Drought conditions are forcing an early end to motorized boating at Barr Lake State Park, with the boat ramps set to close Friday at 9 p.m.

The reservoir, fed by the South Platte River and its snowpack runoff, is seeing water levels drop rapidly due to drought conditions. Park rangers said when water levels reach the sandy bottom of the reservoir in the boat launching area, they must close the ramps because trailers can get stuck in the mud.

Hand-launched vessels like kayaks and paddleboards will still be permitted on the water.

WATCH: Denver7 Anchor Jessica Porter learned more about the closure.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Park Manager William Restrepo said the park has a contingency plan for water rescues after the boat ramp closes, which staff practice every other week.

"We have two boats. One of them actually is an inflatable with a small engine that we can hand-launch ourselves, even if the access to the boat ramp is not available. So we can just bring one of our vehicles into the shoreline and we'll be out there in a few minutes," Restrepo said.

Restrepo reminded paddleboarders and kayakers to wear a life jacket and be prepared for fast-changing weather, including afternoon thunderstorms.

Despite the low water levels, fishing at Barr Lake remains strong.

"Fishing has been really, really good, especially for the last three and a half weeks. So anything from trout, walleyes, wipers fishermen, both from the boats and shoreline, have been doing extremely well," Restrepo said.

He said rising temperatures over the coming days or weeks could affect both fishing and overall water quality. While green algae is normal at the lake this time of year, warmer water temperatures can lead to blue-green algae, which is toxic to animals and people.

Colorados 8th Congressional District is shaping up to be one of the most competitive races in the nation, with both parties expected to pour major resources into the toss-up seat.

State Rep. Manny Rutinel won Tuesday's Democratic primary election and will now face Republican incumbent Gabe Evans in November.

The district was drawn in 2021 and stretches from Adams County to Weld County, spanning urban and rural parts of the state and encompassing a variety of political ideologies. There have been only two election cycles in the district's history.

Democrat Yadira Caraveo was the first to assume office when she was elected in 2022. Evans defeated Caraveo in 2024.

Sonny Subia, the Colorado state director of the League of United Latin American Citizens, lives in Greeley and recalled the role Latino voter outreach played during the 2024 election cycle.

"[Evans] ran a great race against Yadira. Yadira didn't do very well. She really didn't reach out to the Latino community. She reached out to the Latino community with only two months left in the race, and it was like, 'Hey, where have you been? We've been waiting to hear from you,' and they didn't," Subia said.

WATCH Watch Adria Iraheta's report in the player below |

Latino voters make up around 40% of the district's electorate and could be the deciding factor. Subia said he already saw targeted outreach play out during the primary and predicts more strategic campaigning from both candidates going forward.

"It's about the Hispanic population. How are they going to reach out to them? What are those, those red button issues that they're concerned about?" he said.

Phillip Chen, an associate professor of political science at the University of Denver, said the path to victory runs through the middle.

"We're going to see how much sort of Democratic support consolidates around Rutinel, as well as whether he can win independents, moderates, people like that," Chen said.

Issues like immigration are expected to take center stage. Evans has addressed the complexity of the current system.

"It's a convoluted, complex system that hasn't been updated in four decades," Evans said.

Affordable housing is also expected to be a key issue. Rutinel framed his candidacy around economic concerns facing working families.

"We need someone who understands the struggles of working people and has a long track record of fighting for them to lower costs," Rutinel said.

Chen said the race could get negative, with both candidates potentially being tied to national political figures on the far right and left.

"You're going to see the Rutinel campaign trying to tie Evans as close to President Trump as they can, and you're going to see the Evans campaign trying to tie Rutinel as close as they can to people like AOC and Zohran Mamdani, because those are kind of the standard bearers of that progressive movement at this right now, Chen said.

BRIGHTON, Colo. Barry Hildebrant has spent decades collecting military uniforms and artifacts, building what may be the largest private collection of its kind spanning from the Civil War to today. But the real story isn't just about the collection. It's about the unlikely friendship that grew out of it.

Hildebrant's basement holds an estimated 100,000 items. Among them: a nurse's uniform from the China-Burma theater of World War II, and a toiletry bag with an unused bar of Palmolive soap.

WATCH: Denver7's Mike Castellucci gets an inside look at Barry Hildebrant's impressive collection

"This came with a nurse's uniform. She was in the China-Burma theater during World War II and this was her toiletry bagunused bar of Palmolive," Hildebrant said.

For Hildebrant, every item is a connection to a life once lived.

"I wondered who carried this and what their life was like, what they saw," Hildebrant said.

Ishamina Johnson, who visited the collection, said the experience left her speechless.

"I had to come and see this It's incredible, actually," Johnson said.

Johnson said the personal nature of the artifacts is what makes them so powerful.

"It's interesting to me because it's so personal There's another human being that touched this and used these items," Johnson said.

One uniform pulled at random from thousands turned out to belong to a World War II sniper. Hildebrant knew the story immediately.

"He was a sniper during World War II The fun thing is figuring out how many hangers go with it," Hildebrant said.

But beyond the collection, Hildebrant and Johnson share a story of their own.

The two were matched through a buddy telephone program. Johnson needed volunteer hours. Hildebrant needed someone to talk to.

"We got matched up I'd call him once a week," Johnson said.

"She needed to talk to someone who was going through some things. I've been through cancer twice, I had my right kidney removed last October, open heart surgery when I was 4," Hildebrant said.

For Johnson, watching Hildebrant go through his health struggles was deeply difficult.

"One of the saddest things in my life, seeing him like that," Johnson said.

The volunteer program eventually ended. Their friendship did not.

"I mostly take him on walks," Johnson said. "I manage his Facebook page called the National War Museum of the Rockies, and he has become family."

BRIGHTON, Colo.  Police in Brighton are investigating after a driver of a vehicle struck and killed a cyclist Tuesday night.

It happened around 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of U.S. 85 and E. 120

Avenue.

Police said the cyclist was crossing the highway against a red light when they were struck by the northbound vehicle.

The bicyclist was transported to Platte Valley Medical Center shortly after and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

The driver remained on scene, was uninjured, and showed no signs of impairment, according to police.

The cyclists identity is being withheld pending positive identification by the coroners office and notification of next of kin.

A 20-year-old suspected of DUI and running a red light has been arrested following a fatal five-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on Highway 85, the Commerce City Police Department said.

One person died in the crash, which happened near the line between Commerce City and Brighton, and multiple others were brought to a hospital.

All lanes of Highway 85 near E. 120th Avenue were closed for the investigation Wednesday morning.

According to the police department, officers believe the at-fault driver ran a red light at E. 120th Avenue while traveling southbound on Highway 85, hitting another driver who was headed eastbound with a green light. That other driver, identified as a 50-year-old, was ejected from their vehicle and died at the scene, police said.

Several other cars were involved in secondary crashes, police said.

All of the other drivers were transported to a hospital.

Police said the 20-year-old driver accused of running the red light was arrested and is believed to have been driving under the influence. They face both DUI and vehicular homicide charges. They have not been identified.

Drivers were asked to avoid the area. Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber recommended taking Brighton Road to the west or I-76 and Sable to the east.

Here's more from Denver7's Lauren Lennon on what we know about this crash and from Traffic Expert Jayson Luber on alternate routes this morning.

Brighton City Council voted Tuesday night to move forward with the demolition of the old town hall building, citing nearly $2 million in renovation costs, despite strong pushback from neighbors fighting to save the century-old landmark.

The building on Bush Street first served as the Brighton Town Hall, then later became the public library, and most recently was used as a senior center from 1976 to 2012.

The building was designated as a historic landmark in 2014, but has sat vacant for the past 14 years.

Brighton resident Gail McGaugh, who lives across the street from the historic landmark, said she has been going door to door to garner support from neighbors to keep the building standing.

"A woman across the street went here as a child to the library with her sisters. Another guy up the street had the first house here, and he remembers when it was city hall. There's so many people that feel so passionate, they're in love with this building," McGaugh said.

The City of Brighton's Budget and Innovation Department said because of financial and safety reasons, the city can longer preserve the building. The department said the building has been subject to environmental and health hazards, like asbestos, significant deterioration, and multiple break ins since it became vacant.

The city said a 2025 historic structure assessment estimated the cost to rehabilitate the building into office or non-profit space would cost $1,987,124, which does not include ongoing maintenance costs.

In February, Brighton's Historic Preservation Commission denied the city's application to demolish the building after determining the application did not meet its criteria as a structural hazard. The city appealed the denial, which pushed the final decision into the hands of Brighton City Council on Tuesday night.

Council members voted 7-2 to approve the appeal and move forward with plans to demolish the building after discussing concerns about the cost of improvements and the lack of interest in the building over the past 14 years.

"Nothing has happened since 2014 because nobody wants this building. There's nothing to do with this building," Brighton City Council member Tom Green, who represents Ward 1, said. "I think there's better uses for our city dollars. We've got a rec center, we've got a museum, we've got historic city hall, we've got a library, and we have a wonderful senior center. I just don't see the need to preserve this building."

"We haven't found a good use for this facility. And when I look at the list of potential uses, we've invested in the other buildings for those uses," Brightont Mayor Pro Tem Peter Padilla, who represents Ward 4, said.

Council members said they are still open to hearing ideas from companies or nonprofits who may be interested in taking over the building before demolition happens.

Sonja Brown, the vice president of the nonprofit Brighton Cultural Arts Connection, said while the organization does not have the financial means to transform the building, it is looking for ways to support its survival.

"It'd be great to have all different people connecting. So whether that's not for profits connecting in the building, if that means, you know, children in here, classroom space for arts, or if it's like a museum, or somebody had mentioned a bed and breakfast," Brown said.

"So many people want our history to stay. The fabric of their life is tied to this building as part of the thread of who they are," McGaugh said. "So when the city does not recognize that we want this for the community it really sends a poor message from our elected officials."

Brighton's Budget and Innovation Department said from March 2023 to May 2025, city staff engaged in discussions with five groups from Brighton and the Denver metro area about the potential to sell the building. The city said those talks fell through because of the cost to rehabilitate and operate the building.

A juvenile was hit by a driver while riding a scooter on E. Bridge Street and Mt. Beirstadt Street Wednesday night, according to the Brighton Police Department.

The juvenile was taken to a nearby hospital, but Brighton police did not provide an update on the extent of the injuries.

The driver remained on scene of the crash and cooperated with the Brighton police investigation.

Westbound Bridge Street was closed at Mt. Bierstadt for the investigation, but has since reopened.

BOULDER, Colo. A Brighton woman is turning compassion into action by building a nationwide network to match pets in need with loving foster homes.

JoAnn Lagace, founder of the National Animal Foster Network, is gearing up to launch a new app this May with the help of University of Colorado Boulder students. The nonprofit is currently looking for volunteers to be ready when the platform goes live. Sign ups begin in May at NAFN.us.

"No one should have to choose between their health and the safety of their animal," Lagace said.

The mission is personal for Lagace, who wants to keep people connected with the pets they love even in times of crisis. The network will be the nations only coordinated foster care system for pets of people facing medical emergencies, military deployment, housing instability or other crises.

"I'm 18 years sober, so I know what it's like in the world of alcoholism, and what it means to people in sobriety who need sobriety, and what a barrier it is for them to go in and get the treatment that they deserve because they don't have care for their only source of unconditional love and support," Lagace said.

The program aims to reduce shelter overcrowding and save lives by providing temporary care.

Watch Colin Riley's report in the video player below:

"We will foster their animals while they go do what they have to do, and then reunify them with the animal," Lagace said.

"65% of Coloradans have a pet. And if even 1% of Coloradans who love animals and find this an important program that can help so many animals," Lagace said.

To make the network a reality, Lagace teamed up with CU Boulder computer science majors Langston, Isabelle and Caroline. The seniors are building the networks website and app as their capstone project.

"I wanted to be part of something that I knew was going to actually be making a difference," Langston said.

"Being able to apply my knowledge base that I've learned in school to something with such an impact and such a good mission that adds such value," Isabelle said.

"If you're an individual in crisis and you know that you need help and you don't want to depart with your animal, we're providing a way for people to communicate," Langston said.

When the site and app launch next month, anyone will be able to search for foster homes in their area, and volunteers can sign up to offer care.

"Any kind of animal. We do not discriminate," Lagace said.

Lagace is building an animal sanctuary to help foster animals. You can find more information on the Paws 'N Claws for the Cause website.

One person died in a fatal auto-pedestrian crash Tuesday morning, according to the Brighton Police Department.

The wreck occurred at U.S. Highway 85 and W. Bromley Lane around 4:20 a.m. Tuesday. Brighton police said a caller reported a driving hitting a pedestrian who was crossing the road.

Responding Brighton police officers found a man lying on the ground with severe injuries. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner will release the pedestrian's identity once family has been notified.

The driver pulled over and remained on scene of the crash to talk with investigators, Brighton police said. The preliminary investigation found the driver was a 38-year-old man, going northbound on Highway 85 crossing W. Bromley Lane when the pedestrian also crossed the road and the driver hit him.

The driver wasn't injured and showed no signs of impairment, according to Brighton police.

Northbound Highway 85 at W. Bromley Lane shut down for the Brighton police investigation. Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber expected it would be closed for several hours.

Luber recommended drivers avoid Highway 85 if possible, and use Bridge Street to get around it.

Anyone with information on what happened is asked to call the Brighton Police Department tip line at 303-655-8740.

On Wednesday morning, boating season began at Barr Lake State Park and a few people took to the water before noon.

Around the state, boat ramps are opening across the state.

To protect wildlife at Barr Lake, boats must have engines of 10 horsepower or less.

Cyclist David Quintana told Denver7's Micah Smith that he visits the park almost every day to ride or walk, and enjoys seeing the wildlife. Over the past few weeks, he has noticed the water levels rising.

(The levels have) been increasing as they're bringing the water in to get ready for irrigation. They've stopped running water, I think, about a week ago, and then the other canal here Its not going to get much water. Yeah, it's pretty low, Quintana said.

Watch Denver7's Micah Smith's report in the video below

Around the park, signs warn of high fire danger and low algae at the park.

Im looking forward to everything greening up as the season warms up, Quintana said. It's really enjoyable to see the families and the boats. And so, it's always fun watching them fish.

Barr Lake State Park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Before heading out on the water, boaters must remember to get their vessels checked for aquatic nuisance species, also called ANS, and purchase a stamp. You can get your ANS check done ahead of time at any CPW office, but you can also get it done at your preferred state park while likely waiting for a little bit of time.

Life jackets are also strongly encouraged, especially at the beginning of the boating season when the water is still cold from snowpack. Many state parks in Colorado have life jackets to loan.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers online boating safety courses.

Boating season at Barr Lake State Park will begin right on schedule on Wednesday, April 1, joining other state parks across Colorado.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said boat ramps are opening across the state, and that the warm weather has played a role.

If we dont have ice, were able to open up a boat ramp, Van Hoose said. If ice is still on, maybe well wait a week or two and see what the wind does, because if the conditions pick up then that ice blows off and then were able to open up.

Before heading out on the water, boaters must remember to get their vessels checked for aquatic nuisance species (ANS) and purchase a stamp. Van Hoose recommends getting your ANS check done ahead of time at any CPW office, but you can also get it done at your preferred state park while likely waiting for a little bit of time.

Were just trying to protect our waters in Colorado from things that shouldnt be here, Van Hoose said. We have these zebra mussels or quagga mussels that can latch onto our boats and live in our waters, and then they just multiply like crazy.

Life jackets are also strongly encouraged, especially at the beginning of the boating season when the water is still cold from snowpack.

That water might be 50 or 60 degrees, Van Hoose said. When you go in, youre not expecting it to be that cold. Your body goes into a shock, so it can be hard to rescue yourself, and thats where the life jacket comes in.

Many state parks have life jacket loaner stations for visitors who forget their own. They only ask that you return the life jackets when you are done using them.

Boaters should also check the specific rules for their preferred state park. At Barr Lake, for example, boats must be 10 horsepower or less to protect wildlife.

For those who have not operated a boat recently, CPW offers online boating safety courses.

Thats just a good refresher to make sure that you have everything you need on a boat, Van Hoose said. Maybe there are some things that you have forgotten, its just to be the safest possible that you can be on the water.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A fatal crash at Highway 85 and 136th Ave. initially closed the entire intersection Wednesday morning for more than two hours as the Brighton Police Department investigated.

The crash happened around 3:2o a.m. Wednesday, according to a news release about 7 hours later. Brighton police confirmed one person was killed.

The initial investigation from the Brighton Police Department's Traffic Safety Unit found a man driving a Volkswagen SUV traveling northbound on Highway 85 drifted off the road and hit a stoplight pole at the intersection with E. 136th Ave.

The driver was ejected from the SUV upon impact, according to Brighton police. First responders tried to save the man's life, but he was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner's office will release the driver's identity once his family is notified.

The crash sparked a grass fire in the area that Brighton Fire Rescue was able to extinguish.

Morning commuters were advised to find an alternative route around the intersection. Brighton police suggested drivers use Interstate 76 if possible.

Eastbound and westbound lanes of the intersection reopened around 6:50 a.m. Wednesday, Brighton police said. However the northbound and southbound lanes of Highway 85 remain closed, as of 10:38 a.m. Wednesday.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Brighton Police Department tip line at 303-655-8740.

BRIGHTON, Colo. The man accused of kidnapping his own son and triggering an Amber Alert before barricading inside a home in Commerce City has been charged with child abuse, according to a spokesperson with the 17th Judicial District Attorneys Office.

Jeremy Chavez, 45, was taken into custody around midnight on Valentines Day after allegedly kidnapping the child six hours earlier.

The alleged kidnapping triggered the Amber Alert, which notified the public that the boy, a 4-year-old, had medical impairments and that he required medication he did not have when was forcibly removed from his residence by Chavez.

The alert noted the suspect was known to be violent.

Chavez was found by authorities after matching a stolen pickup truck to one near a home around 109th and Jasper in Commerce City.

The suspect barricaded inside one of the homes until he was taken into custody. The boy was safely recovered and returned to his family.

Chavez was charged Thursday with several charges, including second-degree burglary, second-degree motor vehicle theft, second-degree attempt to commit motor vehicle theft, vehicular eluding, fist-degree criminal trespass, reckless endangerment and child abuse.

BRIGHTON, Colo. Police in Brighton are investigating a single-vehicle rollover crash on Interstate 76 on Wednesday that left a 24-year-old man dead.

The crash occurred around 10:15 a.m. near E. Bromley Lane and involved a box truck, according to police.

Brighton police said officers arrived to find the truck on its side, blocking both lanes.

The unbelted driver, who police said was ejected during the crash, was located and transported to the hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

His identity has not been released.

No other injuries were reported.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Brighton police at 3036558740.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. A Brighton dad had consumed at least two cans of beer before he got behind the wheel and caused a crash that killed his daughter last week, according to an affidavit obtained by Denver7 Wednesday.

Commerce City police responded to the single-vehicle rollover crash on eastbound I-76 and US 85 shortly before 11 p.m. on Feb. 12 after witnesses reported seeing a white truck driving erratically on the road.

At the scene, police found the truck in a the field on the south side of I-76 and a body covered with a white blanket close to the driver side of the vehicle.

Inside the truck, responding officers found what appeared to be an empty Modelo 6 pack box along with two unopened cans of Modelo beer one inside the truck, the other outside on the passenger side, according to the arrest affidavit.

A witness who spoke to police at the scene said the truck passed her on the left in a dirt lane. It then appeared to pop a tire and went toward a fence which the witness described as a wall.

Another witness said the truck swerved several times prior to the crash and noticed the white trucks tire pop. The witness told police she saw the truck try to get back on the roadway before it drove toward the fence, arresting documents show.

A third witness told police he only saw the white truck go off the roadway but did not see the crash. He said he went to check out the crash, where he found 39-year-old Aaron Aguirre-Garay, who was lying on the truck bed.

He said Aguirre-Garay gave him his wifes number and stated to police that while he was no expert, he thought that Garay smelled like alcohol, the affidavit states. Aguirre-Garay was then taken to a hospital where police then contacted the victims mother.

She told officers she had been talking with her daughter on the phone prior to the crash and that her daughter told her she was done with league practice at Regis University. The woman told officers her daughter asked her when she would get home so they could pick up pizza for dinner, according to the affidavit.

The woman then told officers her son dropped her daughter off and that her husband, who she identified as Aguirre-Garay, was supposed to pick her up.

She then told officers that Aguirre-Garay had been working earlier in the day and went to a friends house in Hudson afterward to help out a friend with a car issue near I-76. The woman told police Garay dropped the friend off and then went to Regis University to pick up their daughter.

A Commerce City officer then interviewed Aguirre-Garay at the hospital. During the interview, the officer said he noticed that Aguirre-Garays speech sounded slurred and sounded like he had a thick tongue, according to the affidavit.

I looked at [Aguirre-Garays] eyes, and they were bloodshot and watery with a pink/reddish color around the whites of his eyes, arresting documents show.

The officer said he could also get a hint of a unknown alcoholic beverage while talking to him and that Aguirre-Garay did not make much eye contact during the interview.

The suspect told police he initially drank a couple beers, then like a six pack, later telling the officer he had consumed three or four beers, then one" where his friends car had broken-down, "one or two at friends house, and finally "two beers total before picking up his daughter from Regis University, the affidavit shows.

Aguirre-Garay then refused field sobriety tests and also refused a blood draw when requested by police.

The suspect, who was arrested the next day, is now facing several charges including vehicular homicide, child abuse causing death, driving under the influence, and reckless driving.

A bomb threat to the Adams County courthouse closed the building and a nearby Brighton King Soopers store Wednesday, according to the Brighton Police Department.

The Brighton Police Department has identified a person of interest in this case, but said it's withholding the suspect's name until formal charges are filed.

Around 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, a caller reported a bomb threat at the Adams County Justice Center. Brighton police determined the caller made the report from the King Soopers store on Brighton Way.

While the King Soopers store did not receive a threat, Brighton police shut down the store out of an abundance of caution. It's about three miles west of the Adams County County courthouse.

The Adams County Sheriff's Office responded to the courthouse and evacuated it out of an abundance of caution.

K9 units were brought in to search for threats, and nothing suspicious was located in either building.

By 10:37 a.m., the Adams County Sheriff's Office determined the courthouse was secure and court proceedings could resume at noon.

At 10:45 a.m., Brighton police said the King Soopers was secure and reopened for business.

An investigation is underway into a domestic disturbance that ended with one person dead Monday morning, the Brighton Police Department said.

A shelter-in-place order was issued Sunday night into Monday morning after a man barricaded himself inside a home in the neighborhood. Beldock Street was closed between Chavez Street and Sandoval Street as part of the law enforcement response.

A domestic disturbance involving weapons was reported to Brighton police Sunday around 8:20 p.m.

A 48-year-old man barricaded himself inside a home there, according to Brighton police. Officers tried to talk with the suspect. The Commerce City-Brighton Combined SWAT Team and crisis negotiators worked to communicate with the suspect as well.

While law enforcement tried to make contact him, the suspect fired several shots at officers. Law enforcement did not return fire, and no one was injured in the exchange, according to Brighton police.

Officers ended up entering the home after several hours attempting to get the suspect to leave the building safely. Brighton police said they found the man dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. His identity will be released once the coroner's office notifies his family.

The shelter-in-place order was lifted around 8:50 a.m. Monday, and Brighton police said there is no ongoing threat to the community.

On Thursday, dozens of students at Montbello High School got a head start on planned nationwide school walkouts condemning ICEs actions in Minnesota.

Denver7 learned the students planned Thursday's protest the same morning. They walked out of class just after 2 p.m., marching over a mile west to Peoria Street and back to campus.

Its a taste of what other schools across the country, including along the Front Range, will be doing Friday as part of a nationwide shutdown calling for no work, no school, and no shopping as part of the anti-ICE protest.

Late Thursday, Aurora Public Schools canceled classes Friday amid a growing number of "staff absences" expected.

In a statement, Denver Public Schools told Denver7 that, as of Thursday, they dont expect any operational closures on Friday. They were working on finding coverage for staff members that had called out. 

Denver Public Schools is dedicated to providing a safe learning environment for our students," said DPS spokesperson Scott Pribble. "If a closure is needed, we will provide as much notice to our families as soon as possible so that they can make plans for their students."

Meanwhile, students at Brighton High School were getting ready for a walkout of their own. Organizers reached out to Denver7 about their plans.

We've seen people we're close with have personal interactions with ICE and family members being taken and stuff, so that's definitely one of the big reasons [were protesting], said co-organizer Emily Lucero.

Brighton High School students were planning to walk to Brighton City Hall a few blocks away. They said theyre speaking out for those that cant. 

Hopefully it helps people know that they're not alone and that there are voices fighting for them, said co-organizer Gianna Rizzo.

In a statement, 27J Schools told Denver7 the district understands students right to express their opinions in a public manner.

That right to express their opinion extends to their presence in school as long as the conduct does not disrupt class work, involve disorderly behavior, invade the rights of other students or undermine the school's authority, said district spokesperson Janelle Asmus. We've talked with the Brighton Police Department and we're working together to maintain student safety at school and if students choose to participate in a demonstration. We're working with staff on how to support all students and to keep our learning spaces conducive to the learning process. The district's safety and security department will be on hand at school to support students and staff working together with the Brighton Police Department.

Denver7 has reached out to other school districts across the Front Range regarding Fridays nationwide shutdown.

A near-absence of snow this winter has upended some Denver metro area businesses while giving others an unexpected boost.

Joe Carley is co-owner of Curascapes in Brighton, a commercial landscaping company with a fleet of 20 snow plows. He said that with almost no snow to plow, winter revenue so far is about 25% less than at this point in previous years.

What that means for our employees is less hours and less income for them, Carley said. Which is a little bit unfortunate, especially after the holidays.

Carley said crews have shifted to more cleanup work, like leaf removal and tree trimming, and have been using their water truck on plants they maintain to make up for the lack of precipitation.

Meanwhile, golf courses are enjoying heavier traffic. Nolan Dodson, first assistant professional at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie, said the course which is home to the University of Colorado golf team has seen rounds surge as would-be skiers opt for the links.

Our projected rounds in January was 153 for the whole month, Dodson said. Weve already cracked that on Jan. 2.

The club has an indoor practice facility that has seen barely any use this winter, though that may change soon. There is a chance of snow across the Denver metro later this week, especially on Thursday and Friday.

We're crossing our fingers, Carley said. We're hopeful that we're going to get a bunch of snow.

BRIGHTON, Colo.  Brighton police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash early Sunday involving a suspected DUI driver and a possible third hit-and-run vehicle.

Multiple people were hospitalized, and one person died at the scene. Police made one arrest.

The crash occurred around 12:30 a.m. at the intersection of Highway 85 and Weld County Road 2.5 and involved a Ford SUV and a GMC SUV, according to police.

Police said the suspected drunk driver of the Ford SUV was heading west on County Road 2.5. After running a stop sign at the intersection, the vehicle collided with the GMC, which was going north on Highway 85.

Two people in the Ford were ejected; one died at the scene, and the other suffered serious injuries. Police say the person who died may also have been struck by a third vehicle that fled.

The occupants of the GMC were all transported to area hospitals for treatment, according to police.

Two additional Ford occupants ran from the crash but were later found. One of them, Erik Diaz Olivas, 20, was hospitalized and then booked into the Weld County Jail.

Police said Olivas is facing multiple charges, including vehicular homicideDUI, vehicular assault, reckless endangerment, and driving after revocation.

There is no information on the possible hit-and-run vehicle at this time.

The identity of the deceased has not been released.

Three people have now been sentenced in the 2021 death of a Weld County teenager, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

Destiny Salazar, 36, and Gabriel Orozco, 36, both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and the distribution of fentanyl. From July to December of 2021, Salazar and Orozco pleaded guilty to engaging in a conspiracy to distribute fentanyl using Facebook, cellphones and multiple email accounts.

Orozco was sentenced to 168 months in prison on Monday, followed by 10 years of supervised release, while Salazar was sentenced to 144 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release as well.

Kaleb Hale was one of their customers who made a purchase from Salazar and Orozco on July 24, 2021. He and his 16-year girlfriend then traveled to Greeley where they crushed one of the pills from Salazar and Orozco and snorted it. Hale's girlfriend died during the night as a result of fentanyl intoxication, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

Hale woke up the next day with severe pain in his abdomen. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison on Sept. 19, 2025, followed by six years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl to someone under 25 years old.

Fentanyl has taken the life of another young Coloradan who had her whole life ahead of her, United States Attorney for the District of Colorado Peter McNeilly said. This case should be a warning to drug users and dealers alike. Using even the smallest amount of fentanyl can have deadly consequences.

The Adams County Board of Commissioners on Friday asked Treasurer Alex Villagran to resign his post, alleging that he engaged in inappropriate behavior involving multiple county staff members.

An investigative report obtained by The Denver Post says Villagran was accused of conduct that included sexually suggestive remarks, touching and inappropriate gestures.

In a news release Friday morning, the county said the independent investigation confirmed that Villagran, a Democrat who was elected as treasurer in 2022, had engaged in a consistent pattern of inappropriate conduct. But officials did not provide details about what was alleged against him.

The allegations against Villagran come just four years after his predecessor in the office, Lisa Culpepper, was sued by the county commissioners for what they said was shoddy and delinquent bookkeeping by the treasurers office. A year later, Culpepper lost a write-in election effort to remain as treasurer.

The Denver Post

BRIGHTON, Colo. - As recent state legislation has required more communities to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, some local governments are trying to make it easier for homeowners to built one on their property.

"You have space within an existing unit or on an existing lot that may be utilized for multi-generational housing, for transitional housing, and it's a lot easier to build on those lots, less impactful than traditional housing, and also more cost effective," said Michael Martinez, City Manager for the City of Brighton.

Brighton was one of seven Colorado communities to receive funding through the inaugural round of Colorado's Accessory Dwelling Unit Grant Program.

We know that ADUs provide more housing options for smaller and lower-income households, and older adults who wish to age in place, said Maria De Cambra, Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) Executive Director. DOLA is proud to support local governments to diversify their housing stock, as ADUs are a great option to increase housing supply with minimal impacts on existing neighborhoods by using utilities and infrastructure that are already in place.

Brighton will be using the $38,025 grant to pre-design ADUs for homeowners to chose from. The plan is to essentially skip most of the back and forth of a permitting process.

"If we have set designs where we've already approved them, we've cut that out. It also cuts out a lot of the cost as well. You're looking at potentially a savings of roughly $20,000 per ADU when you're considering the engineering cost and the architectural costs that might go into a traditional process," said Martinez.

Martinez told Denver7 they hope to come up with no more than five pre-approved options by the end of 2026. Homeowners would still have the option to design their own ADU if that's their preference.

"This is just one part of the ADU puzzle. By doing this, it allows us to move faster," he said.

Studio Shed in Louisville has seen first hand as homeowners across the country have slowly started wanting more and more access to ADUs. They first opened up back in the early 2000's.

"I think pre approved plans are great. I think anything that municipalities can do to help ease the construction of ADUs, we need to look at all of it," said Mike Koenig, co-founder of Studio Shed.

Koenig adds, he encourages communities to take a look at other red tape in the planning process as well.

"There's still a lot more that needs to happen at the building department to include the foundation, review, seismic, parking, transportation, all these things for an ADU," he said.

The next cycle for Colorado ADU grants opens up on February 2.

The nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has sponsored a bullet and stab protective vest for the Adams County Sheriff's Office K9 Kahn.

The body armor is custom fitted for each dog in law enforcement and other related agencies throughout the United States. Each vest weighs 4-5 pounds, is National Institute of Justice certified, and comes with a five-year warranty.

Kahn's vest will arrive within ten weeks, according to the Adams County Sheriff's Office, and will be embroidered with "In honor of K9 Roam, Colorado Springs, CO."

Roam was stabbed on October 15 while helping bring a barricaded suspect into Colorado Springs Police Department custody. K9 Roam underwent several hours of surgery, including one in which his left hind leg was amputated.

Since Vested Interest K9s, Inc. was established in 2009, the 501(c)(3) charity has provided over 6,225 vests to K9s in all 50 states, while there are an estimated 30,000 total law enforcement K9s throughout the country. The program is open to dogs at least 20 months old who are actively employed with law enforcement and other related agencies, or K9s with expired vests.

One vest costs $1,050, while each vest is valued at $1,800. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. accepts tax-deductible contributions in any amount. To learn more about the nonprofit or to donate, click here.

Changes to funding at the federal level have affected nonprofit organizations across the country, including here in Colorado. One nonprofit in Brighton was already forced to shut down one of its programs because of cuts to funding. 

Denver7 received this email from a viewer, sharing their concern about the organizations ability to serve the community. The viewer worries other services may be at risk.

Jessica Fiedler, the executive director of Almost Home shared those same concerns.

It's heart wrenching when you think about the people who want to access our resources, and that we might not be able to provide those resources," Fiedler said.

Amanda Lowery and her family, who moved to Colorado two years ago, are among those people.

We initially arrived; we were sleeping in a tent. We did that in three feet of snow, remembered Lowery.

Her family has been experiencing homelessness for four years.

But she said things finally started looking up when she and her family were connected with the nonprofit Almost Home.

I'm proud to say that we're getting there, and we're going to get that stability again, thanks to Almost Home, Lowery said. This is a true blessing. It's what families need, that extra help, she exclaimed.

She said if it werent for the organization, she and her family would be in a very different position.

We would be sleeping on the streets she said.

But the resources that Lowery and her family received to get back on their feet could soon dry up for others.

Fiedler said the organization is no longer receiving certain types of funding that drastically impacted their budget.

When funding is reduced, we're not able to help as many families, she said. We have been receiving for several years TANF funding, which is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families."

Fiedler says for fiscal year 2025, the organization received $1 million for the organization to address housing instability in various realms. But for fiscal year 2026, she was told there would either be no TANF funding, or a significant decrease.

We have been notified that we will receive a total of $290,000 from July 1 to December 31 of 2025, and then after that, TANF funding will no longer be allocated to almost home and to other nonprofits as well," she said.

The cuts are now forcing the organization to make adjustments.

We did away with our family services program, and not entirely all the services, but that program, the leadership that went with that program," she said.

That program provided resources for students in school and their families, those who are experiencing housing instability or homelessness, she added.

And there are concerns for similar programs as well.

We're looking at the future of our emergency shelter here in Brighton that does serve all of Adams County, and I think that is would be catastrophic, given the fact that they we are the only shelter family shelter in all of Adams County, Fiedler said. In terms of our family shelter, we have, we, on average, serve 42 families in a year. And keep in mind, we have over 200 families that apply every month to be in our shelter."

The funding cuts will also affect other areas of the organization.

It also provided staffing costs, nearly $18,000 a month in staffing costs. So that's a huge hit to our staffing budget as well," said Fiedler. "And as a result, you know, we've downsized. We have cut six positions. We've had three staff members go part time, and then we've had some pay cuts at the administrative level.

But despite the uncertain time, one thing is for sure, there have to be other resources out there, and we'll find them, she added.  

 Those other resources the organization is looking into include sponsorships or recurring monthly donors in the community.

Denver7 did reach out to Adams County about the situation Almost Home is facing.

A spokesperson for the county said "those {TANF} reserves are nearly depleted and new state requirements have increased how much we must dedicate to core, statutory TANF benefits like Basic Cash Assistance."

The county added, we extended our discretionary TANF contracts including Almost Home  through December 31, 2025 while we evaluate whats financially sustainable long-term and ensure we remain compliant with federal and state rules.

Their full statement is below:

The county spokesperson said they value Almost Home and the role they play in preventing housing instability and are working closely with partners to ensure families can still access direct cash assistance and other resources.

A 29-year-old man faces a first-degree murder charge in a fatal Aurora stabbing on September 16, the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Milton Oney Euceda-Velasquez, 29, is accused of stabbing and killing a man in an alleyway on E. 19th Ave. between N. Hanover Havanna Streets. Euceda-Velasquez also faces charges of second-degree murder, aggravated robbery, second-degree arson and tampering with physical evidence, according to District Attorney Brian Mason's office.

Euceda-Velasquez's next court appearance is October 24 at 9 a.m. in Adams County District Court.

The Aurora Police Department said the stabbing happened around 3:30 a.m. September 16. Officers arrived at the intersection to find a dead man with multiple stab wounds.

BRIGHTON, Colo. Concerned parents filled the auditorium at Bromley East Charter School (BECS) Tuesday night, looking for answers from school leadership.

The schools administration and Brighton Police Department led a safety town hall just days after bullets were found at the school, leading to a "hold" where students were kept in classrooms as police searched the property.

School leadership said three unspent rounds were uncovered on the property Friday, but no weapon was found, and an offender has yet to be identified.

Tuesday night, BECS executive director Jennifer Shaver said the ammunition was located in a hallway and got kicked into a classroom.

I just want to acknowledge that this event was not easy for anyone, and we hope something like this never happens again, Shaver told the parents gathered at the school and those watching the town hall via livestream.

Parents reached out to Denver7 after the incident on Friday, saying communication during the roughly 4-hour hold was limited, leaving them unsure what was going on and if their kids were safe.

Shaver said during the town hall that while they did not want to alarm parents to make them come to the school during the search, she acknowledged that there should have been an update sooner.

So given the length of the hold, it would have been appropriate to give families an update stating, We remain on hold and all students are safe, she said.

Ryan Liggett, one of the parents who spoke with Denver7 before and after the town hall, called that one of the biggest ownerships [school leaders] had, but still felt like the town hall skated around a lot of questions.

The town hall only addressed pre-submitted questions Tuesday night. Leaders said the school received more than 250 questions, but condensed them into about an hours worth of questions and answers.

It was a lot of general, We can't speak about that. Here's our policy. There was no specifics, Liggett said. They're trying to make it very low-key. They put this meeting together because of the social media uproar that happened over the weekend. I do not believe this would have happened without us parents speaking out.

Another parent who did not want to share his name, fearing retaliation, called for changes to school leadership for how they handled communication during this incident and others. When asked about Tuesdays town hall, he said he believes the administration just chose to pick the general nicest questions that they can answer that make themselves look good.

There were other communication issues during the incident. Shaver said staff members were supposed to receive notifications at the same time as parents on Friday, but did not.

This was due to an error on our part when sending the parent communication along with crafting the staff communication that didn't link it back either, she said. So when we typically send out those notifications We'll hit parents and staff at the same time. In this instance, we didn't do that, and we do try to make sure we're linking information that we send to our parent community into those communications we send them to staff. And that detail was not executed Friday, and so it will be our practice going forward to include parent community communications within staff communications to ensure consistency with information.

Shaver said while there wont be major safety policy updates, she announced the school is already in the process of securing a full-time school resource officer, and leadership is working to fill that position.

Brighton PD's investigation into the incident is ongoing. Parents are still looking for a resolution and someone found responsible for bringing the bullets to school.

Its disheartening, said Liggett. You know, I have multiple kids in this school, and we're about to send them back to school, and they have no idea what happened.

Friday's incident comes one month after a student was reportedly approached by a suspicious man outside the school. In response, Brighton PD increased its patrols near the school.

Parents at Bromley East Charter School (BECS) in Brighton are calling for more accountability from school leaders after a bullet was found in the middle school hallway on Friday.

This isnt the first time parents say theyve had an issue with safety at the school.

Parent Ryan Liggett told Denver7 his son was stabbed by another student with a pencil earlier this month.

His concern comes from the way school leaders handled the situation, he told Denver7.

The email severely downplayed [it]. They talked about it was an incident with a pencil, which it was. They didnt say it was a stabbing. They didnt say there was bodily injury, they didnt say there was blood. It was severely pushed under the rug, Liggett said. They were trying to be hush-hush about it, and we dont feel thats right.

Its just one of several concerns parents hope to address during a safety town hall meeting at the school on Tuesday night.

Elizabeth Vasquez reached out to Denver7 ahead of the meeting to express her worries over the situation that unfolded on Friday.

She said parents werent allowed to pick up their children for several hours due to a hold while Brighton police investigated. She added that communication to parents was unclear in that time.

Just last month, Brighton police increased their patrols around the school after a student was approached by a suspicious man outside the school.

I would like there to be a plan of action going forward, made by the school that you know, shows there's going to be change. I don't know what that looks like yet, but I would just [like] ideas of what we could do going forward so that there is change and that we can feel confident sending our kids there every day, that they will be safe, Vasquez said.

The safety town hall meeting is happening at the BECS auditorium on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. It will also be live-streamed for those who cant make it.

Only pre-submitted questions will be answered during the meeting.

One persons voice may not be heard. 50 peoples voices will be heard, Liggett said.

BRIGHTON, Colo. The Riverdale Animal Shelter in Brighton is looking to the community for support after receiving hundreds of animals from multiple hoarding cases over the past two months.

On Wednesday alone, the shelter took in more than 100 animals from a home in the 14600 block of Umpire Street in unincorporated Adams County as part of an animal cruelty investigation. No arrests have been made, according to Sergeant Shea Haney with the Adams County Sheriff's Office.

Upon execution of the search warrant, they seized about 101 animals from the property," Haney told Denver7. "Sugar gliders, some rats, a hedgehog, snakes."

The shelter has received mass intakes from five investigations in the past two months an unprecedented situation in Adams County. 

It's not common at all, Haney said.  

At the beginning of the week, the shelter's population was somewhere around 375 to 400 animals, which is what they typically see at the end of summer. With this latest intake, however, they now have more than 540 animals in the shelter. 

Shelter officials told Denver7 they are not at capacity yet, thanks to the number of people interested in adoption.

While having several mass impound situations back-to-back is unprecedented, its a powerful reminder of how we serve the community by providing animals a safe place and compassionate care," said Riverdale Animal Shelter director Stephanie Wilde.

The shelter is able to serve as many animals as it does thanks to its fosters.

In the last two years, I've had 51 fosters, said Marion Lorenzo.

Denver7 met Lorenzo while she was picking up her two newest fosters.

When I have to surrender them, I pray over them, and I tell them, 'You're going on to your forever home,' she said.  

The fosters help clear space in the shelter as the animals wait for their permanent home. Evelyn Fisher told Denver7 shes been thinking of adopting for a while.

I've been wanting a kitty so bad for a couple months now, she said. I think it's a great place to go to, especially since so many animals have been coming in with all the hoarding and everything.

The shelter said it has also seen an outpouring of donations to help during this time.

It's important to foster and also to adopt, said Lorenzo. They want a good home. They want somebody to love them and take care of them.

If you are interested in fostering, adopting, or donating, you can visit Riverdale Animal Shelter's website.

A 29-year-old man faces three charges in connection with the alleged kidnapping of a teenage Arby's employee, the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced Wednesday.

Jonathan Barker, 29, is accused of trying to force the 17-year-old girl out of the restaurant's lobby on September 13, but other employees intervened and called Bloomfield police.

Barker is now charged with second-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault and unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

His next court appearance is October 16 at 1:30 p.m. in Broomfield County District Court.