Days before entering another round of court-ordered mediation
the towns of Hudson and Lochbuie have filed competing actions in Weld County District Court over annexations around the planned BNSF Railway Co
in a motion filed July 30 in one of its annexation lawsuits against Hudson
asked the court to void certain annexations and zoning undertaken by Hudson
arguing that they violate a court-ordered stay
filed its own petition for a review of an annexation by Lochbuie
arguing that the June 4 annexation was undertaken without proper public notice
The two Weld County communities have been embroiled in repeated conflicts over annexations
with each seeking to annex land around the BNSF project
which is located east of BNSF tracks along Interstate 76
BNSF in May applied to Lochbuie for annexation of about 2,400 acres
BNSF plans an intermodal facility that would allow for the transfer of freight between trucks and railroad cars
as well as an adjacent logistics park that could accommodate 20 million square feet of development
Lochbuie filed three lawsuits against Hudson in an effort to force annexation elections due to overlapping rights of way
The first such action — over conflicts between Lochbuie’s South Weld Annexation Nos
2 and 3 and Hudson’s MSLCAT annexation — was dismissed after Weld County vacated a portion of Weld County Road 41 at BNSF’s request
That right of way was used as a flagpole annexation by Hudson to reach property south of the BNSF project
Vacation of the right of way rendered Hudson’s annexation null and void
with Lochbuie claiming that Hudson’s Ranchos East annexation overlaps with portions of its BNSF Annexation Nos
District Court Judge Kimberly Baird Schutt on June 24 ordered the municipalities into mediation. That mediation is scheduled for Aug
Lochbuie’s July 30 motion centers on Hudson’s Ranchos East annexation
which overlaps portions of Lochbuie’s BNSF annexations along Weld County Road 45
Lochbuie claims that the annexation — and subsequent zoning of the property — violate the court-ordered stay on annexation proceedings
Hudson also installed a “Welcome to Hudson” sign on northbound Weld County Road 45
just north of Weld County Road 4 — part of an area that overlaps with Lochbuie’s annexations — and approved an additional annexation
attaining contiguity for that annexation because of Ranchos East
“Based on the presumption that Hudson’s annexation of the area contemplated by the Ranchos East Petition for Annexation is valid and complete
Hudson accepted and approved the Sack Petition for Annexation,” Lochbuie’s court filing states
by continuing to take annexation actions in violation of the automatic stay and this Court’s June 24
Hudson undermines the electorate’s ability to decide through an election ‘the respective rights of the several municipalities’ and determine
whether to annex into Hudson or Lochbuie,” Lochbuie’s court filing said
Lochbuie asked the court to void the Ranchos East annexation and zoning and the Sack annexation
The town also asked the court to order Hudson to remove the “Welcome to Hudson” sign on Weld County Road 45 and sought an order granting its request for an annexation election
alleges that Lochbuie’s June 4 annexation of South Weld Annexation No
“Annexation in Colorado is governed by the Annexation Act
Before any area of land petitioned for annexation by a landowner … may be completed
the governing body of a municipality must set a date for a public hearing
pass a resolution finding that the proposed annexation meet a set of criteria laid out by statute
and then finally pass an ordinance formally annexing the petitioned-for area into the municipality,” according to Hudson’s petition
Hudson claims that because Lochbuie continued public hearings repeatedly
the actual public hearing occurred past the statutory deadline
Hudson also claims that the hearing was not noticed the required number of times and that a special meeting conducted by Lochbuie did not provide enough time for public comment
“Lochbuie’s public hearing of South Weld Annexation No
3 was therefore improperly noticed for a variety of reasons and must be re-noticed and re-heard to be a valid annexation,” the petition claims
Hudson further claims that Lochbuie violated the Colorado Open Meetings Law
Neither party has yet responded to the other’s latest filings
Hudson and Lochbuie previously engaged in mediation on June 10
The towns discussed land-use and development disputes
as well as competing annexations and comprehensive land-use plans
but the mediation did not end in a settlement agreement
The Hudson Town Council on Wednesday is scheduled to consider furthering the Ranchos West and Sack annexations
Christopher Wood is Editor and Publisher at BizWest. His work appears frequently online at KUNC.org. Contact Christopher at cwood@bizwest.com
Get top headlines and KUNC reporting directly to your mailbox each week when you subscribe to In The NOCO
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
A suspected member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and a man with ties to a high-profile Mexican drug cartel are in custody as the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted four separate Denver-area operations – including one across the street from a police station
guns and ammo were also seized in the Wednesday morning operations
The DEA’s Rocky Mountain Division said it had taken a suspected TdA member into custody overnight at the infamous Edge of Lowry apartments in Aurora
but further details were scant as the operation continued
The Commerce City Police Department later identified the man as Henry Vargas
According to CCPD, Vargas faces an extortion charge out of Commerce City for an incident that occurred on the RTD N Line on Tuesday
CCPD was there when Vargas was arrested by the DEA but could not share more about the circumstances surrounding the extortion charge
At least one arrest was made in separate operations that took place in Brighton
neighboring suburbs about 20 miles northwest of Denver
The Lochbuie operation centered on seizing fentanyl and netted the arrest of a man with ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel
Firearms and “thousands of rounds of ammunition” were also seized from the Lochbuie home
located across County Road 37 from the Lochbuie police station
according to a DEA special agent in charge David Olesky
And that's going to continue to be our priority at DEA
especially as we start talking about firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition."
The Sinaloa cartel is among the most high-profile drug trafficking organizations in Mexico and was formerly led by infamous kingpin Juan “El Chapo” Guzman
About four miles away, a shelter-in-place order was issued at the Eastgate Village mobile home park in Brighton amid a separate DEA operation
It was not immediately clear how many suspects were in custody in the Brighton operation
Multiple law enforcement agencies were involved and the city issued a statement saying the operation was not related to immigration enforcement
The DEA told Denver7 a fourth operation occurred in Fort Lupton
The four operations Wednesday morning come on the heels of a pair of Drug Enforcement Administration raids that netted more than 50 arrests in the Denver area, and as sources tell Denver7 Investigates that ICE operations could begin in Aurora this week
Olesky said the uptick in enforcement is due to a “renewed sense of purpose” at the agency under the Trump administration.
“We’re getting absolutely all the resources that we need not only at the federal level but at the local level as well,” he said. “And when it comes to immigration, that is just one of the tools in the toolbox that we’re going to be able to use to remove those violent criminals and drug traffickers from the communities.”
Denver7 has been following developments related to the Tren de Aragua gang activity in Colorado. Scroll through the timeline below to read our coverage.
©2025 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Colorado’s newest congressional district was created in 2021 to be a toss-up seat
and so far it’s living up to that reputation
Democrat Yadira Caraveo edged out Republican Barbara Kirkmeyer by just over 1,600 votes
winning the seat with less than 50 percent of the vote due to a third-party candidate
The district encompasses fast-growing suburbs and enduring rural areas north and east of Denver
Democratic-heavy communities like Thornton and Commerce City anchor its southern end
balanced by the more conservative city of Greeley to the north
grain silos and hundreds of oil and gas wells
With control of the House once again at stake
both national parties are eyeing the Eighth District
Democrats hope to keep the seat in their column
while Republicans see an opportunity to flip it.
Caraveo heads into the race with some advantages
including support from the House Democratic campaign arm
an incumbent is considered the most vulnerable when going up for reelection the first time
Vying to challenge her are two Republicans with experience in the Colorado House
For our voter guide, CPR reporters spoke with candidates, reviewed their websites and watched forums and debates. Top issues were determined by the results of the Voter Voices survey to understand what Coloradans care about in this election
Republican candidates responded to the top concerns of self-identified conservative and moderate voters
Democrats responded to the top issues for self-identified liberal and moderate voters
You want to know what is really going on these days
We can help you keep up. The Lookout is a free
daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado
Sign up here and we will see you in the morning
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
Weld County commissioners voted 4 to 1 last week in favor of vacating a portion of the right-of-way for Weld County Road 41 to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF)
KUNC News has looked into the development in the past
which is planned along Interstate 76 between County Roads 4 and 6
would help BNSF build a new intermodal facility to aid with transfers from trucks to trains
It will also include an estimated 20 million-square-foot logistics center
which would have a massive impact on the communities of Hudson and Lochbuie
KUNC reporter and host Emma VandenEinde spoke with BizWest editor and publisher Chris Wood to learn more
“It's expected to generate billions of dollars in economic impact over time,” Wood said
“One economic development official told me that it's likely to be the biggest economic development project in the state.”
Get top headlines and KUNC reporting directly to your mailbox each week when you subscribe to In The NoCo
But not everyone is celebrating, and there are several disputed annexations and allegations to be sorted out before the project moves further. Wood noted Commissioner Lori Saine said she was “particularly alarmed when I hear things like
‘It sounds like we’ve already made a decision.’” She has also said “any type of appearance of collusion would be really bad.”
“Saine and officials from Hudson said the timing of the actions was concerning
saying she hoped there wasn't a thumb on the scales at Hudson's expense,” Wood recalled
“Her comments drew some angry exchanges with other commissioners.”
BNSF submitted three annexation requests to Lochbuie on May 4
Lochbuie’s Town Council gave initial approval to the annexations on May 6
“The vacation of right-of-way could have a bearing on a flagpole annexation and process by Hudson for land south of BNSF,” Wood said
But now there’s three annexation cases in Weld County District Court
and the rulings on those are still undetermined
Hudson also wants a county judge to determine that Lochbuie’s annexation of the BNSF land violates a court ordered stay on annexations
the two towns can't even agree on who should vote,” Wood said
But Hudson argues that property owners along the right-of-way should have a say.”
Some Hudson and Lochbuie residents are happy about the potential of an intermodal facility and the tax revenue it could create over time
as BNSF used 11 eminent domain cases to acquire part of these land holdings,” he said
“It's absolutely going to change the way of life there in what's now a rural part of Weld County.”
BizWest reports an attorney representing BNSF said the vacated area was necessary for the company to meet its timeline for the development
Wood said a BNSF representative told him via email
“Lochbuie is well positioned to meet the project's infrastructure demands” and will “help the railroad keep pace with future customer growth.”
The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company is planning a massive new intermodal facility and logistics park in Weld County. The project could generate thousands of jobs but has the communities of Hudson and Lochbuie locking horns over annexations
BizWest Editor Chris Wood joined KUNC’s All Things Considered with details on the story
BizWest reported three years ago about BNSF using eminent domain to acquire thousands of acres in Weld County between the Hudson and Lochbuie
BNSF has acquired about 2,700 acres in total
It plans two major complementary developments
The intermodal facility will aid in transfer of containers between trains and trucks
It also has acquired acreage east of that project for a planned logistics park
at which third-party companies that want to access the intermodal facility could build logistics and warehouse space
“We've been told that the overall project could generate 10,000 to 20,000 jobs
20 million square feet of development and potentially generate billions of dollars in economic impact,” Wood told KUNC
“One official told us that it would be the biggest economic development deal in the entire state.”
The Colorado Constitution treats railroads as public highways
That essentially grants them condemnation powers for projects that will be considered public use
“We first reported on BNSF filing 10 eminent domain lawsuits in Weld County District Court back in 2021,” Wood said
the property owners stipulated to BNSF taking immediate possession of the land
which has occurred even as prices were negotiated
And out of those 10 cases most have now been concluded.”
Comprehensive plans for both towns target the BNSF area for annexation
and both are processing annexations for various parcels and rights of way around the BNSF project
Hudson has annexed land between the planned intermodal facility and logistics park
It's also seeking to annex property south of the project along with rights of way along I-76 Frontage Road
Hudson is already home to a 430-acre BNSF logistics center
Lochbuie is annexing land directly south of BNSF and is also seeking annexations of rights of way along county roads
The two towns’ annexations are partially overlapping
“So Lochbuie went to Weld County District Court last month to force what's called an annexation election
which will involve property owners and electors in that area,” Wood told KUNC
“A Weld County District Court judge just last week stayed the overlapping annexations and an election will be held at some point in the future
BNSF has not yet specified a timeline for construction or applied for annexation to either town
— Westbound lanes of Interstate 76 reopened around 8:15 a.m
Monday between Lochbuie and Hudson following a major crash
The Frontage Road was the best way around the crash
Denver7 is working to learn more about the crash
No details were available early Monday morning
This is a developing story and will be updated
admin May 14, 20222022 Incidents, Events, Home, May 2022
ColoradoMenu{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/colorado/ugliest-town-co/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/trip-ideas/colorado/ugliest-town-co"},"author":{"name":"Annie","url":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/authors/annie","@id":"https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/#/schema/person/dXNlcjo0Nw=="},"headline":"Lochbuie
highly curated editorial content brings attention to hidden gems
Colorado Is Being Called The Ugliest Town In The State And We Couldn’t Disagree MoreLochbuie
often labeled as the ugliest town in the state
you are guaranteed to be surrounded by beauty
thanks to the Foothills along the Front Range
According to alot.com - which covers everything from travel to health, finances, and education, the small, Adams/Weld County town of Lochbuie is the ugliest town in Colorado.
"Lochbuie isn’t coated in muck or anything
but that doesn’t make it worthy of praise either," adding that "Aerial shots of the town provide onlookers little information about the city’s character other than 'Wow
as the city manages to pack in 6 public parks AND 82 acres of designated open space within a compact 3.25 square miles
Town of Lochbuie FacebookNeed we mention that Lochbuie has some of the most beautiful sunsets you will ever see (plus some of the kindest neighbors)
Town of Lochbuie FacebookTo discover even more about this charming small town, please visit the Town of Lochbuie's website
Choose your stateAlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasNorthern CaliforniaSouthern CaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsinWyomingSubscribe...
This Airbnb with a fishing pond in Louisiana is an angler's paradise. The two-acre, catch-and-release oasis is stocked with bass, bream, and catfish.
Thanks for subscribing. We’ll see you in your inbox!
Sign In
Join now
officers from the Lochbuie Police Department responded to the 100 block of Poplar Street on a report of a missing person.
Terri Ackerman, who was 57-years-old at the time, was last seen sleeping in her bedroom at approximately 5:00 a.m. that morning, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation Cold Case File website.
informed police that Terri left the house and he didn’t know her whereabouts.
Delbert advised police that Terri was upset the night before her disappearance and she stated she could no longer babysit her grandchildren.
wallet and car were still at the residence when she disappeared
It is unknown whether she left with anyone or her means of travel.
Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to please contact the Lochbuie Police Department at 303-659-1395.
Mele Lavaka is also the first graduate of CrossPurpose's personal development training programs to close on a home loan. Lavaka's milestone helped inspire an effort by CrossPurpose to ensure more of its alum buy homes
Owning a home is seen as crucial to building intergenerational wealth for people such as Lavaka who have felony records
single parents and others whom CrossPurpose is committed to helping to escape poverty
Lavaka's journey from halfway house to her own house is unusual
But at its core are habits of finding community and setting and pursuing goals that can be instructive for anyone
said Lavaka "had the vision to see where she wanted to get
but she had the patience to do the right thing every day."
I'm going to walk the path,'" Ngatia said of Lavaka
but being content to take the step today."
She was born and raised in Denver and Aurora
She saw providing for her family as fulfilling the American dream
she quickly became impatient with her first job
"There has to be a different way to go about making money."
"I started selling weed in high school," she said
She was always ready with cash to help her parents
brothers and sisters with rent or utilities
She would shower her family with birthday and Christmas presents
I didn't realize that this is not good and not for the long run," she said
that is not doing good to your community," she said
"The money they're spending with you could be spent on their kids
The money they're spending with you could be spent on their bills
She would tell her parents she had a rich boyfriend
She tried to dole out her help in small amounts
stashing the rest of her cash in flower pots and elsewhere around the house
Her legal troubles kept her from finishing college after enrolling at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles
even though Lavaka would usually post bond and then not show up in court
standing before a judge after her 12th arrest
"I'm not going to let the state discipline me
She asked to be confined to her cell for all but an hour of the day
she thought back on lessons her pastor father had taught
constantly told me how prayer does wonders
she transferred to the general population at Denver County Jail
in 2017 she was sent to the Williams Street halfway house in Denver's City Park West
It had been owned and operated by GEO Group
GEO and CoreCivic were denied new contracts in August by Denver City Council after members raised concerns about the companies' ownership of private immigration prisons
CrossPurpose started in 2008 with programs such as Cub Scouts for fatherless boys
It later reached out to people leaving prison and came to see itself as fighting economic as well as spiritual poverty
The faith-based nonprofit offers six months of free
as well as a chance for participants to network and hone resume-writing and interviewing skills
to get their children to daycare and then get themselves to CrossPurpose at 3050 Richard Allen Court in Skyland
help them think through the challenges that they're facing."
was detail-oriented -- skills she'd put to good use selling drugs
Lavaka had a good relationship with her parents and siblings
Others coming out of jail don't always have that
leaving them to rely on friends who might encourage them to fall back on old
Lavaka didn't initially see the purpose of CrossPurpose
She'd found a job on the Nordstrom's sales floor before she started at CrossPurpose
"I kept going (to CrossPurpose) because I was in a halfway house and this was my ticket out the door every day," she said
CrossPurpose's chief executive officer and one of its founders
He pushed her to think about why she had chosen to sell drugs and about the consequences of her actions
Though she finished her course more than two years ago
she still chats every now and then with Ngatia
"She's kind of checking in that someone cares," Ngatia said
CrossPurpose doesn't take credit for Lavaka becoming a home buyer
the nonprofit for the first time organized a home-buying course where graduates of its career training programs could get advice from real estate agents
Rising rents are already pushing many CrossPurpose clients further and further away
leaving some traveling hours to and from class
And "there's an emotional pull to having a place that's home."
Lavaka said she had been thinking about buying a home for her mother
she saw an Instagram ad encouraging people to make a gift of a house for their mothers
a Texas-based company that has positioned itself as a builder of homes across the country that people on moderate incomes can afford. Lavaka clicked on a link and filled out a form
"I got a call within 15 minutes as I'm getting ready for church that Sunday," she said
She was told about an LGI development north of Denver in Lochbuie
She had looked at houses in Denver that were beyond her budget
Leaving Denver can mean finding affordability
Lochbuie is a 35-minute drive to downtown Denver
where Lavaka works for a company that helps businesses run credit checks and apply for loans
She also still works part-time at Nordstrom
taking evening shifts after leaving her downtown office
"My commute back at 10:30 is smooth sailing," she said
Landlords often refuse to rent to felons. Lavaka said fellow CrossPurpose graduates were surprised to hear that her criminal past mattered neither to the home builder nor her lender.
"I've shared my story with them," she said. "They were like, 'Why would we hold it against you if you've come so far?"
The importance of good credit had been drummed into her by caseworkers at the halfway house, Lavaka said. And once she got past the resume building and cover letter writing, she had learned about budgeting and setting savings goals at CrossPurpose.
"It's a whole lifestyle. You've got to shift it all. I went from partying every weekend to not knowing the last time I partied," she said, saying now she savors gardening with her niece and planning meals.
She put down $3,500 on a $365,000 three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath on a corner lot. Her monthly mortgage payment is $2,250. She had been paying $2,100 in rent.
"I weighed it out and I was like, 'Why haven't I moved yesterday?'" she said.
Lavaka's Lochbuie subdivision is surrounded by farm fields. Many of the neighboring homes are still awaiting buyers. Her front door mat still has a price tag on it. She's saving to hire an uncle and two cousins who have a landscaping business to finish her yard, now a dirt lot.
Owning a home is a chance to build equity, Lavaka said. And it's "your canvas," she said.
"You can create it how you'd like, without having to ask for permission."
Her brother, his wife and daughter were planning to move in with her once the lease on their current apartment ends in December, and her parents and three younger siblings once their lease ends in January.
The day she closed on the house in October, Lavaka brought a blanket and a pillow over and slept on the floor.
"I was so excited. I just wanted to be in what I could call mine."
She's slowly been buying furniture, keeping to her budget.
Donna Bryson was Denverite's housing and hunger reporter from 2018 to 2021.
You power Denverite!If you love what we do, donate today to support our essential and delightful local news.
admin May 16, 20152015 Incidents, Events, Home, May 2015
LOCHBUIE, Colo. – Authorities are still trying to learn the source of a loud boom that shook Lochbuie and parts of Brighton Monday night.
Residents first reported hearing the boom around 9 p.m. Some even took to Facebook to report their house and windows shook during the incident. Several residents who called Denver7 described the noise as an explosion.
"I was at a friend's house drinking beer," said Ray Armijo. "It was just like boom and the trailer shook, and I thought, 'what the heck was that?'"
Armijo told Denver7 that while serving in the military, he'd heard grenades, heavy artillery and light artillery. He said the noise Monday night didn't seem to come from the ground but rather from the air.
Aleja Moronez was at home when she heard the mysterious noise and felt the house shake.
"Some stuff in my room visibly moved," she said. "Some posters fell off the wall."
Lochbuie Police Chief Tracey McCoy there "were no reports of property damage or injuries."
He said he contacted both the Federal Aviation Administration and Buckley Air Force Base, and was told they had no operations in the area at the time.
The Brighton Fire Department said they too received several calls about the mysterious boom, but could not locate the source. Brighton Police had similar results after checking a neighborhood near Weld County Road 2 Monday night.
"We felt the house shake," said Shane Fuselier, "and I went outside thinking someone had hit the house."
Fuselier said the only thing he could compare it to were the sonic booms he heard growing up in Louisiana.
He said there are some oil and gas operations nearby, but didn't know if the noise was related to one of those operations, and couldn't tell with any certainty which direction it came from.
Many residents are speculating about the mystery on the Lochbuie Police Department's Facebook page.
"There are active meteor showers," Tim Hicks wrote. "...It's very possible that a larger meteor entered the atmosphere and caused a sonic boom in the vicinity of Lochbuie."
"Deep earthquake?" asked Tiffany Perito. "Alien invasion?"
"I thought the North Koreans were bombing us," joked Tim Nickerson.
Danae Rossorelli didn't see the humor in the speculation.
"It's kind of scary if they can't figure it out," she said, "It was a loud boom."
providing a smaller tax cut as a substitute
Senate Bill 293 passed the Senate Monday 23-11
with some bipartisan support — four Republicans and all but one Democrat voted yes
Some lawmakers see it as a way to stop a devastating cut that would disproportionately harm rural communities
Others believe it would undermine the system of direct democracy that is at the heart of Colorado politics
The debate springs from a ballot initiative that may go before voters this November: the conservative group Colorado Rising Action is collecting signatures for a measure that would cut property tax rates statewide by nine percent
A bipartisan group of lawmakers worries that voters will approve that cut — taking away money from the local districts that rely on property taxes
Senate Bill 293 would create a smaller temporary tax cut — while rewriting state law in a way that would block the ballot measure from taking full effect
a Republican on the Joint Budget Committee
said that the bill is necessary to stop a statewide vote from doing disproportionate harm to rural areas.
A cut to the statewide assessment rate would chop a percentage off the revenues that support emergency services
county governments and other local services
That may hurt more in rural areas that don’t have a protective buffer of revenue growth from the development boom
“I would urge them to think about the impact on the parts of the state that are not up and down, the Front Range,” Rankin said last week. “This is the same discussion we had on the Gallagher repeal
Rural conservatives supported repealing (the Gallagher amendment)
and I believe rural conservatives will support this bill.
the measure drew criticism from both sides of the political spectrum
She said that approving any cut to property taxes would disproportionately benefit wealthy property owners
“I ask that you not settle for a temporary fix to a disturbing proposition,” she said
“What this bill does, at best, is it infringes upon the rights — the constitutional rights — of the people to initiate the issue onto the ballot,” she said. “And at its worst, in its response to Initiative 27
it’s working to manipulate the outcome of an election.”
She argued that it’s not the legislature’s job to manage local governments’ revenues
Local voters can always choose to pay more mills — increasing the local part of the property tax formula — to make up lost revenue
But voters in rural areas have historically been hesitant to approve tax increases
leading Rankin and others to worry that they won’t be able to make up the lost money
said that the bill was a compromise option that would give people relief from taxes while preventing a more dramatic change
“We need to look at the long-term fiscal management of the state
make sure that special districts are funded
particularly in rural areas where this would have a massive hit on budgets for those important services
And so we are taking legislative action,” he said last week
It will have to stay on the fast track to make it through the process though; lawmakers are aiming to complete their work and adjourn Tuesday
Search MORE RESULTS
Association of Preference: Local ropings are my favorite
Your Favorite Jackpot: I like to go to Lance Allen’s Mountain States Cattle Co
I love the Borracho Roping I produce every June
There are a lot of prizes and all of the people wait on that roping
I have won some USTRC ropings and some open jackpots
like $3,000—but that was a lot to me at the time
When I started putting on ropings almost seven years ago
I used to do little ropings for friends here and there
A lot of friends didn’t speak English and didn’t know much about roping
Then I ended up doing more and a lot of people found out how we paid and how the ropings worked
I stuck with the low numbers because they’re the most people I know in this area
They are pushing me right now to do a higher-number roping
It used to be a #9 and we’d get an average of 320 teams
One of the things people love are the prizes I give
#8 and #10 capped at a 6-plus to see if I can get some high-numbered ropers
Sometimes it’s pick one draw one for $80
and there are always lots of prizes.
Best Horse: His name was Moro—that means grey
He almost killed me three times before I broke him
That was when I was much younger—I don’t like buckers anymore
and two guys offered me a lot of money for that horse
and I tell them to stick with them and not ever to sell it.
Why You Rope: I used to ride bulls my whole life in Mexico
I came here to college rodeo and ride bulls at Dodge City Community College
So I broke everything—I had 24 broken bones
And I have a lot of stitches all over my body and my face.
When I found a friend from Mexico who was riding in Colorado
I moved to Denver and found another friend who was roping already
My wife loves it because I forgot about the bulls
Competition Philosophy: I wish that I can put my mind like when I was riding bulls
but I’m not as intense as I used to be where my whole mind was there riding bulls
Day Job: I work with Villalobos Concrete
I work in the plant where they mix everything and put it on the truck
Tell us about your family: I have a 9-year-old boy
Sign up for news and updates from The Team Roping Journal and Equine Network
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible
Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings
we will not be able to save your preferences
This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again
and that's good news for the folks who live in Colorado's ugliest city
Colorado has a lot of beautiful towns like Breckenridge, Estes Park
and Crested Butte that the state can be extremely proud of
our colorful state has its share of towns that leave a lot to be desired
but I certainly don't want to offend people that live in one of those awful places
Having said that, there is one Colorado town that has received the designation of 'Colorado's Ugliest Town'. Whether or not this front-range town deserves that moniker is debatable
and you can make that determination for yourself when you scroll through the gallery below
The folks at Travel.Alot.Com came up with a list of the ugliest cities in every state, and Colorado's representative on the list is none other than the small town of Lochbuie, located about 27 miles east of Denver. It's possible you have driven past Lochbuie on Interstate 76
unless you have relatives living there you've likely never set foot inside the city limits
Lochbuie has a population of about 8,000 people
there's not a whole lot there that would make a person say "hey
but is it the absolute ugliest town in the state of Colorado
and that's good news for the folks who live in Colorado's ugliest city
Read More
Colorado has a lot of beautiful towns like Breckenridge, Estes Park
Having said that, there is one Colorado town that has received the designation of 'Colorado's Ugliest Town'. Whether or not this front-range town deserves that moniker is debatable
The folks at Travel.Alot.Com came up with a list of the ugliest cities in every state, and Colorado's representative on the list is none other than the small town of Lochbuie, located about 27 miles east of Denver. It's possible you have driven past Lochbuie on Interstate 76
Read More
Authorities and residents in Colorado are trying to figure out what caused a mysterious
the latest in a series of strange booms reported across the country
According to the Tech Times, residents in the Colorado towns of Lakewood
Lochbuie and Elizabeth reported what sounded like an "explosion" or a "sonic boom" around 9 p.m
The boom was so powerful that it shook windows and left people bewildered
"It was just like boom and the trailer shook, and I thought, 'what the heck was that?’” resident Ray Armijo told ABC7. "It kind of scared me a bit.”
Lochbuie Police Chief Tracey McCoy told ABC7 there were no reports of property damage or injuries but residents remained a little shook up
"Some stuff in my room visibly moved," Aleja Moronez said
"Some posters fell off the wall."
(MORE: We May Never Figure Out Where the Alabama Boom Came From, NASA Says)
Authorities do not know the source of the sound
The Federal Aviation Administration and nearby Buckley Air Force Base said there were no operations at the time of the incident
One theory is that the sound was a meteorite or a bolide, which is a large meteorite that explodes in the atmosphere. Others speculated on the Lochbuie Police Department's Facebook page that the sound might have come from a deep earthquake or even
Booming sounds have also been reported in other parts of the United States
The Colorado boom comes less than a week after the so-called "Bama Boom" shook parts of Alabama
We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good
We may use or share your data with our data vendors
The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview
the latest in a series of strange booms reported across the country.
According to the Tech Times, residents in the Colorado towns of Lakewood
Lochbuie and Elizabeth reported what sounded like an \\\"explosion\\\" or a \\\"sonic boom\\\" around 9 p.m
\\\"It was just like boom and the trailer shook, and I thought, 'what the heck was that?’” resident Ray Armijo told ABC7. \\\"It kind of scared me a bit.”
\\\"Some stuff in my room visibly moved,\\\" Aleja Moronez said
(MORE: We May Never Figure Out Where the Alabama Boom Came From, NASA Says)
One theory is that the sound was a meteorite or a bolide, which is a large meteorite that explodes in the atmosphere. Others speculated on the Lochbuie Police Department's Facebook page that the sound might have come from a deep earthquake or even
Booming sounds have also been reported in other parts of the United States
The Colorado boom comes less than a week after the so-called \\\"Bama Boom\\\" shook parts of Alabama.
FOX31 Denver
Here is a list of 4th of July fireworks shows in Colorado and their status
This list will be updated as new information becomes available
— Denver Outlaws At Mile High – Over at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on July 4
Denver’s professional lacrosse team the Outlaws are battling it out with the New York Lizards
enjoy fireworks within the bowl at Sports Authority Field
catch The Colorado Rockies taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers during a three-game homestand
There will be a spectacular fireworks show following the July 3 and 4 games
More info: http://www.denver.org/what-to-do/museum-art/denver-4th-july
Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"
these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025
Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career
show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift
National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5
take advantage of these freebies and deals
Jail records show a mom is still in jail on child abuse charges after a video posted on Facebook showed her allegedly abusing her child
Kennedy-Flores was arrested Wednesday night after the disturbing video ignited public outrage
She is being held in Weld County Jail on two counts of misdemeanor child abuse
The boy's father told Denver7 the child is 2 years old
In court, prosecutors described the video as "horrifying" and told Judge Dana Nichols that Kennedy-Flores berated the boy and used language that a prosecutor was not comfortable repeating in court
The court-appointed public defender stated that Kennedy-Flores is a single mother on permanent disability
The defense attorney said Kennedy-Flores suffers from scoliosis and cerebral palsy and typically walks with a cane
The defense argued that Kennedy-Flores has a very low risk factor for tampering with evidence or witnesses and has no prior criminal history
The arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Denver7 shows Lochbuie police were first made aware of the video on May 9 -- nine days before the mother was arrested
a detective stated the video was provided by a man who said he received it "from a friend," but he did not know where the mother and child lived
"It's a video of [the toddler] being hit by his mother Katrina," according to the affidavit.
the investigator wrote the mother is heard on the 16-minute video ranting:
The detective wrote that the video shows the mother go up to a playpen holding the boy
raises it above her head and "violently slams it into the playpen near or on the Victim [child]," the detective writes
adding that he "could hear the Victim screaming and crying."
RELATED | How to report child abuse, neglect in Colorado
then returns to the playpen and "begins to hit on or around the Victim again and again," the detective wrote
Police said photographs showed the boy had bruises on his arms and the backs of his legs
and two dark spots resembling bruises on his forehead
the investigator said he called Kennedy-Flores and she said:
The woman who recorded the video posted it on Facebook this week
The woman told Denver7 she posted it because she felt like police were not doing enough
The woman said she had witnessed the mother's abusive behavior toward the child during the time they lived together
The woman explained she didn't intervene because she is disabled and has a hard time getting around
She was also fearful for her life and her 17-year-old son
"I wish I had called 911 but me and him were terrified
MORE | How the Facebook community helped rescued a child in jeopardy
the video went viral with thousands of people sharing it on Facebook
others seeing it on YouTube and many people emailing it to Denver7 and other media outlets
Lochbuie Police Chief Tracey McCoy told Denver7 Wednesday afternoon
"The case has been forwarded to the district attorney's office for prosecution."
an investigator spoke to a second witness on Wednesday
That witness said she cared for the little boy from May 2-7
She said she took pictures of the boy's bruised body during that time
The investigator called the mother Wednesday night
the mother said the child had been taken by Denver Human Services
The mother was arrested about an hour later
Lochbuie police said they have not had previous contact with the mother
Denver7 Investigates has contacted multiple agencies charged with protecting children
Denver Human Services said due to federal privacy protections
they can not provide any details regarding families they may have contact with – even if someone discloses it on their own
"I can tell you that we’ve received multiple calls into our hotline and are aware of the video," a DHS official said
The Colorado Department of Human Services said they are aware of the video and sent Denver7 this statement:
"The Lochbuie Police Department has announced that an arrest has been made and the child is safe in protective custody
To protect the confidentiality of children and families potentially involved
we deeply appreciate the outpouring of concern from Coloradans
"CDHS encourages anyone witnessing a child in a life-threatening situation to call 911 immediately
call 1-844-CO-4-KIDS (1-844-264-5437) to report all concerns for a child's safety and well-being to the Colorado Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline."
Weld County Human Services declined to comment
Sign up for Denver7 email alerts to stay informed about breaking news and daily headlines
Or, keep up-to-date on the latest news and weather with the Denver7 apps for iPhone/iPads, Android and Kindle
Or, keep up-to-date by following Denver7 on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
A farming family from the Cairngorms National Park will appear on the new series of BBC’s This Farming Life
run one of five Scottish farms taking centre stage in the upcoming series
Mr Mackenzie is the fourth generation of farmers in his family having taken over the croft from his dad
His partner grew up just over the hill and has always been involved with farming herself
They have both seen firsthand how the industry has changed over the years and have experienced the challenges of dealing with inflation and the rising costs of feed and fertiliser
“We used to be able to just croft the farm but now to do what we love to do we’ve had to do something different and diversify,” he said
This Farming Life follows their steps to protect the croft’s future with the help of four friendly alpacas – Rocky
the family stepped out of their comfort zone by applying to appear on the BBC Scotland series to share the highs and lows of farming life
Miss MacDonell said: “We thought it would be really good for advertising the business and the diversification
“We thought we’d just give it a go but never expected to be selected.”
They started filming with the show in September which Mr Mackenzie found quite “daunting” at first
He said: “It was nerve-wracking having the cameras there and it was a shock how close they had to be
“But after a week or so we’d just be chatting away and by the end we were really enjoying it.”
The farm in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park opens the first episode of the new series which goes on to follow the farmers gathering their cows back down to the croft for pregnancy testing
They also invite the audience to behind the scenes of their newest business venture Cairngorm Alpaca Trekking which offers a number of fun activities for all ages
Visitors can book online to take part in alpaca and miniature donkey walks
as well as meet and greets with Pygmy goats and sheep
Miss MacDonell said: “We’re happy to change and adapt and think it’s important to show the difficulties
“We hope being part of the show will help to promote the alpaca diversification and our new business.”
The sixth series of the hit BBC Scotland show will also follow the daily routines at four other farms from across the country
viewers will meet Nikki and Ollie Lake from Thorabella Farm in Dallas
Fraser and Angus MacDonald from Ardbhan Croft in North Uist
This Farming Life returns to BBC Scotland at 8pm on Monday
Each episode will be repeated the following day at 8pm on BBC Two
Comments are currently disabled as they require cookies and it appears you've opted out of cookies on this site. To participate in the conversation, please adjust your cookie preferences in order to enable comments