Denver, CO
Adams County Veterans Memorial vandalized again, just hours after Veterans Day
DENVER (KDVR) — The Adams County Veterans Memorial, a place built for quiet reflection, was left damaged and vandalized just hours after residents gathered to celebrate Veterans Day.
County leaders say they’re frustrated, and crews are once again being forced to repair a monument that’s been targeted repeatedly since it opened.
The Adams County Veterans Memorial, designed to resemble the World War II battleship USS Colorado, had been covered in flowers earlier this month for Veterans Day.
“We do a great event every Veterans Day,” said Byron Fanning, Adams County’s director of Parks, Open Space and Cultural Arts. “You can take a flower and place it at our remembrance wall in honor of somebody that you want to honor that’s important to your life.”
The morning after the holiday, Fanning said he discovered graffiti on the sidewalk, and a park bench soaked in paint. There was also damage to the plumbing system, which now needs to be pumped out.
“It really hurt my heart,” Fanning said.
Fanning described the graffiti as “gibberish” but said photos of it have been blurred while the sheriff’s office investigates.
Most of the cleanup work is already done. Crews removed graffiti that had been sprayed across the walkway and took out a bench for repairs after someone dumped a bucket of paint on it.
And it’s nothing crews aren’t used to. Fanning say this is the tenth time the memorial has been vandalized since it opened in 2023.
“Some of them are small, just a little graffiti on the railings or on some of the structures behind me,” Fanning said. “But some of them have been rather extensive.”
Hoping to protect the memorial as a place to honor those who served, Fanning offered a simple plea to the public.
“Please stop,” he said. “Please show some respect for who this was built to honor, and for those veterans that mean so much to our community. You’re disrespecting them, and it’s not okay.”
Officials estimate the latest cleanup cost about $3,000. The county is working to install security cameras, and the sheriff’s office is increasing nighttime patrols in hopes of preventing future vandalism.
The county is also asking visitors to report any vandalism to law enforcement.
DENVER (KDVR) — One person was taken to the hospital after a crash involving an e-bike on Interstate 70 in Denver.
The Denver Police Department said the crash happened on eastbound I-70 near Steele Street on Thursday. The crash involved an e-bike and a motorist.
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Crash on eastbound Interstate 70 in Denver on June 11, 2026. (KDVR) -
Crash on eastbound Interstate 70 in Denver on June 11, 2026. (KDVR)
One person was taken to the hospital, but their condition is unknown.
Some eastbound lanes were closed as police were on scene.
The investigation is ongoing.
With Payton as head coach, the Broncos captured their first AFC West title in 10 years in 2025 after finishing with a 14-3 record in the regular season en route to hosting the AFC Championship Game. Denver also snapped its eight-year playoff drought in 2024 under Payton, earning a wild card berth with a 10-7 mark.
Since 2024, Payton has led the Broncos’ offense to NFL top-10 rankings in fewest sacks allowed (1st, 47) and passing touchdowns (8th, 55) while ranking fifth in the AFC in points (24.3) and touchdowns scored (92). Quarterback Bo Nix, who was selected 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, became just the third quarterback in league history to win at least 10 games and make the playoffs in each of his first two seasons.
Defensively, the Broncos have allowed the fourth-fewest points per game (20.3) in the NFL under Payton, while also ranking second during that span in third down percentage (34.8) and third in red zone percentage (48.8). Denver became just the third team in NFL history to eclipse 60 sacks in consecutive seasons, setting franchise records in 2024 (63) and 2025 (68).
Since joining the Broncos, Payton has coached nine different players to a total of 13 All-Pro selections, which is tied for the fourth-most in the NFL in that span. All-Pro honors since 2023 include defensive lineman Zach Allen (2 selections), guard Quinn Meinerz (2), wide receiver/returner Marvin Mims Jr. (2), cornerback Pat Surtain (2), tackle Garett Bolles (1), outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (1), safety Talanoa Hufanga (1), safety Devon Key (1) and safety Justin Simmons (1).
Additionally, Payton has coached eight different Broncos to 12 total Pro Bowl selections, including Surtain (3 selections), Bonitto (2), Mims (2), Allen (1), Bolles (1), Meinerz (1), Simmons (1) and wide receiver Courtland Sutton (1).
Surtain became the second player in franchise history to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after signing a four-year contract extension in 2024. Bonitto earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year finalist status the following year in 2025.
During his 15 seasons as the Saints’ head coach, Payton led New Orleans to nine playoff berths, seven NFC South Division titles and a victory in Super Bowl XLIV (2009). The Saints won 10 or more games in nine seasons under Payton, finishing as the NFC’s No. 1 seed on two occasions (2009, ’18).
Before joining the Saints in 2006, Payton spent three seasons (2003-05) as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys and four years with the New York Giants, coaching quarterbacks in 1999 before serving as offensive coordinator from 2000-02. He began his NFL coaching career as quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles from 1997-98 following nine seasons at the collegiate level.
Yet again, there will be no World Cup action in Denver.
Despite being considered a premier United States soccer market, Colorado’s capital city won’t host any matches in the sport’s biggest global event.
Denver was not selected as one of 16 North American cities (11 in the U.S.) to host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup from June 11-July 19.
This is the fourth World Cup (two women’s, two men’s) with games held on U.S. soil. Colorado has still never hosted a World Cup match.
Denver put in a bid for the 2026 World Cup, with the Denver Broncos’ home of Empower Field at Mile High being the potential host site. FIFA ultimately did not select the Mile High City.
The 2022 announcement was disappointing for one of America’s premier soccer markets.
Colorado has hosted dozens of U.S. Women’s and Men’s National Team matches, many of them at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City. Empower Field has welcomed soccer events like the CONCACAF Gold Cup, League of Nations and international friendlys.
The state has also produced abundant high-level soccer talent, including impact players like Sophia Wilson (née Smith) and Mallory Swanson (née Pugh) for the USWNT.
However, FIFA chose Dallas; Houston; and Kansas City, Missouri; alongside Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara in Mexico as a Central Region cluster to minimize travel distance and logistics.
This is the first World Cup since the event expanded from 32 to 48 teams, meaning 104 total matches. Each site will host between four and nine matches during the tournament.
Why isn’t Denver hosting World Cup matches?
Former soccer writer Grant Wahl said Denver’s relative geographic isolation combined with an “underwhelming host committee” were factors working against the city’s host hopes.
Elevation was also floated as a negative factor by Denver’s bid committee back in 2022, according to 9News.
That explanation is unlikely, given that Mexico City (7,350 feet) and Guadalajara (5,138 feet) sit above or comparable to Denver’s famed 5,280 feet of elevation.
Another possible factor? Money.
Several states with host sites approved tax breaks, funding boosts or stadium improvements to match FIFA requests, the Associated Press reported.
Colorado did not. Per CPR, neither Gov. Jared Polis nor then-Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock approved funds or pushed for legislation to lure the World Cup.
Denver’s bid committee estimated a cost of $40-45 million to host matches with an aggressive potential local economic impact estimate of $360 million.
2026 World Cup host sites
Western Region
- Los Angeles
- San Francisco Bay Area
- Seattle
- Vancouver (Canada)
Central Region
- Dallas
- Guadalajara (Mexico)
- Houston
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Mexico City (Mexico)
- Monterrey (Mexico)
Eastern Region
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Miami
- New York/New Jersey
- Philadelphia
- Toronto (Canada)
Chris Abshire covers high school and community sports for the Coloradoan.
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