Colorado
Home rule special election questioned by Colorado county voters, as well as developer backing
Debate over home rule in Douglas County is heating up, with residents set to vote on the matter in less than two weeks.
A special election will ask voters if they want the county to create their own home rule charter and who should serve on a charter commission. If voters say yes to home rule in the special election, the commission will craft a charter that will be voted on in November.
County leaders say that charter could free the county from strict state laws and increase local control over things such as taxes, gun laws and immigration enforcement.
Douglas County residents should already have received their special election ballots. That June 24 election is costing the county about $500,000, and many are asking why it needed to happen so quickly.
“I’ve never seen such backlash across party lines in the county,” said Barrett Roth, a Douglas County resident. “If you rush, we don’t have time to ask questions of the people that matter and can influence our votes.”
When Barrett Roth first heard about home rule, he wasn’t sure how to feel.
“I think, like everyone else, I was kind of shocked, and had to learn a lot about it,” Roth said.
And learn more he did. Reading through campaign finance reports, Roth found the “Yes on Local Control” campaign had received $110,000 in donations.
Westside Property Investment Company, the developer behind Dawson Trails, contributed $10,000.
Ventana Capital, which has numerous projects underway in the county, contributed $50,000, far surpassing any previously recorded donation under their name.
Ventana is also involved in litigation with the city of Castle Pines over the city council’s denial of a proposed McDonald’s.
“Why would a land developer be interested in home rule? If it’s for all these liberal versus conservative policies, it’s clearly for a land grab,” Roth said.
CBS Colorado reached out to both companies to ask why they supported the campaign. Westside had “no comment,” and Ventana did not respond.
“There are four committees that are set up in favor of home rule. I actually don’t know all these people. So I don’t know,” County Commissioner George Teal told CBS Colorado. “We will have greater control of how we set the tax base for businesses under home rule. Maybe that’s their interest.”
Teal says he doesn’t know why the developers support home rule, but that the charter could give the county more local control over zoning and exempt them from some state development statutes.
“We’re pursuing home rule to put ourselves in a legal position here, as a legal entity of the state of Colorado, to have more local control,” Teal said. “When you talk about public safety, you talk about having more control over our taxes and being able to lower taxes when we want to as we need to. And then when it comes to being able to work with other government agencies, home rule gives us far greater control with how we interact with other levels of government here in America.”
Other donors to the pro home rule campaign include “The Cundy Harbor Irrevocable Trust,” which contributed $50,000, Teal’s wife Laura Teal, who contributed $100, and Laura Tonner, who contributed $100. Tonner is married to Sean Tonner of Renewable Water Resources, the water developer behind a controversial plan to bring water from the San Luis Valley to Douglas County.
On the other side, “Stop the Power Grab”, a group opposing home rule, has received a total of $30,000 from hundreds of donors, including local Democratic politicians.
Roth is a member of the group. He feels the promises being made about home rule are misleading. Metropolitan State University of Denver professor Dr. Robert Preuhs previously told CBS Colorado home rule does grant more policy-making authority to counties, but it may not be so easy to disregard state laws. Legal battles may ensue after controversial decisions to determine whether the matter is truly a local or a state concern.
“The county commissioners will tell you that home rule will allow them to supersede state law,” Roth said. “They’ve talked about how they can pass laws on gun safety, on abortion rights, on plastic bag fees, and try to battle the state. Well, the battles will take place in court.”
“As long as it is not a matter dealt with in state law, the home rule county does have the ability to legislate,” Teal said.
Roth feels home rule will waste taxpayer money on legal battles and the special election.
“We’re going to have an election in November 2025, so just in a few months, they could have placed it on the ballot for free in just a few months,” Roth said. “But, instead, they’re rushing it over the summer to the tune of $500,000 of taxpayer money. That’s real money.”
“Right now, the cost of the election is coming in at just under $500,000,” Teal said. “Average cost of a home in Douglas County is $800,000, so for less than the average cost of a home here in the county, we get to chart our own course and have that legal mechanism under the state constitution for complete local control.”
Roth was also upset to receive a white book from the county on the home rule measure that did not include an opposing viewpoint.
“They’re essentially putting out campaign literature on taxpayer dime,” Roth said.
The county says they have pro-con statements on their home rule webpage.
“I do think home rule is the right thing to do, and I certainly encourage everyone to vote yes,” Teal said.
As the election draws near, tensions are running high over the county’s future.
“Often, the community feels very divided. If you talk to people, they feel pretty united that this is being rushed,” Roth said. “It’s a waste of money. It’s something no one asked for, and I do think it’s going to fail pretty substantially.”
One week before the special election, the county will hold one last town hall to answer any remaining questions. The town hall will be online at 6 p.m. June 17.
Saturday, a “No Kings” protest held in Castle Rock will also protest the home rule initiative locally.
Colorado
Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one
A man already driving with a suspended license from a DUI is now accused of intentionally plowing into three people on a sidewalk in Colorado.
This happened near the intersection of East Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Willowbridge Way in Highlands Ranch around 10:30 a.m. Monday.
Witnesses say that after the crash, the driver made a U-turn, went back to the scene, slowly drove past the wreckage, then left. That allowed another witness to follow him 5.5 miles down to Daniels Park, where just 15 minutes later, 28-year-old Adam Bauserman was taken into custody.
Bauserman’s demeanor was described by deputies as “unusually quiet.” At one point, he apparently asked, “Do you know if I killed the man?”
As it would turn out, the man survived, but his girlfriend did not. Flowers are piling up at the scene of a morning walk that turned deadly.
Right now, investigators don’t believe the driver knew any of those victims.
“You expect to be safe when you’re walking on the sidewalk,” said neighbor Beth Chitel, who lived just yards from the crash site until she moved last month. “These are very highly trafficked pathways around here; it could have happened to any of our friends, any of our neighbors, any of our children.”
“This was a horrific scene,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.
Thirty-five-year-old Corrine More died in the crash. Her sister tells CBS Colorado she lived in the neighborhood and was out on a walk with her boyfriend. She describes Corrine as a nursing student with a big heart who was loved by everyone who knew her, and who was beautiful inside and out.
Corrine’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Kyle Vasey, was seriously injured. He has undergone multiple surgeries and was described by a doctor in the affidavit as being at substantial risk for permanent disfigurement or death.
The other victim is 72-year-old Dianne Windes. The sheriff says she was walking in the opposite direction from the couple. She was also hospitalized with serious injuries.
Witnesses believe the driver who crashed into the three pedestrians did so on purpose.
“If we can prove that, we’ll certainly do that, but at this point we have no indication of that,” Weekly said.
It was thanks to a witness who followed that truck that deputies arrested Bauserman, who was driving with a revoked license after a DUI last year.
“Mr. Bauserman has had several revocations and suspensions of his license over the last 10 years,” Weekly said. “He should never have been on the roadway, and as a result of that, somebody is now deceased.”
Deputies did not detect immediate signs of intoxication but are waiting on blood test results.
Right now, investigators believe Bauserman was only traveling 3 mph over the speed limit, at about 48 mph in a 45 mph zone. That will need to be confirmed in the investigation.
“He should never have been on the roadway, period. And so, the fact that somebody in our community has been lost in such a tragic, horrible way. How many lives have been destroyed by this selfish act?” Weekly asked.
“I want to express my sympathies to the families, and yeah, we’re here to support you as a community, and we’re by your side,” said Chitel.
Neighbor Beth Chitel started an online fundraiser for the victims.
“The last thing that the family should be having to worry about right now is the bills that are coming,” said Chitel.
The sheriff says that 15 to 20 community members stepped up to help in the aftermath of this tragedy.
Chitel says the community has been hurt by other recent tragedies, like the death of 13-year-old Alex Mackiewicz, who was hit while in the crosswalk on his way to school. That fatal crash happened just over a mile away from this one.
“Something really needs to be done. The community is well aware of the safety issues posed there, of course. Again, we don’t expect them on the sidewalk,” said Chitel. “We need more crosswalks; we could use more stoplights. We need more safety measures put in place because, in general, it’s really not a safe road. People speed on it.”
“It’s absolutely horrible. As the sheriff, I have done a lot to increase traffic enforcement. We’ve almost doubled the size of our traffic unit. I expect my folks to be out there and be productive and ensure the safety of our citizens. These tragedies, certainly back to back, are heartbreaking for everybody involved, it shouldn’t happen,” Weekly said.
Three families are forever changed, a community is left with questions, and the investigation is just beginning.
“We need to make sure that we do our job well, and that we get justice for all these victims,” Weekly said.
Bauserman is being held on charges including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.
Preliminary charges Bauserman is facing include the following seven felonies and one misdemeanor:
- Vehicular homicide
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death
- Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury (two counts)
- Vehicular assault (two counts)
- Assault in the second degree – crimes to at-risk persons
- Driving a motor vehicle with a license is under restraint (express consent refusal/DUI conviction)
These charges could change based on the results of the blood tests and additional information that is garnered through the investigation.
A judge set Bauserman’s bond at $100,000.
As the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office says anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Pereira at bpereira@dcsheriff.net or call (303) 660-7537.
Colorado
Eagle Rock Ranch
When Dave and Jean Gottenborg met as teenagers wrangling horses in Estes Park, they dreamed of one day running a ranch together. That dream fell by the wayside for decades until 2012, when the couple purchased Eagle Rock Ranch in the Tarryall Valley.
Talking about the Gottenborg’s ranch means deliberately avoiding words like “owners” and “ownership.” The couple “manage” their land — their preferred term — through the conservationist lens of thinkers like Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold. Visitors are welcome on the land (see some basic guidelines here), and they sell their beef by the cut, box and share at their family-owned mercantile in Fairplay.
Colorado
Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.
Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.
The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Colorado Rockies visit the Los Angeles Angels.
Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels?
First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.
How to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
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