Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInLAKEWOOD (KKTV) - Firefighters came to the rescue after a gaggle of goslings fell into a storm drain over the weekend The baby geese were out for a stroll with their mom on a beautiful Saturday afternoon when things went awry “A passerby saw them fall through a sewer grate into a storm drain behind a restaurant near Colfax and Colorado Mills Parkway,” said West Metro Fire District “West Metro Company 5 just happened to be driving by Firefighters found the siblings huddled together inside the drain unharmed but undoubtably scared being away from the mother Mom was equally nervous as she watched the rescue carrying them over to mom who was anxiously waiting nearby,” West Metro said The family continued on its way -- after the firefighters posed for a few photos with the goslings Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCOLORADO SPRINGS (KKTV) - Springs police need your help finding a missing girl Fourteen-year-old Vittoria Nelson left home early Sunday morning and never returned She was reported missing by police hours later and as of Monday morning has not been located 5-foot-5 and weighing between 180-190 pounds with dyed red hair and green eyes She has two nose piercings and a cat paw tattoo on her ankle Her home is located in the 1000 block of Petra Heights on the southeast side of the city not far from South Academy and Academy Park Loop Anyone with information is urged to call CSPD right away at 719-444-7000 12 pts.) in a 3-2 result at Titan Stadium on Sunday night Despite finding the equalizer twice during the match resulting in the team’s third loss of the season Rapids 2 remains in the top half of the Western Conference table as they look to a fast turnaround to face Houston Dynamo 2 on Friday Colorado was quick to get the attack started on Sunday evening with forwards Mamadou Billo Diop and Alex Harris finding opportunities in the opening five minutes of the match The home side was able to conjure up a response of their own asking goalkeeper Zackory Campagnolo to make four saves in the first 45 Despite the dangerous chances for both sides the first goal would be scored off the foot of Decarlo Guerra after being fouled in the box for a penalty kick in the 43rd minute The home side’s lead wouldn’t last long as Colorado’s Malik Pinto immediately responded to the opening goal with one of his own Pinto found just enough space in traffic outside of the box to slot a shot with pace into the lower right corner of Thomas Hasal’s goal The goal marked Pinto’s second of the 2025 season for Colorado The whistle would blow for the half with the two sides level at 1-1 with a lot more action to come LAFC 2 was first to get the jump in second half with Matt Evans and Tommy Mihalic combining for the go-ahead goal in the 54th minute Colorado’s persistence would carry on throughout the half with the team finding its second equalizer just nine minutes later Forward Alex Harris found the ball at his feet and carried it into the box before being fouled for the second penalty kick attempt of the night Harris stood over the spot and converted for his second goal in consecutive matches for Rapids 2 to give Colorado yet another fighting chance at three points The points would prove hard to come by as the third and final penalty kick was awarded to LAFC 2 later in the second half The 79th minute conversion from Guerra was enough to give LA its third win of the season and end the night in a 3-2 result against Houston Dynamo 2 at SaberCats Stadium **View highlights & match summary >>** City Forester for the City and County of Denver stands in front of an Eastern Redbud at City Park in Denver flowering fruit trees permeate metro Denver Thornton resident Brooke Bakers wonders why there aren’t more fruit trees in city parks she thinks they’re pretty and provide much-needed shade in sunny Colorado — and “Families can go into the park and pick an apple or a peach,” Baker said “And I just think it’s a really nice idea.” To find out why there aren’t a lot of fruit trees in the Denver area who’s loved trees since he was a little kid Killoran grew up climbing trees in his neighborhood and backyard eventually landing a job in the local forestry department he was named City Forester for the City and County of Denver are sterile so that they don't produce a physical fruit but they will flower and provide those benefits,” he said dry weather can be a difficult environment to grow fruit As for giving Denverites the chance to pick and eat apples or peaches Killoran noted there’s just too much competition from other creatures.   Have a question or curiosity about the Centennial State? Ask us, and we may answer your question in Colorado Wonders“In our urban environment Killoran added that even if hungry animals can’t outsmart humans the trees are especially susceptible to insects and disease And he said Denver just doesn’t have the capacity to harvest fruit which he said can get messy in heavily-trafficked pedestrian areas and lead to accidents.  “[A fruit tree] creates litter and it could be a slip that’s why many local cities steer clear of fruit-bearing trees even though Killoran is clearly a fan of them and he doesn’t hesitate: It’s the Quercus bicolor the city is actively planting swamp white oaks in Denver Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now. © 2025 Colorado Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy Please try the action again and if the problem continues, contact Customer Support Tonight's Forecast:Showers and thunderstorms continue this evening with a break between two batches of energy this evening The main thunderstorm threats will lie within the two main areas of storm development - with showers between these bands unlikely to contain lightning additional moisture will move into the plains leading to a corridor of showers but they'll largely take until after the morning commute to move into I-25 Check the extended forecast for more details on what to expect through Wednesday Colorado Springs forecast: Low: 43; High: 54;Off and on rain showers with embedded thunder through dinnertime before more showers return late tonight with more isolated thunder potential Showers will continue on Monday morning but will be isolated during the AM commute South winds at 10-20 mph (to 25 mph until around 9 PM tonight) Pueblo forecast: Low: 47; High: 61;Rain tonight in the Steel City - but you're mostly done with the rumblers Rain will be off-and-on throughout the evening and overnight and should be patchier than what you saw this afternoon (more of the "5 minute shower" type of storms) Canon City forecast: Low: 46; High: 55;Another thunderstorm is possible before 10PM tonight otherwise you'll see off-and-on showers tonight Woodland Park forecast: Low: 35; High: 47;You'll get a bit of everything tonight - rain have peaks and troughs...meaning you'll alternate periods of light to moderate showers with periods of cloudiness More sustained moisture -and showers- will arrive Monday Tri-Lakes forecast: Low: 40s; High: 50s;Rain showers with a few rumbles of thunder Plains forecast: Low: 40s; High: 50s;Mainly dry early tonight aside from a quick and isolated shower...storms will generally take until 8/9 AM Monday to really start hitting you It'll also be breezy with southeast winds at 15-30 mph shifting south at 10-20 mph after midnight Walsenburg and Trinidad forecast: Low: 41; High: 57/59;Rain and thunderstorms mixed with periods of cloudiness Mountains forecast: Low: 30s; High: 40s/50s;Thundersnow tonight in the mountains South winds at 10-15 mph decreasing to 10 mph after midnight Extended outlook forecast:The forecast remains on track Low pressure slowly pivoting through the Four Corners and then New Mexico will swing multiple rounds of energy into southern Colorado over the next 72 hours Rain will increase in intensity during the afternoon with embedded thunderstorms Flash flooding is possible wherever storms train Storm training means multiple storms form and then move over the same areas in a line the flood risk tomorrow is isolated - as by percentage most of the region won't get those conditions But it's likely some small part of the region will Tuesday should be the "headline" day of this event it will get closer to a blocking ridge to the east (this is called an omega block) The tighter spacing will increase the "pull" the storm has in bringing moisture into Colorado it will be flinging a large and potent swath of mid-level energy into the area The NOAA Weather Prediction Center (WPC) has southern Colorado Springs and Pueblo in a slight (2 out of 4) risk for flash flooding on Tuesday the cold temperatures should bring the snow level down to around 8,000 feet This will result in heavy snow in Teller County on Tuesday afternoon that I expect will impact travel along U.S I do not expect this snow to stick to roads during the daytime and the Wednesday morning commute is likely to be impacted This may also apply to Monument Hill but the forecast is more iffy due to being very close to the cutoff elevation an isolated t-storm is possible in the afternoon The foothills and mountains retain shower and storm chances straight into the weekend - of a more "typical" daily PM chance variety Curious about the First Alert 5 Weather Storm Impact Scale? Check out our cheatsheet explainer. Watch KOAA News5 on your time, anytime with our free streaming app available for your Roku, FireTV, AppleTV and Android TV. Just search KOAA News5 Report a typo The Colorado Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here. Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer DENVER — It's a Denver7 Weather Action Day as we track our next soggy spring storm You'll find a mix of sun and clouds Monday morning We're already starting to see some wet weather across Southern Colorado and that is gradually making its way north A strong low pressure system is making its way toward Colorado and will bring some heavy rain and snow to parts of the state over the next three days We'll see scattered storms and showers develop this afternoon with highs in the low to upper 60s across the northeastern plains Heavier rain will develop across the plains on Tuesday and we'll likely see around 1 to 2 inches of rain by early Wednesday morning This wills translate to some heavy snow int he mountains expect a solid snowstorm Monday night through Wednesday morning — possibly close to 2 feet in the highest peaks A Winter Storm Watch is already in place for the northern Front Range mountains The snow level will likely drop down to around 7,500 feet at times and there's a slight chance we could see that rain mix with snow along the Palmer Divide on Tuesday night the system will start to wind down as it moves east We'll see some drier weather on Wednesday afternoon It's much warmer and drier by the end of the week and we're in for more 70s this coming weekend Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream First Round: Game 7 When: Saturday, May 3 at 7:00 PM CT Where: American Airlines Center TV: ABC, ESPN+ Radio: The Ticket 96.7-FM, 1310-AM Live Stats: NHL Game Center Tickets: Single Game / Suites Local Parking: AAC Parking Options Arena Bag Policy: Frequently Asked Questions Party on PNC Plaza: 5:00 PM South Entrance Pregame Band: Extended Play Doors Open: 5:30 PM CT 4-2 Series | 21-23 Overall | 10-13 Home | 11-10 Away Johnston has registered 10 points (5-5—10) in 12 playoff games vs Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon enters Saturday's contest with 10 points (6-4—10) in six games this series and is currently riding a three-game point streak MacKinnon's 10 postseason points tops Colorado skaters trailing Edmonton's Connor McDavid (2-9—11) MacKinnon tied the Avalanche/Nordiques mark for points in a playoff period (2-1—3) He also became the first Avalanche forward to post three points in a potential elimination game since Andre Burakovsky (2-1—3 in Game 5 of 2020 R2) MacKinnon has earned one point (0-1—1) in four games Pete DeBoer is 8-0 in Game 7’s in his career The Stars’ coach takes a no-nonsense approach to these things and on Friday made it clear that he won’t be playing any head games regarding his injured players, winger Jason Robertson and defenseman Miro Heiskanen neither of them is playing [in Game 7],” DeBoer said after a long travel day from Denver on Friday “We’ve got the lineup that we’ve got and we’re comfortable with that DeBoer calls Robertson “arguably our best offense player,” and referred to Heiskanen as “one of the best defensemen in the world.” Heiskanen has been out with a knee injury he sustained on Jan 25 against the Vegas Golden Knights when a falling Mark Stone’s helmet struck his knee Robertson was hurt in the final regular-season game against Nashville and has been rehabbing a lower body injury throughout the playoffs That would allow DeBoer to play mind games by hiding information but he seems to believe a straight-forward approach is better Dallas has pushed a very good Colorado team to Game 7 with both players missing so they definitely have the ability to win Game 7 and advance to the Second Round Dallas lost Game 1 at American Airlines Center and then lost a very competitive Game 6 in Denver The Avalanche had a 2-0 lead in the first period the Stars came back and took a 4-3 lead in the second and then Colorado got a fluky goal to go up 5-4 and added two empty-net goals in an eventual 7-4 win there has been a lot of back and forth in this series and both teams have flexed their muscles at time Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon has 10 points (6 goals 4 assists) in 6 games and leads a talented team that is averaging 3.67 goals per game (6th) and 35.7 shots on goal (2nd) Dallas averages 2.63 goals per game (12th) and 27.8 shots on goal (8th) “I think you learn every time you play a team things that don’t work,” DeBoer said of the series with this familiar rival they’re a really good team and we’ve been off a little bit Jared Bednar and I are not going to have a big impact on this game,” DeBoer said it’s who goes out and executes and gets big games from the right guys.” The Stars in their past two games have received strong performances from Rantanen and Hintz on a line with Mikael Granlund who played more than a decade with the Avalanche before getting traded this year That was huge in a big Game 5 win at home and it kept the Stars in a scrappy Game 6 performance DeBoer said that kind of momentum can carry over a missed opportunity with the lead in the third period DeBoer also says the Stars are a good team and that’s why they have home ice in Game 7 “You work for that all year,” the coach said “There was a lot of work put into that during the season I’m proud of our group in the adversity that they have battled that they’re in this position and have this opportunity.” Dallas has some great experience in recent Game 7s. The Stars beat Vegas last season and Seattle the year before. Goalie Jake Oettinger is 2-1 with a .956 save percentage That should help the 26-year-old netminder on Saturday “We’ve all been there before,” Oettinger said “We know what we have to do to beat these guys and we know what we do when they run it up on us We’ve got to play the right way if we want a chance to win.” Included in that run was a 5-4 Dallas win in 2020 when Joel Kiviranta tallied a hat trick Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog has a 66.1 SAT in four games since returning from a three-year injury absence Landeskog leads the Avalanche in a category that measures puck possession Stars defenseman Thomas Harley leads all NHL players on playoff time on ice at 169:55 Harley is averaging 28:19 per game in the postseason “I thought Wyatt Johnston’s line was our best line in Game 5. They didn’t have a great game in Game 6. If you’re off a little bit, that team can make you look bad. But that’s how a series goes. You very rarely have four lines going every night. I thought last night Matt\] [Duchene and Hintz were really good I thought our third and fourth lines got overwhelmed at certain points -Stars coach Pete DeBoer on the play of Johnston who has 6 points but is minus-5 in the playoffs This story was not subject to the approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club Mike Heika is a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on X @MikeHeika. Zackory Campagnolo, Steve Flores, Joshua Belluz, Charlie Harper, Jaden Chan Tack, Daouda Amadou (C), Alex Harris, Malik Pinto, Colton Swan, Mamadou Billo Diop, Antony García James Cameron, Josh Copeland, Rogelio Garcia, Leonardo Medina, Matthew Senanou, Noah Strellnauer, Sydney Wathuta Beaty/DenveriteFederal law enforcement outside the Cedar Run Apartments where immigration raids are taking place early Wednesday Department of Justice filed a lawsuit on Friday against Denver and Colorado officials alleging in federal court that they had passed “sanctuary laws” that violate the U.S District Court in Colorado to declare that several city and state policies are invalid blocking the city and state from enforcing them The laws and policies in question generally restrict the ability of state and local government employees to help with immigration enforcement “The Supremacy Clause prohibits Colorado and its officials from obstructing the Federal Government’s ability to enforce laws that Congress has enacted or to take actions entrusted to it by the Constitution,” the lawsuit argues “The Supremacy Clause also prohibits Colorado from singling out the Federal Government for adverse treatment — as the challenged laws do — thereby discriminating against the Federal Government The Sanctuary Laws are themselves unlawful and cannot stand.” Mayor Mike Johnston’s office responded soon after the suit was filed “Denver will not be bullied or blackmailed least of all by an administration that has little regard for the law and even less for the truth and federal and stand ready to defend our values,” wrote Jon Ewing the city and county of Denver and Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins “Colorado is not a sanctuary state,” responded Eric Maruyama state and federal law enforcement regularly and we value our partnerships with local county and federal law enforcement agencies to make Colorado safer If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid We are not going to comment on the merits of the lawsuit,” Maruyama continued The DOJ argued that because of a state law it can no longer enter into agreements with local governments to detain immigrants in county jails forcing it to transfer all its detainees to a facility in Aurora The lawsuit claims that the state’s policies force it to release individuals into the public because it can’t afford to bring them to Aurora.  Immigrant advocates have argued that local governments should not — and don’t have to — work closely with immigration enforcement They argue that when police partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement immigrants are afraid to report crimes and communities are less safe The federal lawsuit also argues that state and local laws make it harder for immigration agents to detain people who are set to be released from local jails. But city officials have pushed back on those claims, noting in one recent case that agents were notified more than an hour before a wanted person was released.  Nicknamed the Protecting Colorado Residents From Federal Government Overreach act it prevents law enforcement officers from arresting or detaining an individual on the basis of their immigration status or holding someone in jail past their release time just so immigration officials can come pick them up It also prevents authorities from providing information about an individual’s immigration status to federal officials Officers can continue to assist federal immigration enforcement officials with executing warrants issued by federal judges and they can transfer people from jail or prison into the custody of immigration officers SB21-131: This law aims to further restrict cooperation between state employees and federal immigration agents by preventing the state from looking into people’s immigration status or disclosing anyone’s personal identifying information to ICE HB23-1100: This law prohibits the state and local governments from contracting with private companies to operate immigration detention facilities 94-17: This law was adopted in 2017 under Mayor Michael Hancock It bars city employees from using “any city funds or resources to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws,” the lawsuit states as well as requesting information about a person’s immigration status in most cases It also bars federal immigration agents from “secure areas of any city or county jail or other city-owned law enforcement facility for the purpose of conducting investigative interviews or any other purpose related to the enforcement of federal immigration” unless they have a warrant from a federal judge or magistrate And it says that officers will not detain people solely on the basis of administrative warrants from immigration agents Executive Order No. 142: This order issued by Hancock declared Denver a "safe and welcoming city for all” and touched on numerous subjects It called for city employees to be trained on “the limitations around collecting and sharing national origin including sharing information pertaining to appointment times dates or whereabouts of clients … with federal immigration enforcement officials.” It also called on city leaders to report on “any efforts” they were aware of by immigration agents to get city help enforcing immigration laws By Brianna LeonardPublished: May 2025 at 11:26 AM MDT|Updated: 17 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCOLORADO SPRINGS (KKTV) - An apartment complex was evacuated late Sunday morning according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) The incident occurred in the 2000 block of South Circle at the Alta Apartment complex a building that used to be the Hotel Elegante Police said a man was found dead inside one of the rooms with a grenade in his hand but the CSPD Regional Explosive Unit was called as a precaution Police reportedly found two inert grenades in the room and explained to 11 News that inert grenades are shells with no explosives inside it would be “impossible” for them to go off Police believe that the man took his own life If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or another type of mental health crisis Stories you've missed since your last login: Recommended stories based on your interests: Activist Victor Galvan can been seen peering out between protest signs as the hundreds of protesters showed up for a rally at 17th and Welton streets in Denver on Monday After over four hours of debate spanning two days lawmakers in the Colorado state House on Saturday passed legislation to limit federal immigration officers' access into specific Colorado places entities that provide the personal identifying information of immigrants The legislation would also permit immigrants to ask the courts to vacate a conviction of traffic misdemeanor petty offense or Class 3 misdemeanor if they alleged they were not adequately advised by their lawyer of the adverse immigration consequences of a guilty plea The state Senate already approved the measure in April The debate in the state House began on Friday afternoon just hours after the Department of Justice announced it had filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado and several local leaders over "sanctuary policies." A “sanctuary” jurisdiction generally refers to a city or state that discourages local law enforcement from reporting an individual’s immigration status to federal authorities This tension was on full display during a Congressional hearing in March when Denver Mayor Mike Johnston was called to testify about the city’s response to the influx of immigrants During the debate, sponsors said Senate Bill 276 will help ensures that the civil rights of all residents, regardless of immigration status, are protected.  Critics said the measure "supersizes" Colorado's "sanctuary" policies, which many had blamed for attracting the immigrants who ended up in metro Denver after illegally crossing America's border.   In response to the federal lawsuit and President Donald Trump's order threatening to withhold funding from "sanctuary cities," Republican Rep. Jarvis Caldwell of Colorado Springs introduced an amendment on Friday that would have repealed the bill if the federal government cuts funding to the state as a result.  Caldwell said he believes SB 276 would trigger a "serious loss" of federal funding and could represent the "final nail in the coffin" for Space Command, which some Alabama officials insisted is moving to their state. "We're gonna lose money on this because it is the federal government's role to enforce federal immigration law and what we are trying to do is we are trying to roadblock that for them," he said.   "We are encouraging illegal activity," added Rep. Chris Richardson, R-Elizabeth. "We are doubling down on our sanctuary status, and it's absolutely wrong. We know it's wrong but we're doing it anyway, and it frankly is not appreciated by the folks in my district." On Saturday Rep. Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, spoke about her parents' experience immigrating to the United States from Iran. Senate Bill 276, she said, is meant to help people like her family who are afraid to leave their homes even if they are in the country legally because, she claimed, some of those individuals have been deported, too. "Lawful residents are being falsely equated with violent criminals, even though we know that members of this community are substantially more likely to be victims of crime," she said.  Zokaie cited a video sent to her by a lawyer in Larimer County asking Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents why they detained her client as he dropped his child off at school. Zokaie said the agents refused to answer and ended up dragging the man out of his vehicle and placing him in custody — without telling his lawyer where they were taking him.   Rep. Max Brooks, R-Castle Rock, agreed that it shouldn't be so difficult for people to immigrate to the U.S. legally. The problem, he said, is the Biden administration "convoluted this conversation beyond recognition" and allowed gang members and violent criminals to cross the border "unvetted." "Perhaps some were coming here with their children to find a better life," he said. "However, we do know that there were plenty of those that were coming across unvetted, unchecked, that were human traffickers, drug cartel, sex traffickers, gun dealers, violent gang members, and those that had been previously imprisoned," he said.  If signed into law, SB 276 would prevent jails from delaying the release of an individual on a personal recognizance bond to help facilitate immigration enforcement. It would also prohibit law enforcement from allowing federal immigration agents to enter areas of detention centers that aren't publicly accessible, unless they're investigating a federal crime. It also bars forces from another state's National Guard from entering Colorado without the governor's permission. Additionally, the measure prevents federal immigration agents from entering schools, health care and childcare facilities, churches, libraries, and jails without warrants. Public subdivisions, such as schools, and local judicial and legislative bodies would also be prohibited from disclosing personally identifying information about a person's immigration status. The bill passed on a 42-21 party-line vote. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Secure your subscription to Colorado’s premier political news journal, in continuous publication since 1898. You can be in the know right alongside Colorado’s political insiders. Want the real scoop? Subscribe to Colorado Politics today! Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Officers gather outside one of the condemned buildings of an apartment complex called The Edge at Lowry after a news conference to outline that the five housing structures have been closed by the city, Feb. 19, 2025, in Aurora, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) The lawsuit claims the state and its most populous city, Denver, have passed “sanctuary laws” violating the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. “The United States has well-established, preeminent, and preemptive authority to regulate immigration matters,” according to the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Denver. The Department of Justice has filed similar lawsuits against Chicago and Rochester, New York. Local officials have called Trump’s claims that the gang had taken over large swaths of the city exaggerated, but acknowledged the apartment complex was terrorized, including by people linked to Tren de Aragua. Friday’s lawsuit lists as defendants Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, the state Legislature, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. Polis spokesperson Conor Cahill said in an email that Colorado is not a sanctuary state and regularly works with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. “If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid then we will follow the ruling,” he said. “We are not going to comment on the merits of the lawsuit.” Three janitorial companies were hit with more than $8 million in proposed fines from federal immigration authorities for employing at least 143 unauthorized workers The penalties appear to be the largest such fines levied anywhere in the U.S since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the fines in a press release this week saying that workplace audits “uncovered widespread employment eligibility violations.” “The employment of unauthorized workers undermines the integrity of our immigration system and puts law-abiding employers at a disadvantage,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Cagen “These penalties reinforce our commitment to uphold the law and promote a culture of compliance.” Two of the three companies could not be located by CPR News using internet and business records searches ICE did not respond to a request for additional comment The press release from ICE said it conducted audits of Form I-9 “Employment Eligibility Verification,” which ICE says every business must complete for every individual that is hired Businesses have been required to verify immigration status since the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) signed by Ronald Regan in 1986 ICE agents have regularly audited those records under both Democratic and Republican administrations but the Trump administration has promised to ramp up enforcement I-9 audits are a more common tactic than workplace raids Agents identify a company and subpoena them for I-9 forms and any supporting documents that were presented prior to employment a driver’s license or employment authorization document.  According to a post from Littler I-9 compliance enforcement reached an all-time high during the previous Trump administration growing from 5,981 I-9 audits in fiscal year 2018 to 6,450 audits in 2019 ICE had a goal for up to 15,000 audits in 2020 before the COVID pandemic curtailed those efforts In a post on X on Tuesday marking Trump’s first 100 days in office ICE boasted of “$1M+ in fines against businesses that exploit and hire illegal workers.” This action in Colorado then would be the largest fines levied since Trump took office in January.  now the Trump’s “border czar,” said he wanted to increase worksite immigration operations by 400 percent “We’re not just talking about arresting the aliens at these work sites, we are also talking about employers who knowingly hire people who are unauthorized to work,” Homan said according to CNN.  Total snowfall in the west through Wednesday morning May 7th WeatherBell Sunday: Snow will fall in the southern mountains of Colorado, especially near Red Mountain Pass (7-10 inches above 9,000 feet) Southerly flow favors areas north of Durango Mammoth will grab light snowfall. Monday: Snow develops in central Colorado (Salida) and pushes north into Summit County by late morning or early afternoon Snow levels 9- 10K dropping later in the day.Tuesday: A cold front approaches the Front Range and areas near Summit County This cold front will likely bring heavy snow from Monday night to Tuesday mid-morning The heaviest totals will be closer to the Divide. Wednesday: A Secondary system brings some additional snow showers to the Front Range Mountains with increasing snow likely in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.  Total snowfall in Colorado and New Mexico through Wednesday Bottom Line: This could be a good storm to chase in Colorado due to warm nature initially (dense layer) on Monday followed by the colder air on Tuesday (Lighter Density) Peak snowfall might occur Monday night into Tuesday morning (AM powder day) Some decent totals are possible in eastern Utah (Uinta Range) Winter is not over! @powderchasers is the official weather channel for POWDER The element requested is either not valid or does not exist By Aaron VitatoePublished: May 2025 at 7:27 PM MDT|Updated: 11 hours agoEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCOLORADO SPRINGS law enforcement agencies are urging everyone celebrating to be responsible and get home safely and a Colorado law firm is making sure everyone does we hope everyone has a blast tomorrow celebrating with friends and delicious food,” said the Cortez Police Department To help make sure people get home safety and avoid getting behind the wheel after drinking the Wilhite Law Firm is offering ride reimbursement as they typically do for holidays throughout the year But those reimbursements look a little different than usual the law firm began offering reimbursement exclusively through Uber or Lyft credits They will also cover a total of $20 of your fare You can find the form for the credits, as well as more information, here The next holiday the law firm will be offering the credits for will be the Fourth of July the Colorado Springs Police Department said officers arrested seven people for outstanding warrants found inside a Colorado Springs apartment Police said they were alerted to a burglary in progress at an empty apartment at 3400 Vera Cruz Court near East Fountain Boulevard and Chelton Road and two individuals were attempting to escape through a rear window Police said 17 of those 18 people were cited for criminal trespassing Seven of those 18 people also had outstanding warrants and police said they were arrested and booked into the Criminal Justice Center police said the seven warrants consisted of six misdemeanors and one felony Police said the one person not cited for criminal trespass had arrived at the apartment to help a friend jumpstart his car but was transported to the Criminal Justice Center due to an outstanding warrant Police have not released the identifies of those arrested (KKTV) - One person is in the hospital after a two-car traffic crash Saturday morning according to the Colorado Springs Police Department A deputy with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was reportedly attempting to conduct a traffic stop when the driver fled and the deputy eventually stopped the pursuit Police said the suspect vehicle was involved in the crash a short time later Officers were reportedly dispatched to the intersection of La Salle Street and Chelton Road at 7:28 a.m officers learned that the suspect driver had been thrown from the vehicle The driver was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries Police said there were no other injuries related to the crash It was 45 years ago I attended a charity reception at a West City Park B&B which has passed through several owners since At the time there was a circa 1900 map of Colorado’s Front Range mounted on the staircase wall “Denver Water Board Dam Site” on the South Platte I marveled Denver’s ruling leaders had been looking so far ahead to meet future demand It would be another decade before the Two Forks damsite rose to public attention Sometime during the first part of the 20th century the water board began to lease fishing camp homesites to Denver’s blueblood families most of the town of Deckers is located on land originally acquired for this reservoir Visiting the Castle Marne B & B several years ago the map had vanished or been moved elsewhere The boom or bust character of Denver’s urban growth had finally caught up with supply which had been augmented by Lake Dillon in Summit County and its trans-mountain diversion from the Blue River It was time to consider a major expansion of storage at the south end of the metroplex The politics of Colorado water had long been controlled by the rule it could be forced to flow uphill toward money an increasingly potent environmental lobby emerged to resist runaway suburban sprawl joining Mountain Bell to cope with the 40,000 homes that couldn’t order telephones as housing outstripped the company’s switching capacity A joke circulating then accused the newcomers of suffering from "Last Man Syndrome" demanding put up the fence and keep any more immigrants out!” Stay up to speed: Sign up for daily opinion in your inbox Monday-Friday Neither lengthy waits for dial tone nor the threat of water rationing deterred this onslaught of young families an "environmental roundtable" led the charge to prevent the Two Forks dam and reservoir They were quietly aided by those Denver Bluebloods many members of the Wigwam Club near Deckers The secluded cabins along one of the few gold medal trout fisheries in North America had been in their families so long they had forgotten the properties were leased they were rooting for adverse possession over decades In an irony that will become apparent shortly the environmental roundtable advocated for the expansion of the Gross Reservoir in Boulder County as a preferred alternative Bush Environmental Protection Agency killed the Two Forks proposal it wasn’t entirely clear whether its veto was exercised on the basis of scientific findings or rumored lobbying pressure from the wealth property owners/lessees who had so generously donated to the president’s 1988 campaign Then Colorado Senator Tim Wirth brokered an agreement to construct the far smaller Strontia Springs dam and reservoir on the South Platte just upstream from the Chatfield flood control reservoir as a holding basin for a pre-treatment Denver water supply The Hayman and Buffalo Creek fires in the early 2000s funneled charred debris into this containment requiring an initial dredging and another soon to come The Denver Water Board began to consider raising the Gross Reservoir Dam as a north side holding facility with its application to the Army Corps of Engineers submitted in 2002 The need for additional storage became acute following alternating floods and extended droughts in the basin The permitting process and subsequent lawsuits launched by many of the same environmental groups that supported just such a project 20 years earlier dragged on until 2022 Since the Gross Reservoir also produces hydroelectric power which will be substantially expanded as part of the proposed dam expansion the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) finally ordered the water board to commence construction in 2022 All state and federal permits had been approved This did not prevent a lingering legal squabble advanced by a handful of litigation predators who claim the Corps of Engineers failed to consider every conceivable option They never requested an injunction to stop construction as the water board spent $314 million dollars to complete nearly 70% of the project Federal Court Judge Christine Arguello found in their favor and halted work late last year A hearing is scheduled later this week (May 6) to determine how or whether to proceed The water board believes they should  be allowed to complete the construction as a matter of public safety The plaintiffs extracted a $100 million settlement from the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) which will retain water from the Poudre for Fort Collins Greeley and other northern Colorado municipalities There’s little doubt they covet another bonanza extracted from Denver Water lending a whole new meaning to "greenmailing." As the Gazette newspapers editorialized this is a group that is good at what they do — throwing sand into the gears of government and any additional mitigation expenditures required by the court will not be paid by some anonymous water board They will be paid by you and I and our fellow ratepayers There has to be some obligation to restore rationality to our permitting processes Several recent books tackle the issue of “Why Nothing Works” by Marc Dunkleman and notably “Abundance” by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson There are only so many regulatory hurdles projects should have to clear and once cleared the courts should ratify those decisions What possible expertise could Judge Arguello have to determine whether the new Gross Dam can safely be left partially finished I once joked the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) has become the employer of last resort for the college graduate children of the middle class Their search for error can prove never ending The Golden Gate Bridge and the Empire State Building were completed in less than two years a century ago New York City is now five years into its effort to site public toilets Colorado is more than 30 years into discussing a transit alternative connecting the Front Range to its mountain resorts Add another 10 years for permitting and then 10 more for construction of a guideway and those who first proposed the rapid transit link we all know is needed will have passed away without ever taking a ride Miller Hudson is a public affairs consultant and a former Colorado legislator Email notifications are only sent once a day Colorado Politics is published both in print and online Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily designed for public policy arena professionals Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper containing outstanding features and news stories Secure your subscription to Colorado’s premier political news journal You can be in the know right alongside Colorado’s political insiders DENVER — The Trump administration is coming after Colorado and Denver city officials over immigration-related policies and laws they believe interfere with federal immigration enforcement Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state and the City and County of Denver Denver Sheriff Elias Diggins and the Denver City Council as defendants The lawsuit alleges that Colorado and Denver’s "sanctuary laws" violate the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution arguing that such laws unlawfully regulate federal government activities that are exempt from state regulation and preemptive authority to regulate immigration matters,” according to the lawsuit which was filed in federal court in Denver Justice Department attorneys argue Colorado's “sanctuary policies” allowed the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to seize control of an apartment complex in Aurora The lawsuit seeks to overturn several laws, including House Bill 19-1124, Senate Bill 21-131 and House Bill 23-1100 The administration is also seeking to overturn multiple Denver ordinances and executive orders Denver officials said the city is ready to defend its policies in a statement to The Denver Post least of all by an administration that has little regard for the law and even less for the truth,” city officials told The Denver Post Friday A statement from the Governor's Office challenged the notion that Colorado is a "sanctuary state" but declined to comment on the lawsuit's merits If the courts say that any Colorado law is not valid then we will follow the ruling," the statement read There is no strict definition for sanctuary policies or sanctuary cities but the terms generally describe limited local cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement The Department of Justice has filed similar lawsuits against Chicago and Rochester The Associated Press contributed to this report Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what's right lending a helping hand and following through on promises Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInGRAND JUNCTION (KKCO) - A man who was reported missing since November has been found dead in Colorado The Moorhead Police Department (MPD) confirmed that 51-year-old Leroy Schmidt’s body was found in Summit County but hadn’t been seen or heard from in Moorhead since November 2 The initial missing persons alert stated that Schmidt’s last known location was in Las Vegas Details haven’t been provided regarding the circumstances of his death This is all the information available at this time A U.S. Army soldier who was present at an illegal nightclub in Colorado where over 100 people suspected of being in the country unlawfully were detained has been arrested on federal drug charges Staff Sgt. Juan Gabriel Orona-Rodriguez was assigned to Fort Carson, an Army post south of the underground nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Denver said FBI special agents arrested Orona-Rodriguez A criminal complaint alleges that Orona-Rodriguez had illegally distributed controlled substances while serving as an active-duty Army soldier Prosecutors accused Orona-Rodriguez of selling cocaine to an undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agent during the week of the raid After obtaining a search warrant for Orona-Rodriguez's phone prosecutors said investigators discovered text messages between September 2024 and April 2025 that appeared to show him conspiring with others to purchase and distribute the drug He was charged by complaint with one count each of distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado said in a news release May 1 The DEA's Rocky Mountain Division and Fort Carson officials assisted in the investigation and facilitated Orona-Rodriguez's arrest on the evening of April 30 Fort Carson did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on May 1 He won asylum and voted for Trump. Now his family may have to leave. More than 300 officers and agents from multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies were involved in an overnight raid at the Colorado Springs nightclub Colorado Springs Police Department Chief Adrian Vasquez said the raid was a "result of a months-long investigation into serious criminal activity in our community." Over 200 people had been inside the nightclub for an "illegal party" when officers and agents entered the building The agency said it warned people inside the building to come out before arrests began at around 3:45 a.m Orona-Rodriguez was one of about 17 active-duty Army service members present at the nightclub during the raid according to DEA Rocky Mountain Division Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Pullen Prosecutors alleged that Orona-Rodriguez appeared to have held a leadership role at a business that provides armed security at nightclubs — "including an after-hours the Colorado Springs Police Department received 911 calls related to Warike Trump's first 100 days: Here's 100 things that have changed (so far) were arrested and put on buses for processing and likely eventual deportation Federal agencies have stepped up enforcement actions in recent months amid the president's push for mass deportations The raid in Colorado Springs occurred after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the agency and state officials in Florida arrested nearly 800 people who were in the U.S illegally over four days in what it called a "massive multi-agency immigration enforcement crackdown." Attorney's Office said the raid in Colorado Springs was part of "Operation Take Back America a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime." Contributing: Lauren Villagran and Ignacio Calderon USA TODAY; Reuters News | May 4 A condition called Whirling Disease was killing fish in local waterways Whirling Disease was virtually unheard of,” the Trail reported “Now the topic is on the lips of every serious angler in the state The disease was coming from a parasite selectively attacking the cartilage surrounding the brain and unformed bone structure of immature trout “Young trout that survive beyond 4-6 inches are safe once the cartilage hardens to bone but still act as carriers,” the Trail reported “The deformities in the less fortunate fish can pinch nerves The state was starting to take seriously the threat of mudslides to the area after two years of problems and boulders gave way and slid at Dowd Junction hundreds of large and small mudslides occurred causing damage to homes and streets in Eagle County not much appeared to be being done by government officials,” the Trail reported County Commissioner Dick Gustafson called a press conference to say he was frustrated with the highway department for not closely monitoring the situation A report was then commissioned by the governor’s office which identified the Dowd Junction area as a major concern Lamm’s task force on the Dowd Junction mudslide area is in and it shows that the state is taking the situation seriously,” the Trail reported Vail Trail publisher Allen Knox urged locals to speak out against proposed legislation which would place a 7 percent tax on sales of lift tickets “Why does our present state government seem to be so against tourism in Colorado?” Knox asked our Governor Lamm ‘lamb-blasted’ the proposed Beaver Creek project and now House Bill No could further hamper our industry and livelihood.” Knox was concerned that ski areas outside of Colorado would use the new tax as a way to convince skiers to avoid the Centennial state “And in light of our current economic situation tourists may elect to do just this,” he said was buried in special military services at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Missouri Cowden enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942 and was sent overseas and stationed in England with a bomber crew was shot down over France,” the Enterprise reported Cowden then took a position as a nose gunner on a new plane which was also shot down a week later on a mission over Germany and later moved to a military cemetery in Belgium before his body was returned to the U.S birds and plants in Colorado were becoming scarce due to the grazing policies of the U.S “How can we expect our game to increase if their natural feed is taken and eaten off by domestic sheep which are permitted to graze upon the game ranges?” O’Brien said “The fact is that sheep are driven upon the ranges in countless thousands each summer and that they not only eat the natural feed of the wildlife but they are causing the destruction of all Colorado wild flowers They have practically destroyed all of the wild berries of the mountainous regions and have trampled the grouse in their nests or trampled the young birds or the eggs before they are hatched and these birds have greatly decreased in numbers as the result of the sheep and will soon be exterminated because of this.” Kentucky Derby Parties The 151st Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday at 4:57 p.m and here are a few places you can go for watch parties: Lookout Bar at Westin Riverfront in Avon Celebrate the Kentucky.. Easter events in the Vail Valley Church services An Easter tradition that’s been going on for over 30 years is the Vail Mountain Easter Sunrise Service bright and early on Sunday morning Après Madness Championship Party at Avanti F&B The NCAA College Basketball Tournament may have crowned a champion on Monday but Friday is when you can congratulate this year’s winner of Vail’s own form of competition:.. Après at The Amp For its third year in a row Ford Amphitheater has proven that it’s not just a summer venue the Swedish pop band that took the world by storm in the 1970s and early 1980s with its hits “Waterloo,” “Take a Chance on Me” and “Dancing Queen,” will virtually.. Here's a closer look at Saturday's Game 7 between Colorado and Dallas, including the SportsLine model's game projections, player props and expert picks. We'll also share today's featured promo, which is BetMGM offering up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses MacKinnon's total points prop is 1.5, while Rantanen's is 0.5. The SportsLine Projection Model is taking the Under on MacKinnon's prop line with a projection of 0.4, which is rated as the only 5-star recommendation for this game. Star Avs defenseman Cale Makar has a 4-star recommendation for the Under on his total points line of 0.5 SportsLine experts Bruce Marshall and Matt Severance both have made expert picks for this game which you can see exclusively at SportsLine If you're looking to place a wager on Saturday's Game 7 clash between the Avalanche and Stars, you may be interested in the latest new-user promotion from BetMGM using the promo code CBSSPORTS New users who have never signed up with BetMGM before can earn up to $1,500 in bonus bets if their first bet loses your first bet is covered with insurance using this promotion you earn your stake back in the form of bonus bets meaning if you were to bet $1,500 and lose you'd receive that entire stake back in bonus bet form BetMGM bonus bets expire seven days after they're credited to your account and if you win a bet using bonus bet funds you only receive the winnings back and not the initial stake The San Jose Barracuda tied the series against the Colorado Eagles after a 2-1 win in a game that went to overtime on Sunday The teams meet again for Game 3 on Tuesday