Protection Agency has once again ned Suncor’s Commerce City re nery over air pollution issues, this time demanding $161,000 for producing gasoline with too many pollutants, while also requiring Suncor buy $600,000 in clean lawn equipment for nine metro-Denver counties with excess ozone.

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Adams 14 leaders are hoping to stop e orts to reorganize the district and point to improved state ratings as evidence they’re on the right path.

A reorganization committee that was formed in November following state orders, submitted a recommendation earlier this month asking the state to stop reorganization, calling the process “unproven, time-consuming, and resource-intensive.”

Reorganization would hurt the community, the committee argued in its 40-page report.

is year, the Adams 14 district improved from the lowest rating of turnaround, to the second-lowest of priority improvement on the state’s annual ratings. Priority improvement is the same rating the district had in 2019, and four other years in the last decade during which the state gave the district consecutive low ratings.

Superintendent Karla Loría highlighted the improvements on state tests and in performance ratings compared to last year at a recent

press conference.

Loría pointed to the improvements as evidence the district is on the right track, and that they don’t need state intervention.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but we are heading in the right direction,” Loría said. “We just need to be given the opportunity.”

Based on the state’s accountability law, the priority improvement rating isn’t enough to release the district from state intervention. But Loría said she’s con dent that, with more time, the changes she’s implementing will lead to better results than the district has seen under previous improvement plans in the last decade.

Adams 14 has had one of the two lowest ratings for more than 10 years. State law requires the state intervene and order certain changes after ve years in a row of low ratings.

Adams 14 was one of the rst districts in the state to reach that mark, and to remain with low ratings after various state-ordered improvement plans.

Current district leaders point to turnover, state pressures, and biased

standardized tests that don’t account for many of the socioeconomic factors that impact children in Adams 14. e district has one of the highest percentages of students who are learning English as a second language, as well as a high number of students from low-income families and students with disabilities. e district points to poverty, trauma, immigration fears, and environmental contamination as some of the many factors that impact learning in Commerce City more than elsewhere in the state.

is spring, just 17.6% of third graders met expectations on state reading tests, up from 13.6% in 2022, but still lower than the 21.2% who did in 2019.

In May 2022, Adams 14 was the rst district ordered by the state to reorganize when State Board members said they no longer trusted that local leadership could make necessary improvements. e process for reorganization is spelled out in state law, but since it’s never been

e settlement announced by the EPA says Suncor in 2021 produced 32 million gallons of gasoline with excess benzene, and in 2022 made 1 million gallons of summer gasoline with too-high Reid vapor pressure, which can lead to pollution from evaporation. e ne comes on the heels of the EPA in August  ning Suncor more than $300,000 for alleged violations of toxic chemical regulations during a 2019 release from the Commerce City re nery.

Suncor has also been under heavy pressure from Colorado regulators over air pollution and water quality violations, while air and water quality permits are under review at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

e Regional Air Quality Council, a multicounty research and advisory body focused on the ozone problem, welcomed the $600,000 in clean electric lawn equipment as a boost to its recommendations for reducing ozone from dirty-burning small engines. e council has urged the statewide Air Quality Control Commission to ban the sale of gas-powered lawn equipment in the metro area in coming years.  Small engines are a small but measurable portion of the ninecounty ozone violation problem, and considered by air experts to be a relatively easy pollution

SEE SUNCOR, P3

Adams 14 moved out of turnaround to earn a priority improvement rating, same rating as in 2019.

PHOTO BY ERICA MELTZER / CHALKBEAT

SEE RATINGS, P6

Adams County sets Operation Freebird for Nov. 18

e Adams County Sheri ’s O ce and Human Services Department are teaming up for the annual Operation Freebird event. is event provides Adams County families in need with everything to prepare a anksgiving meal.

Operation Freebird will be from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at Mountain States Toyota, 201 W. 70th Ave. Community organizations are welcome to participate to provide resources or information for residents. If interested, reach out to Karla Ojeda.

Internships available with Adams County

Interested in learning more about working for local government? Adams County currently has paid internships available.

Opportunities include a cook ($16.48/hour) and classroom aide ($15.62/hour) for Head Start, IT intern ($17/hour) for the Sheri ’s O ce and a Healthy Farmers Market intern ($17/hour).

ese opportunities are available through the Workforce & Business Center. ose interested should work with their Business Center case manager or call 720.523.6898 to get established with a case manager.

Preparedness program focuses on older adults

Each September, the Adams County Health Department’s Emergency Preparedness & Response team celebrates National Preparedness Month. is year, the 2023 campaign theme is “Helping Older Adults Prepare for Disaster.”

e program will focus on older

adults who are from communities disproportionally impacted by an event that is a man-made emergency or a natural disaster. We know older adults can face greater risks when it comes to the multitude of extreme weather events and emergencies we now face, especially if they are living alone, are low-income, have a disability, or live in rural areas. is yer, available in English and Spanish, is a powerful resource for viewers and readers.

Reducing mental health’s stigma

An Adams County program will seek to raise awareness about mental health, reduce the stigma, and provide resources for getting help. e program is scheduled to run form noon to 6 p.m. Sept 7 at Anythink Wright Farms Library, 5877 E. 120th Ave., ornton. is event will help so all attendees have the con dence to take action, support others, and prevent suicide.

A Stroll in the Garden for CASA e Court Appointed Special Advocate program, or CASA, for the 11th Judicial District is promoting one of its major fundraisers now scheduled for September.

CASA is inviting supporters to come enjoy a Stroll in the Garden at this year’s Indulge for CASA Gala from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Denver’s Balistreri Vineyards, 1946 E 66th Ave. is Garden Party will be full of delicious food and drinks, fantastic auction prizes, exciting entertainment, and more! Indulge for CASA is presented by the Kenneth & Myra Monfort Charitable Foundation.

CASA’s mission is to provide

court-appointed volunteer advocacy for children and youth from the child welfare system so every child can be safe, have a permanent home, and have the opportunity to thrive.

Work Options FREE Culinary Training Program

e Adams County Human Services Department is partnering with local nonpro t Work Options to provide a free culinary training program for residents.

Program participants train with professional chefs over a six-week course and earn certi cations and up to $400 per month. Work Options also o ers food truck internships.

In addition to the training program, Work Options provides the Human Services Center 11860 Pecos St., Westminster, with a full menu of breakfast and lunch options including breakfast burritos, pastries, burgers, pizza, daily specials, and more in the Mountain View Café. e café is located on the third oor of HSC.

Learn more about the program at workoptions.org.

State youth council needs members

e Colorado legislature’s nonpartisan Colorado Youth Advisory Council has openings for new members across the state for the 2023-25 term.

e Youth Advisory Council is a statewide organization dedicated to youth-led civic service learning. Youth members lead policy committees that analyze issues and policies that impact youth across Colorado. Policy work can include making recommendations about current policies or advocating for new ones. Council members

conduct research, write problem/ solution statements, meet with subject matter experts, build relationships with legislators, and seek feedback from their peers and communities.

e Colorado Legislature created the youth advisory council in 2008 to give Colorado’s youth ages 14-19 a voice in lawmaking. Youth council members work each summer to propose policy ideas to a committee of legislators. Each summer, students present policy proposals to legislators. During the last two years, several policies the youth council identi ed became law, including increased crisis services, higher education programs for fostered youth, educational standards and e orts to prevent eating disorders. Applications are due June 19. State organizers plan to host an informational session for applicants at 6 p.m. June 14. Find info at www.coyac.org/apply.

CCPD Introduces Online Crime Reporting Form

e Commerce City Police Department has a new online reporting tool allowing the public to report some non-emergency crimes and receive a police report immediately without having to speak to a police o cer. Community members can now conveniently report incidents that do not require immediate ofcer intervention, such as fraud, identity theft, lost property, theft/ shoplifting (less than $2,000), and vandalism.

e new form is online now in English and Spanish at c3gov. com/ReportACrime. Residents should always call 911 for emergencies.

source to attack.

“ is settlement demonstrates that EPA will hold re ners accountable when the fuel they produce fails to meet legal requirements,” said Assistant Administrator David M. Uhlmann of the EPA’s O ce of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, in a release announcing the ne. “ is settlement and the supplemental environmental project that Suncor agreed to include will provide better air quality for residents a ected by Suncor’s misconduct.”

Suncor said on Sept. 6 that it had “entered into a settlement agreement with the EPA regarding two fuels-related issues that Suncor self-reported.”

e re ner said the EPA’s numbers deserve context.

“No excess benzene was introduced into the environment as a result of these issues. e exceedance at the East Plant a ected 5% of Commerce City’s gasoline production. Our West Plant, which comprises 95% of our gasoline, was well below the standard. Looking at all gasoline produced at the Commerce City Re nery in 2021, the East Plant and West Plant volumes combined were also below the

standard,” Suncor spokesperson Leithan Slade said.

Suncor said it has revised operations to prevent any more violations at the East Plant. Also, Slade said, the re nery will be ready to supply reformulated gasoline for the summer of 2024 that will “signi cantly reduce volatile organic compounds in Colorado, reducing the formation of ozone in the state.”

A requirement to sell cleaner reformulated gas in an ozone nonattainment area is one sanction the EPA can make to push Front Range cities and counties back into compliance with national ozone limits.

e Regional Air Quality Council said it has spent Suncor ne proceeds on clean air programs a total of 10 times now. A release from RAQC was critical of Suncor for not pursuing cleaner energy options as other companies have, and noted the latest nes “represent less than one hour’s earnings to the corporation” based on Sucor’s $1.88 billion pro ts in the second quarter.

“No program can undo the damage from violations like Suncor’s, but initiatives like the RAQC’s Mow Down Pollution program directly reduce ozone precursors, greenhouse gas emissions, and other air pollutants in impacted areas,” said David

Sabados, communications and programs director for the council .

Ean Tafoya of Colorado GreenLatinos called it “poetic” that pro ts from an oil and re ning company will go toward removing gasoline-powered machines from the market. Environmental groups that have been pushing regulators to watchdog Suncor would like some say over how ne money is spent, Tafoya added.

e re nery as part of the settlement will scrap the gasoline-powered lawn equipment that is replaced by the $600,000 in new electric purchases. e EPA said the equipment will be o ered to Commerce City and north Denver neighbors of the re nery complex, as well as schools and other institutions in the ozone nonattainment area, which comprises Denver, Je erson, Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, Boulder, Broom eld, Weld and Larimer counties.

“ is supplemental environmental project will reduce these air pollution risks to local communities with environmental justice concerns in the Commerce City – north Denver area,” the EPA announcement said. “ e results from EJScreen, EPA’s Environmental Justice screening and mapping tool, suggest

a signi cant potential for environmental justice concerns in the area due to a combination of high pollution burden and population vulnerability.”

Ozone and other pollutants related to fossil fuel burning can contribute to or worsen asthma and other respiratory and heart conditions. Residents of the neighborhoods surrounding Suncor su er from those ailments at higher rates than in other areas of Colorado.

e EPA has also tangled with state air pollution regulators about Suncor’s history of and future plans to control various pollutants.

Most recently, the EPA objected a second time to the state’s proposed renewal of a key air pollution permit for some of Suncor’s facilities, which are split between two major air permits. In late July, the EPA agreed to objections from environmental groups that Colorado should crack down harder on carbon monoxide dangers and past plant modi cations. e EPA had previously sent an earlier version of that draft permit back to the state for revisions in other areas.

Colorado’s Water Quality Division is also reviewing Suncor’s request to renew permits for discharging tainted water into Sand

Three seeking Commerce City Mayor’s seat

his name on the ballot and select it to vote for him.

In Ward 4, Noble faces challenger David Diop. Voters can get more informa-

tion on the ballot at Commerce City’s election web page, https://www.c3gov. com/government/elections.

Creek, which ows next to the sprawling plant and empties soon after into the South Platte River as it ows through southern Adams County. Environmental groups have noted frequent spikes in Suncor’s test results for PFAS “forever chemicals” at the re nery’s out ow into Sand Creek.  is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalistowned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Call first: 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton, CO 80601 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: CommerceCitySentinel.com

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Three candidates will seek to replace outgoing Mayor Ben Huseman in Commerce City’s November ballot.

In all, 12 candidates are seeking to ll three open seats.

For the mayor’s chair, Steve Douglas, Joseph Dreiling and René Bullock are seeking to replace Huseman. e mayor is elected at large by all voters in the city and serves a four year term.

Two councilor-at-large seats are open this November as well and incumbent city councilors Craig Kim and Craig Hurst are seeking another term. ey’ll face challengers Charles Dukes and Ryan Keefer for those seats. All Commerce City voters get to cast a ballot for two of those candidates, with the top two vote-getters winning the seat.

In Commerce City’s wards, incumbents Jennifer Allen- omas, Renée Millard-Chacon and Susan Noble are all seeking additional terms.

Allen- omas will face challenger Rocky Teeter for the Ward 2 City Council seat. Millard-Chacon has not formal opposition for a full term in her Ward 3 seat but Rich Trujillo has been declared an o cial write-in candidate for that seat. Voters will need to write

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A legal newspaper of general circulation in Commerce City, Colorado, Commerce City Sentinel Express is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton CO 80601.

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Zoning decision favors battery maker

Over five hour hearing, council narrowly approves Amprius plan

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When it came right down to it, the Brighton City Council was not making a decision about renewable energy or the potential for pollution, economic development or re hazards at their Sept. 5 meeting.

ey were simply there to make a zoning decision about Amprius Tech’s plans to build a manufacturing plant along Bromley Lane.

“ is is not what a zoning hearing is supposed to be,” Councilor Matt Johnston said.

For Johnston, the zoning question was easy to answer: Amprius’ plans do not match the neighborhood, he said.

“ e discussion needs to be about the zoning of the land, and the zoning of the land has nothing to do with Amprius coming into Brighton,” Johnston said. “I would love it if I could guarantee that Amprius will be in that building but I can’t guarantee that and I can’t guarantee that this deal won’t fall apart a year

from now.

“But I can say that if we rezone this, the zoning will stay that way and that change, to industrial uses, is not a small change. Industrial uses for this building puts it into an entirely di erent classi cation.”

But Johnston was outvoted after a ve-hour public hearing that

included testimony from 26 people, evenly split between those in favor and those opposed to the new facility. Councilors approved rezoning the former Sears distribution center by a 4-3 vote on rst reading, with Johnston and colleagues Ann Taddeo and Mary Ellen Pollack opposing the change.

Councilor Peter Padilla said he understood Johnston’s concern but said he thinks the zoning change is warranted. Brighton city sta and consultants have reviewed the project plans and have recommended approval.

October 10, 1945 - September 4, 2023

In Loving Memory of Carolyn Sue Carver

Carolyn Sue Carver, 77, of Keenesburg, Colorado, passed away on September 4, 2023, due to heart failure. She was surrounded by her loving family.

Carolyn is survived by her cherished family, including her four children: Azizah (Becky), Pam, Debbie, and Michael. She also leaves behind her seven beloved grandchildren: Cameron, Kyle, Jennifer, Sarah, Joshua, Abdullah (Abby), and Zak, as well as her three great-grandchildren: Bria, Maverick, and Gabriel. Carolyn had also recently gained two beloved granddaughters-in-law, Jessica and Rachel, whom she loved and adored, with Madison and Chanley soon to be welcomed into the family. Carolyn’s

memory is also carried on by her three dear sons-in-law: Ibrahim, Sean, and Jim.

For over two decades, Carolyn called e Aladdin her home. She formed deep bonds with the residents there, considering them her second family. She shared a special connection with Sandi Conner whom she cherished like a daughter and thought of as her guardian angel.

Carolyn’s presence brightened the lives of everyone she knew. Her humor, kindness, loving nature, and gentle spirit touched the hearts of many. She brought joy and inspiration to those around her with her infectious laughter and playfulness. Carolyn will be profoundly missed, and her passing leaves a void that cannot be lled. e world has lost an angel.

CARVER

Carolyn Sue (Ostrem) Carver

Every seat was taken during the Brighton City Council’s Sept. 5 hearing regarding a rezoning request for the vacant Sears/KMart distribution facility on Bromley Lane. Building owners Starboard Realty received approval for the zoning change, allowing battery maker Amprius Tech to proceed with plans to put a lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant in the building. SCOTT TAYLOR

SEE MAKER, P5

MAKER

“ e use of this facility as something besides a warehouse that is falling apart in a critical area of Brighton is important to me,” Padilla said. “We have a creative option in front of us that our professionals tell me has the safety concerns in hand.”

Unused space

e company announced in March its intention to occupy the empty former distribution center on Bromley Lane, setting up their new lithium-ion battery manufacturing facility in the 775,000-square-foot building. eir rst phase would create 332 net new jobs in Brighton with an average annual wage of $68,516.

e site is the former location of a Sears/KMart distribution center that contains 1.3 million square feet of space and parking but has been vacant for the past 18 months, according to Dan Vittone of Starboard Realty Partners, the building’s owners. Vittone said his group had been in unfruitful talks with Costco, Albertsons and even car dealer Carvana to use the space, to no avail.

“So what we tried to do is A: Lease the building under the existing zoning, but we couldn’t do it,” Vittone said. “So, B: We tried to sell the building, but couldn’t do it. So now

we’re here, trying to broaden the uses for the building and get this thing leased.”

e current zoning speci cally limits the building’s uses to warehouses and distribution centers.

Amprius hopes to get the zoning changed to allow industrial, commercial and public uses.

Brighton sta , from planners to utilities to the re marshal, have reviewed the project, discussed it with paid consultants and have found the project to be su ciently safe.

Neighbors concerned

e facility would be located at 18875 Bromley Lane, just 600 feet south of Brighton’s Mt. Princeton St. and homes in the surrounding Brighton Crossings neighborhood and due north of Brighton’s water treatment plant. Brighton’s Planning Board advised the City Council to turn down the company’s proposal on Sept. 5, citing the project’s proximity to neighbors.

at brought out neighbors of the proposed project to the Sept. 5 meeting to argue against it, fearing pollution from the plant and potential dangers if the lithium-ion batteries were to catch re.

Joe Williams, who lives on Mt. Sne els St. to the north of the building, said he’s worked hard to provide a safe place for his family.

“ at’s why people move here now, so they don’t have to live next to Suncor or the Pepsi company

in Denver, down o of Brighton Boulevard,” Williams said. “ ere are areas that are designated for this kind of thing.”

Neighbor Gilda Ramirez, who lives on Mt. Princeton St. north of the building, said she’s worried about tra c in the area if there is a problem. With three schools in the neighborhood, tra c is often at a standstill now.

“If there is an incident, how long would it take to evacuate the residents in the area?” she said. “ e statistics always say that if you’re not out and safe within a certain period of time, and it’s usually a very short period of time, then the percentage of survival is in the single digits. Do we really want to take that kind of chance of an incident when there are three schools there, not just the residents. What about our children?”

But opponents were equally matched in the audience by those who supported the project.

“I, for one, welcome this stateof-the-art facility” said Kevin Barnes of E. 136th Ave. in Brighton. Barnes said he is an engineer who has worked with similar batteries.

“I very much support a rezoning here because I think this can be done safely with tremendous responsibility back to the community,” he said. “We’ve already gone over the fact that they are going to occupy an underutilized

building. ey’re going to bring in many well-paying jobs to the area and will procure many good locally and that all has a net positive e ect on our community.”

Narrow vote

e 50/50 split in opinions continued on to the dais. City Councilor Ann Taddeo said she’d heard from numerous opponents of the project and that swayed her decision.

“It isn’t that I don’t think there won’t be many, many safeguards put into place or that regulations won’t be followed,” Taddeo said. “But that does not mean that there won’t be problems, things we can’t anticipate or that we don’t know can happen in the future.”

Councilor Clint Blackhurst said sta ’s opinion convinced him.

“I have to say this has been a di cult discuss both ways,” Blackhurst said. “I have to admit to being swayed by those people on sta who are experts in their eld and the people who know what they are talking about. And I can handle that.”

If councilors vote to approve the zoning change at the nal hearing later this year, the company still needs permits from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Company o cials said they plan to submit their applications to the state this fall. e company hopes to be operating by the beginning of 2025.

RATINGS

implemented this way, several questions remain. A Colorado Supreme Court decision that would impact whether the state can order reorganization is pending.

e law requires the district under order to reorganize to form a committee including members of neighboring districts and draft a plan for changes. at could mean anything from rebranding the district, changing district boundaries, closing some schools, or dissolving the district altogether.

e draft plan would be nalized with community feedback and sent to the state commissioner of education for approval. Lastly, voters would have the nal say.

Instead, the reorganization committee, after meeting four times, approved a 40-page recommendation that asks the state to stop reorganization.

A spokesperson for the state Department of Education said the commissioner is reviewing the request and will issue a decision to the committee. e recommendation is not being considered a reorganization plan, which would have triggered some timelines for a response.

“Statute doesn’t contemplate a report that is a recommendation to not reorganize,” reads an emailed statement from the department. “ e report asks the commissioner to accept the report and absolve the committee of any further obligations related to reorganization.”

e report initially was displayed on the district’s board website, but has since been removed and can only be viewed by search.

Under the law, the committee was supposed to review data, and gather community feedback about their draft plan before presenting it to the state.

In its vote on Aug. 11, all members voted in favor of forwarding the report to the state, except committee member Chris Gdowski, superintendent of neighboring Adams 12, who recused himself because he had not seen or read the 40-page report before the 10-minute meeting.

e report claims the public had ample opportunity to provide feedback, since its meetings were publicized, school board members held individual meetings, and community members could comment at the end-of-year Adams 14 town hall meeting.

However, the announcement for that meeting included no mention of the reorganization process, a draft plan, or recommendation.

An archived online notice for that town hall meeting is just a handful of sentences: “Please join us for an end-of-year town hall meeting on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. e superintendent will share some of our incredible achievements this year regarding state metrics, community engagement, and district initiatives. Join us in the Adams City High School auditorium on May 31 at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and child care will be provided. Interpretation services will be available.”

e report also cites that other local boards, including the neighboring school boards involved in reorganization, and the Adams County Commissioners, have passed resolutions in support of Adams 14. Teachers unions including the local Adams 14 association and the state teachers union also have voiced their support of the district and opposition for reorganization.

District attorney Joe Salazar said that community members always have a right to speak about reorganization or any topic at any meeting.

Salazar said “by and large, people from all four districts didn’t want to take part in reorganization. ey are so over this process.”

Since the state ordered Adams 14 to enter reorganization, the Department of Education is now led by a new state commissioner and has new state board members.

Momentum to make changes to the state’s accountability system have picked up over time and a task force has been formed to make recommendations for changes.

Meanwhile, in the district, Adams 14 worked this past year with consultant TNTP, formerly known as e New Teacher Project. TNTP was supposed to take the place of an external manager the state wanted the district to work with to ensure success.

Adams 14 led notice with the state this week that they don’t plan to renew TNTP’s contract due to budget constraints. Asked about that decision, Loría said “we’re working with the state through that.” A department spokesperson said ending that relationship would put the district in violation of existing orders. However, the state is willing to give the district more money to cover some of the costs.

Two years ago, just after being hired, Loría cut ties with a stateordered manager, for-pro t consultant MGT, by locking them out of the district, and the State Board of Education temporarily removed the district’s accreditation.

is time, Salazar, the district’s attorney, said the district would seek an amendment to the State Board

orders to remove the requirement that the district have an external partner.It’s not clear whether the State Board would approve such a request.

Loría said the district is continuously re-evaluating district needs and prioritizing improvement efforts, but said the district’s budget woes also pushed her to the decision. e contract with TNTP was signed in June 2022, for $5 million over three years.

Loría said among other things, she has restructured administration sta for a savings of about $800,000. e district also closed Hanson, a low-enrollment elementary school, at the end of last school year, and is considering other closures in the coming years.

She said the district has been “bold” against the state’s orders, and now has a strong local vision and that has contributed to the district’s improvements. She also discussed the new career-focused academies that are being started at the high school, the district’s commitment to fund full-day preschool for all 3- and 4 year-olds, and the rollout of the community schools model at Central Elementary, one of the low-performing schools that has improved over 2022.

Loría also announced that the district is one step closer to earning an alternative accreditation from Cognia, a Georgia-based nonpro t that conducts reviews of schools, grants accreditation, and o ers suggestions and resources for improvement. e district began seeking that one after the state removed its accreditation.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

Speaking from experience

Motivational speaker

Jordan Toma comes to Fort Lupton High School

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Jordan Toma, grew up in New Jersey and su ered 18 years of his life from learning disabilities that he let de ne in his life in school.

It caused him to lack con dence, feel helpless and made him unable to know his self-worth. He didn’t want to attend school, feeling he was not good enough. He said he always felt lost and helpless in class.

“I struggled with listening, reading, paying attention, being present, and trying to understand why I couldn’t pick things up like everyone else did,” Toma said. “I remember sitting in class and telling myself ‘I am going to really try hard to understand everything and be a normal student,’ but I just couldn’t grasp the material.

“ e struggle was real, and it led to required special lessons, which was an Individual Education program. (But) the special lessons led to other students and so-called friends calling me dumb and I was teased. I also allowed this to control me throughout High School.”

Toma brought his message to Fort Lupton High School Sept. 6 to help students with the same struggles.

Toma learned to get past his struggles and nd his strengths as time passed, and he wears them now like a badge of honor.

“I want everyone to know just how hard it was, and how I became the person I am today at 33 years because of it,” Toma said.

It was a welcome message.

“ is is a good story for our kids to hear, about a young man who struggled with school yet overcame that. He understood that he needed help from other people, but then he had to intrinsically nd it himself,” said Fort Lupton High School

Principal Doug Gordon. “It’s an incredible story and our kids need to hear it and I hope they take away a good message from Jordan.”

Hard work

After Toma graduated from high school in 2008, he enrolled in a Centenary University program called “STEP Ahead,” an instensive fourweek program designed to enhance the development of a student’s selfadvocacy, independence, interpersonal and academic skills.

“I moved into the Centenary University dorm that summer, lled

with fear and anxiety. I went into the bathroom, looked at myself in the mirror and promised I would change my life struggles that dominated me up to this point,” Toma said.

He got through college, which was the hardest thing ever for him.

“I thought, if I could make it through college, I could do anything,” Toma said. “I knew that I was going to do something. I got through school working hard to gure it out and maybe I wouldn’t get it right away.”

He started working immediately upon graduation as a business advisor, but was still trying to gure out what was next.  Toma said he worked hard at his rst job and was successful but thought of the many kids who have struggled in school like he did.

“ ey are doubting themselves to never push past that barrier of getting through it to gure out who they were and never got to that moment, where they could do anything,” Toma said. “I decided to help these kids get through a tough part of their life.”

He took his passion into the schools as a youth motivational speaker to reach kids.

“ e only way I could do it was to share my personal story and message at schools, to parents, and through social media,” Toma said.

Toma began reaching out to the

Jordan Toma has a bit of fun with a student, asking him his height to get a free Tshirt. Toma brought his uplifting message to Fort Lupton High School Sept. 5. BELEN WARD

EXPERIENCE

youth working online, trying to speak at schools for free, and getting in front of kids was a start.

“I went back to a summer program that changed my life and wanted to get to kids at that moment- they can do it, I got through it. I know every kid deserves to get to that moment,” Toma said.

Toma started his program in 2017 called “I’m just a kid with an IEP.” By 2020, news spread about Toma, and he was on NBC’s Today Show and has continued to go to the schools.

Beyond the IEP

When Toma came to Fort Lupton High School, he told the kids in the

gymnasium of his personal story of learning disabilities and being in the IEP program. He talked about overcoming their struggles by working hard and showing up for school. He told the students he missed a lot of school because of struggles.

But you have to show up.

“If you don’t show up for school, you can’t overcome your struggles; you need to work hard,” Toma said.

Toma quizzed the Fort Lupton students about their struggles, o ering them various gifts – hats, shirts, and books.

He asked if they’d ever been called upon to stand up and read in front of the class, only to come away embarrassed because they couldn’t get the words right. Many kids raised their hands.

He asked them if they knew why kids bully. ey answered that it

makes them feel better and he agreed. It’s because of problems in their life, he said.

Toma asked them to identify the feeling when their heart is beating fast, their stomach feels full of butter ies and they can’t breathe. e kids hollered back, “Anxiety!”

Anxiety grows roots in your life and sometimes leaves you feeling that you can’t make it out, he said. He said he has struggled his whole life with anxiety.

Feedback

Toma said he depends on the students themselves to keep him moving forward, After every speaking event, Toma said the students come up to him, give feedback, and send him messages, telling him he

Motivational speaker Jordan Toma said he looks forward to getting feedback from students after each presentation. Af Fort Lupton, students asked him to sign their T-shirts.

COURTESY CHRISTY ROMANO

SEE EXPERIENCE, P8

More charges for Arvada rock throwers

Two men accused in rock-throwing spree charged in newly-revealed Arvada attack

BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN

Nearly three weeks before three men allegedly hurled rocks at moving vehicles around Westminster — killing a 20-year-old woman and injuring others — authorities say two of them were involved in another attack involving a statue head being thrown at a moving car.

Joseph Koenig and Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, both 18, are facing two new counts of attempted rst-degree murder and attempted second-degree assault in a previously unreported incident April 1 in Arvada, Brionna Boatright, a spokeswoman for First Judicial District Attorney Alexis King said Sept. 6.

Evidence related to the new charges is expected to be presented in early September during a preliminary hearing for the three men, Boatright said. Additional details were not immediately available. e charges were led Aug. 30, she said.  e two men, along with Zach-

ary Kwak, 18, already face murder charges in the April 19 death of Alexa Bartell, after police accused them of launching a rock from a pickup at Bartell’s yellow Chevy Spark as she was talking on the phone with a friend. e rock smashed through her front windshield and struck her in her head.

Police said Bartell’s car was the last car hit as the group hurled large landscaping rocks at a string of vehicles shortly after 10 p.m. on April 19 in Westminster. e men were also previously charged for hitting six other cars and injuring two other drivers in a rock-throwing spree.

Attorneys for Koenig and KarolChik did not immediately return requests for comment.

All three men remain in jail after a judge set a $2 million cash-only bond in June. Each faces 13 charges in the April 19 rock-throwing spree, including one court of rstdegree murder with extreme indifference, six counts of attempted rst-degree murder, three counts of second-degree assault and three counts of attempted second-degree assault, court documents show. e extreme indi erence charges allege the men knowingly created “a grave risk of death,” without caring who was injured or killed, resulting in Bartell’s death.

After their arrests, the men told investigators that they returned to

gave him the energy to continue his work.

the crash site to take a photo of the car to serve as a memento, according to arrest a davits.

In interviews with police, two men accused each other of throwing the rock that killed Bartell. Karol-Chik said Kwak threw the rock while Bartell was driving on Indiana Street at about 10:45 p.m. Kwak said Koenig threw it. Koenig has refused to be

interviewed by police.  is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

changed his life and saw their struggles and future.

“I tell them you need to have hope because it’s hard, but if you have hope, you can keep going and showing up for school- it’s lifechanging,” Toma said.

When I heard that, Toma said it

“I’ll be honest, traveling to each engagement is tiring, hopping on planes and driving hours to a school to speak and then to another school. It takes a lot of energy,” Toma said.

“I keep in the back of my mind you never know who’s in the crowd. It makes me feel good they’re listening, they can hear my message, it feels good.”

Do you love being a part of your local community helping businesses grow? If you like to talk to people we want to talk to you!

We are currently hiring for a local Marketing Engagement Specialist in the Golden area!

Please send resume to eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Solution

TRIVIA

1. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to a giant sequoia tree named General Sherman?

2. ANIMAL KINGDOM: Is a rhinoceros an herbivore, omnivore or carnivore?

3. GEOGRAPHY: Which city in India is home to the Taj Mahal?

4. MOVIES: What is the title of the rst James Bond movie?

5. TELEVISION: What was the product featured in the rst TV advertisement?

6. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Which French fashion designer is credited with inventing the Little Black Dress?

7. FOOD & DRINK: What does it mean to julienne vegetables?

8. GOVERNMENT: What does the acronym GDP stand for in economic terms?

9. LITERATURE: What is the cat’s name in Shakespeare’s “Macbeth”?

10. SCIENCE: Who is considered the father of the atomic bomb?

Answers

1. California, Sequoia National Park.

2. An herbivore, a plant eater.

3. Agra.

4. “Dr. No.”

5. Bulova watch.

6. Coco Chanel.

7. Cut into short, thin strips.

8. Gross domestic product.

9. Grimalkin.

10. J. Robert Oppenheimer.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Add NEWSto your diet

NOW HERE’S A TIP

* A trio of sewing tips from S.R. in Idaho: “Store patterns in plastic baggies. It’s hard to get them back into their envelopes, and I nd that the baggies store just as well. I keep my pattern from tearing by spraying them with spray starch. I also sharpen needles by stitching through very ne sandpaper. ese tips have worked for me for many years.”

* “It’s almost time for Scouts to start up again. I have been washing uniforms and sashes, and nd this trick to be helpful when it comes time to stitch on badges. Put a bit of plain school glue on the back of your badge, place it where you want it on the sash, then let it dry. It will stay in place long enough to stitch the edges. When you launder it, the glue will wash right out.” -- R.D. in Florida

* Solve the case of the tricky screw: Coat problem screws with clear ngernail polish right before you insert them. ey will

hold tightly after that.

* To keep hair shiny and soft, rinse weekly with a mix of half vinegar (apple cider or white) and water. e smell goes away quickly, but the softness and shine stick around.

* If you have a cracked or otherwise leaking vase that is opaque (not glass), try heating a bit of para n wax and coating the inside of the vase with it. Let it harden, and it should be watertight again.

* “To keep plywood or thin materials from splitting, I tape my cut line with low-tack masking tape. It keeps my cut sharp, reduces the fraying, and it’s easy to remove when I’m done.” -G.S. in Minnesota

Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

1. What was the original name of the group Bill Haley and the (His) Comets?

2. Who penned and released “I Believe in Music”?

3. Little Eva had one No. 1 chart topper. What was it?

4. What was the proposed original title of the Beatles’ White Album?

5. Name the song that contains these lyrics: “I wondered, too, if by chance you heard it for yourself, I never told a soul just how I’ve been feeling about you.”

Answers

1. Bill Haley and the Saddlemen. They made the change to “the Comets” due to the public’s mispronunciation of the famous comet’s name ... which was actually Hallie.

2. Mac Davis, in 1970. Legend says that Davis got the idea when he declined an invitation to a seance, saying that he didn’t believe in that, but he believed in music.

3. “The Loco-Motion,” in 1962. Several groups around

the world released their own covers over the years.

4. “A Doll’s House.” The 1968 double album contained 30 songs.

5. “On the Radio,” by Donna Summer, in 1979. The song was written for the Foxes soundtrack. It was released in several formats, including a seven-minute promo for DJs, an instrumental with a slower tempo, as a ballad and as a disco version.

(c) 2023 King Features Syndicate

MARKETPLACE CAREERS

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September 14, 2023

Adams County

4430 S. Adams County Pkwy. Brighton, CO 80601 (720) 523-6200

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by Adams County.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about October 2, 2023, Adams County will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for the release of HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds under Title II of the CranstonGonzales National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, to undertake a project known as South Platte Crossing for the purpose of developing 60 units of permanently affordable rental housing for families located in Commerce City near the intersection of Colorado Boulevard and 72nd Avenue. South Platte Crossing is anticipated to be a four-story, elevatorserviced building, including two studios, 29 one-bedroom units, 26 two-bedroom units, and 3 three-bedroom units. South Platte Crossing will serve families earning up to 30% - 80% AMI. Approximately $1,328,237.49 in HUD funding estimated funding will be involved in this project which will cost approximately $19.3 million total.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

Adams County has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at 4430 S. Adams County Parkway, Brighton, CO 80601 and may be examined or copied weekdays 8 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Adams County. All comments received

by September 29, 2023 will be considered by Adams County prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The Adams County certifies to HUD that Steve O’Dorisio in his capacity as Chair of the Board of County Commissioners consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows Adams County to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of fund and Adams County’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are on one of the following bases:

(a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of Adams County;

(b) Adams County has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR part 58;

(c) the grant recipient or other participants in the development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted via email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to Noemi Ghirghi, CPD Region VIII Director, at CPD_COVID-19OEE-DEN@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact CPD_COVID-19OEE-DEN@hud.gov to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO

Notice is hereby given that the following subdivision(s) will be considered for approval by the City of Commerce City Community Development Director on Tuesday, September 26, 2023.

S-841-23 Kearney 1 LLC requests approval of the Kearney Street Townhouses

Final Plat to create 44 townhome lots and 4 tracts for open space, utilities, access, and drainage. The proposed final plat is a replat of Lots 1-44, Tract A, B, C & D, Kearney Street Townhomes. The property is located at 6320 Kearney Street, consists of approximately 2.48 acres, and is zoned PUD (Planned Unit Development).

The case file(s) and a copy of the Land Development Code of the City together with the subdivision plat are on file for review by emailing the Community Development Department at cdplanner@c3gov.com. Any owner of property located within 300 feet of the subject property may invoke the public hearing process by submitting said objections in writing to the Director of Community Development in accordance with Sec. 21-3241 by no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, September 25th, 2023.

Director of Community Development

Para más información, contacta 303227-8818

Legal Notice No. CCX1146

First Publication: September 14, 2023

Last Publication: September 14, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Metro Districts Budget Hearings

Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET

22%3a%2278e91a46-bdcc-4fe5-980c8ff3dcc70755%22%7d

Or call in (audio only) +1 720-547-5281,,346724177# United States, Denver Phone Conference ID: 346 724 177#

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Proposed Budget has been submitted to the District. A copy of the Proposed Budget is on file in the office of the District Accountant, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado where the same is open for public inspection.

Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the Proposed Budget at any time prior to final adoption of the Proposed Budget by the Board. This meeting is open to the public and the agenda and notice for any meeting may be obtained by visiting the District’s website https://www.reunionco.com.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS: REUNION METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

/s/ CLIFTONLARSONALLEN LLP

District Manager

Legal Notice No. CCX1140

First Publication: September 14, 2023

Last Publication: September 14, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Bids and Settlements

Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that on or after September 25, 2023 at 8:00 AM local time, final settlement shall be made by the City of Commerce City, Colorado with:

Heritage Links P.O. Box 16390, Little Rock, AR, 72231

Steve

Adams

O’Dorisio,

Chair of the Board of County Commissioners

County

Legal Notice No. CCX1147

First Publication: September 14, 2023

Last Publication: September 14, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the REUNION METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”), will hold a meeting via teleconference on September 18, 2023 at 3:00 P.M., for the purpose of conducting such business as may come before the Board including a public hearing on the 2024 Proposed Budget (the “Proposed Budget”). This meeting can be joined using the following teleconference information:

https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetupjoin/19%3ameeting_OTBiMjlkNDYtZTJi YS00ZmE0LWE2YTItMWYxYjVmODBl NzRl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22 Tid%22%3a%224aaa468e-93ba-4ee3ab9f-6a247aa3ade0%22%2c%22Oid%

Hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the Contract: “Buffalo Run Irrigation Replacement”, Project Number 2021-PRG-004, hereinafter called the “Project,” for the City of Commerce City, Colorado.

1. Any person or entity who has an unpaid claim against the said project, for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor, or any of his sub-contractors, in or about the performance of said work, may at any time up to and including said time and date of such final settlement, file a verified statement

State reps agree to open meetings deal

BY JESSE PAUL AND ELLIOTT WENZLER THE COLORADO SUN

A settlement has been reached in the unusual lawsuit led this summer by two Democratic state representatives alleging “pervasive” violations of the state’s open meetings laws by members of the Colorado House.

State Reps. Elisabeth Epps of Denver and Bob Marshall of Highlands Ranch o ered in early September to enter into a court-enforced deal, known as a consent decree, with the Colorado House of Representatives, the chamber’s Democratic and Republican caucuses and partisan leadership in the chamber.

As part of the settlement, which must be approved by a judge, the defendants agreed to not discuss public business or take a “formal action” during a meeting where a quorum of a state body is expected to be in attendance without rst providing public notice of the gathering and promptly making minutes of the meeting publicly available.

Also, two or more members of the House “shall not discuss public business through any electronic means (including, without limitation, any instant messaging platform or applica-

tion) unless written minutes of such meetings are made publicly available upon request.” ose minutes would have to be released under the Colorado Open Records Act.

Finally, the defendants agreed to pay the lawyer representing Epps and Marshall $13,000 within 45 days to cover his fees. Taxpayers would be on the hook for the sum.

“ e settlement of this dispute does not establish wrongdoing by any party,” the agreement says.

Epps and Marshall led their lawsuit in July, alleging that Colorado House Democrats’ near-weekly caucus meetings, during which pending legislation is discussed, should be publicly noticed and that meeting minutes be recorded and o ered to the public. e lawsuit claimed members of the House Democratic caucus “directed legislative aides to omit or disguise these mandatory meetings from representatives’ calendars.”

e lawsuit also argued that House Democrats’ use of Signal, an encrypted smartphone messaging system in which messages can be automatically deleted, also violates the state’s open meeting and public records laws. Ac-

Public Notices

of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claims.

2. All such claims shall be filed with the Commerce City, Golf Course Manager at 15700 E.112th. Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022.

3. Failure on the part of a creditor to file such a statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the City of Commerce City from any and all liability for such claim.

City of Commerce City, Colorado

Buffalo Run Golf Course

Paul Hebinck

Golf Course Manager (303) 289-1500

Legal Notice No. CCX1143

First Publication: September 7, 2023

Last Publication: September 14, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Public Notice

HM METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1

Harvest Road and 56th Ave Streetlights

The HM Metropolitan District No. 1 (the “Owner”) is accepting sealed bids for the Harvest Road and 56th Avenue Streetlights (“Project”). Sealed Bids for the Harvest Road and 56th Avenue project will be received by the District Engineer (Merrick & Company), at 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 10:00 a.m. local time on October 12, 2023. Bids shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to HM Metropolitan District No. 1 endorsed with the name of the Bidder and the Title “Harvest Road and 56th Avenue Streetlights”.

The Project will include:

• Streetlights along Harvest Road from E. 64th Avenue to E. 56th Avenue and streetlights along 56th Avenue from E-470 to Harvest Road.

Bidding documents can be requested beginning September 14, 2023 at 9:00

A.M. There will be no charge for the bid documents. Contact Barney Fix at barney. fix@merrick.com to receive the PDF documents electronically.

Bids may not be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) calendar days after the Bid date and time. The Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive any errors or irregularities, and to require statements or evidence of Bidders’ qualifications including financial statements. The Owner also reserves the right to extend the Bidding period by Addendum if it appears in its interest to do so.

For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741.

Legal Notice No. CCX1144

First Publication: September 14, 2023

Last Publication: September 28, 2023 Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Non-Consecutive Publications

Notice to Creditors

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Jacobo M. Martinez Jr., a/k/a Jake Martinez, Deceased

Case Number: 2023 PR 292

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to pres ent them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before January 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Stella Lucero

Personal Representative 7300 Krameria St Commerce City, CO 80022

Legal Notice No. CCX1145

First Publication: September 14, 2023

Last Publication: September 28, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

cording to the legal action, representatives used Signal to discuss witness testimony and how each lawmaker would vote on bills.

e legal action argued that House Republicans have violated open meetings laws, too, through their regular caucus meetings and communications on Signal.

Lawmakers’ use of Signal, which was rst released in 2014, has become more widespread over the past two or three years.

e lawsuit was highly unusual since Epps and Marshall sued their own caucus and its top leaders, House Speaker Julie McCluskie and House Majority Leader Monica Duran. It heightened tensions in the House Democratic caucus that built through the 2023 legislative session.

During the nal day of the term, during a meeting of the House Democratic caucus, Epps directly criticized McCluskie’s leadership, saying she had been too lenient with Republicans and had allowed last-minute bills to be forced through by Democrats.

“You asked to do this,” Epps said. “I’m asking you to do much, much more.”  McCluskie, of Dillon, and Duran, of

Wheat Ridge, said in a joint statement that Colorado House Democrats “believe deeply in the values of transparency and open government.”

“ rough this agreement, we continue our commitment to ensuring full public access, transparency and fairness in the legislative process,” the statement said.

e consent decree, if approved by a judge, would also apply to House Minority Leader Mike Lynch, R-Wellington, and the chamber’s GOP caucus. Marshall, in an interview with e Colorado Sun, celebrated the agreement.

“It’s going to get us where we need to go, I hope,” he said.

Marshall said the next step is pursuing a bill aimed at modernizing Colorado’s open meetings and public records laws. e consent decree says the agreement would be in e ect until the laws are amended, hinting that changes are coming.

If a judge signs o on the consent decree, the agreement would be enforceable by the courts.

e legislature isn’t in session. e 2024 lawmaking term begins in January and runs 120 days.

Public

that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Aagaman Khanal be changed to Aagaman Adhikari

Statistics show Colorado heating up

the 99-degree high Sept. 1 was still a record for the day — and that is anything but an anomaly in recent years.

more recent years.

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

Early this month, the daily high temperature in Denver irted with a mark not seen so far in 2023: 100 degrees Fahrenheit. is year could end up being the rst since 2015 without a 100-degree day in the state capital. But

Inspired by the recent 99-degree record-breaker, we decided to chart when each of Denver’s 366 daily records for high and low temperatures was set, going back 151 years to when such records began being kept. (366 and not 365 to account for the record readings on leap days.)

e record lows are fairly evenly distributed, with a noted lull in the 1920s, ’30s and early ’40s. But record highs are concentrated in

Nearly 50% of Denver’s daily record-high temps — 178 of 366 — have been set since 2000. Onethird have been set since 2010, and more than 12% — 46 daily record highs — have been set since 2020.

For comparison, about 19% of Denver’s daily record-low temps have been set since 2000, and about 4% have occurred since 2020.

e early September record temp toppled a mark that stood for only four years. It was the fourth recordhigh temperature set so far in 2023, to go with ve record-low temperatures.

ADVENTHEALTHPARKER PRESENTS

And, despite what has felt like a pretty mild summer in and around Denver, the average daily temperature between June and August actually fell right in line with long-term averages, ranking it the 80th-coolest summer in 151 years, according to 9News. is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

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Nearly 50% of Denver’s daily record-high temperatures have occurred since 2000