Denver, CO

A day at Denver’s Valdez Elementary with 2 newly arrived migrant students

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2024

A day at Denver’s Valdez Elementary with 2 newly arrived migrant students

Fourth graders streamed one at a time through the playground door at Denver’s Valdez Elementary, a snaking jumble of energy and untied shoelaces.

Most bounded up the stairs to their classrooms. Only a few stopped to give a quick side hug to the staff member who was squinting in the sun and holding the door. Two of the huggers were Jesus and Leiker, who arrived in Denver from Venezuela a few months ago.

The boys, ages 9 and 10, are among the more than 38,000 migrants who have come to Denver in the past year after fleeing political and economic crises in their home countries.

Some of the new arrivals are families with children like Jesus and Leiker. Denver Public Schools has enrolled more than 3,200 of these young people since the start of the school year.

A majority arrived after the October cutoff date that determines how much per-student funding DPS gets from the state, creating a financial shortfall for the state’s largest district and causing schools to scramble for resources.

But not all schools. The new students are concentrated in a couple dozen of DPS’ more than 200 schools, which the district has been calling hotspots. The main reason is because the schools offer specialized instruction in both English and Spanish.

Valdez, also known as Escuela Valdez, has a longstanding dual language program. It’s also right up the street from a city-run shelter inside a Quality Inn, which Principal Jessica Buckley said everyone simply calls “The Quality.” Valdez, which had about 400 students last year, has welcomed more than 100 new students in the past few months.

Jesus and Leiker met at The Quality, where both of their families were staying, and became fast friends. They say they are like brothers: “Somos como hermanos.”

This is what one school day looked like recently for Jesus and Leiker, whose last names Chalkbeat is withholding to protect their identities as they navigate life in a new country.

Read the full report from our partners at Chalkbeat Colorado.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

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Denver, CO

Broncos owners buy 40% ownership stake in the Colorado Rockies

Published

11 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Broncos owners buy 40% ownership stake in the Colorado Rockies

A seismic shift has come to the Colorado Rockies.

The Penner Sports Group, which owns a controlling interest in the Denver Broncos, has joined the Rockies ownership group in a move that will have a major impact on Colorado’s Major League Baseball franchise. Rockies chairman and CEO Dick Monfort and owner/general partner Charlie Monfort announced the move on Friday.

Penner Sports Group — the family entity of Greg and Carrie Walton Penner that holds a large stake in the Broncos — now becomes the largest minority partner of the Rockies. Sources told The Denver Post that the Penners are purchasing a 40% share of the Rockies.

Greg Penner will remain CEO of the Broncos, and fellow primary owner Carrie Penner, his wife, will continue on in her various roles with the team. The Penners will have no day-to-day involvement running the Rockies, a source said.

“We are excited to expand our commitment to the Denver sports community through a minority partnership with the Colorado Rockies,” the Penners said in a prepared statement. “This investment from Penner Sports Group reflects our deep appreciation for what the Rockies mean to this region, the passion of their fans and our confidence in the future of the franchise.”

According to Forbes, the Rockies are valued at $1.68 billion, ranking 25th among Major League Baseball’s 30 teams. The Penner Sports Group’s investment has been formally approved by MLB.

The Penner’s investment will help the Rockies become a bigger player in baseball’s current, uneven financial landscape, in which big-market teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees outspend mid-market teams like the Rockies.

Renck: Rockies hit a home run for Colorado fans by bringing in Broncos owners

According to the Rockies, the Penners’ investment allows the franchise to retire all outstanding debt and provides additional capital for the team.

Dick Monfort will continue in his role as chairman and CEO, Charlie Monfort will remain as owner/general partner, and Walker Monfort (Dick’s son) will remain as the club’s president, running day-to-day operations.

“Speaking personally, on behalf of Charlie and our family, our other partners and the organization, we’re excited to welcome Greg and Carrie Penner into the Colorado Rockies ownership group,” Dick Monfort said in a statement. “I’ve had the pleasure to build a strong relationship with Greg and Carrie over the past few years. For many reasons, including their recent success with the Broncos, we know we are gaining much more than just financial support in this partnership with Penner Sports Group.

“Greg and Carrie have proven that they share the same passion for our region and a strong commitment to compete at the highest level. We are thrilled to add them to the Colorado Rockies’ ownership group as we best position this franchise for long-term sustained success.”

Negotiations between the Monforts and Penner have been ongoing for months, sources told The Post.

The Walton-Penner Family Ownership Group, led by Greg Penner, Carrie Walton Penner, and Rob Walton, purchased the Broncos for $4.65 billion in August 2022. The Broncos are in the early in the process, but knee deep on the way to building a new stadium and entertainment complex at Burnham Yard.

“Our family’s had such a positive experience with the Broncos, reinforcing our interest in partnering with another team in this dynamic sports market,” the Penners said. “We’ve enjoyed getting to know the Monforts and are grateful to join Dick and Charlie in the Rockies’ ownership group along with the other partners.

Colorado Rockies vice president of corporate sponsorships Walker Monfort, front, joins his father, the team’s owner and chief executive officer, Dick, before a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

“While our focus remains firmly on the Broncos, we look forward to being supportive, long-term partners of the Rockies and Major League Baseball.”

Dick and Charlie Monfort became the Rockies’ majority owners in 2005. Forbes first valued the Rockies in 1998, just five years after their inception, at $303 million. Since then, the club has appreciated by more than 450%.

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Denver, CO

Patty Herrick Obituary | The Denver Post

Published

23 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Patty Herrick

OBITUARY

Patty Herrick passed on March 27th, 2026 after a nine month long battle with leukemia. She faced it with determination, grace, and strength of will. Born February 2nd, 1953 to Patricia Floyd and Thomas Pryor in New York, she was a lifelong lover of animals, the water, and photography. After graduating from the University of Denver, she became a psychologist in the Denver area before shifting to become a full time mom. She lived in the Denver area for 30+ years cultivating a community. Motherhood became an integral part of her life, she is survived by her four children; Annie, Matthew, Liam, and David, her dog Luke, and bird Brille.

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Denver, CO

Link on Demand offers free rideshare service around communities south of Denver

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

Link on Demand offers free rideshare service around communities south of Denver

People in many cities south of Denver now have a new ride option to get them around for free.

The Link on Demand rideshare service will travel around areas including Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, and select areas of Parker. Many popular areas include:

Town Center, Village Center, and Highlands Ranch Senior Center in Highlands Ranch
Park Meadows Retail Resort, Lone Tree Rec Center, and Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree
Parker AdventHealth Hospital, Downtown and Parker Senior Center, and Twenty Mile/Dransfeldt Shopping Center in Parker
Littleton Mineral Station
Safeway Transfer Hub
Lincoln Station Transfer Hub
Parker RTD Ride and Share

A map shows different areas in Douglas County served by Link on Demand, a free ride-share service.

Link on Demand

Booking Link on Demand is similar to booking an Uber or Lyft. It starts by downloading the Link on Demand app. Then you book the ride and meet up with your driver. The only difference; this ride is free all the time.

Link on Demand is designed to increase mobility, reduce barriers, and support daily travel needs. It helps people who don’t own a car or older adults who can’t drive, for example. The vehicles are ADA-accessible too, so they help people who use wheelchairs and walkers.

Anyone over the age of 13 can ride the service, so this helps if your child misses the bus or needs a ride. This service does operate corner to corner instead of door to door. This means you might have to travel a short distance to your pickup point. Your phone will show you the availability.

This is a Monday through Saturday rideshare service. The hours of operation include:

Monday to Thursday, 7 a.m. through 7 p.m.
Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Highlands Ranch and Parker are non-adjacent zones, so you’ll book a two‑leg trip via a Transfer Hub. Here’s how:

1. In the Link On Demand app, book your first on‑demand ride:

From Highlands Ranch to Lincoln Station Transfer Hub or Safeway Transfer Hub, or
From Parker to Lincoln Station Transfer Hub or Safeway Transfer Hub.

2. Ride to the Transfer Hub.

3. After you’re dropped off at the Transfer Hub, open the app and request your second on‑demand ride, from the Transfer Hub to your final destination in the other zone.

4. Wait at the Transfer Hub until your next van arrives. Typical wait times are 15-30 minutes.

If you have any questions, all information can be found here.

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