LOVELAND, Colo. While the Presidents Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche got swept out of the Western Conference Final this week, the Avs American Hockey League affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, may end up bringing Colorado a cup this summer after all.

Our strength is the depth that we have, team president and former goalie Ryan Bach told Denver7. Everyone's contributing, whether it's, you know, we're seeing elite goaltending from our goaltender, Trent Miner, right now. All the way through our defense, and how they've been able to defend and play a shutdown game when needed to.

The Eagles are chasing the AHLs Calder Cup, starting their own Western Conference Final against the Chicago Wolves at Blue Arena in Loveland on Thursday night.

Its the furthest the team has made it in the playoffs in eight years in the AHL. The team won back-to-back Kelly Cups in the ECHL in 2017 and 2018.

Bach said the community is buzzing as the team keeps winning.

Any time you see a long playoff run, it really energizes the fan base, and we certainly have and feel we have the best fans in hockey, Bach said. And I think now they're at an all-time level. The atmosphere that's in this building is certainly electric every game, so that's where really looking forward to hitting the ice here Its a big opportunity, and every time an opportunity like this presents itself, you want to do what you can to make the most of it.

Several players in the Avalanche organization have appeared for both the Avs and Eagles, including Jack Ahcan, Gavin Brindley, Trent Miner, Taylor Makar, Alex Barre-Boulet, Tristen Nielsen, Ivan Ivan, Keaton Middleton, Jason Polin and T.J. Tynan.

Notably, Ahcan appeared in playoff games for the Avalanche this spring, while Brindley played in 56 games for the Avalanche this season before joining the Eagles Calder Cup run.

Hes certainly given us, you know, that energy and scoring skill, Bach said of Brindley. Just an all-rounded, well-rounded player, that you know, to have him out on the ice each and every night. You can see not only what he does with the puck, but what he does away from the puck, and he's certainly an elite player. And we're fortunate to have him in our lineup right now.

Bach said despite the grind of a long season, the players and staff have put in the work necessary to build a winning culture. And he said thats helped contribute to a special hockey atmosphere in Colorado this year.

Especially this time of year, you know, you have so many people that are watchingwhether it's young kids or our fan base that we have here in Northern Coloradoits been a big year for hockey in Colorado, Bach said. Seeing DU win a national championship, and then obviously with our success that we've had, and then the Avalanche, and the season that they've had, it's tremendous, and it's a great time to be a part of hockey here in Colorado.

Game 1 of the Western Conference Final between the Eagles and the Wolves starts Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Blue Arena in Loveland.

Game 2 is Saturday night in Loveland. You can watch that game on The Spot - Denver 3.

The Eagles then hit the road. If necessary, Games 6 and 7 would be back at home June 7 and June 8.

Denver7 is a proud partner of the Colorado Eagles.

LOVELAND, Colo. Once a ringmaster for the Greatest Show on Earth, Kevin Venardos nearly lost everything until a rented tent and a bold vision brought him back under the spotlight.

It's Phoenix Baisa's job to meet the audience before the show, welcome them, and help them to their seats. Call her the circus greeter.

What the audience doesn't yet know, as they take their seats under the big tent, is that Baisa is also the star of the show.

Venardos Circus, set up in a parking lot in Loveland, is what happens when you don't give up.

Venardos almost did.

If you can get a community to believe in you, there is not a power on heaven and earth that will stop you, Venardos said.

For Venardos, it used to be all a balancing act.

"I had to be brought to my absolute knees to recognize, to begin to nurture a sense of gratitude," he said.

Venardos said the show reinvents the American circus as a stagedriven experience centered on artistry, narrative, and connection.

Earlier in the day, the cast rehearsed.

"This year were doing a story which is Alice in Wonderland, and Im Alice, Baisa said.

While Baisa and Angel Ramos warm up, Venardos remembers having nothing, except an idea.

"Having the experience to be ringmaster of the Ringling Circus, I was 22 when I got that gig, in my naivety, most of this mess happened in my early 30s," he said.

That mess after he left the Greatest Show on Earth had his head spinning. Bad decisions, bankruptcy, and an apartment with no furniture.

"Pain is like a spoon that carves out room in your heart, and its only then you have room for gratitude to get in there, Venardos said.

Watch Mike Castellucci's report in the player below:

He had a dream. He built his own circus.

We made a little video of a circus that didnt exist in a rented tent. A vision for a thing I once wanted to accomplish, and I used that video to pitch a dream, he said.

Today, 12 years later, he's getting people to see the magic.

Venardos wondered how he could use his dream to help others accomplish theirs.

He's doing it every day.

Things are getting easier now. All he has to do is look into the audience.

"Weve touched dreamers whove been in the house, and it's inspired them to live their circus dream. Whatever that is," he said.

Monday was the last day for the shows Loveland run. It then splits into multiple touring companies to hit the road.

The Loveland Resource Center a hub for food, services and overnight shelter for people experiencing homelessness permanently closed its doors Thursday.

For Sarah Daniels, the closure leaves her without a safety net.

"I have nowhere else to go," she said.

WATCH: Denver7's Claire Lavezorrio spoke with Daniels, the mayor and the director of The Salvation Army of Loveland about the closure

Daniels described the center as a cornerstone of her daily life.

"It's been a staple for me," Daniels said.

Loveland Mayor Pat McFall said the LRC was never intended to be a permanent solution.

"It's not the city giving up on them. It's a city saying that there's a limit to what we can do," McFall said.

When asked what comes next, McFall pointed to a broader, regional approach.

"There's got to be more conversation going on a regional path forward," McFall said.

In March, Loveland formed a homelessness ad hoc committee to develop sustainable solutions.

But with shelter options already limited across northern Colorado, attention is turning to what service partners can provide.

The Salvation Army of Loveland is expanding its presence on Lincoln Avenue, where it has operated for 10 years.

Director Olga Duvall said the facility is doubling in size and the timing could not be better.

"During this turbulent time of changes in Loveland, the Salvation Army is still here," Duvall said.

Duvall said the expansion is a direct response to growing need.

"The Salvation Army expects to see more people coming in as the services are not easily available in Loveland," Duvall said.

The expanded facility is expected to open at the end of May and will include a larger food pantry, a clothing closet, a mail service and lockers for people experiencing homelessness.

Still, those who relied on the LRC are struggling to understand the decision.

"Why? Why did it come to this, period? Why would it come to this?" Daniels said.

The city maintains the closure is a necessary step toward finding a lasting solution.

"The conversation is not closed," McFall said.

Check out Denver7's previous coverage on homelessness in Loveland:

The initial fill of the Chimney Hollow Reservoir is underway, but the water will only reach 2% of the reservoir's total capacity as crews conduct critical water quality testing.

About a year ago, crews discovered uranium in the area. Now, they must perform real-world testing on the water filling the reservoir before it can be distributed to approximately 800,000 people in the state.

Uranium is a naturally occurring, radioactive substance found in rocks and soil. The Water Quality Association notes that exposure could lead to kidney inflammation and an increased risk of cancer, making the work Tuesday an incredibly important part of the process.

Water Quality Policy Specialist Chris Manley said crews will monitor data and water collection for at least the next year to observe how the rocks and embankment interact with the water. Afterward, they will create a plan to disperse the water to northern Colorado.

"This years a great example of when we go through drought conditions like we have this year, having extra storage capacity is pretty critical. And one year is bad, and were all kind of seeing the impacts of that, but if these years string together, thats when we really need water storage to provide for our communities," Manley said.

Nine cities, two water districts and a power provider are collaborating on the project. However, these collaborators will not receive any of the water currently filling the reservoir until testing is done. Manley said they don't yet have a date on when that will be.

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. This year marked the 100th anniversary of the Olander family farm in Loveland, where five generations have worked in agriculture in Northern Colorado. While Mother Nature has brought the challenges of a very dry and windy winter, the family is turning to generational wisdom to weather this season's uncertainty.

Over the decades, the Olander family has grown the business, providing malt for businesses like Coors and Budweiser, along with selling malt to local breweries and distilleries across the Front Range. Todd Olander is the founder of Root Shoot Malting, which started in 2016, making malts from barley, wheat, rye, and corn.

"Malt can be made out of different grains, but typically its barely," Olander said. "So, barley is used in probably about 95% of beer... But you can also malt wheat, you can malt rye, and you can also malt corn. All of those grains can be malted, and basically, you are just breaking down those starches inside those kernels and making it available for a brewer to access those during the brewing process."

There is an immense amount of pride in passing down the farming tradition from generation to generation. Olander recognizes the importance of hitting this 100-year milestone as many farmers along the Front Range have "either moved away or aren't farming anymore."

Denver7 has been extensively covering the lack of moisture and unusually high temperatures throughout Colorado. Earlier this month, Denver7 reported on the U.S. Drought Monitor's latest Colorado map, which showed nearly a quarter of the state under "exceptional drought" conditions, which is the most severe category in the classification system.

"We've been in a drought for quite a few years now, but this is definitely the worst that I've experienced, probably the worst my dad has experienced," Olander said.

With the family rooted in this land for the past century, Olander credited generational wisdom for being prepared for these dry conditions. He said they planted a lot of small grains, which do not need as much water compared to a crop like corn.

"Were taking steps, and we have taken steps over the last eight years to ensure that we do have a crop, and that's just changing the way we are farming and changing our techniques to hopefully mitigate any sort of drought or water scarcity that might be coming in the future," Olander said.

Watch Maggy Wolanske's report in the player below:

Our Denver7 weather team has been tracking the warm and dry conditions with high fire danger across Colorado on Monday, with a red flag warning in effect for most of the Front Range from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., but we should see some moisture going into the rest of the week.

While locals like Olander feel like there has not been a winter, he is going into this spring season with a positive outlook, hoping there will be some storms on the way to help with this lack of moisture.

"Things can turn around, so you just have to keep a positive attitude," Olander said. "I dont think my dad has not had any water throughout his entire lifetime, so you just have to keep a positive attitude that things will turn around. Until that day comes when it's a really big problem, you have to have a positive attitude."

How are the drought and potential water restrictions affecting your daily life, your neighborhood, or your livelihood? Share your experiences, concerns, and questions with a Denver7 reporter by email newstips@denver7.com. Your story could be part of our ongoing coverage as we track the impacts across our communities.

If you're searching for how your Colorado community is responding, or what restrictions are in place where you live, Denver7 is updating that information in this link.

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. Mandatory and voluntary evacuation orders, issued Wednesday morning in response to the Cougar Run Fire, have been lifted in Larimer County.

At 6:53 a.m. Wednesday, people south of Carter Lake were instructed to leave immediately to ensure their safety after the Loveland Emergency Communications Center received a report of a wildfire near Cougar Run Lane in Berthoud. A voluntary evacuation order was also issued for residents in the area of Blue Mountain and Spring Valley, west of Carter Lake. They have since been allowed to return.

The Cougar Run fire burned an estimated 3.5 acres, according to the Larimer County Sheriff's Office. It was originally projected to be 10 acres in size, but was deemed 100% contained by 10 a.m.

No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported, a spokesperson for the sheriff's said in a news release later Wednesday.

Officials said the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control had recently conducted fuels reduction treatments in the area, which included the use of an air curtain burner (a semi-enclosed firebox designed for disposing of slash and debris). While the investigation is ongoing, preliminary findings by sheriff's investigators indicate the fire may have been caused by an ember escaping the box overnight.

"We're extremely fortunate to have regional partners who spring into action and work together seamlessly in service to our community," said Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen. "Fire season is already off to a busy start. We'll continue training together, learning from each incident, and working hard to keep Larimer County safe."

In all, 1,783 contacts (not homes or individuals) received notifications in the evacuation zones, the sheriff's spokesperson said.

Boat operations returned to normal at the south shore following containment of the blaze, according to Larimer County Natural Resources, with the ramp reopening after closing for several hours.

The Sundance Trail is also accessible again. Visitors may resume regular recreation including boating, paddling, fishing hiking and day use, Larimer County Natural Resources said.

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:

LOVELAND, Colo. Elk crashed a team's practice at the Loveland United Soccer Club on Thursday night, perhaps feeling the same hype as much of the Denver metro as the Denver Summit FC prepares for their first home game Saturday.

Daniel Leaming sent Denver7 a video of an elk pushing a soccer ball around the field with its nose. The kids are heard in the video nicknaming the elk Messi, after world famous Inter Miami CF player Lionel Messi.

"Everyone maintained a safe distance and retreated to safety when (the animals) took the field," Leaming told us.

Watch the full video of the encounter in the video below.

Experts say that is exactly what you should do if you come across these wild animals. They say you should always keep your pets on a leash, and never block traffic or feed or harass them. As with all wildlife, remember to give elk plenty of space.

This neat experience comes just a couple days before Denver Summit FC, the state's first professional women's soccer team, plays in their home opener at Empower Field on Saturday.

The game is set to break records, with more than 60,000 tickets sold, the team confirmed on Friday. The women faced a hard loss in their first game ever, but bounced back to beat Gotham FC 2-0 on Wednesday.

And now, the team is ready for their first home game. And Colorado is buzzing with excitement.

Even the elk.

"It was such a cool moment," Leaming told us. "I feel it can bring joy to others."

The Loveland Resource Center is set to close permanently at the end of April, leaving people experiencing homelessness with few options as city leaders search for a solution.

On Tuesday, Denver7 met Chris Greenhaw as doors opened for dinner at the resource center on Lincoln Avenue. He has been living on the streets since last July.

"There are people here that are using the system. There are people here that are not," Greenhaw said.

Services in the Northern Colorado city are already slim.

As of last week, the Loveland Resource Center no longer provides overnight shelter, and the city scrapped its plan to buy a warehouse on the northwest side. Last September, the city closed The South Railroad Facility which operated as an overnight shelter since 2023.

We asked Greenhaw what his plan is once the place permanently closes.

"That's a good question. I'm gonna probably be here until the very end," Greenhaw said.

City leaders continued discussions Tuesday night to figure out a plan to address homelessness. They could consider designating a city park as a camping site or reactivating the South Railroad facility that closed last September.

The community weighed in on the issue during public comment Tuesday night.

"Some of you dont like housing first. The only proven solution is housing with support first," one resident said.

"Youre pretending to make a difference and youre not," another resident said.

With time running out, Greenhaw said many people are turning to other cities for help.

"They're going all over. Fort Collins, Boulder, Greeley, Denver, out of state," Greenhaw said.

Greenhaw plans to stay in the area and hopes city leaders will figure out the next steps.

"I think any solution is better than none," Greenhaw 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.

Six people were arrested in connection with alleged car break-ins late Thursday night and into early Friday morning, according to the Loveland Police Department.

Officers receieved reports of several people breaking into vehicles near the intersection of U.S. Route 34 and N. Boyd Lake Avenue. When Loveland police arrived in the area, officers saw multiple people take off running.

Officers conducted a coordinated search, using drones, and took six people into custody.

The investigation is ongoing, according to Loveland police, with investigators looking into the possibility of other unreported incidents.

Anyone whose vehicle was broken into but has not yet reported it is asked to call the Loveland police non-emergency line at 970-667-2151.

The Colorado Eagles beat out the San Diego Gulls 5-1 on Wednesday during Denver7 Night at Blue Arena in Loveland.

The puck dropped at 7:05 p.m., and the Denver7 team was on-scene all night.

Denver7 is a proud partner of the Colorado Eagles, and the game aired on The Spot Denver 3.

Follow along with all of our coverage below.

The night ended in a 5-1 victory for the Eagles.

Watch: Denver7's Lionel Bienvenu catches up with Eagles Head Coach Mark Letestu after the victory.

Watch: Denver7's Tyler Melito spent time with fans throughout the game to learn what makes this team so special.

Watch: Denver7's Jessica Porter was live at 10 p.m. from Blue Arena after the game.

Watch: Temperatures topped 80 degrees in Denver on March 18, but Denver7's Danielle Grant kept it cool from Blue Arena for your live 10 p.m. forecast.

Watch: Denver7's Tyler Melito talked with a fan and merch store manager about what the team means to the community.

Watch: Denver7's Tyler Melito and Jessica Porter geared up for the ceremonial puck drop.

Ahead of the game, Denver7's Ryan Fish talked with Colorado Eagles President Ryan Bach. Bach said the dedicated fan base for the Avalanches American Hockey League affiliate has led to more than 150 consecutive sellouts at Blue Arena in Loveland.

We've been fortunate to have, you know, a fan base that supported us from day one, and they've been world class, Bach said. They're passionate. I would have to say they're some of the most loud fans in the American Hockey League It's an educated fan base, and they've learned, they understand the game.

Watch their conversation in the video player below

Ryan Bach knows the Colorado hockey community is special.

The former goalie played at Colorado College and later was a player and coach for the Colorado Eagles. Now hes team president of the Colorado Eagles, the Avalanches American Hockey League affiliate. Bach now even serves as a broadcaster for Eagles games too.

Ive been part of something very, very special for over two decades, which doesn't happen [often] in professional sports, Bach told Denver7s Ryan Fish. That comes down to the community and how they've rallied around this team, but also the impact they've had on the growth of youth hockey.

Bach said the Eagles and their fans have been able to give each other a big assist.

We've been fortunate to have, you know, a fan base that supported us from day one, and they've been world class, Bach said. They're passionate. I would have to say they're some of the most loud fans in the American Hockey League It's an educated fan base, and they've learned, they understand the game.

He said thats led to more than 150 consecutive sellouts at Blue Arena in Loveland.

We have 5,400 seats here, but it is full every night, and it's energized, Bach said. And I know for our players, that means so much.

The impact has been mutual, Bach said, with the team giving back to the northern Colorado community.

Since it began in 2012, the Eagles Pot of Gold Game has raised nearly $1 million for families struggling to pay for childrens medical costs.

The players start off the game with a donation on behalf of the players, and that kind of spearheads the momentum of raising, I mean, last year was $147,000 for the family, which was simply amazing, Bach explained. For that family, and the difference that it makes, certainly sends a message home: that's what it's all about. And that's what we do, and we want to be able to be that pillar of support.

The Eagles 2026 Pot of Gold Game is set for Saturday, March 21 at 6:05 p.m. at Blue Arena, when the Eagles take on the Coachella Valley Firebirds.

Denver7 is a proud partner of the Colorado Eagles. Denver7 Night at Blue Arena is Wednesday, March 18 at 7:05 p.m. when the Eagles face the San Diego Gulls. That game will air on The Spot Denver 3.

WELD COUNTY, Colo. Kaylee Russell, the 20-year-old woman found dead following a massive search in northern Colorado in early December, had marijuana in her system, was texting and speeding before she crashed into a canal north of Timnath Reservoir, officials with the Colorado State Patrol said Wednesday.

The findings on the ongoing investigation into the fatal crash on Larimer County Road 1 come after the CSP got a hold of Russells toxicology report, which found that impairment from the marijuana "is suspected as a contributing factor in the crash, according to a news release.

The investigation also determined that the driver was traveling 60 miles per hour in a curve with an advised speed of 25 miles per hour and was actively using a mobile device to send text messages at the time of the crash, a CSP spokesperson said in the release.

The search for Russell, who was last seen east of Loveland on Nov. 30 near the Loveland/Johnstown Park-N-Ride, began after she never showed up to a friends house she was supposed to visit that night.

Family and community members who spoke with Denver7 in the days after her disappearance said they were holding on to hope, and described the 20-year-old as a family-oriented sweetheart who would never go "off the radar."

Her disappearance triggered a massive search in northern Colorado, with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the CSP, Evans Police Department and the Larimer County Sheriffs Office eventually responding to a single-car crash in a canal south of Larimer County Road 44, where Russell was found dead.

CSP officials said the investigation shows the black 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan she was driving was approaching a left curve on Larimer County Road 1 when Russell, failed to negotiate the curve and drove off the right side of the road, where there was a large embankment for a canal.

Investigators said the Tiguan went up the steep embankment before crashing with a utility marker and rolling into the canal, where it came to rest on its roof, partially submerged in water.

The Colorado State Patrols Vehicular Crimes Unit continues leading the investigation into the crash.

Loveland City Council voted Tuesday night to expand the city's authority to enforce bans on public encampments.

In a 5 to 4 vote, council members passed an ordinance that no longer requires the city to make sure there is a shelter vacancy before giving a public camping ticket.

The city said the passed ordinance puts the city code in line with a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court decision that ruled cities can enforce public camping bans even if there is no shelter space available. The decision reversed lower court rulings that said jurisdictions cannot punish people for sleeping on public property if they don't have access to shelter.

The city council decision comes one week after the city scrapped plans to create a permanent 24-hour shelter and just over a month before Loveland's only overnight shelter, the Loveland Resource Center (LRC), closes permanently. Loveland Mayor Pat McFall said the city decided not to move forward with plans for a long-term shelter after Bridge House, a Boulder-based nonprofit, pulled its application to run the space.

Eric Ford, who said he has been experiencing homelessness since the COVID-19 pandemic, said the new encampment enforcement rules come at a bad time for people living on the streets.

"It just compounds the problem if they don't give them another option," Ford said.

Cody Nelson, who's experiencing homelessness and uses the LRC for services, said people living on the streets will run out of options after the LRC closes.

"No one's got any plans or options to go to," he said. "I'm just trying to do the best I can."

Julie, who has stayed at the LRC overnight shelter, said she feels disrespected by community members and by city leaders.

"It's like they think we're like a piece of dirt on the ground," she said. "That we don't deserve to have some place that we can actually call home.

Council members in favor of the ordinance said it puts them in line with the 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling and gives law enforcement the tools they need to enforce city code. Several council members questioned why the city would have an ordinance requiring available shelter space before handing out citations, if there will soon be zero shelter space.

"I don't see this as an end all be all. I don't see this as a stopping point," Councilmember Andrea Samson, who represents Ward 2, said. "There is a place for enforcing our laws. There's a place for having laws. There's a place for safety, and that is extended to all residents. Everyone needs to feel safe. And if you're in Loveland, you should feel like you have a place in Loveland, I don't think a tent is a place that you belong. I think we can do better."

Several council members who voted against the ordinance said it would criminalize homelessness.

"If you say you can't sleep outside, but someone doesn't have a choice other than to sleep outside, you're not criminalizing their choices, you're criminalizing the life situation that they're in," Councilmember Sarah Rothberg, who represents Ward 2, said.

During the meeting, Loveland Police Chief Tim Doran said well over half of police encounters at encampments do not end in citations. When asked by councilmembers if the ordinance would put his officers in a hard spot while enforcing camping bans, he said officers have a duty to respond to calls from citizens.

"I think our officers are used to being in hard spots. That's what we train them to do. Dealing with camping violation is certainly not what our officers join the police force to do. We also need to look at the other side of the coin, is that we receive calls from complainants or reporting parties, and we owe something to them. We owe our diligence to address the complaint that is called in," Chief Doran said.

He said officers do not have time to do full sweeps of encampments and said officers are generally busy going from call to call.

The ordinance drew mixed reactions from community members during the meeting's public comment portion. Some questioned where unhoused individuals would go, while others said the city needed to enforce laws surrounding public encampments.

People in Loveland looking for more greenery in their lives still have the chance to weigh in on building out the city's tree canopy.

The program is called Growing Loveland.

Property owners with city easements adjacent to their property can apply to have trees planted in that area. These are areas typically between the sidewalk and street.

Application process runs year-round, said Jeff Caputo, the urban forester with the City of Loveland. Anyone that meets our qualifications can apply. We'll add them to our list, and we will be doing, you know, robust planting, both in the spring and fall, and work with everyone that we can to try and make sure we're getting trees and in good locations.

Once submitted, the forestry staff will find the most suitable tree for that area, which includes trees that are meant for the Loveland environment. The city will provide and plant the tree at no cost to the property owner. In return, the property owner is asked to take care of the tree during the critical establishment phase.

We have a specific list of trees that meet the requirements for this program, and all these trees are best suited to, you know, kind of the harsh urban environment that they'll be planted in. We think that's really important, added Caputo.

The city is planning to plant anywhere from 100 to 150 trees, starting this spring. Caputo said there is an environmental benefit to it as well.

Trees provide so many benefits beyond shade, you know, cooling and property value. So there's a lot of reasons why we want to make sure that people are trying to get on board with us and get these trees planted, he said.

"The population of trees here in Loveland in some ways, lacks diversity, both in terms of species and age," added Caputo. "We also have some emerging pests with emerald ash borer and other things. So we're really trying to stay ahead of things and get as many trees planted in advance that as we can."

 There is more information online or you can call the Forestry team at 970-962-3625.

The "Growing Loveland" program redirects existing funding from the citys annual forestry efforts.

The City of Loveland has scrapped its plans for a permanent, long-term homeless shelter after the nonprofit chosen to operate the facility withdrew its application, leaving dozens of people without a place to go in a matter of weeks.

In a letter to the city on Jan. 23, the Interim CEO of the Boulder-based nonprofit Bridge House said after reviewing finances and plans for other facilities, the nonprofit's cost of operations is higher than expected. Interim CEO Dave Mauro said it's possible the nonprofit could revisit partnering on projects in the future, but is focused on the stability of existing operations right now.

MORE | Read the letter

Because of the nonprofit's withdrawal, the City of Loveland said it no longer plans to purchase a warehouse on the northwest side of the city, which would have served as the new permanent shelter.

Denver7 has been covering the city's plans for shelter since funding ran out for the city's temporary South Railroad Facility in September. That left Loveland with just one overnight shelter the Loveland Resource Center (LRC). However, the center is closing its overnight shelter services on March 15 and permanently closing the center on April 30. The city said the center will still be used for overnight shelter through April 30 if there is severe weather.

Many people who are experiencing homelessness and who use services at the LRC said they feel pushed aside by its closure and the lack of a long-term plan for shelter.

"What am I going to do? To be continued," said Stanley Garabrandt, who has been using LRC services for a few years. "What are you going to do, put all of us out onto the street with nowhere to go? Nothing to do? Freeze to death?"

Melissa Ohman, who has been living on the street for the last two years, said while she believes the LRC should close because of unsanitary conditions, she was hoping the city would find a long-term housing solution.

"It's going to be a little difficult to try to figure out what to do," she said. "These are real people that need help. They shouldn't have to be removed from somewhere where they call home."

Denver7 took their concerns to Loveland Mayor Pat McFall, who was sworn into office in December 2025. When asked whether the city has a plan to provide any kind of long-term emergency shelter in the future, Mayor McFall said that is unknown.

"I know that we're working with nonprofits. We're working with the faith-based organizations to figure out how we can help those folks who are here. Right now, if another nonprofit comes up and wants to do something, I'll never shut something down. But right now, it's just not something we know about," said McFall.

He said the city is not capable of standing up a shelter by itself, and the LRC was never designed to be a permanent solution. McFall said city leaders worked to keep the center open through the winter to support people experiencing homelessness, but the cost of keeping the center open would be too much, including millions of dollars for renovations alone.

McFall said he was surprised when Bridge House decided to pull its application to operate the proposed shelter. He said the city only received two applications from potential operators Bridge House and Krucial Rapid Response, Inc.

"It was tough enough for us to try and get their request for proposal out there," said McFall. "Bridge House was looking at doing this all themselves, with maybe some help from the city. With the building, the secondary one that came in really wanted 90% of the operational cost to be covered by the city, in and of itself."

McFall said he's looking at partnering with neighboring cities and communities to find a regional housing solution.

"I think the biggest thing is to get the cities to quit thinking within their borders and start thinking more as a region," he said. "It shows that regional solutions, when you combine your money, make a better effort than just everybody reaching into the pot trying to find out that one small piece and nobody coming up with a solution at all."

LAKEWOOD, Colo. A man in Loveland is facing more than 40 charges, including attempted first-degree murder, after firing at officers and engaging in a standoff at a hotel early Friday evening.

Just before 7 p.m., Loveland police responded to the Hampton Inn located at 5500 Stone Creek Circle. The caller reported that a man, identified as 50-year-old Kelly Joe Metcalf, was in the lobby with a firearm.

The victim told police Metcalf had come to the lobby unclothed, acting irrationally, and carrying a firearm before they briefly tried to calm him down, according to a news release.

Responding officers arrived to the scene and as they approached the lobby, the victim fled for their life at which time Metcalf fired his weapon toward the victim and the officers, the release states.

Metcalf then retreated, activated fire alarms, and barricaded, according to a police department spokesperson.

Patrons were then evacuated from the hotel as police worked on a plan to apprehend Metcalf.

Police said their SWAT team was activated along with a K9 and the departments Negotiations and Bomb Team, resulting in what the spokesperson described as a significant first-responder presence.

Metcalf was found and apprehended around 9 p.m. by SWAT and the K9 unit after chemical irritants proved ineffective and canine deployment became necessary, the release states.

The spokesperson said Metcalf sustained a bite during his arrest but not before injuring the K9, named Sytng, who is recovering from the injuries.

Metcalf was taken to a local hospital for treatment and was released Monday for booking into the Larimer County Jail.

He faces 18 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 7 counts of first-degree assault, 10 counts of menacing, among other counts for menacing, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and aggravated cruelty to animals.

Metcalfs bond was set at $1 million.

Sheltering options for those experiencing homelessness in the City of Loveland are few and far between, and in the new year, city leaders are trying to figure out a long-term solution.

The Loveland Resource Center (LRC) is set to close mid-March, prompting city leaders to explore next steps for the community's most vulnerable residents.

"Seven," who stays in a tent each night behind the LRC alongside his dog, Sox, is just one person experiencing homelessness in the city. With the center's closure looming, he and others face an uncertain future.

"It seems like we're an inconvenience, a burden," he told Denver7. "We're just not wanted... period."

Fifteen minutes from the current resource center, there's a warehouse for sale on the northwest side. The $2.85 million purchase would house a 24/7 shelter run by a nonprofit partner.

On Tuesday, the community weighed in on the proposal during the city's regular council meeting.

Residents expressed mixed opinions about the potential solution.

"Reevaluate how we are spending money to support these services," one man who did not want to be identified for this story told Denver7.

"The fact of the matter is, there are some people that just don't get to start at the 50 yard line of life," another man, who also did not want to be identified, said.

City Council is also considering new camping ban rules.

Currently, the city must give at least 72 hours notice before breaking up a camp, store belongings and make sure shelter space is available.

They'll decide whether to remove that requirement, which would align with the 2024 Supreme Court decision Grants Pass vs. Johnson.

While waiting to see what city leaders decide, those like "Seven" remain hopeful that a new building will bring new opportunities.

"It would open up my options for searching for a job and trying to rebuild my life," he said.

However, some community members remain skeptical that the proposed solution will address the root of the problem.

"I don't understand why you want to continue to move the problem," one resident said during public comment.

As of now, Loveland City Council will vote on whether or not to purchase the warehouse and whether to adopt new camping ban rules at their next meeting on Jan. 20.

Denver7 is committed to covering the future of sheltering in Loveland. Read our previous coverage below:

As we wrap up this year, some northern Colorado school districts are already planning ahead for the beginning of the next school year because of something we have been following for you for a while: the lack of air conditioning.

The Thompson School District, which serves the city of Loveland and parts of Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties, just approved a new calendar with a later start date to help students avoid those boiling summer days in the classroom.

As we wrap up this year, some northern Colorado school districts are already planning for the start of next school year because of something we have been following for you for a while: the lack of air conditioning.

The Thompson School District just approved a new calendar with a later start date to help students avoid intense summer heat in classrooms.

Its a relief for some teachers in the district, like Amanda Myers.

My classroom has been, in August and September, its been maybe 87 degrees, she told Denver7. Thats just with me in there. When you have children in there, its really hot in the classrooms. Theyre miserable. Theyre not learning. So I think pushing it back is a great idea.

The district is pushing back the start of the school year by a week, to fall 2026, due to high temperatures and a lack of air conditioning in some schools.

TSDs calendar committee spent the past few months drawing on feedback from a community calendar survey and guidance from the Negotiations Team, district policy, and state guidelines to make the changes.

The 2026-2027 school year will start on August 20, and the 2027-2028 school year will start on August 19.

Earlier this month, Poudre School District officials opted for similar calendar changes.

The 2026-2027 school year will start on August 19 for PSD students.

Weve been wrestling with the heat day concern at the beginning of every year for the last several years, said PSD school board director Scott Schoenbauer.

The first week of school this year ended in multiple heat-related early-release days for both districts a hassle for parents forced to rearrange their work schedules on short notice.

Yeah, it made it difficult some days, said TSD parent Michele Heaton.

Back in August, the Colorado Department of Education told Denver7 that while they do require a minimum of 160 days of instruction, they don't set guidelines for when the school year should begin.

Most districts choose to start in early August so they can end the year earlier.

It seems like every year they start a little earlier, just a few days here and there, and it just keeps creeping up. So hopefully this will settle it back down, added Heaton.

Parents say its a start though teachers like Myers hope its the first step to more long-term solutions.

In all honesty, we need funding to get our schools air conditioned, said Myers, if we could get funding for every building to get air conditioning, that would be great.

LOVELAND, Colo. A man who pleaded guilty in September to a series of drive-by shootings in Loveland last year has been sentenced to more than a decade behind bars.

Robert Braden Jacobs, 21, was accused of firing a gun at several homes in the early morning hours of Nov. 10, 2024.

Police dispatch in Loveland said three victims call 911 that day to report that their homes had been shot at from a vehicle. The last 911 caller also reported that their family was connected to a recently resolved domestic violence case and relayed that they believed the shootings were related to that case, according to a news release.

Through an extensive investigation, detectives determined Jacobs was the son of the person convicted in the domestic violence case, and he was arrested the following day. A search of his vehicle revealed a firearm with empty magazines, a spokesperson with the Loveland Police Department said.

The impacts of gun violence are always terrible, but when it is used to intimidate a victim of a crime, it preys on the fear that already exists for those who come forward to report they have been victimized, said District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin in a prepared statement. I am grateful that no one was injured and for the dedication of law enforcement and our prosecution team in ensuring Mr. Jacobs is held accountable for his actions.

Jacobs was sentenced Monday to 14 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to several charges, including one count of attempted second-degree murder, a Class 3 felony.

LOVELAND, Colo. The driver accused of causing a crash that killed a toddler on Interstate 25 on Tuesday was allegedly under the influence and has been charged with vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and other charges.

Jose Salazar, 35, was identified as the suspect, according to the Colorado State Patrol (CSP).

Around 12:27 p.m. on Tuesday, CSP responded to a crash involving four vehicles, including a box truck, on northbound I-25 at Crossroads Boulevard.

Shortly before this crash, a driver had pulled to the side of the road due to a medical emergency. The crash involving the four vehicles was a secondary crash to this one. Aside from the two crashes happening at the same location, exact details of how this secondary crash happened are not available.

Two adults and one minor were in a 2018 Lexus GX in the secondary crash and were transported to a hospital. One minor from that vehicle died at the scene, CSP said.

Nobody from the two other cars a 2022 Kia Telluride and a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado hauling a trailer were injured.

Based on the preliminary investigation, CSP determined that the driver of the box truck had been in the center lane and the Lexus was in the right lane. The Kia and Chevrolet were north of those two vehicles. The driver of the box truck veered into the right lane, struck the Lexus and pushed the car into the Kia and Chevrolet, CSP said.

The driver of the box truck was identified as Salazar. He was arrested on the following charges:

The loved ones of the deceased toddler have created a GoFundMe to support the family of the victim, identified as 17-month-old Elijah Manley.

The crash remains under investigation.

UPDATE | Dec. 17 The driver of the box truck in this crash has been arrested on vehicular homicide and vehicular assault. He was allegedly under the influence. Read our updated story here.

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LOVELAND, Colo.  A juvenile was killed, and at least two others were injured in a four-vehicle secondary crash on Interstate 25 in Loveland, forcing the closure of the northbound lanes on Tuesday.

It happened around 12:30 p.m. near Crossroads Boulevard and involved a box truck, a Lexus SUV, a Kia Telluride, and a Chevy pickup truck hauling a trailer, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

Troopers said the earlier incident was a medical emergency involving a single vehicle on the shoulder of the interstate.

The CSP said in a news release that a minor in the Lexus SUV died at the scene.

Emergency crews transported two adults from the Lexus to the hospital with injuries of unknown extent.

Troopers assessed the driver of the box truck at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

The crash has caused northbound traffic to back up for at least a mile as northbound I-25 remains closed for an extended period, with traffic detoured to Crossroads Boulevard.

The Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit continues to investigate the cause of the crash.

LOVELAND, Colo. The holidays are meant to be filled with family, friends and joy but for many older adults, this time of year can be especially lonely. Living far from loved ones or coping with the loss of family members can make the season even harder.

For 86-year-old Janet, the holidays had always been a time of celebration.

We always decorated, she said. And one year we got a tree that, when they took the cords off of it, it took up the whole living room.

These days, some of those memories are bittersweet. Her husband passed away a few years ago, and her two sons live far away one in San Francisco, the other in Shanghai. Still, Janet says, Its nice to have the memories, but its also nice to be here in the here and now.

Thats where Senior Helpers steps in. The in-home care organization offers services ranging from assistance with daily activities to companion care, often helping decorate and bring holiday cheer to seniors who might otherwise spend the season alone.

Asked if she could have decorated on her own this year, Janet laughed. If Id taken six months, Id probably could have managed, she said.

Caregiver Daniela Oronalopez said working with Janet means as much to her as it does to her client.

It gives me satisfaction, because I know that, like I trust her, she trusts me, she said. Theres just a lot of things that we have in common, and to know that I can help her in everything that she needs.

Over time, that working relationship has evolved into something deeper.

We became best friends, Oronalopez said. I feel like shes not my client. Id see her more like family.

Caregiver Kim Doran agreed.

I think with Janets family living so far away, really far away, that its good for her to have family here, and weve kind of filled that need for her, she said. At one point during their conversation, Doran turned to Janet and asked, I think were friends. Are we friends?

Janets reply Well, youve been behaving quite well came with a smile.

This years decorating effort was something Janet had never experienced before.

It means more than I can say, because Ive never had that before, she said. My kids, theyd come in, theyd be here, in and out, helping to decorate and everything. But Ive never had a crew come in and put things up for me. It makes me feel like, what did I do to deserve this?

Adjusting to that level of help hasnt been easy.

I hope I have accepted it graciously, but its not easy, Janet admitted. Im just not used to people helping me that much.

Beyond companionship, Janet enjoys the little things conversation, shared interests and even time with dogs.

I havent had a dog for five years, and thats the longest Ive gone since I was 13, she said. I have CDD canine deficit disorder quite badly. Pets, she added, are great company. Very interesting and fun to talk with.

Even with the miles between her and her family, Janet said she stays curious and active.

I would hate to be dwelling in my morass of loneliness, sitting in a chair somewhere in the dark, she said. Theres just too many things to be interested in. Life is what you make it, Janet said. And I still think life is a hoot.

If you'd like more information about Senior Helpers, just visit their website.

A Loveland tanning salon employee was able to stab the suspect with his own knife to defend herself and a customer during an unprovoked attack that left her with life-threatening injuries, according to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by Denver7 Thursday.

The 21-year-old employee was hit at least 15 times on the top of the head with a framing hammer during the violent attack that moved throughout the salon, the affidavit states.

According to the document, 20-year-old Kyle Mathew Behrens entered the Endless Summer Tanning Salon and Boutique just after 6:40 p.m. and immediately started striking an employee standing behind the counter, who told police she had never met the suspect.

The attack continued into a hallway of the salon and into at least one open room, where Behrens continued to hit the victim with a hammer until she went limp and acted as if she was going to pass out, the affidavit reads. Behrens was then seen on security video returning to the front door and trying to secure it shut with a belt and using the hammer to break into several rooms in search of other people inside the business.

During that time, the employee moved to another open room and barricaded herself inside with a 42-year-old customer who had heard the commotion.

Behrens then allegedly began chopping at the door to that room with a hammer until there was a hole large enough for him to reach through, then took out a knife and started swiping at the two women on the other side of the door, the affidavit reads.

The customer was able to get the hammer and knife away from Behrens, and the employee stabbed him in the arm with the knife to stop the attack, according to the affidavit.

Loveland police officers arrived within three minutes of a 911 call made by one of the victims, and took Behrens into custody as he tried to enter the room where the women were barricaded.

"When the suspect attempted to get into that room, the victim fought, and the additional victim began to continue that fight, and the two of them worked to not only disarm the suspect, but then to fight for their lives while initiating a call to 911," Loveland police spokesperson Chris Padgett said during a news conference on Wednesday. "So, if there's any credit that we can give these two victims, unbelievable, they are alive today because of their will to survive."

The attack was captured on the salon's surveillance system, where investigators assert they saw Behrens return to the locked door the customer and employee were behind three separate times to try and get inside the room.

The salon employee suffered a brain bleed and multiple bone fractures in her hand in addition to hammer marks on her body.

The customer sustained cuts on her hand from when Behrens was swiping the knife at the women, in addition to being struck in the face by the suspect with a closed fist.

Both women had been released from the hospital as of Thursday afternoon, Loveland police told Denver7's Colette Bordelon.

Behrens was treated for injuries before being booked into Larimer County Jail. He faces seven charges, including two counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault and first-degree burglary with a deadly weapon. He remains in custody on a $500,000 cash-only bond.

Behrens first appearance in court is scheduled for the morning of Dec. 18.

A man experiencing homelessness in Loveland reached out to Denver7 for help this week as the city deals with a cold weather shelter shortage and is searching for long-term solutions.

The man, who goes by "Seven," and his dog, Sox, typically sleep in a tent behind the Loveland Resource Center (LRC), the city's only shelter.

But Wednesday night, he said people were forced to leave their tents with nowhere else to go.

"This is inhumane. Totally inhumane," he said.

The indoor space at the resource center is prioritized for women and elderly residents, with tent space available out back for men. But during cold weather, Seven said the conditions become dangerous.

"You get so cold and your extremities feel like they're going to fall off," he said.

That's why the City of Loveland is under inclement weather protocol, which prohibits people from sleeping outdoors in tents behind the shelter for safety reasons.

"Basically, we're doing the best we can, cut and dry," said Loveland Mayor Pat McFall.

Instead of allowing outdoor camping behind the shelter, the city is offering motel vouchers. However, McFall said those vouchers are limited due to budget constraints.

"Right now, our city underwent a $10.4 million loss in budget, so we are cutting services in a lot of different ways," McFall said.

The mayor said the city would like to explore regional solutions to address the lack of indoor shelter space.

"Finding a regional solution that can at least help us accommodate with this, using the funding that's there is to do it, instead of each one of the cities digging into that bucket by themselves depleting it...," McFall explained.

While the city searches for a solution, Seven emphasized the urgent need for more resources, particularly during winter months.

"They need 24/7 shelter...[where] everybody has their own bed, space, their own place," he said.

Denver7 is committed to covering the shelter shortage in Loveland. Read our previous coverage below:

The sentencing of a former Loveland police officer found guilty of sexual assault on a minor is set for early 2026, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado.

Dylan Miller, 30, could face the maximum penalty of life in prison. He was taken into custody of the U.S. Marshals Service when the jury announced a guilty verdict at the conclusion of a two-week trial.

During trial, evidence was presented that Miller was working for the Loveland Police Department on overnight August 3, 2023 into the morning of August 4. That's when he made contact with a 15-year-old girl and her friend in North Lake Park.

Miller reportedly told the victim's friend to leave, and then guided the victim to a more secluded area of the park where he sexually assaulted her, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release Wednesday.

Miller was fired from the Loveland Police Department on the same day he was arrested in November 2023. He was then charged in U.S. District Court of Colorado in 2024 on the allegation of sexual assault of a minor. He was already facing several state charges, including kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer, before the federal indictment was filed in March 2024.

He started working for Loveland police in 2022 after working for the Durango Police Department from September 2020 through March 2022.

UPDATE | Dec. 4 On Thursday morning, Denver7 received a tip about a possible car in a body of water in the area where Kaylee Russell disappeared. We went to the scene near Johnstown Ready Mix Plant and found first responders searching the water. However, crews began clearing the scene around 11:30 a.m. and the Weld County sheriff said that "after dive and drone teams conducted a thorough search, no vehicle was found."

We have an updated story here.

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EVANS, Colo. Authorities are searching for a missing 20-year-old woman last known to be near a park-n-ride lot east of Loveland.

Kaylee Russell, 20, was last seen around 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 near the Loveland/Johnstown Park-N-Ride, according endangered missing alert issued by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The parking lot is near Highway 402 and Interstate 25.

She had just dropped her father off at the Park-n-Ride and was expected to arrive at a friend's home but never showed up.

According to a CBI, law enforcement is concerned about her safety.

She is described as a white woman standing 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing 125 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes. At the time she disappeared, she was wearing a black hoodie, tan pants and brown slippers.

CBI also provided a description of her vehicle. The car is a black 2016 Volkswagen Tiguan with license plate 788-0903. It has a GreeleyNissan.com sticker on the rear window.

Anybody who sees Russell is asked to call 911 or the Evans Police Department at 970-350-9600.

Denver7 has contacted the Evans Police Department to learn more about this case and the vehicle from the alert. We will update this page once we have more information.

DENVER A former officer with the Loveland Police Department was found guilty of sexual assault on a minor in federal court Tuesday, according to a spokesperson with the FBI Denver field office.

Dylan Miller was charged in U.S. District Court of Colorado last year for sexually assaulting a minor while on duty, and was already facing several state charges, including kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct by a peace officer, before the federal indictment was filed in March of last year.

Miller was fired from the Loveland Police Department on the same day he was arrested in November 2023. According to his arrest affidavit, the officer removed his body-worn camera before sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in a park in August 2023.

The suspect could be looking at life in prison for the crime.

Miller joined Loveland PD in 2022 and was assigned as a patrol officer. Previously, he worked at the Durango Police Department from September 2020 through March 2022.

His federal trial lasted a little more than two weeks. It was not immediately clear when he would be sentenced on the federal charges.

A Northern Colorado home where parents believed their children were safe is now the site of a criminal investigation.

Denver7 obtained the arrest affidavit for Michelle Sanders, 51, which contained new details about the Loveland Police Department's (LPD) investigation that preceded her arrest.

Sanders, who was arrested on Nov. 20, worked as an in-home child care provider. According to the Colorado Department of Early Childhood Education (CDEC), Sanders was not licensed by the state at the time of her arrest.

CDEC confirmed to Denver7 that Sanders was licensed by the state from 2015 until mid-August of this year. Sanders "voluntarily closed her license" on August 14. A CDEC spokesperson said that providers are inspected annually, and Sanders last licensing visit was August 15 of last year.

Sanders now faces four charges of child abuse one of which is a Class 3 felony. The other charges are misdemeanors.

"From the initial report, it's determined that she [Sanders] was the only one that would facilitate child care," said Chris Padgett, public information officer for the Loveland Police Department. "The charges have been filed. They're very solid. And essentially, we do believe that, based off the information we've gathered so far, that there are additional victims that could be out there at this point.

Loveland Police want to speak with any potential "additional victims" in the case against Sanders. Any parent or guardian who used Sanders' at-home day care and "noticed signs of harm or troubling conduct" is asked to contact investigators by calling (970) 962-2032, and referencing case LP25-0007224.

The biggest thing that we've noticed on some of our social media platforms are people in the community blaming parents for not paying attention, not looking into the child care facility more diligently and so forth," Padgett explained. "We want to just squash those rumors, because from the outside looking in especially with the parents that we know their children were harmed they did their due diligence into looking into this child care facility. We don't want the parents blamed."

Padgett said investigators do not want other parents to feel as though they will face public scrutiny if they come forward.

"This is something that unfortunately occurred, and we need everyone to speak up," said Padgett. A lot these cases are very complex, and they don't just fit into an investigative box."

According to Padgett, some of the offenses date back to last year.

It was August 26 of this year when LPD received a call for service from a representative with Children's Hospital Colorado. A family brought their young child to the hospital after noticing he was "favoring his left arm," the affidavit states.

As a result, the child had a full skeletal examination and the findings required medical providers to notify both LPD and the Department of Human Services (DHS). The affidavit writes that the examination revealed an "old fracture in his left arm, a healing fracture in his right arm, and possibly something wrong with his leg."

The boy's parents were informed he suffered an "intentional break," but told doctors they had "no idea" how their child sustained such injuries.

Initially, the parents denied having any concerns about Sanders' day care. Then, they allegedly created a timeline and noted several dates when their son had "minor injuries" when picked up from day care. The parents had previously believed those injuries were due to "being in a day care with slightly older children."

According to the affidavit, the injuries range from June to August of this year, and include a bruise above the left eyebrow, a "large gash" under the chin, and bruising along the top of an ear.

During that same time period, the family was also concerned about their son's poor weight gain.

Sanders claimed nothing unusual happened to the boy while in her care on August 25, the day before the trip to Children's Hospital Colorado. 

Another parent told investigators they "noted several previous minor injuries" to their child that allegedly happened while at Sanders' day care. Some of those injuries included sores in the back of their child's throat.

A pediatrician allegedly told the baby's parent that one reason for the lesions on the side of the child's tongue could be the "overheating of his bottles" while at the day care.

Doctors also recorded a weight loss for this four-month old child, roughly a month after Sanders' began regularly watching the baby.

That same family used Sanders' day care for another child, according to the affidavit. In Sept. of 2024, Sanders allegedly told the parent their child "fell into her van" causing a "swollen and bruised" forehead.

Before explaining what happened to the child, Sanders apparently told the mother that "I love your family. Please don't think I'm abusing your child."

A third family also told investigators that their child came home from day care with a "large welt on his forehead" in June. Sanders allegedly told the family their son "fell off the couch."

On Sept. 17, a Child Protection Team conducted a review of medical concerns related to Sanders' day care. The medical professionals determined that all of the injuries "were believed to be consistent with Child Physical Abuse."

In addition, the fractures in the right arm of the first child were found to be "consistent with an intentional action and did not appear to be consistent with an accidental fall or typical play amongst children."

According to the Larimer County Jail, Sanders is being held on a $125,000 cash/surety bond. She has a court appearance scheduled for Dec. 1.

The CDEC encourages all families to review licensing status and inspection reports when choosing a child care facility.

Anyone struggling to find care for their children can reach out to the statewide Colorado Shines Child Care Resource & Referral (CCR&R) for assistance.

LOVELAND, Colo. For nearly two decades, Bill Hughes has spent one morning each week behind the wheel for SAINT Volunteer Transportation giving rides to seniors, veterans and people with disabilities in Loveland and Fort Collins.

Ive been driving for SAINT for 19 years, Hughes said. Im very fortunate to still be able to drive. A lot of people cant, and to help keep their lives a little more normal, a little more independent theres a lot of gratification in that.

SAINT provides free transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores and social outings.

Doctors appointments, grocery shopping, just getting out to lunch with some friends we dont judge about the reasons or where they want to go, Hughes said.

For riders, the service often becomes more than a lift to their destination.

Theyre wonderful people, and each one has his own story, a little bit of a setback here or there, and they cant get themselves around town anymore, Hughes said. Any alternative is going to cost them a lot of money or be an inconvenience to a relative that has to work. Were there to help them.

Last year, SAINTs more than 100 volunteer drivers delivered more than 20,000 rides. Hughes estimates he provides about 250 to 300 rides a year, averaging 6 or 7 rides during his halfday shift.

But lately, demand has outpaced driver availability.

We always need more drivers, Hughes said.

Executive Director Jenna Robinson said transportation is top three in needs nationally for older adults and the rising number of seniors in Colorado is making that need more urgent.

Were seeing a much larger aging demographic in the next 10 years than weve seen previous, and so the need for transportation is just going to be that much greater, she said.

In October, SAINT recorded its highest monthly ride total in Loveland in years and its highest number of turndowns.

The largest reason we cant offer that ride is because of driver availability, which is not enough volunteers, Robinson said.

Prepandemic, SAINT provided more than 30,000 rides annually.

Its not like those people just disappeared and theres no need anymore, Robinson said. Its really volunteer capacity. We are unbelievably thankful for every volunteer.

Robinson said what happens between pickup and dropoff is just as important as the transportation itself.

The main heart of SAINT is not the ride, it is what happens on the way, she said. Thats really the service we offer connection.

For riders like Jeff Parsons, the connection is what keeps him calling.

When you see who pulls up to pick you up, you just wave, hop in the car, and they take you where you need to go, and you have a conversation, he said. Its more than just a ride service, in my opinion its a friend service.

Parsons has trusted Hughes and other SAINT drivers for two years.

Theyre great listeners, and they talk. They dont just give me a ride, he said. Before I started getting rides with SAINT, I struggled in finding ways to get groceries and stuff like that without having to pay a large fee for it.

Hughes hopes more people will step up to volunteer both for the riders and themselves.

Come out and meet a lot of nice people that need a little help, he said. Were extending their lives, but theyre extending our lives also. Its lifepreserving on both sides.

If you'd like to apply to volunteer, visit the SAINT Volunteer Transportation website.