Juneteenth is still a community prize for all
Arapahoe County Commissioner Rhonda Fields will be marching in the annual Juneteenth Parade in Denver this weekend, just like she has for years.
That won’t change.
The veteran state lawmaker, activist and now county commissioner says, however, she’s hoping a tsunami of political change since last Juneteenth — maybe the biggest and best ever Juneteenth Parade and music festival in Five Points — won’t diminish the event.
It looks like it already has.
Event organizers have reduced the musicfood-shopping-and-fun-packed event in Denver’s Five Points from three days to one this year, saying that corporate and other sponsors have pulled back.
It’s unclear whether association with anything to do with promoting minority rights or pushing for inclusion has businesses big and small nervous and unsure what’s next to come in the Trump administration’s push to dismantle those things.
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Here in Aurora, conservatives on the City Council were in front of the Trump administration’s demands that governments dismantle Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. They unfunded city programs a few years ago and finished ending it during the last few months.
10 years after Supreme Court bestowed equal rights on LGBTQ+ Americans, Pride prevails
daily issues fiats restricting or outright ending rights and freedoms.
FTrump and supporters of his nonsense couch their insistence on a “merit-only” system of hiring, education and funding by calling DEI programs “reverse discrimination.”
DAVE PERRY Editor
irst the bad news.
The number of Americans who support gay marriage rights has fallen from 72% to about 68% over the last two years.
Everett Kelley, who is the national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, told the Associated Press earlier this year that the federal and state governments already hire and promote exclusively based on merit.
derstanding, illuminating and honoring the history of Black Americans, and other minorities, moves equality in reach of everyone in the nation.
queens, yet have such a profound affinity for all kinds of cosplay and dabbling in jarring quantities and applications of facial makeup.
Juneteenth is maybe the perfect example of that.
Ten years ago on Jan. 26, the Supreme Court issued one of the nation’s most historic and profound opinions ever, making it clear that the U.S. Constitution’s protections extend to all Americans, whether they are straight, gay, lesbian, queer, bi-sexual or transgender.
The history, detailed in this week’s Sentinel cover story, offers a catalog of insights.
Rather than insult so many talented and skilled drag queens, Trump and much of his mob should ask nicely for tips and tricks.
I never get tired of the story, which has plenty of parallels for today.
In their 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled the right to marry is “fundamental,” calling it “inherent in the liberty of the person.”
He said the recent push behind DEI programs, and just making people cognizant of subtle or blatant biases, has pushed the nation over the last several years to a place in time boasting the lowest gender and racial pay gaps in the workforce.
For the past few years, millions of Americans have been offered context and historical facts that had previously been glossed over or whitewashed. We’ve all learned a lot about each other, mostly how similar we all are. Not different.
The insults are ruthless and increasingly accepted as banter that would never be accepted the same way if it targeted Blacks, Jews or other American minorities.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, proclaiming that no human could own another as a slave.
More than anything else, the iconic ruling made clear that LGBTQ+ people are just that, people.
Pride celebrations from that point out were just that, celebrations of a long-fought victory over cruel discrimination a dearth of common sense.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, regularly hurls “communist groomers” as an insult for just about all things LGTBQ+.
Only the Union States observed the proclamation. It wasn’t until the South caved during the Civil War in 1865 that slave states turned more than 3 million slaves free.
Colorado no longer needed its “civil union” law, which at least tried to provide some sense of economic and legal equity. Before that, same-sex spouses had no legal rights when it came to making critical medical decisions or even receiving death benefits.
Trump not only set fire to DEI programs, he indulged his racist supporters who have demanded that schools, museums and other institutions stop working to educate and illuminate Americans about not only how horrific American slavery and segregation were, but how persistent the damage has been from those catastrophes for generations of Black Americans.
For the first time since I can remember, the nation worked hard at ending the idea that there are “we” and “them.” The idea of isolating “others” didn’t end, but it became clearer than ever how dangerous and mistaken such a philosophy is.
Trump, who during his first administration offered at least tacit support of the gay and trans community, has gone silent or offers cheap slights, such as this week calling CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who is openly gay, “Allison Cooper.”
Most of the states, that is. Not Texas.
Post Obergefell v. Hodges decision saw same-sex couples finally enjoy the same rights as all other couples.
Gay and transgender Americans became even more able to live openly as other Americans, while making clear that gender or sexual orientation does not define people any more than does being straight.
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It’s all back in full force, now, and then some.
Here in Colorado, GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert helped build her career on dissing drag queens.
More than two months after Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses Grant, turning Texas into another free state, thousands of Black people were still enslaved in Galveston because white slave owners didn’t reveal to Black slaves what had happened.
In the past few years, however, some of the old intolerances and hate has returned, especially for transgender Americans.
Although 58% of Americans support the ability for transgender soldiers to serve in the military, that number has fallen from 71% in 2019, according to Gallup polling.
“They’re just trying to erase our history,” Fields said about the Trump administration. She pointed to just days after Trump was inaugurated and how the Pentagon removed from government websites on-line histories of Black heroes such as the Tuskegee Airmen and even baseball great Jackie Robinson.
No doubt the declines are, at least in part, the result of intense insults, defamation and disinformation broadcast feverishly by President Donald Trump, members of his new administration and his political acolytes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is leading the charge to force out transgender members of the military, what is clearly nothing more than a hateful and irresponsible destruction of careers and U.S. military skills and talent.
All this contradicts so much progress made over the past few years in getting people to understand how inclusion of Black people, brown people, Asian people, women and others doesn’t cheat white people, and especially white men, out of anything. Nothing is more appropriate than the metaphor that a rising tide lifts all boats than with the idea that un-
“No more dudes in dresses,” Hegseth said at a military conference, defending his decision to boot transgender members of the military. “We are done with that s—”
Boebert was once tabbed by LGBTQNation.com as the third most prolific generator of LGTBQ hate speech in the nation, behind only Greene and GOP Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“They” are poisoning the “blood of the country.” “They” are ruining the “fabric of the nation.” “They” are trying to “destroy the country.”
They are us. All of us.
“Sending a message to all the drag queens out there: stay away from the children in Colorado’s Third District!” Boebert tweeted previously.
Many of these people were enslaved for as much as six months after they should have been freed. It was only when Union troops reached the Gulf Coast and announced General Order No. 3 that the truth, literally, set thousands of slaves free.
And anything any of us can do to move any of us ahead is a victory for all of us.
Since then, the GOP held Congress, the White House and a growing number of states have pushed bills and policies chiseling away at hard-won gay rights.
Will Trump move to undo Juneteenth as a national holiday?
Now for the good news.
“Anything is possible with this administration,” Aurora NAACP Omar Montgomery told the Sentinel. “Depending on which side of the bed the administration wakes up on.”
Colorado continues to be an outlier. Last year, state lawmakers shored up the ability of the state to ensure the rights of transgender residents and backed up its commitment to samesex marriage.
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
It was June 19.
He said that equal rights for all Americans is being “woke,” and he wants the military and the United States to “leave wokeness and weakness behind.”
But for now, Montgomery’s NAACP is planning their local Juneteenth event with the Town Center of Aurora mall for June 21. No doubt that Montgomery, a regular in the Denver Juneteenth Parade will be marching and waving this year.
While Aurora’s amazing annual Pridefest at the Aurora Reservoir got pushed aside over a political squabble centering on access to the reservoir and funding, Aurora Pride will persist, planning for a more centralized event in August, organizers say.
And while the setbacks in public opinion are worrisome, the vast majority of Americans still support the rights of all LGBTQ+ Americans, and even ensuring that transgender Americans can serve in the military.
Fields will.
“I’ll be there. So will my grandkids,” Fields said. “We just have to weather this, and someday, soon, “I’m hoping that we can reconstruct.”
For those who don’t? Consider this: As many as 30% of Americans don’t believe climate change is the result of humans. Also, about 35% of Americans don’t believe evolution is real.
It’s impossible to miss that in 1865, executive orders created a flurry of rights and freedoms.
You can’t miss the irony of an entire presidential administration and band of cultish MAGA followers who hold such open contempt for transgender people and, especially, drag
Pretty easy to guess who believes what.
Happy Pride to all.
Since January 2025, however, the most prolific executive-order writer of all time almost
Follow @EditorDavePerry on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon, Twitter and Facebook or reach him at 303-750-7555 or dperry@SentinelColorado.com
A woman carries a sign during a parade to mark Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19, 2023, in Denver.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
From left, Thea Bowers, Adrienne Essel and Emma Crain, cheer after a drag performance during the first annual Aurora Pride festival, Aug. 5 in 2017 at the Aurora Municipal Center. The event featured several performances by drag queens and kings as well as a variety of informational booths, a section for kids and food trucks from local vendors.
File Photo by Philip B. Poston/Aurora Sentinel
BELLEVIEW HEIGHTS BROUGHT HOME THE BACON, AND IT ENTERTAINED A WHOLE COMMUNITY
BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Staff Writer
When you can’t go to the carnival, you do the next best thing.
“I can’t bring 35 people to a carnival, let’s bring the carnival to the 35 people,” said Cody Kohlhagen, the life enrichment director at Belleview Heights Assisted Living.
That’s precisely what Belleview Heights and April Dietrich, the community development director, did on Wednesday, turning the senior living community into a full-blown fairground, with live music, cotton candy, a dunk tank, trick-performing pigs and all the fun you’d expect at an old-fashioned carnival.
“Carnival for a Cause” was part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s Longest Day initiative, which shines a light on the more than 91,000 Coloradans living with the disease, according to a statement from Belleview Heights.
When life gives the residents and Cody lemons, he makes sure to bring the crowd to the lemonade stand.
Cody said he took the residents to a lemonade stand up the hill from the assisted living location, and it was almost as much of a hit for the residents as the carnival was.
“It was as big of a hit to do that as all of this, because with memory care, it’s all about the present,” Cody said. “And this was two hours of just the right amount of enjoyment, because you can’t overstimulate them. That’s why we had the opportunity to have some music, some cotton candy, some dunk tanks and some hogs.”
And not just any hogs. John Vincent of Top Hogs of the Wild West brought in his four-legged stars, Johnny “Ringo” and Spanky Hog, who hammed it up with stunts like taking out the trash, scoring goals and checking the mail.
“Ringo is the smartest pig I’ve ever met,” John said. “We call him the Einstein of porcine.”
He said he uses positive reinforcement and lets the pigs decide how much they want to participate in the tricks. Spanky, for example, was rescued after being malnourished so severely that he will always be smaller than his fellow hogs. Now, Spanky loves his tricks and the spotlight.
John said Spanky took to his new home and life was better than a pig in mud, especially since pigs prefer grass to mud.
The crowd was tickled pink.
“I had no idea how smart pigs were,” said Marleen Waite.
Marleen is a 90-year-old resident who loves her karaoke nights and always brings the sass, according to Cody and her daughters. She enjoyed the pig show, tried some shaved ice and took time to pet the stars of the show, while surprised at just how bristly pig hair is.
Belleview Heights’ youngest resident is in her 60s, while the oldest is turning 99 this year, according to Cody.
“That’s a wide range of not just ages, but people and personalities,” he said.
Even the boss took a plunge, with Executive Director Audra Piccini getting a turn at the dunk tank.
Marleen’s daughters, Colleen Waite and Connie Lovato, joined in the fun and said how much they appreciate the team for going whole hog with their care.
“I like Cody,” Colleen told her mom. “He’s so good with you guys. I like watching Cody when he’s interacting with you guys, because he’s a goofball.”
Cody is not afraid to constantly put himself out there and ham it up, bringing residents out of their comfort zone and encouraging them to have a good time. He spent the day with the words, “I love your ma,” painted on his arm, telling the residents’ children how much he loves their “ma’s.” Even
Cody’s sons were both there, being as caring and helpful as their dad.
Colleen said that when Marleen met Cody, she said he had a cowboy name. Marleen made sure to inform the Sentinel that Cody is, in fact, a cowboy name, which was a perfect fit to, after he helped wrangle the whole event together.
“I like Cody,” Colleen said to her mom. “He’s so good with you guys. I like watching Cody when he’s interacting with you guys, because he’s a goofball.”
Yesterday’s Bacon played live tunes near the entryway as one of the longest days of the year wrapped up.
A growing concern
About a million Americans a year are expected to develop dementia by 2060, roughly double today’s toll, researchers reported earlier this year, according to an Associated Press report.
That estimate is based on a new study that found a higher lifetime risk than previously thought: After age 55, people have up to a 4 in 10 chance of eventually developing dementia -- if they live long enough.
It’s a sobering number but there are steps people can take to reduce that risk, such as controlling high blood pressure and other bad-for-the-brain health problems. And it’s not too late to try even in middle age.
“All of our research suggests what you do in midlife really matters,” said Dr. Josef Coresh of NYU Langone Health, who coauthored the study in the journal Nature Medicine.
Taking longer to recall a name or where you put your keys is typical with older age. But dementia isn’t a normal part of aging -- it’s a progressive loss of memory, language and other cognitive functions. Simply getting older is the biggest risk and the population is rapidly aging.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form, and silent brain changes that eventually lead to it can
begin two decades before symptoms appear. Other types include vascular dementia, when heart disease or small strokes impair blood flow to the brain. Many people have mixed causes, meaning vascular problems could exacerbate brewing Alzheimer’s symptoms.
Measuring the risk from a certain age over the potential remaining life span can guide public health recommendations and medical research.
“It’s not a guarantee that someone will develop dementia,” cautioned Dr. James Galvin, a University of Miami Alzheimer’s specialist. He wasn’t involved with the new study but said the findings fit with other research.
Prior studies estimated about 14% of men and 23% of women would develop some form of dementia during their lifetime. Coresh’s team analyzed more recent data from a U.S. study that has tracked the heart health and cognitive function of about 15,000 older adults for several decades.
Importantly, they found the risk changes with the decades.
Only 4% of people developed dementia between the ages of 55 and 75, what Coresh calls a key 20-year window for protecting brain health.
For people who survive common health threats until 75, the dementia risk then jumped — to 20% by age 85 and 42% between ages 85 and 95.
Overall, the lifetime dementia risk after age 55 was 35% for men and 48% for women, the researchers concluded. Women generally live longer than men, a main reason for that difference, Coresh noted. Black Americans had a slightly higher risk, 44%, than white people at 41%.
There are some risk factors people can’t control, including age and whether you inherited a gene variant called APOE4 that raises the chances of late-in-life Alzheimer’s.
But people can try to avert or at least delay health problems that contribute to later dementia. Coresh, for example, wears a helmet when biking because repeated or severe brain injuries from crashes or falls increase the risk of later-in-life
dementia.
Especially important: “What’s good for your heart is good for your brain,” added Miami’s Galvin. He urges people to exercise, avoid obesity, and control blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.
For example, high blood pressure can impair blood flow to the brain, a risk not just for vascular dementia but also linked to some hallmarks of Alzheimer’s. Similarly, the high blood sugar of poorly controlled diabetes is linked to cognitive decline and damaging inflammation in the brain.
Stay socially and cognitively active, too, Galvin said. He urges people to try hearing aids if age brings hearing loss, which can spur social isolation.
“There are things that we have control over, and those things I think would be really, really important to build a better brain as we age,” he said.
— The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Activist sues Aurora over public comment ban after police shooting case
A prominent and regular spokesperson for a group seeking legal action against an Aurora police officer who fatally shot a Black man during his arrest last year has filed a lawsuit against the city, saying recent council actions have robbed her of rights to free speech.
“For far too long, Aurora’s City Council has employed tactics of erasure and demonization to suppress those who dare to speak out, to demand justice and to envision accountability as something more than rhetoric,” Midian Shofner said in a statement. “That era must come to an end.”
For months, Schofner has appeared at city council meetings, demanding the city fire Aurora SWAT officer Michael Dieck, who fatally shot Kilyn Lewis during his arrest at an Aurora apartment last year.
An outside police investigative team and a former district attorney both said that Dieck’s actions were not criminal in shooting Lewis. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said Dieck’s actions did not violate APD policy.
The lawsuit, filed by the civil rights law firm Newman McNulty, aims to overturn a new ban on the ability of the public to address city council members at meetings. The lawsuit includes a motion for a preliminary injunction to restore that public comment immediately, according to the statement sent by the firm.
Shofner alleges the ban is a direct retaliation for her activism.
City Attorney Pete Schulte said that he had not been served or notified about the lawsuit. City, state and federal offices and courts were closed Thursday in honor of Juneteenth.
“We can’t comment on litigation we haven’t seen,” Schulte said. “But if there is a lawsuit, the city will strongly defend it.”
It’s unclear when and which court would hear Shofner’s request for a restraining order against the city.
“The architects of the ban on public comment, specifically Danielle Jurinsky and Mike Coffman, are thinskinned hypocrites who are the first to cry, ‘I’ve been canceled’ when someone calls them out for their vile and baseless political attacks, but waste no time engaging in actual censorship by using their government authority to retaliate against Black women speaking truth to power,” lawyer Andy McNulty said in a statement.
The lawsuit follows the city council’s June 9 vote to eliminate public comment at council meetings, and in-person meetings entirely, until a separate wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Lewis’ family is resolved. The city council’s decision to ban public comment until the lawsuit is resolved could mean years without allowing public comment during city council meetings.
“Aurora, Colorado, has earned a reputation for persistently violating its citizens’ civil rights with one of the most brutal and racist police forces in the country,” lawyer Mari Newman said in the statement. “Aurora is now steadily earning a reputation for violating its citizens’ constitutional rights in another way: silencing members of the community who demand better.”
Shofner and others have continued to press for what they say has been a lack of accountability following the death of Lewis by an Aurora officer for more than a year, with Lewis’s anni-
versary of his death May 23. Shofner’s attorneys said the measure silences voices seeking justice and accountability.
“The ban on public comment is nothing more than the snowflakes on Aurora City Council shutting down important political discourse because they don’t like being criticized,” McNulty said in the statement.
After the vote by council, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman wrote in a post on Facebook defending the new rule, which included a photo of Shofner speaking at a previous meeting. Her attorneys allege that his post and the ban on public comment target her right to free speech.
“These direct admissions that public comment was eliminated in order to prevent Ms. Shofner and others from continuing to advocate for accountability for the APD’s killing of Mr. Lewis are very clearly constitutionally repugnant,” the firm wrote in the statement.
“This targeting of certain viewpoints and silencing of the community violates the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the free speech and petitioning clauses of the Colorado Constitution.”
In the lawsuit, Shofner is seeking an end to the public comment ban, a formal apology, policy reforms, mandatory training for officials, compensatory and punitive damages, attorney’s fees and all other legal costs.
“This lawsuit is an opportunity for tangible change,” Shofner said in a statement. “It is a declaration for every voice that has been silenced and every truth buried under the weight of intimidation and the unchecked abuse of governmental power.”
The complaints said that Jurinsky openly stated the ban was meant to silence critics of the Aurora Police Department and that she specifically said that if the lawsuit was dismissed, “there is nothing left to discuss and there is no reason for (the justice for Lewis advocates) to come back.”
Jurinsky said she was not surprised to hear about the lawsuit, but it was news to her. She said she thinks it all should be handled in court.
Although no state or federal law requires a governing body to hold a public comment session during their meeting, except for public hearings for specific agenda items, “the First Amendment prohibits targeting speech, retaliating against particular people because they are saying things the government doesn’t like, or shutting down particular groups or messages,” McNulty said.
— Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer
Rep. Crow introduces House resolution for ‘ASK
Day’ to prevent child gun deaths
Aurora Democratic Congressperson Jason Crow has introduced a House resolution seeking to designate the first day of summer as National Asking Saves Kids Day —ASK. The measure seeks to draw attention to the importance of secure firearm storage in homes to help prevent gun-related injuries and deaths among children and teens.
Crow, a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, said the June 20 resolution encourages parents to ask a critical question before their children visit another home:
“Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?”
“Sadly, our Colorado community knows the pain of gun violence all too well,” Crow said in a statement Tues-
day. Crow has frequently pointed to the Columbine and Aurora theater shootings as reasons to pursue gun-violence safety. “As a dad, I believe that parents should not have to worry about their children being a victim of gun violence.”
Firearms are the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States, according to data cited by Crow’s office.
• An average of 22 young Americans are killed or injured by firearms each day, and more than 4.6 million children nationwide live in homes with unsecured guns.
• About 85% of unintentional shooting deaths involving children occur at home, and over 75% of school shootings are linked to children gaining access to unsecured firearms, according
to the release.
Crow said June 21 appropriately highlights ASK Day request, because it’s the first day of summer, a time when children often spend more time in the homes of friends and relatives.
Crow said ASK Day aims to prompt conversations that could prevent accidental shootings.
The ASK Campaign was established in 2000 by the American Academy of Pediatrics and is now run by Brady: United Against Gun Violence, a national gun safety advocacy group.
Crow has previously introduced similar resolutions and has supported other gun safety initiatives, including the bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Congress passed in 2022. — Sentinel Staff
Denver music legend and Aurora school namesake Charles Burrell dies at 104
Denver music legend and Aurora school of the arts namesake Charles Burrell died June 17. He was 104. Burrell became one of the first people of color to perform in a major symphony orchestra when he joined the Colorado Symphony (then the Denver Symphony Orchestra) in 1949. He has been described as the “Jackie Robinson of the classical world” and performed with jazz legends including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Charlie Parker throughout his career. Burrell retired in 1999 and celebrated his 103rd birthday in 2023 with Au-
rora Public Schools students.
The lifelong musician is the namesake for The Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus in Aurora.
Launched in 2022 by Aurora Public Schools, the K–12 magnet school is the district’s first arts-focused campus and one of the only schools of its kind in Colorado, according to APS spokesperson Corey Christiansen. Known locally as “Burrell Arts,” it operates in two buildings, including a dedicated high school space inside Aurora Central High School.
The school was named for “Charlie,” who received a standing ovation in 2021 when the school’s name was announced. The school’s mission is to expand access to arts education for Aurora’s diverse student population. APS serves approximately 38,000 students who hail from more than 130 countries and speak more than 160 languages at home. Many APS students lack access to private art or music instruction.
The Burrell school was nationally recognized last month for its innovations, earning the 2025 New and Emerging School Award from the Arts Schools Network.
Burrell Arts High School Principal
Kurtis Quig said the campus draws inspiration from its namesake.
“As a K–12 school we are inspired by Mr. Charles Burrell as he helped support us in setting the vision for our students that they truly can be whatever they want to be — just like him.”
During a previous APS presentation about the school, Stephen Brackett, a member of the band Flobots, spoke about how influential Burrell has been for Black musicians. Brackett said the musical opportunities he grew up with in Denver would not have been possible if not for Burrell.
“I do not think there could be a possible name greater than that of Mr. Charlie Burrell to be on one of our buildings,” he said.
— Sentinel Staff
Denver Airport to open drop-in child care center in 2026
Denver airport officials plan to open a small drop-in child care center in 2026 and are studying the possibility of opening another child care center that would serve more employees in the future.
The drop-in center will have room for 20 children and be located on the fourth level of the airport’s hotel and
transit center, within a new training facility called the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation. The child care center is meant to provide occasional care and will primarily serve the children of airport employees or community members who are participating in training center activities.
While the planned center would serve only a tiny fraction of the airport’s more than 40,000 employees, it represents a first step toward boosting the number of child care seats in an area with limited supply. Officials at the airport, which is the nation’s third busiest, began studying the possibility of a child care center at or near the airport’s far northeast Denver campus earlier this year.
That area of the city has so few state-licensed child care slots, it’s considered a child care desert.
limited to a certain number of weekly or monthly hours of care at the center.
Forest said plans for the drop-in center came out of the second phase of the airport’s three-phase child care feasibility study. The third phase will look at the possibility of “an airportwide child care solution,” which could be a second child care center on or near the airport campus.
Earlier this spring, airport officials estimated that 19,000 of more than 40,000 airport employees fall into the 20- to 39-year-old age range, but said they still needed more information about how many of those employees have young children and need child care.
“Aurora police officers spotted Buxton’s car down the street from the Quality Inn and initiated a traffic stop,” Ross said. “The victim was able to get out of the vehicle and ran toward officers.”
Buxton was arrested then.
A jury convicted Buxton on charges of robbery, kidnapping, sex assault and related crimes after a week-long trial, Ross said.
The airport is working with a business-oriented group, Executives Partnering to Invest in Children, on the child care feasibility study. Forest said she expects a recommendation to come out of phase three later this year.
— ANN SCHIMKE, Colorado Chalkbeat
COPS AND COURTS
Woman injured after being shot by stray bullet in Aurora
“The defendant terrorized an innocent front desk clerk and a security guard who were doing nothing more than working their routine job that night,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo said. “Instead of taking cash and leaving, Mr. Buxton continued his crime spree by kidnapping the clerk and sexually assaulting her. I commend the Aurora Police Department for their quick response times, which ultimately led to the capture of the defendant less than a mile down the road.”
— Sentinel Staff
Man shot in leg through front door in Aurora, suspect flees in blue SUV
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The Denver airport will soon join a few other U.S. airports with on- or near-site child care facilities. They include Los Angeles International Airport, which operates a center for the children of employees a few blocks from the airport campus, and Pittsburgh International Airport, which runs a center in a converted terminal. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is slated to open a center on its campus this year. The three centers are bigger than what’s planned at Denver’s airport.
apartment, police report
An unidentified woman called police for help early June 19 saying she had been shot in the arm while lying in bed in her second-floor apartment in northwest Aurora.
A man told police he was shot in the leg through the front door of his apartment early Wednesday when he went to the door because of a loud banging, according to police.
Officers were called to the north-Aurora apartment on the 16400 block of East 17th Avenue at about 1:30 a.m. after a report of a shooting there.
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Denver’s drop-in center will have two classrooms — one for babies and toddlers and one for preschoolers — and a separate play area. It will be open 10 to 12 hours a day Monday through Friday year-round, including on holidays, according to the airport’s recent request for proposals, which seeks an operator to run the child care center.
Parents participating in activities at the airport training center will pay nothing for care. Some airport employees not participating in training activities also will be allowed to use the child care center for back-up care, but will have to pay a fee.
Ashley Forest, an airport spokesperson, said by email that she couldn’t provide information on which employees will be eligible for back-up care at the center or whether they will pay a
“Preliminary investigation suggests a stray bullet may have been fired from an unknown location,” police said in a statement.
The woman, 37 — nor her apartment in a two-story building at 13142 East 13th Place — were likely not an intended target when she was shot at about 12:45 a.m., police said.
“She was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.” police reported. “Officers did not locate any shell casings in the area.”
— Sentinel Staff
Man gets 99 years in prison for 2020 robbery, kidnapping, assault at Aurora hotel
Police said the man left the hotel with the victim in his car and drove to a nearby hardware store, where he assaulted her.
A 37-year-old man was sentenced to 99 years in prison after being convicted of using a machete to rob a local hotel staff and then kidnap and sexually assault the front-desk clerk, according to 18th Judicial District officials.
On June 13, Arapahoe County District Court Judge Jacob Edson sentenced Khafre Buxton, 37, to 99 years to life in prison for the robbery and assault he committed just before Christmas 2020.
Police were called to the Quality Inn, 1011 S. Abilene St. at about 3 a.m. by staff, who said they’d been robbed and one employee had been kidnapped.
Police reported that Buxton knocked on the door of the hotel and was let in by the front desk clerk.
When he got inside, he pulled out a machete.
“Buxton took the front clerk and a security guard to a back office to obtain money from a filing cabinet,” 18th Judicial District spokesperson Eric Ross said in a statement. “Buxton then kidnapped the female front desk clerk.”
Police said the man left the hotel with the victim in his car and drove to a nearby hardware store, where he assaulted her.
“Preliminary details are that the victim heard someone loudly knocking on his door,” Aurora police spokesperson Matthew Wells-Longshore said in a statement. “When the victim went to the front door, a single shot was fired through the door and struck him in the leg.”
The injured man said the shooter then drove away in an “older-model blue SUV, possibly a Jeep.
Police were able to obtain video of the vehicle driving away and said that the car had only one chrome tire rim. The other three are black.
“The victim was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, but is expected to survive,” Wells-Longshore said. “Investigators are following up on leads, but no arrests have been made.” Investigators are trying to determine what led to the shooting.
— Sentinel Staff
Aurora police seek witnesses to shooting that injured man in parked car
An unidentified man called police for help Monday night, saying a small group of men came up to his parked car in northwest Aurora and started shooting.
The man called 911 at about 10 p.m. asking for medical help. He said he was inside his car on East 16th Avenue between Akron and Alton streets when he was approached by three or four men who “just started shooting,” Aurora police spokesperson Agent Matthew Wells-Longshore said in a statement. He said he did not know the men.
“The victim was struck multiple times and was transported to the hospital,” Wells-Longshore said. ”He has serious but not life-threatening injuries.”
Investigators said they found multiple shell casings at the scene and are combing the area for witnesses or possible security video.
“No suspects have been located or identified,” Wells-Longshore said.
— Sentinel Staff
PET PEEVES
In stressful times, our anxiety can rub off on pets.
Causes and cures for pet anxiety
BY CEDAR BURNETT, Associated Press
Alot of people are feeling stressed out these days. Does that rub off on their pets? Many vets and animal behavior experts say pets do pick up on their owners’ anxiety. If we’re calm, they’re calmer too. Some vets say they’re seeing an increase in pet anxiety. But they note there are lots of factors behind that. The COVID pandemic created a lot of upheaval in pets’ lives and routines. Other reasons pets might be anxious include unmet needs and past trauma. If your pet is showing signs of anxiety, consult a vet. Try to find the underlying cause. Consider the breed too, which could help explain some behavior.
In this age of heightened anxiety, many of us turn to our pets for emotional support. But is our behavior increasing our furry friends’ fears?
The answer isn’t simple, says Frankie Jackson, a veterinary nurse and animal behavior consultant, and the owner of Canine Counseling in Smyrna, Georgia. She said she’s seen an increase in anxiety among her animal and human clients, but that it’s hard to unwind the cause and effect.
“Dogs are incredibly responsive to our expressions, our body language and our scent,” she says. “There is a feedback loop — the owners are nervous; the dog gets nervous. Our cortisol levels rise and fall in tandem.”
Dr. Becky Peters, a veterinarian and owner of Bath Veterinary Hospital in Bath, New York, has also noticed a link between the anxiety of pets and their owners, particularly in the exam room.
“If owners try to over comfort them — lots of ‘you’re OK!’” in anxious voices, the animals do get more anxious. If we stay calm and quiet, they do too,” Peters says.
Peters attributes much of the rise in pet anxiety to the social upheaval of the COVID years. Many animals who were acquired during the pandemic had limited opportunities to socialize with other
people and pets during their peak developmental stages. After COVID, pets who were used to having their family at home experienced separation anxiety as their owners returned to work and school.
“A lot of pet anxiety comes from changes to their households,” Peters says. “It can also occur from a lack of routine and structure and not enough physical activity.”
Other components that could contribute to our pets’ anxiety include unmet needs, past trauma and insufficient open spaces.
“We are asking our dogs to live in a world that isn’t made for them,” she says.
Try to get at the cause of your pet’s anxiety
Low-level stress responses in dogs, such as eating less and excessive self-grooming, are forms of communication that precede lunging and barking, Jackson says. Trying to solve reactive behaviors through obedience training without addressing the root cause can make dogs’ anxiety worse.
“It’s important to understand what the dogs are saying and why they’re behaving the way they are. Manners and life skills are important, but it won’t create happy dogs,” Jackson says.
Anxiety in cats can be harder to spot, according to Jackson, because they’re hard-wired to hide it. While dogs seek out their support people, cats don’t feel safe expressing their vulnerability. Urinating in the house, scratching, hiding under the bed and overgrooming can be signs that your kitty is anxious.
First,
see a vet
If your animal companion is suddenly acting out or on a licking binge, Jackson advises seeing a veterinarian to rule out a medical cause, such as pain or allergies.
Veterinarians can also prescribe an-
ti-anxiety medication and complementary treatments to promote sleep and relaxation. Peters recommends supplements for her canine clients including probiotics and the amino acids l-theanine and tryptophan (yes, the turkey coma one).
For cats, she suggests using a product like Feliway that diffuses calming pheromones into the air.
Learn about the breed
A dog’s breed might also play a part in developing anxiety. Peters says that while every dog is different, the more active herding and working breeds like shepherds and border collies can become anxious and destructive without an outlet for their energy.
“Herding breeds need space to run and jobs to do,” she says.
When Tacoma, Washington, resident Shelani Vanniasinkam got her Australian shepherd puppy, Roo, she didn’t know about the breed’s reputation for anxiety. Her previous dog had been an easygoing husky who enjoyed pats from strangers and visits to the dog park. She quickly realized Roo was not that type of dog.
“He had a lot more needs than we anticipated,” Vanniasinkam says. “We couldn’t leave him alone for more than 30 minutes.”
Vanniasinkam and her husband, Jesus Celaya, reached out to a local pet behavioralist, but it became clear that Roo’s anxiety was so acute he needed medication before he could start behavior training.
Should you consider meds for an anxious pet?
Medication can be important in behavioral treatment, but it shouldn’t be
the only approach, says Peters. She usually suggests that her clients try training and routine modification first, unless their pet is causing harm to themselves or others.
“If I’m going to use meds, it’s part of a greater process,” Peters says.
Roo’s veterinarian put him on Fluoxetine, or “doggie Prozac,” an antidepressant commonly given to anxious pets. He also prescribed Trazodone, another antidepressant, for particularly stressful events, such as trips to the vet or a night of fireworks.
After starting his medication, Roo received eight months of behavior training, during which Vanniasinkam and her husband not only changed their own approach to dog parenting but also set boundaries with friends and family. They limited Roo’s interaction with other dogs,
asked people to stop using their doorbell and requested that others ignore Roo when he barks.
Now, when they want to take Roo for off-leash play, they book time at a local Sniffspot, which Vanniasinkam describes as “an Airbnb for anxious and reactive dogs.” The company, which launched in 2016, allows homeowners to rent out their yards or property by the hour for solo, off-leash play or doggie playdates.
“It’s sad when you can’t take your dog to a dog park,” Vanniasinkam says. “So, this option is really nice.”
She says that while it was initially difficult to navigate Roo’s anxiety, he is loving, family-oriented and worth the effort.
“It’s hard having an anxious dog, but you can figure it out,” she says. “It’s just important to understand your dog, so you’re set up for success.”
This undated photo released by Frankie Jackson, a UK-registered veterinary nurse and certified animal behavior consultant, shows Jackson with her dog, Rook, at her home in Smyrna, Ga. AP Photo/Frankie Jackson
This undated photo released by Shelani Vanniasinkam shows her dog Roo appears by an obstacle course at one of his favorite Sniffspots in Puyallup, Wash. Sniffspots are locations that pet owners can rent by the hour for solo off-leash dog play.
AP Photo/Shelani Vanniasinkam
the country. Look for them throughout the day in the lanes and enjoy the small one-on-one interactions just as much as the big, impressive stage shows,” Ekiss said.
Tens of thousands of attendees are expected to visit the festival throughout the summer, drawn by the mix of entertainment, shopping, food and fantasy.
scene & herd
Renaissance Fest in Larkspur
Step beyond the castle gates and into a world of kings and queens, knights and jousts, jesters, witches and wandering minstrels as the Colorado Renaissance Festival returns to Larkspur for its 48th season.
Nestled within towering castle walls, this beloved summer tradition transforms a forested hillside into a bustling village, where the clang of swords, the scent of roasted turkey legs and the melodies of lute music fill the air.
This year’s event promises both beloved traditions and exciting new additions. Kristy Ekiss, operations manager and performer, said among the headliners is Adam Crack, a Guinness World Record-holding whip artist, who will perform during the festival’s first three weekends.
New artists will also join the bustling artisan marketplace, including a stained glass creator, a permanent jewelry booth and talented graphic artists.
“I think people enjoy getting away from digital entertainment and stepping into a 360 theatrical experience,” Ekiss said.
Additionally, she said the Colorado Renaissance Festival is known for its fully immersive environment, where every visitor becomes part of the show. The cast is a highlight for many, renowned for being one of the most interactive festivals around.
“We are known for having one of the friendliest and most interactive casts in
Looking for a fun, healthy, and positive summer activity for your child?
“I also play the Queen on the weekends, and my favorite part is meeting the children and making them smile -especially at Royal Teatime,” Ekiss said. “I think the little moments can be just as magical as the big ones.”
As the Colorado Renaissance Festival celebrates nearly five decades as part of the state’s summer traditions, organizers are excited to welcome back returning guests and first-timers alike.
“We are honored to be celebrating 48 seasons as a part of the Colorado community and can’t wait to see everyone,” Ekiss said.
IF YOU GO
Where: 650 Perry Park Ave in Larkspur
When: Weekends only through Aug. 3
Tickets and Details: $14-$32 at coloradorenaissance.com or call 303-688-6010
Follies in Concert
Follies in Concert opens June 20 for only seven performances at Aurora’s Vintage Theatre. The show is billed as a dazzling, bittersweet world of one of Stephen Sondheim’s most celebrated musicals. Set in a crumbling Broadway theatre on the eve of demolition, Follies reunites former showgirls for one final night of memory, music, and reckoning. It’s a haunting, breathtaking tribute to the choices we make and the lives we leave behind as told through some of Sondheim’s most iconic songs.
IF YOU GO
Where: The Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton Street
Tickets: $20-$39
Dates: Through June 29. Evening curtains at 7:30 p.m. Matinees at 2:30 p.m.
Details: www.vintagetheatre.org and 303-856-7830
Jazz meets Sinatra flair as Tony DeSare joins CJRO for one-night performance in
Arvada
The Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra will welcome nationally acclaimed vocalist and pianist Tony DeSare for a one-night-only concert June 28, at the Arvada Center Amphitheatre.
The show, Blue Eyes & Beyond with Tony DeSare will feature DeSare performing alongside the CJRO big band in a program that honors the legacy of Frank Sinatra and other American music icons.
Known for his smooth vocals, polished piano work and dynamic stage presence, DeSare has earned praise for his interpretations of standards as well as pop and rock hits from artists including Nat King Cole, Prince, Carole King and New Order. His albums, including the Billboard-charting Last First Kiss, Radio Show and Lush Life, reflect his ability to bridge classic jazz with modern sensibilities.
“Tony and I have been working together for a few years now, and we enjoy a special musical relationship that we’re thrilled to bring to Colorado,” CJRO Artistic Director Drew Zaremba said in a statement.
The CJRO, under the direction of Zaremba and Executive Director Art Bouton, is recognized for its innovative approach to big band and small ensemble jazz. Drawing on a mix of traditional, Latin, soul and contemporary influences, the orchestra showcases many of Colorado’s top jazz musicians.
IF YOU GO
Date: 7:30 p.m. June 28
Tickets: $25-$32
Place: The Arvada Center Amphitheatre 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.
Details: coloradojazz.org and 720-898-7200
Tap-dancing spectacle ‘42nd Street’ on stage in Lakewood
The glitz and glamour of Broadway come to the Lakewood Cultural Center this month as Performance Now Theatre Company presents “42nd Street.”
The beloved backstage musical tells
Consider Baton Twirling Camps, offered through CCSD Mile High Sports Camps! Morning sessions at Cherry Creek HS, afternoon sessions at Eaglecrest HS.
the story of Peggy Sawyer, a young dancer from Pennsylvania who gets her big break after the leading lady of a new Broadway show is sidelined by injury. Set during the Great Depression, 42nd Street is a tribute to determination, talent and the timeless magic of show business.
The score includes classic songs such as “We’re in the Money,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” and the iconic title number, “42nd Street.”
IF YOU GO
Date: Evening curtains at 7:30 p.m. and matinees at 2 p.m. through June 29.
Place: Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway.
Tickets: $29 - $59
Details: performancenow.org or 303-987-7845
Check it out — Aurora library books farmer’s markets for the summer
Residents near the Hoffman Heights Library are getting a farmer’s market all summer.
“Libraries are more than just books—they’re hubs for healthy, thriving neighborhoods and this collaboration is a perfect example of how we’re re-imagining library grounds into a space for connection while serving our community,” said Ginger White Brunetti, director of Library and Cultural Services, in a statement.
Aurora Public Library is partnering with the mission-driven organization Rebel Marketplace to bring a monthly farmers market to Hoffman Heights Library through September, according to a statement from the city.
“The farmers market at Hoffman Library was created to be an authentic neighborhood marketplace run and operated by surrounding community businesses, with the library as the hub,” the statement said.
Rebel Marketplace is a local group of urban farmers in Aurora who started growing produce in their backyards and aims to build a “food sovereign neighborhood.” The Johnson family’s story of starting the Rebel Market was reported on last year by the Sentinel.
“The Rebel Marketplace believes that there is enough talent and businesses in a six-mile radius to fully supply and stand up a neighborhood marketplace,” the Rebel Marketplace website said. “By creating a singular, locally run access point for goods and services, we envision a vibrant, cooperative and healthy community.”
Each farmers market will host multiple programming events as well.
“We’re thrilled to launch this unique partnership with Rebel Marketplace to bring fresh, local food and community connections right to the doorstep of Hoffman Heights Library,” Brunetti said in the statement.
IF YOU GO
Where: Hoffman Heights Library, 1298 Peoria St.
When: Dates vary below. The library will also stay open late on those nights for its programs and additional services. The Hoffman Heights Library will also host storytimes at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., a kids’ play area at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., and a teen game space from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The lineup:
• Succulent pot painting with plants and pots provided, 6 p.m., July 9
• Rainbow Scavenger Hunt for children eight and older, with prizes, 6 p.m., July 9
• Block-printed totes, customize your own tote, 6 p.m., Aug. 6
• Intro to pickling, by learning to make pickle brine with ingredients provided, 6 p.m., Sept. 10
City Park Jazz returns 10 free concerts on Sundays through August
City Park Jazz will launch its 39th annual summer concert series June 1, bringing 10 weeks of free Sunday evening performances to the City Park Pavilion through Aug. 3.
The 2025 lineup celebrates the diversity of jazz and features an all-local roster, including returning favorites Chris Daniels and The Kings with Freddy Gowdy, ATOMGA, Dzirae Gold, and Buckner Funken Jazz. The series will also showcase internationally recognized Zimbabwean percussionist Blessing Bled Chimanga and a tribute to late Denver jazz pianist Neil Bridge featuring The Bridge 12 and his wife, Karen. This year’s season finale on Aug. 3 will start at 5:30 p.m. and feature a three-hour “Brass Band Extravaganza” with performances by Colorado Youth Bands Brass Band, Rowdy Brass Band, Tivoli Club Brass Band and Guerilla Fanfare.
Concerts run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays and attract crowds of up to 12,000 people. The family-friendly events include a curated selection of vendors and food trucks. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and refillable containers for filtered water, while adhering to Denver park rules prohibiting glass.
IF YOU GO
Colorado Mambo Orchestra: June 29, Buckner Funken Jazz: July 6, Chris Daniels & The Kings w/Freddy Gowdy; July 13, Better Sensory Perception; July 20, Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra; July 27, Dzirae Gold; Aug. 3: Brass Band Extravaganza Featuring: Colorado Youth Bands Brass Band, Rowdy Brass Band Tivoli Club Brass Band and. Guerilla Fanfare Time: 6 p.m.
Where: Denver City Park Pavillion: 2001 Steele St,
Details:: CityParkJazz.org
Prairie Pup Adventures offers Preschool Fun at Plains Conservation Center
Preschoolers can explore nature, science and history through hands-on activities at Prairie Pup Adventures, held at the Plains Conservation Center in southeast Aurora. Programs run from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and are designed for children ages 3–6 with a caregiver.
Upcoming topics include:
• Flower Power on June 24: Flowers are beautiful and serve an important role for the plants they grow on. Join us on the prairie to learn all about flowers from their parts to their pollinators through science and art.
Activities at all events include crafts, games, story time, and outdoor exploration.
IF YOU GO
Tickets: The fee is $8 per child; one adult per child is free. Additional adults and non-participating siblings over age 6 are $5. Infants under 18 months attend free.
Details: botanicgardens.org
Venue: Plains Conservation Center 21901 E. Hampden Ave.
Alot of hardware left Jefferson County Stadium around the necks and in the hands of Aurora area track & field athletes at the conclusion of the Class 5A boys and girls state track meets.
Eight individual state champions — five on the boys side and three on the girls — plus two team trophies went to locals after three days of competition.
Here’s a look at the composition of the 2025 AuroraSentinelBoys and Girls track teams, which are determined by state or regular season performance:
classification, and landed him his third consecutive state championship in the event.
The Cougars finished the meet with a flourish with two wins, starting by the program’s inaugural pole vault championship. Waters had an outstanding season from start to finish and cleared 16 feet at every meet in which he competed, including the state meet, where the Colorado State University signee achieved a personal best of 16-9. That jump led the state by more than four inches over 4A state champion Cooper VanMaurer of Central of Grand Junction. Senior Sawyer Carr tied for sixth place to give Cherokee Trail a 16-point punch in the penultimate event.
Track stars
CHEROKEE TRAIL, EAGLECREST LOAD UP ALL-AURORA BOYS TRACK TEAM
BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor
The Cherokee Trail and Eaglecrest boys finished first and second in the final 5A boys team standings and much of the talent that got both squads there combines on the All-Aurora Boys Track Team. Overland, Rangeview and Regis Jesuit also have representation among the top performers in 18 events.
Coach Chris Faust’s Cherokee Trail team became the first boys successful three-peat winner since Smoky Hill in 2003-05 with a vast array of talent in all areas, which accumulated just enough to hold off Eaglecrest.
The Cougars were a true team in that regard, as they came away with at least a point in 10 different events, which included maximum hauls in the 400 meters (senior Peyton Sommers), pole vault (senior Taylor Waters) and 4x400 meter relay (Sommers, fellow seniors Nurudeen Diallo and Nick Hoffsetz and junior Dylan Smith).
Sommers dominated the state meet as a junior, but the Penn State commitment suffered a hamstring injury that severely curtailed his senior season. It took everything he could do so he could run at the state meet in which he qualified for only the 400. Clearly hindered, Sommers still managed to run a time of 47.09 seconds in the final, which was fastest in Colorado regardless of
To finish things off, Faust deployed a team that only needed to finish close to Eaglecrest to secure the team championship, but the Cougars went out and won the event in style. The combination of Hoffsetz, Smith and Diallo set up Sommers — who was determined to run the event no matter what — and finished with a time of 3 minutes, 17.26 seconds, that bested runner-up Eaglecrest for the fastest in the state regardless of classification.
Smith was one of Cherokee Trail’s top point scorers and he finished with a total of three All-Aurora honors, which included an individual spot in the 800 meters as well as his combination with senior Andrew Crippen, junior Carter Getty and sophomore Tanner Larsen on the 4x800 meter relay. Smith won the Centennial League title in the 800 and at the state meet ran his PR of 1:53.35, which was good enough for third place. In the opening race of the meet, he combined with Crippen, Getty and Larsen to run a time of 8:00.88, which put them ninth on the medal podium, but was just a half second out of sixth place.
The Cougars’ final All-Aurora performers rounded out by junior Prince David Ajibade in the high jump, sophomore Cristian Mbamarah in the 100 meters and Mbamarah, Hoffsetz, Diallo and sophomore Corbin Cole in the 4x200 relay. Ajibade cleared 6-5 at the state meet to establish a PR and place fourth. With Sommers unable to qualify for state in the 100 due to his injury, Mbamarah — coming off a strong football season in the fall — scored points in the event with his seventh-place finish. He finished seventh with a time of 10.77 in the finals, which was slightly be-
ALL-AURORA TRACK & FIELD
TOP: From left, seniors Nick Hoffsetz and Nurudeen Diallo, junior Dylan Smith and senior Peyton Sommers pose after their victory in the 4x400 meter relay to conclude the Class 5A boys state track meet at Jefferson County Stadium. The Cougars’ victory cemented the program’s third consecutive team state championship and landed the group a spot on the 2025 Aurora Sentinel All-Aurora Boys Track Team as well. Smith earned three All-Aurora nods and Sommers two. ABOVE: Cherokee Trail pole vaulter Taylor Waters had an outstanding season season during which he successfully cleared 16 feet at every meet in which he competed. Waters cleared 16-9 at the state meet to become the program’s first pole vault state champion and help the Cougars hold off Eaglecrest in the quest for the state championship. PHOTOS BY COURTNEY OAKES/AURORA SENTINEL
hind his PR of 10.53. The 4x200 meter relay team secured the All-Aurora spot with a 0.16 victory over Eaglecrest in the finals as it ran 1:26.83.
Coach Chris Carhart’s Eaglecrest team made a valiant run at the program’s first state championship since 2002, but settled for a runner-up finish.
The Raptors’ landed one championship from the 4x100 meter relay team of seniors Eric Hill Jr. and Burke Withycombe along with juniors Quincy Clayton and Bryson States. Eaglecrest’s season-best time of 40.99 seconds came at the Centennial League championship meet, but a 41.40 in the finals secured the title, as Hill Jr. (part of a championship-winning 4x200 relay in 2024) anchored.
Eaglecrest’s top individual scorer was junior Cameron Bell, who earned three All-Aurora individual spots with a sweep of the 110 and 300 meter hurdles in addition to the long jump. One of four Aurora area qualifiers for the 110 finals, Bell crossed the finish line in 14.42 seconds, which was only behind Loveland’s Jackson Conroy. He was alone among locals in the 300 finals and ran 38.96 to finish in third place, which matched his position in the final standings of the long jump. Bell’s top leap of 22 feet, 7 inches, gave him an inch clearance over senior teammate Kendell Moreland in a point-binge event that saw three Raptors make the medal podium (senior Thierry Asare placed sixth). Bell is the only one of the top six placers in the 5A long jump who does not graduate. Also expected back for next season for Eaglecrest is States, who earned the All-Aurora spot in the triple jump as he surged from a pre-meet position of 12th all the way to third. States’ last jump of the finals of 46-1 1/4 bettered his best during the regular season by more than two feet.
Rounding out the state champions for Aurora boys is Overland senior Jarrius Ward, who strengthened his grip on state supremacy in the 5A discus with a second consecutive title. Although he eased to a repeat as the only athlete to cross the 180-foot mark, Ward’s winning throw of 182-5 (almost 20 feet further than the state runner-up) did not surpass his 5A state meet record of 203-4 from 2024. He will continue his track & field career at Colorado State-Pueblo, where he will also play football.
Rangeview had a two-event All-Aurora performer in Rangeview’s Abdinasir Hassan, who had a strong freshman season. A state qualifier in cross country in the fall, Hassan went on to put on the area’s top performances at the state meet that yielded medal podium appearances in both distance events. He ran 4:16.48 in the 1,60o to take eighth, which represented a move up six spots from his pre-meet seeding and an improvement of two and a half seconds. Hassan slipped a bit from his pre-meet seeding in the 3,200 meters (in which he was the City League champion) with a ninth-place result, while his season-best time of 9:15.07 came with his victory at the HOKA St. Vrain Invitational May 9.
Individually, Grandview is represented by senior Revano Plummer, who led locals in the 200 meter dash as he ran a 21.98 to finish eighth, while Regis Jesuit senior Dominic Dogue topped the city in the shot put. His effort of 50-7 —which bettered his previous season best of 49-9 1/2 — put him seventh.
Eaglecrest standouts, Cherokee Trail state champion Kaeli Powe lead the way on All-Aurora Girls Track team
The Eaglecrest girls track team came up just 3.5 points behind Cherry Creek in the quest for second place at the Class 5A state meet, but earned a significant amount of individual and relay awards in the process.
The Raptors claimed half of the 18 spots available on the 2025 AuroraSentinelAll-Aurora Girls Track Team, which is determined primarily by state meet performances as well as regular season results if necessary.
Cherokee Trail (a top-five team led by senior Kaeli Powe, a state champion) is also represented, as Grandview, Regis Jesuit and Vista PEAK Prep.
Coach Chris Carhart’s Eaglecrest team has become a relay powerhouse in the past few seasons and that remained a strength this season. The Raptors have yet to be beaten in the finals of the state meet in the 4x200 meter relay since way back in 2021, as the group of senior Jaylynn Wilson, junior Tatum Gratrix, sophomore Zenobia Witt and freshman Evangeline Ansah won yet another title in the event. Wilson has been a key part of all four relay champions, including this one, which clocked a time of 1 minute. 39.88 seconds, that put them just in front of Fossil Ridge (1:40.03). Though it got them the title, Eaglecrest ran faster at the Centennial League championship meet with a 1:38.41.
Witt earned All-Aurora honors in three events, including the long jump, in which she repeated as 5A state champion. It required a leap of 18 feet, 7 1/2 inches, on her final try of finals to get it done. The mark tied her with Powe (who had the top mark in the state in the regular season of 20 feet) for the top spot and she won based on a longer second jump. It was a few inches shy of her season best of 18-10 1/2 achieved at the Niwot Invitational. Witt also led locals in the 100 meter hurdles, in which she finished in third place behind Ponderosa’s Payton Becker and Fountain-Fort Carson’s Alexa Queen, who finished at the top of both hurdles events. Witt’s fastest time of the season — and fifth-fastest in the state regardless of classification —was a 14.24 in the 5A state prelims.
Ansah also garnered three All-Aurora spots with her part of the 4x200 relay (as anchor) and individually in the 200 meter dash. She ran a 24.52 May 3 at the Fritz Fulton Memorial for her season-best, but she came close to that in the finals at the state meet with a 24.70 that put her in fourth place. Ansah also teamed with Wilson, Gratrix and sophomore Malanya Gaines for a runner-up finish in the 4x100 meter relay behind Fossil Ridge. The Raptors ran an outstanding 47.35 in the finals, but the same team — with Witt in place of Gaines — dropped a 46.41 a week earlier at the Centennial League championships to set Colorado’s all-classification state record. Eaglecrest’s third All-Aurora relay honor went to the 4x800 meter team of Gaines, fellow sophomores Mia Silva and Jenna Winn and freshman Jenna Hallman. That group ran 9:50.67 at the state meet and did not make the medal podium, but ran a top time of 9:35.16 at the Centennial League championship meet.
TOP: From left, Evangaline Ansah, Jaylynn Wilson, Zenobia Witt and Tatum Gratrix earned the Class 5A girls 4x200 meter relay championship for Eaglecrest for a fourth straight season. ABOVE: Eaglecrest junior Cameron Bell earned spots on the All-Aurora Boys Track Team in three events. BELOW, TOP: Cherokee Trail senior Kaeli Powe won a second straight 5A girls state championship in the triple jump. BELOW, BOTTOM: Vista PEAK Prep senior Amaya Rogers paced Aurora girls in the 100 meter dash with a fourth place finish. PHOTOS BY COURTNEY OAKES/AURORA SENTINEL
›› ALL-AURORA, from 9
ALL-AURORA GIRLS TRACK
Individually, Winn paced locals in the 800 meters as she just missed the medal podium (top nine) with a 10th-place performance with a season-best time of 2:14.32. Senior Kaitlyn Hendrian did get on the medal podium (for a second straight season) in the 5A girls shot put. Seeded ninth going into the competition, that’s just where Hendrian finished. Her top throw of the season of 36-5 1/2 came at the B-Town Bash back on April 7, while she topped out at 35-6 3/4 at the sate meet.
Coach Chris Faust’s Cherokee Trail team finished fifth in the team standings with a lot of heavy lifting done by Powe, a University of Central Florida signee. In one of the jumping events affected greatly by a consistent and forceful wind, Powe repeated as 5A triple jump state champion. Her jump of 41-4 1/2 on her last finals attempt won her the crown, while a wind-aided 42-1 3/4 at the Broomfield Shootout was a season best.
Joining Powe individually on the All-Aurora team for the Cougars was senior Raziah Hyslop, who was again the area’s top performer in the discus. Hyslop went out on a high note, as she captured third place (from a pre-meet seeding of fifth) with a personal best throw of 133-10. It was an improvement by more than five feet from the toss that earned her the Centennial League championship a week earlier. Sophomore Jade McDaniel rounds out Cherokee Trail’s All-Aurora presence in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs. She did not qualify for state in either event (nor did any other area athlete), but had top times of 5:18.65 in the mile and
11:45.26 in the two-mile.
Grandview had a trio of All-Aurora performers in senior Andrea Davis (high jump), junior Sasha Kennedy (300 meter hurdles) and freshman Alexis Fischer (400 meter dash), who accounted for the entire team total of 11 points that placed 23rd.
The highest placer for the Wolves was Kennedy, who saved her best performance in the hurdles for last. She finished fourth with a personal-best time of 43.95 seconds, which was the sixth-fastest in 5A during the season. Kennedy, the Centennial League champion in the event as well, picked up six points for her performance, while the team’s other five came from Fischer with her fifth-place result. The only Aurora area qualifier for state in the 400, Fischer clocked a 56.62 in prelims and bettered that with a PR of 56.17 in the finals, which was heavy on seniors. Davis came into state tied for the No. 1 seed with a top effort of 5 feet, 7 inches — which she achieved at Jefferson County Stadium at the Pomona Invitational — but she topped out 5-1 at state and missed the podium.
Rounding out the All-Aurora team are Vista PEAK Prep senior Amaya Rogers in the 100 meters and Regis Jesuit senior Abigail Frei in the pole vault. Rogers finished in fourth place in the finals of the 100 with a season-best time of 11.97 seconds that was just 0.01 out of third. Frei broke her own Regis Jesuit girls program pole vault record from 2024 with her successful clearance of 10 feet, 10 inches, at the HOKA St. Vrain Invitational May 9. At the state meet, the two-time All-Aurora performer and St. Olaf College signee’s top clearance was 10-1 that left her off the podium.
ALL-AURORA BOYS LACROSSE TEAM BOASTS WIDE TALENT
The 2025 AuroraSentinelAll-Aurora Boys Lacrosse Team — chosen by the Sentinelin conjunction with balloting of local coaches — includes representation from all over. Regis Jesuit made the deepest run in the Class 5A postseason among local teams as it got to the quarterfinals before it was eliminated by undefeated and eventual state champion Cherry Creek.
Coach Ross Moscatelli’s Raiders (11-6) had plenty of talent, especially on the defensive end as one of the state’s stingiest teams. Regis Jesuit allowed an average of just six goals per game and yielded just 102 for the season, which was the third-fewest among 5A teams. Helping the effort was senior Ben Stone, a Providence recruit who was a Colorado High School Activities Association All-State first teamer and All-American performer.
Stone helped lead a unit that was backed by senior goalie Jackson Large, who allowed a paltry 5.501 goals per game (which ranked fifth in 5A) and had a strong .669 save percentage, even while going against many of the state’s top offenses.
Regis Jesuit’s goal production dipped slightly from the previous season, but the attack was led by senior Rocco Biviano, who scored a teamhigh 33 goals to rank fourth among Aurora area players in that category. Sophomore Austin Ryan finished two behind Biviano in the goal scoring column and also added eight assists to make the All-League 3 first team. Sophomore Max Hogan excelled as a defensive midfielder and garnered All-CHSAA All-State honorable mention and AllLeague 3 first team designations as he ranked second on the team with 53 groundballs.
Cherokee Trail claimed the Predators Cup with a win over rival Grandview, finished with 10 wins (more
ABOVE: Regis Jesuit allowed the third-fewest goals in Class 5A boys lacrosse during the 2025 season with a defense helped by senior Ben Stone (10). Stone earned All-American honors as well as a spot on the 2025 Aurora Sentinel All-Aurora Boys Lacrosse Team. LEFT: Grandview junior Mason Kelly (3) racked up a city-best 90 points during the 2025 boys lacrosse season on 50 goals and 40 assists. (PHOTOS BY COURTNEY OAKES/AURORA SENTINEL)
than double last season’s total of four) and made the second round of the 5A playoffs. Coach Matt Cawley’s team improved in all areas, as it scored 55 more goals and allowed 58 fewer.
Senior Blake Rodriguez helped tip the possession in Cherokee Trail’s favor with his work on faceoffs, which he won at a 68 percent clip. Rodriguez added 84 groundballs in addition to five goals and an assist.
Offense was certainly not a deficiency of coach Greg Mellinger’s Grandview team, which featured the firepower of junior Mason Kelly on attack and senior Cameron Festi in the midfield. The highest scoring teammates in the state finished tied with each other in sixth place among 5A goal scorers with 50 apiece — which easily led area players — and Kelly also topped locals in assists with 40, which gave him 90 points for the season. Festi finished with 61. Eaglecrest had a defensive standout in senior Clayton Turner, who was third in 5A with 138 groundballs as well as 54 takeaways.
THE KENNEL CRUNCH: AURORA’S DIRE NEED FOR A NEW ANIMAL SHELTER
BY
CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Staff Writer
We call them our babies. They sleep in our beds, eat better than we do and somehow take up all the room on the couch. They become family, and for many of us, doing right by them isn’t a luxury, it’s a must.
For animal lovers, pets don’t only share a home; they share a heart.
“People joke that they like animals more than they like people, and for some people, that’s true. They get along better with dogs and cats than they do other people,” said Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky.
It’s easy to forget that beyond the comfort of our homes, there’s an essential place where animals end up when they’re lost, abandoned or causing chaos on the streets. That behind-the-scenes place is one of the most essential services a city can offer, especially in Aurora.
Having a local shelter that can reunite lost pets with their families, find new homes for animals in need, safely contain aggressive
strays and compassionately handle animals struck by vehicles, all under one roof, is something the Aurora Animal Shelter can bundle up in one package. The problem is that the current package is too small for a city the size of Aurora, and it’s severely outdated, and the only solution is a new, costly facility.
“We are on the verge of totally being shut down and not having the animal shelter at all,” Jurinsky said.
The Aurora animal shelter facility was not initially intended to house animals. It was constructed as an impound facility in the 1980s. In 1984, it was converted into the animal shelter people visit today. During that time, the population of Aurora has grown significantly, nearly quadrupling in size from 150,000 people in the 1980s to more than 400,000 people currently.
“Aurora is the third biggest city with one of the smallest shelters of the Front Range,” said Anthony Youngblood, Animal Services division manager for the Aurora Ani-
mal Shelter.
Now, the population has outgrown what the shelter can offer, and it needs an upgrade. Youngblood said that there are 52 large kennels and 12 smaller dog kennels, and they are at 90% to 95% capacity almost all of the time. Last year, the shelter took in more than 3,100 animals.
“The number of kennels also holds us back from what we could do,” Youngblood said. “If we had more space, we’d probably take more animals, but with what limited space we have, we’re constantly full, especially for the size of the population.”
This is also the same facility that took care of the mischievous 400-pound pig that received notoriety when he was at large and causing havoc in the streets in 2023. The shelter rehomed him to Eads High School’s Future Farmers of America, where he is still living his best life.
The shelter also has a contract with Arapahoe County Animal Control. Youngblood said they get the whole gamut, including rabbits,
Out of space at the city’s aging animal pound, Aurora looks at a $51 million replacement
pigs, fish, snakes, goats, chickens, ducks and recently they got a bearded dragon.
“We’re one of the few facilities that animal control works out of the building,” Youngblood said.
“This is so much more productive, and it’s easier, and you learn so much more when you’re attached to a shelter. But it makes what we do in this small building very confined.”
The shelter, however, is also no longer in compliance with the Pet Animal Care and Facilities Act (PACFA), and, essentially because of the lack of space, the most cost-effective way to bring it back into compliance is to build a new facility.
Jurinsky said she has been working for years to secure funding and find solutions to support the shelter, while also making regular announcements reminding people where and how they can contribute.
“I first adopted an animal from the animal shelter about 14 years ago,” Jurinsky said. “I adopted a Rottweiler. I have a passion for
animals in general, but the Rottweiler breed specifically, I’m very fond of.”
That dog was named Bailey, and although Bailey has since died, the interaction helped her build a lasting relationship with the animal shelter that has endured to this day. She said she had recently been able to adopt a new puppy that the shelter contacted her about. They knew about her passion for Rottweilers and called her the second they got one in.
“My current dog was found running wild in a field all by himself, and animal control had picked him up,” Jurinsky said. “His name is Rubble. My son named him from the Paw Patrol.”
Rubble was six months old when she adopted him. She wanted to have a dog that could grow up with her son, and that’s precisely what happened. Rubble is now four years old, and Jurinsky has had the opportunity to watch them
An Aurora resident, Tanya Tabachek, also adopted her dog from the Aurora animal shelter and
grow together.
Abandoned pets inside the Aurora Animal Shelter. Shelter officials say the facility is old overcrowded and overdue for replacement. SENTINEL FILE PHOTOS
learned about the shelter’s needs through Jurinsky. She has also been a vocal advocate for the shelter at city council meetings, working to offer and support it as she is able.
On Monday, Tabachek spoke at the meeting to advocate for the city council to approve funding for the new facility. City lawmakers unanimously approved the shelter to have a new home, but at a high price.
The new shelter comes with a projected total cost of $51 million. Jessica Prossor, director of Housing and Community Services, reviewed the proposal and financing details during a June 9 study session to city council.
“We are out of compliance with PACFA, which is the group that monitors our compliance related to safety and things like that,” Prosser said. “So, really, we’re looking at this facility as end of life.”
The proposed 38,000-squarefoot facility will house up to 250 animals and feature modernized services, including separate spaces for adoptable and court-hold animals, dedicated isolation and veterinary areas and improved indoor-outdoor access for both staff and animals. A preliminary site plan places the new shelter on a five-acre section of a 15-acre cityowned parcel just southeast of the current facility.
The old facility would still be used for some services. The cremator, which is essentially designed for roadkill, will need to remain in the building it’s located in.
“Not every shelter has one,” Youngblood said. “They’re very expensive. It’s a crazy license to have. It’s so crazy that this facility, whether the building’s going to change, they have to keep it where it is, and we’re going to have to, from the new shelter, come here to use this one, because to transfer for the EPA license and all that kind of stuff. It’s just going to be here.”
The current location appears almost like a dot in comparison to the outline of the proposed new facility’s space.
“Right now, we have very limited outdoor ability, and we also have to cross a parking lot with animals, which is not helpful for staff,” Prosser said.
The project will be funded through a combination of federal relief, city capital and lease-purchase financing mechanisms. Certificates of Participation will provide approximately $27 million of the construction funding, with an estimated annual debt service cost of between $1.6 million and $1.8 million for 30 years, totaling roughly $51 million, assuming current interest rates.
To offset the cost, the city has already secured or allocated several sources of funding:
$2.9 million from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds
$5 million in Capital Project Funds
$16 million in general government capital impact fees
$400,000 estate gift dedicated specifically to the shelter
“This would qualify for impact fees,” Prosser said.
The city previously put some ARPA dollars towards a new shelter, so what city council approved was the COP debt issuance.
“We have to spend our ARPA dollars by the end of 2026, so
we’ve committed those funds already with this project,” Prosser said.
The city plans to issue certificates of participation, which are lease-purchase financing for a portion of the capital stack, Teresa Sedmak, Aurora’s city treasurer, said. Using COPS allows the city to borrow to build the facility without asking voters for a tax hike or putting the loan on the city books as capital debt.
The ordinance authorizes a maximum of $27 million to be issued, with a maximum interest rate of 6% for 30-year financing.
The city staff plans to go to market at the end of August, now that they’ve received the city council’s approval.
Construction for the project is planned to begin in 2026 following the completion of the design and permitting phases. The anticipated build time is 18 to 24 months, with the city working with contractor partners to manage costs through design collaboration and market forecasting, according to Prosser.
“Let’s pull together as a community,” Tabachek said. “Let’s show people that Aurora cares for the unspoken.”
In the meantime, Jurinsky is still exploring various options for additional fundraising, and the shelter employees said that they always appreciate any help people can offer.
“I am very fond of the animal shelter and the work that they’re doing there,” Jurinsky said.
A golf tournament is scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 21 at the Saddle Rock Golf Course as a fundraiser for the Aurora Animal Shelter. Jurinsky said she’s soliciting additional ideas or events that can help raise funds. She can be reached at djurinsk@auroragov.org.
The shelter also said they can use all the help they can get, whether it is making donations for food or other needs, including leashes, toys and especially enrichment supplies, or volunteering and fostering. One significant need the shelter staff mentioned they currently have is a lack of people to foster.
There are three spaces for dogs to run, but only two are ideal. One is on cement and the other two are on a steep hill, making it hard for dogs to get the zoomies out. Cats have a smaller space to roam that picks up all of the noises in the lobby, making it hard for them to relax.
Fostering allows the animals a break from the noise and limited space of the shelter.
“I think our biggest struggle is dogs that have any sort of behavioral concern,” Desirea Audino, shelter supervisor, said.
They might require more exercise or mental stimulation, or they might need to live in a home without other animals, or certain aged children. Audino said those dogs can stay the longest because of those specific needs.
“They’re also the dogs that don’t do well in shelters, because they need all of that,” she said. “So then they start to decline while they’re here. That’s another big reason why we need fosters so they can get a break.”
People interested in learning about the week-to-week needs can follow the social media pages or sign up on the city website to donate, volunteer, foster or adopt.
TOP: Canelo, a 3-year-old husky, plays outside the Aurora Animal Shelter with a volunteer. Canelo is up for adoption and has been at the shelter for longer than a month.
PHOTO BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Colorado
CENTER: Fred the Pig is pictured here before his ultimate capture by Aurora Animal Control. Photo provided by the City of Aurora
BOTTOM: A veterinary surgeon operates on a dog, preparing her for adoption at Aurora Animal Shelter. File Photo by Gabriel Christus/Aurora Sentinel
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The only immigration ‘crisis’ is coming from Washington
While the Sentinel agrees with so-called MAGA Republicans and the Trump Administration that the United States does, indeed, find itself in the middle of an immigration crisis, the government is causing that quagmire, not the immigrants.
Trump’s impractical, dangerous and injurious promise of mass deportations and a far-right ideal of “shutting down the border” has always been a dog whistle for “no more minority immigrants.”
What drives and will solve the crisis is jobs and industry.
For decades, the “problem” of illegal immigration has been primarily about jobs, and the past and current congressional forays into the morass have ignored that.
Despite all the heated rhetoric and emotional arguments targeting both sides of this thorny issue, there is a growing cadre of critical facts:
• There are an estimated 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States, and their stories and circumstances are astoundingly varied. Officials estimate metro Denver and Aurora are home to about 130,000 undocumented immigrants.
• Many of these immigrants are already settled and integrated into our communities. They have jobs. They own cars and homes. They make more than $60 billion a year from U.S. businesses, according to a variety of sources. They have children in schools.
• Business groups and more than a few industries haven’t been shy in making it clear that these immigrants are critical to their operations. Many metro businesses already can’t find employees even with undocumented immigrants filling the workforce. Rural farmers and ranchers say the issue is becoming critical.
• Deporting undocumented immigrants is far from being a simple matter. Many families consist of citizens and non-citizens, many with varying degrees of authorization. If the father of a family of six is deported, why force his American wife and perhaps threeof-six documented children to live here in anguished poverty and on the government dole, if they don’t leave the country with him? Tearing apart families will only lead to tragedy and increased government expense.
• Repeated studies have regularly shown that immigrants, documented and undocumented, commit crimes at a far lower rate compared to American citizens.
• The cost of rounding up, collecting from jails, housing, processing and deporting millions of immigrants would be astronomical. Even proponents admit that. The federal government has tried to boost its border control and ICE force before, only to find out how difficult, ineffective and expensive it is. Several sources, including in the administration, estimate it will cost about $88 billion a year to round up and deport 1 million immigrants. The cost doesn’t include the hit to local and larger economies. Some estimates predict a nearly 3% hit to the U.S. GDP, caused by the loss of immigrant spending and their place in the workforce.
• Hardest hit would be industries such as farming, ranching, construction and tourism.
Already, the clear warnings issued by police and other experts are materializing. The level of angst and panic among immigrant communities, both documented and undocumented, is soaring.
Aurora police have said repeatedly that creating fear among immigrants makes them easy targets for robberies, assaults and scams because the immigrant victims will not call authorities for fear of deportation, even if they have legal documentation.
The problem has already become so dire in rural and industrial communities across the state, and across the country, as documented and undocumented migrant workers quit showing up for work, fearing a workplace ICE raid.
“They sometimes are too scared to work their shift,” Claudio Gonzalez, a chef at Izakaya Gazen in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district, told the Associated Press. The community is near a federal ICE facility, like Aurora. “They kind of feel like it’s based on skin color.”
Douglas Holtz Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office and now president of the conservative American Action Forum think tank, said the perception created by the Trump administration’s handling of the ICE deportation project is real.
“ICE had detained people who are here lawfully, and so now lawful immigrants are afraid to go to work,” Holtz Eakin told the Associated Press earlier this month.
The false narrative about millions of lazy immigrants, living the high and easy life off of a luxurious American welfare system, committing bank robberies, car thefts and heinous murders in their spare time, is crude propaganda.
We don’t have to sabotage the entire country to solve the problem, and given the massive challenges the country faces with climate change, health care, infrastructure and foreign wars, this really isn’t even a problem at all, even as it exists.
But we can offer those who live here work permits and work visas that allow them to live legally in the U.S. — under any conditions we choose. They must pay taxes, penalties, document their lives, anything Congress insists on. If they are convicted of felony crimes, they lose their visa. In order to work in the U.S., they must prove citizenship or visa status.
Most importantly, if a business is caught employing someone without work credentials, the business must pay a serious and hefty fine.
It’s all about jobs, industry and accountability.
Congress can turn this from a crisis to an economic and societal boon, just with legislation.
But first, Colorado must stand firm against the Trump administration’s ham-handed, theatrical harassment of places where non-white people live and work.
It is anathema to a free and human nation to employ gangs of masked thugs to round up mostly Latino and Hispanic “suspects,” sending many to illegal gulags and prison camps in countries like those many have fled.
Congress can solve the self-inflicted U.S. immigration crisis, and then solve the nation’s long-running immigration challenges practically, humanely and effectively. Trump will not.
JON CALDARA, GUEST COLUMNIST
Colorado and the fascist playboook
Igot to know Jeff Hunt in his many years running the socially conservative Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian University. He now co-hosts the morning talk radio show on 710 KNUS.
He is a social conservative Christian; I’m a libertarian conservative. In other words, he’s wrong about a lot of stuff, but you know, in that oh-so-righteous way. And that’s what makes teasing him so fun.
We get into friendly brawls over moral questions like doctor-assisted suicide and end-of-life issues, where he explains God’s greatest gift to man was free will, and somehow it’s social conservatives’ job to take it away. (OK, he never said that, I did.)
Anyway, sometimes I just wanna kick him. And, oh, my lord, I’m not the only one.
Not only did he get aggressively kicked in the back a few days ago, but it was so satisfying some 9 million people needed to watch the video of it on social media.
To be clear, there is no reliable proof I put any “kick me” sign on his back.
A little context: Jeff has always had a keen sense of social media self-promotion, handy when you’re an aspiring talk-show host. He’s made it a habit of going to angry leftist rallies with a video camera and asking people straightforward questions while recording the inane answers.
Remember Jay Leno’s “Jaywalking” routine? It’s like that, but instead of the people being just idiots, they’re angry and unhinged, as well. Good stuff.
At last week’s anti-ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) rally at the state Capitol, he was meandering through the crowd videotaping the mostly peaceful protest when, out of nowhere, a man viciously kicks him in the lower back. Worse than a sucker punch, there’s absolutely no way to see it coming. And yes, there was a real injury.
Being the stand-up person it takes to kick someone in the back, this young, white man runs off as the crowd is chanting, “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here!”
Immigrants are welcome here. Others with different viewpoint, however, will be assaulted.
Will the real fascists please stand up
It’s worth making the small observation these protesters call Trump a fascist and carry placards of him cartooned as Adolf Hitler. Remember, it was Hitler’s followers who beat up those with opposing views. Physical assault is a fascist tactic. So, exactly who are the fascists here?
We could go on that theme all day. It was Hitler’s fascists who attacked Jews. Today, it’s pro-Palestine progressive college kids and illegal immigrants throwing Molotov cocktails attacking Jews. So again, exactly who are the fascists here?
Jeff followed and confronted his assailant on camera, who calmly responded to Jeff, “Hey pal, what are you here for?” Well, to be physically assaulted at your peaceful protest, of course. Duh.
Two interesting things followed. First, a fellow protester intervenes and advises the assailant to stop talking, obviously a criminal lawyer in the making. “Don’t talk to him, you’re going to ruin the image.”
The guy didn’t say, “Hey, we don’t do violence,” or “apologize to the man for kicking him,” but “you’re going to ruin the image.” That speaks volumes. It shows what’s important to the protestors. Imagery.
And secondly, the assailant says to this budding lawyer and public relations expert, “He pissed me off, okay.” That’s important because it shows intent. This guy was angered by Jeff, so he attacked him. That makes this a premeditated assault.
Jeff has gone to the police. The assailant is very easy to identify. So, we’ll see if this mostly peaceful protest results in criminal charges.
Jeff has covered about a dozen such protests and tells me they are growing in intensity and anger. The Bernie Sanders/Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally drew a crowd of mellow, old Boulderites making it resemble an audience at a John Tesh concert. The latest rallies have more people covering their faces with masks and itching to brawl with police.
And unlike the earlier rallies, Jeff is now followed by his own personal entourage of antifa censors. Whenever he starts filming a conversation with a protester, these people swoop in to tell the person not to interact with Jeff, ending the interview.
Another telltale sign of fascism is clamping down on free speech.
Look for the violence and vandalism to ratchet up. These people just can’t help themselves.
JonCaldaraispresidentoftheIndependenceInstitute,afreemarketthinktankinDenver.
19, 2025
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