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Cash infusion hits RTD races in effort to boost pro-transit candidates

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Cash infusion hits RTD races in effort to boost pro-transit candidates


The relatively low-key political races for seats on the Regional Transportation District board that governs metro Denver’s public transit have drawn nearly $100,000 in campaign advocacy group spending and high-profile political endorsements this year.

Most of the 13 candidates vying for the RTD director seats have spent $1,000 or less on their campaigns. But Conservation Colorado, an environmental advocacy group, got involved for the first time and injected $95,381 into two races. The group also made four endorsements, adding to the endorsements by Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Gov. Jared Polis.

A non-profit with a staff of 38 and annual revenues topping $3 million, Conservation Colorado leaders looked at the RTD with its annual $1.1 billion budget as “a massively important taxpayer-funded agency” that will determine how people move around a densifying metropolis, executive director Kelly Nordini said Wednesday in an interview.

“Transportation is our biggest source of climate pollution. If we want to get on top of our climate objectives, RTD and transit have to be a central part of that,” Nordini said.

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Conservation Colorado’s spending on RTD races, part of the group’s $800,000 in statewide election spending, is designed to ensure the RTD is run by directors who are “very pro-transit” and equipped to forge links with other agencies to combat climate warming, she said.

The funds target a three-way contest for a central Denver seat, boosting the campaign of Kiel Brunner, a digital data scientist who has support from Gov. Polis. Brunner faces Chris Nicholson, endorsed by Denver Mayor Johnston, and former RTD bus driver Bob Dinegar,who has the backing of state Rep. Meg Froelich, leader of Colorado’s transportation, housing and local government committee.

Conservation Colorado also spent funds on former bus driver Bernard Celestin, a U.S. Army veteran and civic leader running to represent Aurora, against Kathleen Chandler, who directs a citizens involvement project for the libertarian Independence Institute think tank. That’s because “libertarians as a whole are not very interested in expanding public goods like public transit,” Nordini said. Candidates Karen Benker (northwest suburbs) and Brett Paglieri (west metro Denver) also received Conservation Colorado endorsements.

The money — $45,000 sent on Oct. 23 and $50,381 on Oct. 25 — supported ads, according to Colorado Secretary of State records.

Dinegar said he’s spent less than $1,000, for a website and doorknob notices, hoping his two, better-funded opponents will “cancel each other out” and that voters will reward his professional experience.

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“I have embraced the underdog role. I am the bus driver,” Dinegar said. “I harbor no other future political aspirations. I am the only one who has on-the-ground experience with RTD security, maintenance, governance, and operations. I know how the thing works and where it is broken.”

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Here’s where Colorado’s gray wolves roamed in past month

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Here’s where Colorado’s gray wolves roamed in past month


Colorado’s gray wolves stuck a little closer to central parts of the state in late October and November, roaming into watersheds that reach metro Denver and near tribal lands to the south, according to a map released Wednesday.

The monthly Colorado Parks and Wildlife map shows the broad movements of 20 gray wolves that wear GPS collars. If an area is highlighted, that means at least one wolf was in a watershed at least one time during the time frame, according to state officials.

Between Oct. 21 and Tuesday, gray wolves traveled in watersheds that reach as far north as the Wyoming state line; as far east as Boulder, Jefferson, Adams and Broomfield counties; the northern edge of Archuleta County to the south; and Meeker in Rio Blanco County to the west.

Most wolf activity appeared to take place around the Continental Divide, with wolf movement tracked near Walden, Granby, Vail, Aspen and Gunnison.

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The wolves also explored near tribal lands to the south, Parks and Wildlife officials said. The state has an agreement with the Southern Ute tribe and is working to finish a similar agreement with the Ute Mountain Ute tribe to address potential impacts of wolf reintroduction.



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Police issue shelter-in-place order for Colorado Springs neighborhood due to barricaded suspect

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Police issue shelter-in-place order for Colorado Springs neighborhood due to barricaded suspect


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) issued a shelter-in-place order Wednesday morning for 7366 Legend Hill Dr.

CSPD says this order is due to law enforcement responding to a barricaded suspect in the area. Police tell 11 News the call came in at 9:15 a.m. for a family disturbance.

If you are in the area, police encourage you to secure your home or business and stay away from doors and windows.

This is a developing situation; Information is very limited at this time. This article will be updated when more information is available.

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Colorado family calls for answers after 23 year old killed in hit-and-run in Aurora: “He didn’t deserve that”

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Colorado family calls for answers after 23 year old killed in hit-and-run in Aurora: “He didn’t deserve that”


A Colorado family is pleading for accountability after a 23-year-old man was killed in a crosswalk on Thursday. Aurora police believe Lennard Dawson Jr. was struck by three separate vehicles. Two of the drivers didn’t stop.

Police say the crash happened just before midnight at a signal-controlled crosswalk along the Unnamed Creek Trail at South Tower Road. The third driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators.

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Dawson later died at the hospital.

At a vigil Monday night at Highland Hollows Park, Dawson’s loved ones gathered to mourn and remember a young man they described as warm, generous, and always smiling.

“He would talk to everybody,” said his sister, Kelia Brown. “Good or bad days, he always had a smile. He was a great dad. He helped his son learn everything. I feel like I lost my twin.”

Brown said she learned about the crash in the middle of the night and hasn’t slept much since. The family lives roughly 10 minutes from the crash site.

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What haunts her most is that two drivers didn’t stop.

“I was so angry,” she said. “If you’re going to leave, at least move him out of the street. He didn’t deserve that.”

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Lennard Dawson Jr. 

Dawson Family


Dawson’s nephew, Nassir Bandy, said he modeled nearly everything he did after his uncle.

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“I wanted to be just like him,” Bandy said. “He was my role model. I played basketball because he played basketball. I wanted dreads because he had dreads. I was so mad when he cut them.”

He urged the drivers responsible to come forward.

“Take accountability for your actions. Come clean,” he said. “Whatever’s done in the dark will come to light.”

Monday afternoon, dozens of relatives, friends, and neighbors came out, holding candles and singing hymns.

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The crash marks the 19th pedestrian death in Aurora this year, part of a growing concern citywide about speeding and reckless driving.

“People in Aurora and Denver can’t drive,” Brown said. “Illegal lane changes, no blinkers, speeding, it’s constant. We need better driving schools or something. They’re giving licenses to anybody.”

Bandy agreed, calling many crashes “preventable mistakes.”

In a statement, the City of Aurora said it’s analyzing the incident as part of its ongoing traffic safety efforts:

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“Any loss of life is a tragedy. Public Works is looking into this specific incident as it relates to traffic data. The Aurora Police Department continues to investigate. Aurora’s Public Works Department is working on a Safety Action Plan, evaluating safety and making recommendations across the city. The plan will be completed early next year.”

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Dawson Family


For Dawson’s family, the grief is compounded by the questions that remain, including whether he might have survived had the first two drivers stopped to help.

“He was a blessing,” Brown said. “A light to life. The biggest star in the universe. We will get justice for Lennard.”

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Anyone with information about the drivers involved is urged to contact the Aurora Police Department.



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