DENVER Megan Trussell's parents hope her legacy is one of justice and integrity. Through their support of SB26-120, which went into effect Aug. 12, they hope they continue to strive for that.

"I hope that Megan is remembered. And, she is remembered as the as the person she was. As the unique, funny, magnetic person that she was," said Joe Trussell, Megan's father.

The University of Colorado student disappeared in February 2025 and was found dead days later.

Denver7 sits down with the Megan Trussell's parents, who championed the new law

Megan's parents have long been critical of the response when she first went missing.

"One of the most frustrating aspects of this whole thing was trying to get us get somebody to take us seriously," Joe Trussell said.

"I don't know why they would drag their feet on that though. That's something I question all the time," said Vanessa Diaz, Trussell's mother.

Throughout the search for their daughter, they became close with State Sen. Janice Marchman, a Democrat who represents Boulder and Larimer counties, and the prime sponsor of the new law, otherwise know as the Missing Person Training & Higher Education Reporting Act.

Megan's mother shared that Marchman was one of few people who have ever visited the site where Megan's body was eventually found.

"[Marchman] was like, 'What can I do? How can I... how can I change things so that this doesn't happen to another family?'" said Diaz of the moments after they all visited that area.

The new law now requires law enforcement officers to have specific training so they are aware of the various missing person alerts active in the state.

Sponsors have said another tragedy inspired that specific change. Kaylee Russell went missing toward the end of 2025, a missing person's alert was sent out a few days after she was last seen. She was eventually found dead in a canal, investigators said it was the result of a single car crash.

The new law requires all higher education institutions to establish a "Preliminary Wellness Assessment" if a student is missing. It also requires the school to contact law enforcement right away if there's a credible risk to the student's safety or if the student has been missing for more than six hours.

"If they had actually started, you know, pulling records and doing all of that stuff earlier, she could have been found earlier, or even saved," said Diaz.

She hopes universities change their policies to encourage quicker responses in these types of cases.

"I think there should also be training for like, for roommates, you know? If your roommate is missing, see something, say something. Or, don't see something, say something," Diaz said. "Maybe even keycard usage, right? Like, if a student's keycard isn't used for a certain number of days, can't that flag something?"

Denver7 reached out to all major universities in Colorado to see if they have begun complying with the requirements in the new law.

Adams State University, Colorado State University Pueblo, Colorado Mesa University and Western Colorado University, all reported that their current policy is already in full compliance with the new law.

Adams State University Police Chief Samuel Maestas said the law reinforces procedures already in place:

CSU Pueblo also released a statement saying requirements in the new law have already been practice on campus there.

"This has been the established practice at CSU Pueblo. Residence Life and Housing teams and other staff are trained on this protocol because we treat every report seriously from the start. The PCSO [Pueblo County Sheriff's Office] has operated the same way since 2012, so alignment with SB26-120 reflects work that's already happening on this campus and in our community," said Gena Alfonso, Director of Communications for CSU Pueblo.

Colorado Mesa University told Denver7 they work closely with the Grand Junction Police Department, and current campus policy already aligns with what's required by the law.

"Much of this work builds on practices and partnerships we already have in place. Ultimately, our focus is simple. We want to do everything we can to keep our students safe and respond with urgency and care when someone needs help," said CMU President John Marshall, in part, via a statement.

Western Colorado University recently revised their procedures to be in full compliance with the law.

"Western Colorado University has long had procedures in place to respond when there is concern that a student may be missing, and many of the steps required under SB26-120 were part of that plan. In direct response to SB26-120, we revisited those procedures and established a Missing Student Notification and Preliminary Wellness Assessment Policy that provides greater clarity on the process for responding to a report of a missing student," said Seth Mensing, Media & Communications Manager for Western Colorado University.

Several major Colorado higher education institutions reported that many requirements of the new law are included in current policies, but updates are ongoing to reach full compliance.

"We take seriously the safety of our students. Across each of our four campuses, we are working to make sure we implement the new law and that it helps to enhance student security as the law was intended to do," said Michele Ames, spokesperson for the University of Colorado. The university also shared their updated Preliminary Wellness Assessment policy.

Metropolitan State University of Denver reported they are in compliance for missing person notification requirements and the university has drafted an official wellness-assessment policy that will go before the University Policy Advisory Council for input and approval in the fall.

"This council will further establish best practices that promote inclusive, informed policy that fosters collaboration and successful implementation," said Tim Carroll, Senior Director of Media and Public Relations.

The University of Northern Colorado also has updated their Preliminary Wellness Assessment Policy.

"While the requirements outlined in Colorado SB26-120 are new, UNC has long followed many of these practices and is fully prepared to comply with the law. UNC's Preliminary Wellness Assessment Policy, which reflects updated requirements," said Sydney Kern, Public Relations Manager for UNC.

Colorado School of Mines told Denver7 a policy has been in place for several years that outlines procedures for Mines Police Department and the Division of Student Life to follow if a student is reported missing.

"University officials are currently in the process of reviewing that policy to determine if changes can be made to reinforce Mines' commitment to a rapid, coordinated response to missing students on our campus," said Emilie Rusch, Director of Communications at Colorado School of Mines.

As of the publishing of this article, Denver7 has not received a response from Colorado State University in Fort Collins. We will update this article as soon as that information is received.

While the death of Megan Trussell is still under independent review from the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, her parents hope the new law will prevent a tragedy for another family.

"There's an agreement there between the family and the university that, 'I am sending you my best and brightest. I'm sending you my daughter, my son. While they are transitioning to adulthood, they're also still kids.' So there has to be some measure of safety for kids on a campus," said Joe Trussell.

"[Megan] wanted to make a difference. You know, she had a really strong sense of justice, and she really valued integrity," said Diaz.

Megan Trussell's sister is organizing a benefit concert in her honor. It's called the Justice for Megan Trussell Fundraiser Show at Globe Hall on Aug. 20. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance for adults or $20 day of. Tickets for anyone under 21-years old are $20 in advance or $25 day of.

People can venmo the account: @Lindsey-Trussell-2 with full names and payments if they are interested in attending.

A Fort Collins police officer faces charges in connection with a multi-vehicle crash in Weld County Wednesday evening, according to Colorado State Patrol (CSP).

Around 6:07 p.m. Wednesday, CSP was called to a wreck near Weld County Roads 33 and 76, allegedly involving an unmarked Fort Collins Police Department F-150 truck.

CSP said the truck's driver is a Fort Collins police officer. The officer is accused of making a left turn from southbound Weld County Road 33 onto Weld County Road 76, hitting a Jeep Patriot. The driver of the Jeep was traveling northbound, and when the F-150 driver reportedly made impact, a Volkswagen Rabbit was also struck.

The driver of the Jeep was a 53-year-old woman who had three passengers in the car. They sustained moderate to serious bodily injuries, according to CSP.

The driver of the F-150 was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries and charged with two counts of careless driving causing bodily injury, and one count of careless deriving causing serious bodily injury, CSP said. The Volkswagen driver did not report any injuries.

Weld County Road 33 at Weld County Road 76 was shut down for nearly two hours, but has since reopened. CSP is leading the investigation into the wreck.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. A Fort Collins viewer reached out to Denver7 with a question many drivers may be asking: Why are so many major construction projects happening at the same time in south Fort Collins?

The viewer said the overlapping projects have significantly increased commute times and wanted to know why the city scheduled them all at once.

Denver7's Northern Colorado Reporter Peter Choi spoke with the city capital projects manager about the projects

Denver7 visited one of the busiest construction zones at College Avenue and Trilby Road, where traffic delays have become a daily reality for many drivers.

Just steps away from the construction, Vintage Marketplace owner Kimberly Mary has placed a sign outside her business reading, "Open During Construction."

Mary says the project has impacted her business as construction has shifted through different phases along the corridor.

"It's definitely been rough," she said. "They started with the west side, then kind of the middle, and now they're on our side."

She says customer traffic has dropped, prompting her to put up the sign so people know the store is still open.

"Just so that people knew that we were open," she said.

Mary isn't the only one feeling the impact. Another viewer emailed Denver7, writing, "We have had to add minutes to all our errands."

Across south and southeast Fort Collins, four major construction projects are underway, including the Power Trail underpass. Denver7 took viewers' concerns directly to the City of Fort Collins.

Capital Projects Manager Dana Hornkohl said the timing is driven by a combination of funding requirements and construction logistics.

"It's partially due to funding, but it's primarily due to asphalt availability," Hornkohl said. "All four projects require asphalt, which can only be laid during warmer weather."

Hornkohl also said the city added two projects because of urgent public safety concerns.

"There were a series of water line breaks last year that led us to understand there was a desperate need to replace many of the water lines in that area," Hornkohl said.

The city acknowledged the frustration many drivers are experiencing and said it tries to minimize overlapping projects whenever possible.

"We realize the traveling public has been really patient with us," Hornkohl said. "We do try to limit and space out construction so it has minimal impact."

The city expects all four major projects to be completed by the end of this year.

A 20-year-old Colorado State University (CSU) student has filed a lawsuit against the City of Fort Collins and two police officers for wrongful arrest on claims of driving under the influence (DUI).

Nathan May, 20, was driving back from a late night showing of "Superman" early in the morning on July 16, 2025 when he was pulled over near S. College Avenue and Boardwalk Drive by two Fort Collins Police Services (FCPS) officers for briefly driving without his headlights on, according to a news release from May's lawyers. After less than a minute, one of the officers claims to have concluded May "appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol," the lawsuit reads.

When the two officers identified in the lawsuit as Trevor Cacciatore and Vince Hooley asked May to explain his driving, he said any issues they claimed to have observed could be because he was tired as it was past 2 a.m. when they stopped him. According to the lawsuit, May does not drink or use drugs, has a clean driving record and no criminal history.

In an interview with Denver7, May said there was a 30-second span when he did not have his lights on. When he was pulled over, the office told him to step out of the car.

"I basically started getting bombarded out of nowhere about how I'm on alcohol and how, you know, my driving indicated that I was under the influence and I just knew... Something's wrong here," he said.

May offered to do roadside sobriety tests to prove his innocence, the lawsuit reads. The officers asked May to take a portable breath test, which came back with triple zeros, the lawsuit says.

The officers searched May's car, finding only a water bottle full of water, the lawsuit reads, but still proceeded to arrest him on a DUI charge.

"The whole time I was in handcuffs, I thought, 'How could an innocent person possibly be arrested?' So, I was very terrified. I was very distraught. I was humiliated, really, and it was really disheartening to kind of see that, you know, an innocent person could be in handcuffs," May told Denver7.

The officers told May he would have his license revoked if he refused a blood draw, so he went with them to Poudre Valley Hospital to comply before they transported him to Larimer County Jail, the suit continues. The lawsuit says May spent eight hours there before he was able to post bond or contact his mother.

The lawsuit also reads that Officer Cacciatore "falsely characterized Mr. Mays speech in his report as 'slow' and 'slurred' speech. This claim is observably false and belied by the (officers' body-worn camera) video. Mr. May had normal speech throughout the encounter."

Watch Maggy Wolanske's report in the video below:

May's blood results came back months later, his lawyers said, showing no evidence of drugs or alcohol.

According to the lawsuit, Officer Cacciatore told his supervisor that based on his observations during the arrest, a more in-depth drug screening was necessary, and he requested that additional testing.

The Eighth Judicial District Attorney's Office moved to dismiss all charges against May on Oct. 16, 2025. However, the lawsuit states May "continues to suffer extensive damages across every dimension of his life." He continues to incur expenses related to his arrest, including attorney fees, as well as medical and therapy costs.

As part of his arrest, he was reported to CSU, which began a student-conduct investigation, threatening suspension or expulsion. He was also subjected to pretrial supervision in which he had to give regular urine samples for drug testing that he was required to pay for out of pocket all of which came back clean for no sign of drugs or alcohol, according to the lawsuit.

"Mr. May a young man who has never used illegal drugs and does not consume alcohol was forced to endure months of being treated as a criminal, subjected to invasive testing, reported to his university, investigated by student-conduct authorities, and made to live under the constant shadow of criminal prosecution and potential academic expulsion, all because two Fort Collins police officers arrested him without probable cause based on a fabricated and incompetent investigation," the lawsuit reads.

This is the sixth wrongful DUI lawsuit brought against FCPS in three years, according to May's lawyers. Within the last week, the lawsuit states the City of Fort Collins paid out a $500,000 settlement in another wrongful DUI arrest lawsuit filed in 2023. Another settlement was made for $150,000 in a different 2023 wrongful DUI arrest lawsuit.

May's lawyers allege in the lawsuit that the City of Fort Collins's "deliberate failure to train, supervise, and discipline its officers with respect to DUI investigations and probable cause a failure of which the City had abundant notice well before July 16, 2025" has contributed to the longstanding pattern of FCPS making wrongful DUI arrests.

The lawsuit points to institutional incentives for many Colorado law enforcement agencies to make more DUI arrests, including state and federal grant funding, as well as favorable publicity.

"There's no accountability from this department. There's not an admission of wrongdoing. There's not any kind of changes made with leadership or with policy or with training," May's lawyer Sarah Schielke told Denver7. "I continue to be shocked. I think 'Anyone else furious that they are continuing to arrest innocent people and the officers that are doing aren't facing any consequences for it?'"

She called this "more than a concerning trend."

Denver7 reached out to FCPS for a response to the lawsuit. They responded: "Thank you for reaching out. We are aware of the filing and as it is now before the court, we are unable to discuss the case at this time."

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. About two acres burned in a fire just east of the southern end of Horsetooth Reservoir near Fort Collins on Monday, briefly forcing evacuations.

Poudre Fire Authority reported that at 12:48 p.m., a person called to report a fence and trees on fire along the 4100 block of Red Fox Road. Crews arrived to find the fire was spreading quickly and threatening multiple structures.

Mandatory evacuations were issued for all residents south of Horsetooth Road and west of Taft Hill Road, including County Road 38E and Hidden Springs Road. Voluntary evacuations were also briefly ordered for W. Prospect Road south to W. Horsetooth Road, and S. Taft Hill Road west to S. Overland Trail.

All evacuations have been lifted.

As of Monday afternoon, the Poudre Fire Authority said the fire had burned two acres. No structures were damaged.

The cause of this fire is not yet known.

Text LCEVAC to 888777 for updates. Click here to sign up for LETA911 alerts.

Self checkout feels like a front porch for this Fort Collins Safeway employee celebrating 50 years

Tony Espinoza clocks in, grabs his coffee, and as the sun comes up, makes days brighter at a Safeway in Fort Collins.

On this day, though, something bigger was happening. Espinoza was celebrating his 50th work anniversary.

WATCH: Denver7's Mike Castellucci gets to know Tony Espinoza the bowtie-wearing, coupon-approving community staple.

"I have to use my magic wand," Espinoza said.

That magic wand and the man holding it has become something far more meaningful than a tool for approving coupons at the self-checkout lane.

"Tony has become that extended part of people's families," a coworker said.

Espinoza moves through the store, greeting customers by name, stopping for small talk, and building the kinds of relationships that outlast any transaction.

"I get to move around, meet and interact with customers here," Espinoza said. "Good morning."

"I guarantee you'll see five people in the next five minutes that he knows," a coworker said.

His real value, those around him say, isn't finding the coupon code. It's his friendship.

"Getting to know the customers, you have small conversations daily, and pretty soon you know about their life, and they know yours," Espinoza said. "It's a grocery store friendship."

During his career with Safeway, Espinoza spent 40 years in the classroom. He says Safeway made it possible to have two careers.

"I'm not sure you know this about me, but I'm a teacher," Espinoza said. "I taught for 40 years international baccalaureate program, advanced grammar classes. I loved it. Miss it, but Safeway has been good to me."

He is known for his bowties his signature trademark, he calls them and for knowing just about everyone who walks through the door.

To mark the milestone, coworkers gathered in the break room, where applause greeted Espinoza as he stepped away from the floor the hardest part of the day for a man who would rather be with his customers.

"I've been thinking about this day and wondering what I would say," Espinoza said. "I was a junior in college when I started working here. It's been a great career for me."

Among those gathered were familiar faces from another chapter of his life.

"Two I see are former students of mine when I taught at Poudre High School," Espinoza said.

And there was cake from his favorite bakery inside the store.

"I'm glad to see a cake here from my favorite bakery," Espinoza said. "I love our bakery here."

For Espinoza, the self-checkout lane feels less like a workstation and more like a front porch, where neighbors keep stopping by. After half a century, this is Tony's home at work.

Poudre School District is eliminating 182 educator positions heading into the next school year, citing budget issues as the driving force behind the cuts.

The move comes after months of conversations about declining enrollment, forcing Poudre School District to consider how its budget could reshape schools across the district.

WATCH: Poudre schools cut 182 positions

PSD is projected to have 654 fewer students in its schools next year, citing fewer school-aged children in the area due to declining birth rates and fewer younger families moving into the area due to housing costs.

Denver7 was there as parents brought their concerns to the districts first community meeting back in April, raising questions about programs, staffing and how changes could impact their kids.

"I think a large part of what makes up a school is the community of teachers and people who work there," one parent told district leaders during that meeting.

That community is now shrinking.

The reductions include the non-renewal of 110 teaching positions and the elimination of 72 classified positions at the end of the 2025-2026 school year.

Building and department leaders handle staffing and budget decisions at each site, tailoring them to meet the unique needs of specific schools and departments, according to the district.

District officials told Denver7 not all the reductions are layoffs.

"In some cases, positions vacated by retiring or resigning staff were not backfilled. These numbers are still being finalized as the district transitions between fiscal years, so totals may shift," a district spokesperson said.

The changes also include pay raises. A total of $5.4 million was allocated to compensation for the 2026-2027 school year. Licensed and classified staff will receive a 1.81% increase, while administrative and professional staff will receive a 1.62% increase. The raises were determined through the district's negotiations process with its three employee associations the Poudre Education Association (PEA), the Association of Classified Employees (ACE), and the Poudre Association of School Executives (PASE) which concluded in late May, according to the district.

Actual increases vary by individual, as a portion of the funding goes toward market adjustments and increases also depend on an employee's placement on the salary schedule, the district said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Poudre Education Association questioned raises for senior leaders while cuts continue across the board.

As employees continue to navigate increasing workloads, staffing challenges, and ongoing affordability issues in Northern Colorado, the decision to increase compensation for senior leaders many of whom already receive total compensation packages approaching or exceeding $300,000 annually is difficult of reconcile with the financial realities facing the broader district workforce, the group said in a statement.

Parents say the losses will be felt throughout the school community.

Tony Morales, a parent, said the burden of fewer staff will fall on those who remain.

"When faculty is not there, then the others have to pick up the slack," Morales said.

"I immediately think of the kids," Breanna Morales said.

She also stressed the long-term consequences of reducing the educator workforce.

"If we want future leaders, future teachers, future doctors around, I mean, we need teachers," Breanna said.

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 Fort Collins family is celebrating a second chance at life after a son donated stem cells to his father, who was battling a stubborn and complex case of leukemia.

WATCH: Denver7's Ethan Carlson caught up with the father and son ahead of Father's Day

Wayne Sharrah was diagnosed in March 2024 after waking up in the middle of the night with a racing heart.

"About midnight, I woke up in the middle of the night, and my heart was absolutely pounding out of my chest, really hard, really fast, and I couldn't get it to slow down, and I, in the back of my mind, knew something was up," Sharrah said.

That episode led to a diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism, or a blood clot in the lung. It ultimately revealed an underlying case of leukemia. For his son Danny, the news was hard to process.

Kind of shock. Like, hes healthy, they are super active, Danny Sharrah said. How could this have happened to him?

Waynes disease proved difficult to treat. Multiple rounds of chemotherapy and CAR-T immune-cell therapy were working, but the treatment revealed a second, more dangerous leukemia hiding in his bone marrow.

We said, we have a big problem here, Wayne. Weve got to do a complete stem cell transplant here. Your bone marrow is really, really heavily diseased, Dr. Luke Mountjoy of the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute said.

Mountjoy searched an international donor registry but could not find a match.

"Both of my boys immediately stepped up and said, 'We'll be your donor,' and so I had to sort of make a choice," Wayne said. "There was nothing scientific about how I made the decision, but one of the differences between our two sons is that Danny hardly ever gets sick, so I had this gut instinct that said maybe there's something there that can help me. So, we chose Danny.

Danny said the decision to donate was straightforward.

"From the minute we knew that we could do something about it, we were all gung ho about making sure that whichever one of us was chosen, it was going to be successful," Danny said.

By January 2025, just nine months after his diagnosis, Wayne was in remission. Mountjoy said his demeanor throughout the grueling process left a lasting impression.

One of the things that I'll never shake is Wayne's attitude through it all He was a trooper through the whole thing. The grace that he and his family had going through the thing was just one of the most impressive things about the whole story," Mountjoy said.

For Danny, seeing his father recover made everything worth it.

"He's one of my best friends. I don't know what I would do if he wasn't here. So, I'm eternally grateful that he's still here, and I'm able to make more memories of him," Danny said.

For Wayne, the experience gave him a new perspective on the relationship between a parent and a child.

"As a parent, you give everything to your kids, you never ever expect to take something from them, and here I am taking life from my son, and what an opportunity," Wayne said.

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.

Fort Collins is shutting down its network of 15 Flock Safety license plate reader cameras after a year and a half, following a city council vote this week to cancel its contract with the vendor and immediately stop collecting data.

The decision came after widespread concern from residents about mass surveillance.

WATCH: Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio talks with residents after Fort Collins city council voted 6-1 to cancel its contract with Flock Safety and halt all data collection from the license plate reader cameras

"It just seems like an invasion of people's privacy," Kathy Louderback, who lives in Fort Collins, told Denver7.

"I wasn't a fan of the Flock system," Rob Cullin, who also lives in Fort Collins, said.

City council member Anne Nelson said the concern was not about how police were using the cameras, but about how others could access data through the broader network.

"As a community we just weren't comfortable with this level of mass surveillance technology right now," Nelson said.

When asked whether the cameras could return to Fort Collins if the right safeguards were put in place, Nelson left the door open.

"I don't know yet," Nelson said. "I think if we do have the right policy guardrails, then possibly."

Check out Denver7's previous coverage on Flock:

Fort Collins police had used the cameras to help solve crimes, with their website highlighting recent success stories ranging from recovering a stolen vehicle to a fugitive arrest. The department ultimately supported the council's decision to remove the cameras.

"We've been in existence of policing this community for more than 100 years. We've only been using Flock for a little more than a year," said Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda in a Facebook video. "And we will continue solving crime as we always have even without this tool."

Nelson said the cameras have already been shut off, though it remains unclear exactly when they will be physically removed.

Two brush fires in Fort Collins one in the area of the Riverbend Ponds Natural Area that prompted voluntary evacuation orders in Fort Collins on Thursday were fully contained Thursday evening.

Officials first posted about the fire in the 1500 block of E. Mulberry Street, the larger of the two, a little before 6 p.m. The fire was knocked down by 7:35 p.m. and no injuries or structure damage had been reported, Poudre Fire officials said.

Watch the latest on the fires:

The fire burned about 7 acres and crews were staying on scene to monitor hotspots, a Poudre Fire spokesperson said.

Voluntary evacuation orders were in place for residents and businesses south of Highway 14 to Prospect Road and west of Timberline Road to Riverside Avenue, the Larimer County sheriff's department posted. An alert told those in the area to gather essential items and prepare for evacuation.

"There is heavy smoke in the area as the fire is in heavy vegetation," a post from Poudre Fire Authority said just after 6 p.m.

The voluntary evacuation orders were lifted just before 8 p.m., sheriff's department officials said.

Fire officials said they were responding to a second fire at Lee Martinez park a little before 7 p.m. That fire burned just 1 acre and was fully contained later in the evening, a Poudre Fire spokesperson said.

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. The final connecting section of the Poudre River Trail is now complete, opening 45 miles of uninterrupted trail between Bellvue and Greeley.

That newest portion of the trail, between south Timnath and north Windsor, was the final puzzle piece linking the whole trail together. The segment included one mile of trail construction, plus a bridge over a canal.

The completed multi-use trail is the result of five decades of planning and partnership, said Larimer County Department of Natural Resources in a press release. It connects Bellvue, Fort Collins, Timnath, Windsor and Greeley.

It runs on both the east and west side of Interstate 25.

"The trail generally follows the Cache la Poudre River, providing an intact natural experience even as lands around the river are developed," the department said. "Completion of the Poudre River Trail ensures that our community members have an easy, accessible connection to nature, no matter where they live."

The map below shows the trail prior to the completion of the gap area, which is in orange.

Fence construction remains up in a few places, so temporary trail closures are possible.

The public is welcome to a community celebration at Timnath Community Park on June 13 at 9 a.m.

"A project of this scale requires incredible coordination and a shared commitment to our natural resources," said Meegan Flenniken, land conservation, planning & resource division manager. "Finishing this trail segment is a testament to what we can achieve when regional partners align toward a common goal. This trail is a gift to the community protecting the Poudre River while providing an unmatched way to experience the heart of northern Colorado.

Learn more about the trail here.

Two sets of tenants in Pueblo allege they were poisoned by carbon monoxide in the same apartment unit, and their attorney believes the landlord is to blame.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be deadly.

Carbon monoxide detectors are required in dwelling units with fuel-fired appliances or an attached garage or parking structure, as these are potential sources of carbon monoxide.

Carbon monoxide deprives the brain of oxygen, and at high levels or with prolonged exposure, it causes irreversible brain damage.

Attorney Sam Cannon represents two Pueblo brothers who filed a lawsuit last year claiming their landlords negligence left them with permanent brain damage after carbon monoxide poisoning in their apartment.

Watch Colette Bordelon's report in the player below:

There are two primary clear laws that we often run into: The first is the carbon monoxide detector law, which says that in any rental unit, the landlord has to ensure there are functional carbon monoxide detectors when a new tenant moves in. Second, under the sort of landlord-tenant laws, we call it the warranty of habitability, landlords have a responsibility to make sure their heat and hot water systems are installed to code, that they're in good working order," explained Cannon.

The complaint was filed in Pueblo County Court on April 7 against C & S Grand Investments, LLC, and its managing member, Jason Scott Berrier.

According to the lawsuit, the two brothers were hospitalized with life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning in April 2024 from a malfunctioning furnace, which the landlord allegedly tried to fix himself without a required license.

The property is located at 2805 N. Grand Avenue in Pueblo.

It was this case of a furnace that had been installed improperly and had been serviced by someone who wasn't licensed, wasn't qualified, and a landlord who hadn't placed carbon monoxide detectors in the unit," said Cannon. "It very fortunately did not result in any deaths, but it's about as close as you can come.

Cannon said his office was contacted by another tenant of that same apartment complex in Pueblo, who said she believed she also experienced carbon monoxide poisoning. His office filed a counterclaim in response to the landlord's lawsuit against the tenant for unpaid rent.

The tenant told us that the same thing had happened to her that the furnace was still only being worked on by an unqualified technician, and that she was also exposed to carbon monoxide in the same unit," said Cannon.

Cannon said he is actively working on a handful of carbon monoxide-related cases, which he said are rare. He believes the rental market in Colorado is one reason why he has seen so many similar cases.

People are unable to afford their own homes. People who are in unstable housing situations are at a disadvantage when dealing with their landlords, and that allows landlords to get away with, you know, not repairing furnaces, not checking carbon monoxide detectors, and that sort of thing," said Cannon.

The tenant in the second case, Rachelle Clementi, sent the following statement to Denver7:

Clients want, obviously, they want to be made whole to the extent that's even possible, but more than that, they really want other people to know that this can happen," said Cannon. "The more people know, the more they can protect themselves and make sure this doesn't happen to them either.

Denver7 reached out to the defendant named in this case and did not receive a response before publication.

A toddler who was rescued from an active irrigation ditch on Tuesday has died, the Larimer County sheriff's office announced, marking the second child to die after unrelated water rescues Tuesday.

Officials say they responded around 6 p.m. to reports that a toddler had fallen into the waterway fed by the Cache la Poudre River. He was soon found downstream by a neighbor who began performing CPR. Poudre Fire Authority swiftwater technicians had also responded to the incident.

The child was transported to an area hospital, but did not survive.

This is a really tough one. Sudden loss is never easy, but losing a child is especially hard, Undersheriff Joe Shellhammer said in a release. Our hearts are heavy today for this family and everyone who knew this little boy."

The release said the sheriff's office "is working to determine exactly what happened" and asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact LCSO Investigator Marcus Simelane at 970-498-5515.

The county coroner will release the childs name, as well as cause and manner of death, the release said.

The sheriff's office also provided local resources for anyone who has been impacted by the death of a child: 3Hopeful Hearts provides grief-informed support to those impacted by the death of a baby or child of any age. Learn more at https://www.3hopefulhearts.com/. The sheriff's office victim response team and chaplain are also offering support for the victims family and neighbors who assisted.

Denver7 is also sharing recent drowning statistics and water safety tips after Tuesday's tragic incidents.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. A 23yearold ebike rider died after crashing into a vehicle in Fort Collins last month, the Colorado State Patrol announced Tuesday.

The May 22 crash occurred around 4:51 p.m. at the intersection of S. Timberline Road and E. Lincoln Avenue.

Troopers said the male e-bike rider was heading east on E. Lincoln Avenue and failed to stop at a posted sign before being struck by a northbound SUV on S. Timberline Road.

The e-bike rider was thrown from the bike in the crash. He was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased three days later.

No other injuries were reported.

Troopers said the 69-year-old female driver of the SUV remained at the scene. No charges have been filed.

The identity of the 23-year-old e-bike rider has not been released.

A 12-year-old Fort Collins student is heading to Washington, D.C., after winning the Colorado State Spelling Bee and earning a spot in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Nikhil Ganta, a sixth-grader at Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School, is one of just two Colorado students competing in the national competition on Wednesday.

"I'm hoping that, you know, I'll make Colorado proud at the national," Nikhil said.

Watch: Denver7's Jessica Porter sits down with Nikhil Ganta to talk spelling, cricket and more

Nikhil won the Colorado State Spelling Bee in five hours. His goal this year is a Top 5 finish and then a championship over the next three years, until he reaches the competition's age limit of 15.

Nikhil is passionate about cricket, plays the trumpet and also competes in Mathcounts competitions.

When asked whether winning a spelling bee or a cricket game is harder, Nikhil didn't hesitate.

"I think winning a spelling bee for sure," Nikhil said.

Cricket is an endurance sport, much like the spelling bee. A game can last anywhere from 90 minutes to five days.

His mother, Hima Maligiredy, said Nikhil showed an early gift for spelling.

"He had an aptitude when he was in first grade, and that's what even prompted me to get into it, and then it was just his self-motivation," Maligiredy said. "For me, it was not just the spelling and winning the competitions. It was like the breadth of knowledge he gained from it."

His father, Ashwin Ganta, admits the competition is nerve-wracking to watch.

"I'm a nervous wreck, my heart rate goes up to 130 when he's asked the questions," he said.

Away from the competition, Nikhil's parents describe him as a grounded 12-year-old who loves Roblox and is also a very skilled speller.

UPDATE | Fort Collins police said at 6:16 a.m. that the girl had been found. Denver7 has removed her name and photo from this story.

...

FORT COLLINS, Colo. A 12-year-old girl has been reported missing out of Fort Collins and was last seen around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, police said early Thursday.

In a post on social media, the Fort Collins Police Department said the girl was last spotted around the 400 block of Hickory Street. This is just north of where Highway 287 crosses the Cache la Poudre River.

She is described as having black hair with blue highlights. She may have black clothing. She is about 100 pounds. Her height was not available.

Fort Collins police are asking anybody who sees somebody matching her description to contact the department at 970-221-6540.

DACONO, Colo. A Colorado car driver is about to make his NASCAR debut. Scotty Milan is based in Fort Collins. He will make his debut in the NASCAR ARCA race at Colorado National Speedway on May 23.

Milan grew up around cars with his dad owning an auto body business. He got into the sport of racing as early as 7 years old. Since then, hes had a wide range in experience from quarter midgets to micro sprints, sprint cars and now will make his debut with the ARCA series.

Hear more from Scotty Milan about his excitement for the upcoming race in the video below.

"I have a big change basically going from, starting on asphalt, went to dirt racing, and now I'm back to asphalt racing," Milan said. "So, Im pretty confident and comfortable in that car and it's all circle track.

Milan said his favorite part of driving is the adrenaline rush at the start line. Now, he will get the chance to have his family and friends watching from the stands in his hometown.

I'm excited because it's in my hometown and I've never raced really in Colorado before, and I've lived here my whole life," he said. "I travel all over to go race and it's never here in Colorado, so it's nice to finally race in my hometown.

You can cheer on Scotty on Saturday, May 23 at the Colorado National Speedway in Dacono. You can find more information and buy tickets online. Races start at 6:30 p.m.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. A wildfire burning in Fort Collins has been contained and all evacuations have been lifted, officials said Thursday evening.

The Poudre Fire Authority said crews would remain on scene until all hotspots were extinguished.

The fire had prompted mandatory evacuations for a portion of far west Fort Collins.

According to a NOCOAlert, the mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents west of Overland Trail and south of Elizabeth Street to Dixon Canyon Road.

Voluntary evacuations were also issued for an area between Overland trail and Taft Hill Road, south of Vine Drive and north of Horsetooth Road, according to authorities.

Residents can receive Larimer County Telephone Authority Alerts (LETA) by texting LCEVAC to 888777 for more updates.

Denver7 will update this story as we learn more.

You can watch Denver7 News at 5 in the video player below

DENVER A fifth person in Weld County has tested positive for measles, state health officials said Tuesday, as they warned Coloradans of possible exposures to the highly transmissible virus at two health care centers in Larimer County this week.

The latest case was confirmed in an unvaccinated adult who is a close contact of previous cases within the county, according to a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment spokesperson. The patient along with three other previous cases reported by the CDPHE over the past several weeks is not believed to be tied to an ongoing outbreak in Broomfield.

But in an email to Denver7 Wednesday, CDPHE officials confirmed that four of the five cases in the county are linked, which means Colorado is now dealing with a second outbreak of the virus across the state.

State health officials said this latest patient could have exposed people at the UCHealth Primary Care clinic in Johnstown, located at 4846 Larimer Parkway on Monday, April 13, between 3:15 p.m. 5:20 p.m.; and at the Banner Fort Collins Medical Center Emergency, located at 4700 Lady Moon Drive, between 3:35 p.m. and 6:10 p.m. on that same date.

Anyone who believes they may have been exposed especially those who have not been vaccinated with the MMR vaccine should monitor for symptoms for 21 days and avoid public gatherings or high-risk settings, health officials said in a news release.

State health officials said those who were potentially exposed in connection with this latest case may develop symptoms through Monday, May 4.

Symptoms to watch out for include anything from a fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red, watery eyes that develop into a rash that starts on the face and then spreads to the rest of the body about three to five days after symptoms first start. A person with measles is contagious four days before and four days after the rash appears.

State health official surge people who develop symptoms to call the CDPHE at 720-653-3369 or their local public health agency immediately by phone before trying to seek treatment to avoid other people from becoming potentially infected with the virus. the CDPHE urges people to call an urgent care center or emergency department and explain that you may have been exposed to measles if you do not have a health care provider.

While most people recover within two or three weeks after contracting the virus, unvaccinated people run the risk of complications from the disease, including ear infections, seizures, pneumonia, immune amnesia, brain damage and ultimately, death.

Denver7 has been closely following confirmed measles cases in Colorado amid a multi-state outbreak in the U.S. that began last year. Explore the map by clicking here or check it out below to see where cases have popped up in 2026:

Measles only spreads from people who show symptoms; it does not spread from people who arent feeling sick, state health officials said.

Unvaccinated people exposed to the virus can get the MMR vaccine 72 hours after exposure (but before symptoms are present) to prevent an infection, according to health officials. If vaccination is not possible, antibody treatment can help in some cases if its given within six days of exposure, state health officials said.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and your community, the CDPHE spokesperson said.

While the two-dose series of the MMR vaccine has a 97% efficacy rate against infection, about 3 in every 100 people can still get infected if exposed to the virus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccinated individuals will usually develop milder symptoms and are less likely to spread it to others, according to state health officials.

People who got vaccinated against measles before 1968 should talk to their health care provider about possibly getting a booster as the vaccine used before that year wasn't as effective.

As of Tuesday, Colorado has reported cases of the virus in Adams (5), Arapahoe (1), Broomfield (4), Saguache (1), and Weld (5) counties, according to statewide data.

Weld County is now tied with Adams County when it comes to the greatest number of cases so far this year. More concerning, however, is that with this latest Weld County case, the states measles tally now stands at 16 a number that Colorado did not reach until late July last year, which suggests that the state is in for another rough measles year in 2026.

Last year, amid a multi-state outbreak of the virus across the country, Colorado reported 36 measles cases. Up until 2014, Colorado saw between zero and two cases each year.

Across the country, the number of confirmed measles infections so far this year has now surpassed 1,700, which represents about 75% of all measles cases the U.S. reported in all of 2025.

Editor's note on April 15 at 2:14 p.m.:

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LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. The American bison's story could have ended in extinction but the species endures, and in northern Colorado, one herd is proving bison can flourish once again.

A partnership between Colorado State University, Fort Collins and Larimer County is proving that collaboration can bring back America's most iconic species. In 2015, 10 bison with ancestry from Yellowstone herds arrived at Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. Over the years, the Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd has grown in size and currently has three adult females and 29 calves on the land.

WATCH: Denver7's Maggy Wolanske headed north to learn about the iconic species and the effort to bring them back to Northern Colorado

CSU associate professor Jennifer Barfield has been with the original herd since the beginning. She explained the cultural significance of this herd coming from the Yellowstone lineage, as they are known to be the more free-ranging of the animals.

"The idea is that this herd will be here for the foreseeable future, which does mean that the generations will pass through this herd here and that they will continue to live here and be bison," Barfield said.

This marks the 11th year of the herd out on the prairie, with Barfield seeing the animals thrive from "beginning to end." Her reproduction research benefits directly from the herd, which provides invaluable data and learning experiences for students back in the laboratory.

"It's really special to see them out here on the prairie where they should be and should remain, and it's great to know that we have a project where the community is engaged," Barfield said. "We have the support of the city and the county to keep this herd here for the indefinite future to have bison on the landscape, to be the ecological engineers. They are to be the cultural connection that they can be for our community, and all of those things make this project really special."

CSU offers a one-year master's program in assisted reproductive technology, with Barfield serving as the director. The program teaches students how to become an embryologist while studying techniques and technology used in reproductive clinics for humans.

"There is no other program really like it in the U.S. that gives you as much hands-on experience in the lab, making embryos, freezing them, and thawing them out and doing all of those things, that you can find in reproductive clinics and labs across the world," said Barfield. "So it's a really special program, and yeah, it's housed right here at CSU."

A poster of a bison and calf is visible outside one of the labs. Barfield explained they have used reproductive technologies to support the bison herd and ensure the species exists for a long time. Specifically, they have embryos that are frozen, which can be used "decades or hundreds of years from now."

"We have a few animals in the herd that have been produced by these technologies," said Barfield. "Now, all of the bison out at Soapstone in the Laramie Foothills herd, they are all breeding naturally, and when we do the reproductive technologies, we do them here on the campus of the university and then introduce those animals back into the herd."

For students in the program, like Jacob Cook, he was excited to have the opportunity to work with bison embryos and learn from Barfield.

"Anybody who comes here truly cares and loves the bison," Cook said.

"It's inspirational to see what we can do here and how it truly impacts other national parks and herds and other science programs that could start their own program one day," he added.

The program has transferred more than 200 bison to Native American Tribes and to conservation programs like the Bronx Zoo and the Crane Trust. Being out in the prairie surrounded by this herd, Barfield sees her life's work in action, a thriving conservation story that she helped create.

"I have known these animals, many of them, for more than 10 years now, and so just to see them living our lives out here is probably the best part," Barfield said.

Drivers on Interstate 25 in northern Colorado will now have to pay to use the express lanes between Berthoud and Fort Collins.

Travelers with an ExpressToll pass will pay between $1 and $4.75 for each of three express lane segments, depending on the time of day and direction of travel.

When toll rates are lowest overnight, for example, a driver would pay a total of $3 for a whole one-way trip. During peak hours, a driver would pay as much as $12.20 for a whole one-way trip. Overhead signs will display the current toll price.

The entire I-25 corridor, north of Denver, has very heavy traffic, Tim Hoover, a spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), said. We've been trying to manage congestion on our major highways, including I-25 and especially the northern portions of I-25 running up to Fort Collins.

Hoover said the main purpose of the tolls is to reduce traffic, not to make money. Adding a tolled lane limits the number of cars that choose to use it, which reduces congestion in the other lanes without enticing more drivers onto the highway.

Its how a lot of states and really a lot of countries have begun to approach managing congestion, he said. Its not simply to always try to add more lanes. The new lanes just fill up and youre back to where you were before.

Warnings for weaving between the general purpose lanes and the express lane also begin April 7. Lane weaving fines with a price tag of $75 will begin on May 7, which becomes $150 if unpaid within 20 days.

The weaving is very dangerous, Hoover said. The express lane is typically going faster, and so if people jump in from one of the general purpose lanes, they can cause a rear-end accident. If people jump out of the express lane, it can also cause an accident. We just want people to be safe, and so this is, unfortunately, the only way to do that.

The listed toll prices are 40% more expensive for drivers who do not have a transponder, which can be purchased online. Drivers with at least two other people in the car can switch the transponder from toll to HOV to ride in the express lanes for free.

Toll revenues will pay for the construction of the lanes and continued maintenance and operation afterwards.

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.

Another school district is now facing a tough reality. Declining enrollment is forcing Poudre School District in Fort Collins to consider how its budget could reshape schools across the district.

Everything is on the table. I can't, in my position, ignore some of the more sobering facts that are in front of us. The loss of students, the loss of birth rate, all that is coalescing at the right time, Poudre School District Board Vice President Kevin Havelda said.

PSD said it still has approximately 10,000 empty seats across the district and is projected to have 654 fewer students in its schools next year. The district cites fewer school-aged children in the area due to declining birth rates and fewer younger families moving into the area due to housing costs.

This pattern reflects larger demographic shifts across Northern Colorado, the state, and the nation. Data from the Colorado State Demography Office show that birth rates in Larimer County have declined for more than a decade. While there was a brief, modest uptick in births following the COVID-19 pandemic, overall fertility rates remain well below replacement levels, and current projections do not indicate a sustained rebound in the near term, the school district said.

But district leaders want to be clear that while it's a possibility, no school closures or consolidations have been decided just yet. Before making any final decisions, district leaders want to hear from the community.

Denver7 was there as parents brought their concerns to the districts first community meeting last week, raising questions about programs, staffing and how changes could impact their kids.

I think a large part of what makes up a school is the community of teachers and people who work there, one parent said.

I think we've just gotten to enjoy such a diversity. Each school has its different kind of programming or flavor. So, Im reimagining what programming could look like, another parent said.

The district will continue community meetings through this month. Here is a detailed list of the upcoming meetings.

PSD said at its April 14 board meeting, the district expects to have more clarity on what the states budget proposal means for the district and will share an update on those impacts.

We will then present a preliminary budget to the Board of Education on April 28, a proposed budget on May 12, and a final budget after the state legislature concludes its work later in May. The district is required to adopt its final budget no later than June 30, 2026, the district said.

PSD officials also added they will continue to share information and engage with the community in the months ahead.

Our focus will remain clear and unwavering: providing the highest-quality learning experiences for every student, every day, the school district said.

The school district also added that conversations about enrollment bring understandable anxiety into the community.

Two years ago, PSD engaged in discussions about potential school consolidation. Those conversations were postponed, but I know many people still feel the weight of that experience, the district said.

There are also several local school districts facing this same issue.

Denver Public Schools and Boulder Valley School District are some of the school districts that are either in the process of exploring school consolidations or have already closed or consolidated schools in recent years.

Front Range Passenger Rail District leaders announced the name of the future train on Monday at Union Station in Denver, calling it Coco, short for Colorado Connector.

The train will operate on existing railroad tracks shared with freight trains from Fort Collins to Pueblo. It will have stations in Loveland, Longmont, Boulder, Castle Rock, and Colorado Springs.

According to the Front Range Passenger Rail website, a trip from Fort Collins to Denver will take approximately one hour and 30 minutes, and two hours and 30 minutes from Denver to Pueblo.

More than 25,000 Coloradans voted in the statewide naming contest. Coloradans were also encouraged to submit a funny or unique video on why they were voting for their favorite train name and what it means to them.

Mother and son Cora Zaletel and Tyler Shown won the video contest. Cora is known as Aunt Coco because when her nieces and nephews were young, they couldnt say her name. Coco is also the name of their 18-year-old family dog.

"Coco lives on, connecting families across the state, just like she did in our family for so many years," Shown said.

The family also has a practical reason for wanting Front Range Passenger Rail. Tyler lives in Denver while his mom lives in Pueblo. They say the long drive can take an hour and 20 minutes on a good day and 3.5 hours in heavy traffic.

Driving the gap is not a fun experience, even if the weather is good, and so I really am looking forward to ditching the traffic and not having to worry about the weather," Zaletel said.

The Northern Corridor route Denver to Fort Collins is scheduled to start service in 2029. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said the Southern Corridor route will depend upon additional resources at the ballot box in November.

What's being looked at is a sales tax increment, probably around a quarter to a third of a penny on every dollar transaction, Polis said.

Unanswered questions remain concerning the total cost of the project. The Front Range Passenger Rail District website estimates the cost at between $3 billion and $3.5 billion, but Front Range Passenger Rail District General Manager Sal Pace would not provide an exact figure.

We need to figure out exactly what we can afford, and then how many phases we can afford and what we want to fit in. As we figure out the financial piece, we're going to figure out exactly how far (and) how many phases, Pace said.

Initial service will include three trains a day, with the goal of 10 to 15 trains a day.

Front Range Passenger Rail promises to connect communities, reduce emissions, and create jobs and economic development.

There's going to be people using it every day, whether they're going from Loveland to Denver or Pueblo to Colorado Springs. There's also going to be people who use it to get to Denver for a night out at the arts or a broadcast game, and it's going to contribute enormously to our economy, Polis said.

When asked for an exact dollar amount of economic activity the train will generate, Pace stepped in to answer for Polis but did not provide a specific figure.

The service development plan contemplates economic impact, Pace said.

The Front Range Passenger Rail District has hosted community town halls to listen to feedback from residents, business owners and community leaders.

The next town halls are scheduled for:

When most people picture a college track athlete, they think of training, competition and a schedule built around performance. For Colorado State University junior Jack Wetterling, the work doesnt stop when practice ends.

When hes not running the 400-meter hurdles, Wetterling is behind a computer, helping shape the visual identity of Rams athletics.

Ive been running track since I was like nine years old, Wetterling said. My dad was a hurdler at the University of Montana, so he got me started at a really young age.

Years later, another passion emerged.

As a junior in high school, I got introduced to graphic design, and I really just fell in love with that as well, he said.

In our report below, hear more about how Jack Wetterling's interest in graphic design grew.

That interest quickly turned into opportunity. During his senior year of high school, Wetterling applied for a graphic design internship with Colorado State athletics after creating mock designs in class. He got the job and has been balancing both roles ever since.

Ive been doing it for three years now on the track and then also designing on my computer and I love it, he said.

Asked which is more difficult, Wetterling didnt hesitate.

Im gonna have to go with the 400 hurdles, he said. That event is not easy.

Still, he acknowledged that design comes with its own challenges especially when creating original content for a large audience.

I think we have more followers on Instagram than our mens basketball team right now, so were up, he said with a smile. But I always put a lot of thought and effort into my work, and theres a reason behind that.

Wetterling said his goal is to ensure the teams success is reflected visually.

Our team were champions, we win, he said. We put in a lot of work, and our team deserves social media posts that reflect what were doing on the track.

A Colorado native, Wetterling said representing Colorado State in multiple ways makes the experience even more meaningful.

Its a great college, and Ive always wanted to be a Ram, he said. Im so glad that I went here and that Ive had the opportunity to compete for the track and field team and also contribute outside of running by creating graphics.

Wetterling describes himself as a perfectionist, something he sees as both a strength and a challenge.

I look back on some of the work Ive done previously, even banners I designed in the field house, and a couple years later Im like, Oh, I could do so much better than that, he said. But I just try to create graphics that Im proud of and that represent what we do here.

As long as he gives his best effort, he said, hes satisfied.

On the track, Wetterling is chasing new milestones this season. He hopes to break 52 seconds in the 400 hurdles and help Colorado State secure another conference title.

Looking ahead, he plans to keep both passions alive with a goal of designing for a professional sports team in Denver.

After decades of silence, one Northern Colorado man is sharing his story in hopes of helping others find their voice.

Joshua Constatine, a survivor leader with A Courageous Rose, said memories of abuse from his childhood stayed buried for years. Constatine said he was abused as a child and later realized he had been trafficked, something he did not fully understand until much later in life.

He passed me around to other men. And I didnt know the term trafficking until I met Maria at A Courageous Rose, Constatine said.

Maria Tell, founder of A Courageous Rose, is also a survivor of human trafficking. She started the Fort Collins-based nonprofit in 2022 to support others navigating similar experiences.

A Courageous Rose is a nonprofit that empowers trafficking survivors to reclaim their independence and rebuild their lives, Tell said. There's a lack of resources unfortunately, and so I just wanted to be that bridge to help survivors realize that they're not alone.

The organization offers survivor-led peer support, connecting individuals with others who have lived similar experiences. That support can include simple but meaningful interactions like meeting for coffee or spending time outdoors, as well as services such as boxing classes, self-defense training and emergency financial assistance.

After meeting Tell, Constatine said he began to better understand his past, and ultimately, his purpose.

That alone was freeing and helped me open up, Constatine said. If I kept it to myself, I wouldn't heal. I would feel guilty if I didn't speak out to help those people that are still suffering.

Over the past two years, Constatine has worked with A Courageous Rose and the nonprofit Justice Now to help educate others about human trafficking. He now shares his story in training sessions with community members, law enforcement and educators, helping people recognize warning signs and understand the realities survivors face.

Constatine also works directly with other survivors, creating space for them to feel safe sharing their own experiences.

To help them feel more comfortable about sharing some of the things they went through, Constatine said.

Tell said Constatines voice is especially important, noting that trafficking involving men and boys is often not commonly reported.

He is just a minority in that way, in the fact that he is male in the trafficking world, and hes a familial trafficking survivor, Tell said.

Others who have worked alongside Constatine said his willingness to share his story is powerful.

It was moving. It was real and authentic. He does not hide behind the pain of whats happened to him, Ashley Bush, founder of Justice Now, said. It's important to hear the voices of a survivor. It's important to hear the testimony, the hope.

The more I speak about this, the more I heal, Constatine said.

He hopes his story helps others begin their own journey forward.

Its tragic, its horrific, but you can live a happy, wonderful life in spite of that, Constatine said.

For his courage and commitment to helping others, Constatine was recognized as a Denver7 Everyday Hero. He said the work is now his calling, helping others find the strength to speak out and move forward.

If you are a survivor in need of support, click here to get connected with the team at A Courageous Rose . Those interested in supporting A Courageous Roses mission to help survivors can visit their website to learn more, donate or find ways to volunteer.

Denver7 features a different Everyday Hero each week. To nominate a hero in your life, click here.

Northern Colorados newest family justice center, "The Hive," will open in a little over a week to provide wrap-around care for domestic violence survivors.

Community members will get the chance to tour the facility at 421 Parker Street in Fort Collins from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The center is a response to rising domestic violence cases across the state and aims to overcome previous accessibility barriers by bringing victim advocates, counseling, and housing resources under one roof, according to Crossroads Safehouse Executive Director Lori Warren, one of the partners in the push to create this center.

"We would talk to survivors, and on average, you know, we were sending a survivor to, like, 14 different locations to be able to get the services that they need. And most of those locations more than once," Warren said.

That's not a sustainable model, according to Warren, because she said the state continues to see a rise in deaths each year due to domestic violence.

"We at crossroads have seen an increase in high risk cases, so cases where there is a risk of it ending in serious bodily injury or death. So "Pre-Covid, we were seeing, you know, 30 of those cases a year. Post-Covid, we're seeing upwards of 20 of those high risk cases a month," Warren said.

Research shows communities with family justice centers like this one see a 50% reduction in domestic violence fatalities, Warren said.

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.

For 18 years, Vanessa Volker and her mother, Janice, have operated Lucky Star Equine in Northern Colorado. The facility teaches riding, trains animals, and rescues horses with nowhere else to go.

Now, facing an urgent crisis, the mother-daughter duo must quickly find a new home for their 25 horses after their property owner suddenly put a for-sale sign on the land.

"We need to find a place by April 1st, and we've been looking for a long time," Volker said. "We've exhausted all resources."

Because they work 12 to 15 hours a day, 7 days a week, Volker said it is not an option to live off-site. They must find a property that can accommodate both their home and the animals.

"You don't need time off when you do what you love," Volker said.

Lucky Star Equine is home to several rescued and retired horses.

Trixster was saved from being sold for slaughter. Lucky Day was rescued at 5 months old as part of a group Volker calls the "3 Amigos." Another horse, Angus, is 35 years old.

"We teach, we train, we rescue," Volker said. "We take care of our retired horses."

Volker said she is committed to providing a permanent sanctuary for the animals, regardless of their age or ability to work.

"A lot of people, once they're past their youth, what do you do with them?" Volker said. "Ours are with us forever. They have a forever home, whether they're working animals or sitting, eating hay all day. Living a good horse life."

The Northern Colorado community also relies on the facility.

Kenny Gomez boards his horse, Max, at Lucky Star Equine and said he is grateful for the expertise and kindness that Volker and her mother provide.

"They were extremely welcoming and friendly and kind and have taught us so much since we've been here, so extremely lucky to have them," Gomez said.

With the April 1 deadline approaching, Gomez is worried about the future.

"It's going to be hard finding people who will love him and care for him as they do," Gomez said. "Not looking forward to looking at other options."

Volker and her mother are racing against time to care for the horses while urgently packing and searching for a new property.

"We're trying to keep the business going, trying to find a place, trying to pack, it's a lot," Volker said.

Despite the uncertainty, Volker remains dedicated to the animals she has spent nearly two decades caring for. She hopes the community can help them secure a new home for Lucky Star Equine.

"Keeping the faith, it's in God's hands," Volker said. "Horses are the family, this is our life."

If you would like to help Lucky Star Equine, you can donate to this GoFundMe campaign.

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.

The City of Fort Collins is starting a culvert replacement project that will have an impact on drivers. Starting March 16, E. Trilby Road will close to address a failing structure beneath the road.

Construction will impact E. Trilby Road between Saint Thomas Drive and Southridge Greens Boulevard located between S. Lemay Avenue and S. Timberline Road from March 16 through July 2026.

This $2.1 million infrastructure investment will replace the aging culvert beneath Trilby where it crosses Fossil Creek. According to the city, the upgrade will improve drainage performance, protect the roadway and support long-term transportation reliability in the area.

The city says traffic on Trilby between Lemay and Timberline should use Harmony Road or Carpenter Road (State Highway 392) for east-west travel during the closure.

The Power Trail and Fossil Creek Trail, near the construction area, will remain open throughout the project.

Construction is expected to continue through July 2026 with weather permitting.

You can find the latest information on closures on the citys website.

A Fort Collins shelter in place order has been lifted and police say a suspect is in custody. Mason Street is back open.

"the scene is safe," Fort Collins Police wrote in a 8:25 p.m. update on X.

Fort Collins Police told community members in a 7:40 p.m. post to X to avoid the area of the Mason Street and Mulberry Street intersection and issued a shelter-in-place for the area.

They said there was a large police presence in the area, and Mason Street was closed between Mulberry Street and Myrtle Street, police say.

No other information was provided; police did not provide further information about the incident.

This fall, Colorado State University of Fort Collins and CSU Pueblo are starting a joint bachelors and masters degree in nursing. The 3+2 program will be the first-ever collaborative academic program between the two campuses.

CSU Pueblo has long offered multiple nursing degrees, but the Fort Collins campus has not offered a direct pathway into this profession. Pre-nursing students on the Fort Collins campus can now apply to for the fall 3+2 Direct Entry Nursing Program. If accepted, they will be able to earn both degrees in five years on the Fort Collins campus.

The goal of the new program is to not only address a shortage of registered nurses but also medical education roles.

We know that Colorado and much of our nation is facing a severe shortage of nurses," said Lise Youngblade, CSU interim provost and executive vice president. "At the same time, we also know that there's a retirement happening of senior nurses and nursing instructors. So, we have two issues that we're trying to solve here,

CSU is accepting pre-nursing students starting this fall and they can apply to the 3+2 program in their second year. The University says up to 40 students will be accepted into the program. Graduates of the program will take an exam to become licensed registered nurses and begin working directly with patients in a variety of positions. Once registered nurses have completed at least two years in the field, the masters degree will qualify them to engage in nursing education and help develop future nurses.

The 3+2 program earned approval from Colorados State Board of Nursing in October, making it the only program of its kind in the state. CSU Pueblo holds national accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing.  

You can learn more about the new 3+2 program on the university website.