Researchers at Colorado State University are working to bring forests back to life after the Cameron Peak Fire the largest wildfire in Colorado's recorded history burned more than 200,000 acres in 2020.

A CSU team is studying how to restore the burn scar, and so far researchers are finding seedlings struggle more at lower elevations than at higher ones.

Denver7's Claire Lavezzorio talks with a researcher on the team working to restore forests after the Cameron Peak Fire

Maddie Wilson, a masters of ecology student at CSU, said the sheer scale of the fire is a major reason restoration efforts are so important.

Wilson's research focuses on understanding which species are surviving in the burn scar and why.

"Our work is trying to understand...what seedlings should we be planting in these post-fire environments, and how are they living, how are they dying, things like that," Wilson said.

The team is also testing whether specific treatments can give seedlings a better chance of survival. Wilson said researchers planted a subset of seedlings using nitrogen supplements and hydrogel to help with initial establishment.

"We're hoping to see if those types of treatments actually do benefit planted seedlings," Wilson said.

Wilson said she hopes the research ultimately helps land managers make smarter decisions about where and how to replant.

"I'm hoping we can find the right balance of reforesting in areas that need attention and need that help to get started on that trajectory to become a forest again, but also keeping the areas that are doing really well in terms of regeneration," she said.

Wilson said water is among the most critical reasons to prioritize forest restoration.

"Forests are really important for our water for sure, and then also just on an aesthetic level and kind of a more like Colorado cultural level, we love our forests, and that's really important for people and an important value to have," Wilson said.

Looking ahead, Wilson said she hopes to see the burn scar slowly transform back into a thriving forest.

She said fire has always been part of Colorado's landscape and that work like hers is part of a long tradition of caring for it.

"Every forest in Colorado is a post-fire forest. Just how long it's been since that fire is a part of its history," Wilson said.

GOLDEN, Colo. A member of the task force designed to support diversity within the City of Golden told Denver7 they were first notified this week about a racist incident from within the fire department that occurred in March of this year.

The Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Task Force (REDI) was started in 2020, according to member Holly Olivarez. Olivarez claims the team first learned about the racist act where a Black doll was strung up by its neck with a rope in an email on Tuesday before it was announced publicly at Golden City Council.

Denver7's Colette Bordelon reports as fallout continues after racist doll incident in Golden Fire Department revealed

"We are very concerned at what we've heard about the facts, including the written statement read by the mayor that this was not handled at the time of the incident when the figurine was found with a noose around its neck back in March," said Olivarez. "I call it a noose because of what it represents. A Black man with a noose around his neck in the United States of America is very apparently making a statement."

On Tuesday, Denver7 reported on the independent investigation into the City of Golden and the Golden Fire Department after an employee hung a Black doll by a rope around its neck in a fire station stairwell earlier in the year.

A spokesperson with the City of Golden confirmed to Denver7 that the employee at the center of this investigation was terminated from their position. They did not elaborate on when that employee was fired, saying they cannot provide more details since it is a personnel matter.

Olivarez said the REDI Task Force will work to create a detailed plan of what they would like to see from the City of Golden moving forward.

Only when word got out that was out of the city manager's control, that's when we started to find out about some sort of accountability being taken," said Olivarez. The public are actually, and the news media, are actually the ones that are forcing the conversation.

Denver7's Colette Bordelon first learned about this issue from an anonymous source late last week. An interview with Golden's City Manager Scott Vargo was canceled and instead, a prepared statement was read at a city council meeting on Tuesday.

Mayor Laura Weinberg read the statement at Tuesday evening's meeting. That statement, which is copied in full at the bottom of this story, read that the "deeply disturbing and racist act" happened in March 2026 when a novelty doll called Snoop on a Stoop" and designed to model Snoop Dogg as a parody to the popular Elf on a Shelf doll was found hanging by its neck in a fire station stairwell.

During the holiday season beforehand, the doll was moved around the fire department. After it was found hanging in the stairwell, Mayor Weinberg, reading the statement, said it was immediately removed.

"The doll should never have been brought into any City facility, and the display evoked a horrific history of racial terror and violence," the statement reads, adding that the city had failed its employees and community.

The statement also reads that the city acknowledges how employees in other city departments, who only recently learned about what had happened back in March, felt like the city's response was not adequate.

"We are grateful to the employees who spoke up," it reads. "Their voices prompted us to reflect on our response and acknowledge that we fell far short in our responsibility to City staff and our community."

Denver7 also obtained internal emails that showed City Manager Vargo telling city employees that "a shocked and upset fire department employee saw the doll positioned in this way, and it was ordered to be taken down immediately." His email continues, saying an internal investigation was launched and disciplinary action was taken. An outside consultant was hired to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion training for the Golden Fire Department. He acknowledged that he should have shared general information about the incident with other leaders beyond just the fire department.

"I want to sincerely apologize to our staff for the impact this situation has and will continue to have on our staff," Vargo wrote in the email. "No one should be made to feel anything less than valued, respected, and supported as a member of our team, and this incident and response has left staff questioning mine and the Citys commitment to those values."

Vargo wrote in the email that he has "a deep commitment to regaining and to repairing the damage done."

In that same email, Vargo announced the City of Golden's Annual Summer Picnic was rescheduled as well, saying "a celebratory event seems incongruent with the current situation."

Denver7 submitted records requests related to the incident on Monday and is awaiting the results.

The full statement from the City of Golden about this incident is in full below.

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. As drought restrictions tighten in Castle Rock, more homeowners are taking advantage of a rebate program that pays residents to replace traditional lawns with water-saving native landscaping.

Last week, Denver7's Douglas County Reporter Tyler Melito reported on Castle Rock moving to Stage 2 Drought Restrictions.

Denver7's Tyler Melito talks with homeowners swapping water-hungry lawns for xeriscaping amid drought

During that story, Tyler spoke with Castle Rock Resident Andy Stewart, who mentioned the unique program through Castle Rock Water.

"Castle Rock Water offers an incentive program for converting your lawn to xeriscape," Stewart told Tyler on July 23.

On Wednesday, Tyler met back up with Stewart to learn more about the program and why he chose to do this.

Stewart explained the program was a rebate program, and he was sent information about it in an email from CRW.

"Once we learned about the rebate incentive, that was like, well, if they're offering that, we don't know if it's going to last forever, maybe now's the time to do it," Stewart shared. "We live in an arid climate where it just doesn't make sense to me to keep a grass green when it rains as little as it has this year."

CRW Director Mark Marlowe told Tyler the program encourages residents to tear up their old lawn and replace it with ColoradoScape, native plants that use less water and are used to the climate.

CRW will pay customers $3.25 per square foot of yard they replace.

"This is one of the best ways for us to address long-term water needs and make sure we're being efficient and conserving those critical water supplies in the community," Marlowe explained. "It uses a lot less water. It looks beautiful. It can add value to your home. It creates wildlife habitat. It's great for pollinators and birds, and in most cases, it tends to be lower maintenance for our customers."

Marlowe says in 2026, they have seen a significant increase in interest for the program, and the long-term water savings are noticeable.

"We have so far this year 432 customers committed to it, including commercial HOAs, non-residential and residential. Last year was a good year for us as well; we had 235," Marlowe said. "You're going to see probably on the order of at least a 20%+ reduction in your total water use over the course of a year."

While you can replace your yard yourself for the program, several local companies will help with the process, one of which is Bluebird Design and Landscape.

Owner Sky Moede told Tyler he has noticed more people expressing an interest in alternative yards, and he notes it isn't a one-size-fits-all approach.

"A lot of people are calling in saying, 'Hey, we got dead grass now, or it kind of is dormant.' They don't like the look of it, and they want to find an option within there," Moede said.

In addition to the water savings, Moede says the main draw for people is the maintenance of these alternative yards, or lack thereof.

"Something like this, it's really not much maintenance," Moede said. "I mean, trimming your plants, anything you would have of any native species of plants, is trimming them to make sure you're not picking weeds in there as well.

Moede said he knew about the lack of maintenance; he got rid of his traditional yard a few years ago and has no regrets for doing so.

"My thought process was kind of like low maintenance with dogs and kids, and run a business. It's got a lot to maintain your yard," Moede explained. "It's really easy just to let it sit and forget it."

For those interested in the rebate program through CRW, Marlowe says it is important to reach out to CRW first to complete your application. You can learn more about it here.

DENVER Denver mayoral candidate Lisa Caldern says Colorado's growing progressive movement could shape the city's 2027 election.

Our progressive trajectory has been coming for years, Caldern said. I'm a progressive, and I was recruited by the Working Families Party to run for office, and you know, that has been my story.

Caldern is the executive director of Women Uprising, an organization that helps women running for office. She ran for mayor in 2019 and in 2023. In 2023, Caldern narrowly missed the mayoral runoff.

We missed the runoff by less than 2%, and we only ran for seven months. We also had a fraction of the money that current Mayor Johnston had, and yet you know we saw back then that people really wanted a change in the establishment, Caldern said.

That same year, the Democratic Socialists of America endorsed Caldern for mayor, but Caldern said she is not a member of the growing party.

I'm not a democratic socialist. I am a dues-paying member. I support their efforts to get more young people involved and the energy that they bring to the movement. But I have been with the Working Families Party, which is really based in union workers, and that's where you know my family comes from, is a union background, Caldern said. But really, we're working along the same lines of having more affordability for working families, and that includes, you know, access to good homes and childcare.

Caldern said she appreciates the partys work but more work needs to be done to include diverse voices.

DSA is a newer part of the movement, but it's been building for a long time, and on the backs of a lot of activists, including those in the Civil Rights Movement, Fannie Lou Hamer, Diane Nash. I mean, these were women who risked arrest and were beaten by police, Caldern said. I would love to see these newer progressive movements speaking more to the Black community and Latino communities, and really centering a racial justice agenda in a lot of the organizing. And that's something that I have found with the Working Families Party.

Watch Micah Smith's report in the video below:

Caldern said she has not decided if she will seek DSAs endorsement for this election.

A fellow progressive, Denver City Councilwoman Shontel Lewis, recently announced she is also running for Denver mayor.

When asked for her response to progressive voters who worry two progressive mayoral candidates could split the progressive vote, Caldern said she respects progressives opportunity to run, to an extent.

It's a lot of hard work. It's like starting a business. What I would prefer is like what they did in New York, and that is that there came a point when they saw who had the best chance of upending the Democratic establishment. Others pulled back so that Mayor Mamdani eventually ascended and became the candidate and the eventual winner of that race, Caldern said.

Caldern said she supports ranked-choice voting because she thinks it would help alleviate the issue.

Policies

Caldern has been vocal in her criticism of Denver Mayor Mike Johnstons administration and his recent policy proposals.

Hes touting universal childcare now. That is a progressive platform. So I'm glad that he's now on board. It was part of my platform since I launched in February, but we have to have more than flowery words. We have to have results, and I think that Mayor Johnston, the first time he ran, didn't have a record to run on. Now he does, and he made a lot of promises he didn't keep, including changing the culture of city government, Caldern said.

She said disagrees with Johnston laying off 170 city workers. However, Johnston has previously defended the layoffs as part of efforts to address the city's $200 million budget deficit.

So fundamentally, I'm going to hire those workers back. I'm going to restore confidence in Denver city government, restore dignity to public servants, and so that's a huge thing. The second thing is, you know, we have a 50% spike in homicides, mostly among young people, and it's devastating for the Black community. You know, I don't see Mayor Johnston leading. In fact, I saw him cutting those various services that we need: the violence interruption services, the case management and programs for our community providers, Caldern said.

While Denver's homicide rate has gone up, the city has seen declines in most other violent crime categories, according to a Denver Police Department report released earlier this month.

The progressive candidate said she wants to restore funding and create social housing.

I really believe in social housing. I want us to pass a social housing bond, and what that means is that we have mixed. Use multiracial, multi-income housing, so that we have deeply affordable housing, not just from year to year, but across even generations of families. They're doing it in Seattle, and so by passing a social housing bond, we can get deeply affordable permanent housing in Denver, and so that is going to be a top priority for me, Caldern said.

But there are a few successful examples of social housing initiatives, which often face long waiting lists.

The Denver Mayoral election will be held on April 6, 2027

A Denver County Court judge who was censured earlier this year after he was investigated for paying a defendants bond has resigned.

Judge Barry Schwartz sent in a letter of resignation June 29 announcing that he would leave the bench that day and use leave time until his official last day on Aug 18.

Denver7 Investigates reported last year that Schwartz was being investigated and was removed from the bench after a complaint was filed regarding his conduct during an Aug. 15, 2025 hearing.

During that hearing, an audio recording obtained by Denver7 Investigates showed that bond was set at $1 for a defendant in a forfeiture hearing. However, an attorney asked for a personal recognizance bond because the defendant didnt have $1 and would need to go to an ATM.

Rather than award the PR bond, Schwartz said the court had a dollar to provide to the defendant.

Watch Jennifer Kovaleski's report in the video below:

Legal experts said that action was ethically wrong and, even though it was just $1, judges have to maintain a sense of impartiality.

Schwartz was removed from the bench during a review by the Denver Judicial Discipline Commission. In January, he was censured by Mayor Mike Johnston and suspended for a week without pay.

Shortly after the suspension, court officials told Denver7 Investigates that Schwartz was reassigned to civil court as part of the regular annual court rotation.

Denver7 Investigates requested a comment from Schwartz through his attorney, David Beller. Beller responded with a statement that read:

Judge Schwartz has led a life dedicated to public service, and serving the people of Denver as a County Court Judge has been among its greatest privileges. He served diligently, humbly, and compassionately. At 66 and approaching his tenth year on the bench, he decided the time had come to close this chapter and begin the next one. His years as a judge were the most challenging and rewarding of his professional life. He is grateful to his colleagues, to the court staff whose work makes justice possible every day, and above all to the people of this community, whom it was his honor to serve. He looks forward to retirement and to whatever adventure comes next.

Schwartz was appointed by Mayor Michael Hancock and was retained by voters in 2024. He would have been up for re-election in November 2027.

Its unclear what role, if any, prior discipline played in Schwartzs resignation.

We thank Judge Schwartz for his years of service on the Denver County Court bench and wish him the very best in his future endeavors, a spokesperson for Denver County Court said in a statement.

FLOYD HILL, Colo. Three years into one of Colorado's largest mountain highway projects, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) says the blasting, closures and backups at Floyd Hill are moving to the next phase.

"This is an exciting milestone, being halfway done with the Floyd Hill project," said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.

She told Denver7 that CDOT has considered the past few months the general "halfway" mark of the project. Denver7 asked about this after noting that CDOT had announced back in May that they were also halfway done.

This project officially started in 2023, when CDOT and Kraemer North America partnered to transform eight miles of the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor between Evergreen and eastern Idaho Springs.

Lew said the stretch had long been a problem area for drivers.

"There was essentially an hourglass problem on the configuration of the highway just creating one of a few remaining and very challenging sections along the stretch going from Denver into the mountains," Lew said.

As of July 2026, rock blasting operations are now substantially complete. Crews completed 211 controlled blasts and removed more than 765,511 tons of material equal to the weight of 30 Statues of Liberty.

"We are grateful to the public for their patience. It is hard to deal with things like 15-minute rock blasts on a road as busy and as essential as this one," Lew said.

With excavation largely finished, the project is now shifting its focus to bridge construction. Floyd Hill Project Director Kurt Kionka said the first half was mostly about excavation, and the second half will be about connecting 10 bridges together to create the new road.

"What you'll see in the future driving through here over the next couple years is a lot of bridge columns come up out of the ground, bridge beams being set, and just substantial bridge construction," Kionka said.

At the bottom of Floyd Hill, crews are using a construction method called balanced cantilever segmental construction an approach Kionka said is not commonly used in the Denver area.

"What's so unique about this method of bridge construction is it allows us to do very long spans. These spans... Some of them are over 300 feet," Kionka said.

The method involves building a pier column up from the ground, then extending the bridge outward in 15-foot sections cantilevered from the column before connecting them in the middle. Kionka said the approach was chosen in part because of the complex conditions at the bottom of the hill, where crews must keep both eastbound and westbound I-70 open, cross over Clear Creek and navigate around an active landslide, all while going around a curve.

"We're doing it over live traffic up in the air, and so that makes it so that we don't have to close traffic during construction," Kionka said.

Watch Ethan Carlson's report in the video below:

Since late 2025, crews have constructed 15 bridge columns and erected 31 bridge beams. The project includes more than two miles of deep caissons drilled into bedrock across all structures.

The good news for drivers is that the most disruptive phase is now largely behind them. CDOT said the 20-minute traffic holds that were common throughout the week during the first half of construction are now largely complete.

"Expect all lanes to be open during those busy times of travel through here. If you come here overnight, you might see lane closures," Kionka said.

From early to mid-August, CDOT said drivers can expect a series of overnight, single-direction eastbound and westbound I-70 closures at the bottom of Floyd Hill near the US 6 interchange for segmental bridge construction.

The project is also adding a new connection from the bottom of the hill at US 6 into Central City Parkway, which will provide an alternate route when I-70 is shut down and reduce lengthy detours.

CDOT said the project remains on schedule and on budget. The new I-70 alignment is expected to open in 2028, with the full project finished in 2029. When complete, the corridor will be brought up to a 55 mph design speed.

"It's going to feel much better, much safer as you go through here," Kionka said.

Denver's Baker Community Garden is at risk of closing unless the community can raise $600,000 to purchase the property within two months.

The historic garden, managed by Denver Urban Gardens, has provided fresh food to the community for 30 years. All 22 plots are currently in use, and there is a waiting list each year.

Denver7 anchor Jessica Porter reports on efforts to save the Baker Community Garden

Ryan McCann, a garden leader with Denver Urban Gardens, said the garden is unlike anything else in the area.

"There's a handful of smaller other gardens here, but there's nothing like this one. It's very unique. This garden has a three-year waiting list."

The garden has operated through a land-use agreement with the property owners. After the passing of a business partner, the property is now being put up for sale. McCann said the community is grateful to the landowners for allowing them to use the property over the years.

McCann said the garden's greatest asset is what it means to the people who use it.

"I think the biggest value is that community piece where you have a lot of neighbors and friends that come together. It's really rare to have green spaces in an urban environment."

A fundraising campaign is now underway, led by local gardeners working to buy the property before time runs out.

"We're coming together to get the message out, collect any kind of donations we can, and maybe find a hero donor out there," McCann said.

Community members who wish to donate can do so at dug.org/save-baker. Those with connections to potential investors, land trusts, or landowner partners are encouraged to contact Nessa Mogharreban, the executive director of Denver Urban Gardens, at nessa@dug.org.

A Canadian tourist said what was supposed to be a fun family road trip from Denver to Yellowstone National Park turned into what he called a horrible vacation after renting a vehicle from Routes Car Rental in Commerce City.

After Denver7 Investigates got involved, the company issued him a full refund.

Denver7 Investigates helps tourist get refund after unexpected fees, reported vehicle issues

The complaint is the latest involving Routes Car Rental, a company Denver7 Investigates previously investigated after customers reported problems ranging from surprise charges and long waits to difficulty reaching customer service.

Id like to make a complaint about Routes Car Rental agency at the Commerce City location in Denver, Paul Kirchner wrote in an email to Denver7 Consumer Investigative Reporter Jaclyn Allen.

Kirchner and his wife flew from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Colorado earlier this month with plans to drive to Yellowstone National Park and then spend time exploring Denver.

Instead, he said, the trip quickly unraveled.

It was horrible vacation, Kirchner said during an interview with Denver7 Investigates.

Kirchner says he booked the rental through Booking.com and believed the reservation included unlimited mileage and no other fees.

But when he arrived at the Commerce City rental location, he says he was told different terms applied if he planned to drive outside Colorado.

When I got there, they said, No, it's not unlimited. You're only unlimited in the state of Colorado, Kirchner said.

He said he was also charged additional fees, including a toll tag charge he did not expect.

Emails reviewed by Denver7 Investigates show customer service later declined to reverse the toll tag charge because Kirchner had already signed the rental agreement.

Denver7 Investigates previously reported on similar complaints involving Routes last October, when customers complained about long lines, unexpected add-on charges and toll fees.

We were told that a toll tag would cost us $14 but it's costing us $14 a day, plus a lot of add-ons attached to that toll tag, Tracy Erickson told Denver7 during the earlier investigation.

At the time, the company blamed some issues on a leadership transition and told Denver7: We need to do more. And we will.

The Better Business Bureau currently gives Routes an F rating and has posted an alert citing a pattern of complaints.

Complaints listed through the BBB include allegations involving customer service, billing disputes, unexpected charges and refunds.

For Kirchner, the concerns extended beyond fees.

He said the vehicle shook during the drive from Denver toward Wyoming. The next morning, he inspected the vehicle more closely and became alarmed.

There was no washer fluid in the car. The front tires were bald, Kirchner said.

He said rainy weather in Yellowstone made things worse.

The car was hydroplaning, and I had to pull over and stop, he said.

Kirchner added he cut his Yellowstone trip short and returned the vehicle early because he no longer felt safe driving it and worried about additional charges.

I felt like I needed to take the car back because I didn't know what else they were going to charge me. It was like one thing after the other after the other, he said.

Denver7 reached out to Routes Car Rental about Kirchners complaint and asked additional questions about vehicle inspections, maintenance standards, surprise charges and whether the company had made changes since Denver7s previous reporting.

In a statement, Routes apologized for the customers experience and said its customer care team remained in regular communication during the investigation into Kirchner's complaints.

The company said it would have gladly facilitated a vehicle exchange had it been given the opportunity during the rental.

Routes also said it issued a full refund of all charges incurred at our rental location as a gesture of goodwill and to bring the matter to an amicable resolution.

However, the company did not directly answer Denver7 Investigates' questions about the condition of the vehicle, tire safety concerns or what specific operational changes may have been made following earlier complaints.

Kirchner says he does not believe he would have received a refund without Denver7s involvement.

I just want to really thank you guys for doing that, he said. You made my horrible trip a lot better.

Denver7 Investigates also reached out to Booking.com for comment and questions regarding mileage disclosures and rental partner policies.

In a statement, a Booking.com spokesperson wrote:

Consumer tip: Before signing a rental agreement, experts recommend reviewing the fine print carefully, including mileage restrictions, toll policies, geographic limitations and optional fees.

Drivers should also inspect the vehicle thoroughly, including tires, before leaving the lot and document any concerns with photos or video.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) The Denver Broncos on Wednesday hit the field for the first time this summer after welcoming back a player and a coach who've had run-ins with the law.

Linebacker Jonathon Cooper, who faces an Aug. 31 arraignment on several domestic violence charges following two arrests last month, returned to the field Wednesday when the Broncos began their acclimation period ahead of the start of training camp this weekend.

Also back was Michael Wilhoite, who was recently rehired as a defensive assistant 16 months after being fired as Denvers outside linebackers coach following an incident at the Denver International Airport where he was accused of punching a police officer.

As for Cooper, who was held out of the Broncos' mandatory minicamp last month following his second arrest in a week's span, coach Sean Payton said: "Well, we're staying the course with the league protocol, club protocol relative to what we're advised to do. He's been fantastic working away from the building and will continue to do that and (we'll) monitor it.

We're supportive and yet very much aware of the seriousness of these types of things, Payton added. "But, pretty much what I said in the spring: there's a schedule and a course to this that we have to follow.

The NFL is investigating Cooper's situation and the sixth-year pro could face a lengthy suspension under the league's domestic violence policy.

Payton insisted Cooper's situation isn't a distraction: No, not at all.

Cooper, who has started 52 consecutive games for the Broncos, is a key member of a defense that has led the league in sacks each of the last two seasons. He was told to stay away from the Broncos mandatory minicamp in June following his second arrest.

Payton intimated that Cooper received counseling over the summer break, saying, We're proud of the work he did over the last call it month and a half. It wasn't easy. And it'll continue to be a challenge and we'll see where it goes. But (we're) fully supportive of him right now as we gather all the information and we go from there.

Cooper, 28, was originally arrested June 4 by police in Parker along with his girlfriend following an argument and physical confrontation after she accused him of infidelity, according to a police affidavit. Later that week, prosecutors dropped charges against her and added charges against Cooper, including a felony charge of second-degree assault by strangulation, while also granting her a protection order.

The new charges stemmed from a forensic nurses examination of Coopers girlfriend at a hospital during which the nurse wrote that the woman experienced an injury from being choked that led to a substantial risk of death or substantial risk of injury, including the possibility of a traumatic brain injury, according to court records.

Cooper was later arrested a second time on multiple charges that he violated the protection order. Cooper was accused of sending 20 messages and making two unanswered phone calls to his girlfriend before going to her apartment and knocking on her door, according to the arrest affidavit. He left when she called 911.

Asked if he'd read what the forensic nurse wrote, Payton said, Yeah, I've read all of it and, listen, I don't have any comment on the specifics because I think, yeah, when it's finally finished, we'll all have a better feel. So, it's unfair for me to answer any of those questions right now without having the totality of it finalized.

Payton, meanwhile, recently rehired Wilhoite as a defensive assistant 16 months after he was fired for the airport incident.

Felony charges were later downgraded to misdemeanor charges of obstructing a peace officer and criminal mischief before being dropped altogether last month after Wilhoite was accepted into a diversion program.

That cleared the way for Wilhoite to return to the NFL.

He's obviously been away for a little bit over a year and a half, I'm a huge fan and he, too, went through a long and lengthy process, was cleared and met with all of us, we felt real good," Payton said. And I'm excited to have him back.

Also back is quarterback Bo Nix, who was fully cleared for camp following offseason ankle surgery and a follow-up procedure to remove bone spurs that limited his work during the spring.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

DENVER Colorado health officials are seeing a significant increase in salmonella cases this month, though where these cases are coming from or what food may be causing them remains a mystery.

Over the past five years, Colorado has averaged about 125 cases of the foodborne illness during the month of July. But as of Tuesday, more than 250 salmonella cases have been reported to the state since the beginning of the month, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Watch this health alert from the CDPHE in the video below:

Salmonella is a bacteria that naturally lives in the intestines of both humans and animals, but some strains can be harmful to humans, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Swallowing these harmful types of salmonella can cause diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting, with symptoms appearing anywhere from a few hours to a few days after ingesting the bacteria.

While anyone can get infected with salmonella, children younger than 5, adults over the age of 65 and those with underlying medical conditions, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of infection and may experience more severe illness that requires hospitalization, CDC officials say.

Washing your hands, separating food to avoid cross-contamination, cooking food to the right temperature, refrigerating perishable food items, and thawing frozen food properly, along with other simple steps, can reduce your chances of becoming infected, according to the CDC.

Whole genome sequencing from people who test positive for salmonella is now underway in Colorado to help state health officials identify if a specific food, restaurant, or supplier is contributing to this rise in cases.

So far, federal investigators have not identified the specific source of these infections, though tracing is happening now, according to the CDPHE.

Nationwide, a salmonella outbreak linked to shell eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services, L.P. has sickened 98 people across 17 states and sent 26 of those to the hospital. One person in Colorado has gotten sick in connection with that outbreak, but state health officials have not yet confirmed whether that outbreak is connected to Colorados salmonella surge.

Health officials say the most common way to get salmonella is by eating contaminated foods, like raw or uncooked meat, poultry, seafood or eggs; eating fruits and vegetables contaminated by dirty water and soil; drinking contaminated water or unpasteurized milk and cheeses; and touching the fur, feathers, scales or skin of animals infected with the bacteria.

State health officials are asking anyone with symptoms of salmonella to reach out to a healthcare provider.

DENVER Showers and thunderstorms are likely across high terrain Wednesday, with strong storms producing localized flash flooding, particularly for the burn scar and areas along and east of the southern I-25 corridor.

Denver7 is tracking the latest on these showers and storms, as well as any watches and warnings, in our live weather blog below.

LINKS: Latest forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

8 p.m. | Beulah flash flooding | Rain on the Aspen Acres burn scar prompted flooding in Beulah. Multiple road closures in place due to mud and debris, according to the Pueblo County sheriff's office. The area is under a flash flood emergency through 10 p.m.

6:20 p.m. | Burn scar flash flooding | Evacuation orders were issued in Ouray County after heavy rain on the Gold Mountain Fire burn area produced "intense flooding," per a post from the sheriff's office.

5:12 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Cotopaxi, Texas Creek and Hillside are under this warning until 8:15 p.m. The NWS advises people to move to higher ground immediately.

5 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 27 cancellations and 795 delays at Denver International Airport as of 4 p.m., according to FlightAware.

4:55 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parts of Chaffee County are under this warning until 8 p.m.

4:18 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parts of Fremont County are under this warning until 5:30 p.m.

4:17 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Wiggins and surrounding areas are under this warning until 5 p.m. Up to 60 mph winds and pea-sized hail are possible with this storm.

4:03 p.m. | Ground stop at DIA | The FAA has issued a ground stop at DIA until 5 p.m. That means arriving flights to Denver cannot leave their destinations until the ground stop is lifted.

4 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 19 cancellations and 696 delays at Denver International Airport as of 4 p.m., according to FlightAware.

3:38 p.m. | Severe thunderstorm warning | Strasburg, Bennett, and Byers are under this warning until 4:15 p.m. Up to 60 mph winds and pea-sized hail are possible with this storm.

3:12 p.m. | Flash flood watch for Aspen Acres Fire burn scar | This watch is in effect until 9 p.m. as heavy rainfall over the Aspen Acres burn scar is expected up to and during the period of the watch

3:06 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parker and Castle Pines are under this warning until 6 p.m. The NWS advises people to move to higher ground immediately.

3 p.m. | Delays, cancellations at DIA | There are a total of 17 cancellations and 589 delays at Denver International Airport as of 3 p.m., according to FlightAware.

2:48 p.m. | Special weather statement | Up to 50 mph winds and half-inch-sized hail are possible across parts of Aurora, Watkins and Denver International Airport until 3:15 p.m.

2:38 p.m. | Special weather statement | Up to 50 mph winds and penny-sized hail are possible across Centennial, Castle Rock and Parker until 3:15 p.m.

2:32 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Victor and Goldfield are under this warning until 5:30 p.m.

2:09 p.m. | Flash flood warning | Parts of Fremont County are under this warning until 4:30 p.m.

4:33 a.m. | Weather update | Numerous showers and thunderstorms are again expected today with localized flash flood threat for the strongest storms, according to the National Weather Service in Boulder.

DENVER A new Colorado law taking effect next month will require minors to have written permission from a parent or guardian before obtaining a motorcycle endorsement.

The law, which takes effect on Aug. 12, comes amid a growing trend of electric motorcycles and dirt bikes on Colorado roads, leading to an increase in crashes, according to a Colorado State Patrol news release Wednesday.

Existing Colorado law requires E-motorcycle riders to be at least 16 years old and have a valid drivers license with a motorcycle endorsement.

Riders must also have valid registration, proof of insurance, and minors are required to wear a helmet.

But come Aug. 12, those under 18 seeking a motorcycle endorsement will need to bring an additional piece of paper to the DMV: written parental or guardian consent.

Previously, a minor just needed consent from anyone over the age of 21.

The new law stems from House Bill 26-1079, which passed the Colorado Legislature unanimously in April and aims to improve safety and decrease the number of traumatic incidents.

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. A firefighter with West Metro Fire Rescue fell 50 feet in rocky terrain during a training exercise near Morrison on Wednesday and is now in critical condition, the department said.

On Wednesday morning, West Metro Fire firefighters were training for high-angle rescues in steep and rocky terrain near Morrison.

Around 11 a.m., Jarrod Leonard who is a firefighter and paramedic, as well as one of the department's technical rescue instructors fell about 50 feet.

Denver7's Adria Iraheta hears from those who witnessed the emergency response

He was transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition as of 2:45 p.m., the department said.

Leonard has been with West Metro Fire for more than 23 years. He teaches firefighters in the "specialized skills needed to perform rescues in some of the most challenging environments," the department said.

High angle rescue is a specialized skill used in terrains with slopes of 60% or more like cliffs or silos. Retired firefighter and MSU professor Mark Stephenson said the incident highlights the risks involved in that kind of training.

"The fire service learns from every incident. We share knowledge with one another, and one of the paramount things I think is despite all the safety training that takes place, the checklists, you know, et cetera, is we still can't control the external environment," Stephenson said. "I think it demonstrates that we still have a very high risk occupation, and despite all the safeguards and values that we bring to any training ground, that accidents will still occur."

Meanwhile, messages from the Colorado firefighting community continue to pour in, wishing Leonard a full and speedy recovery.

Country star Megan Moroney rescheduled her concert after ending the show at Ball Arena early on Tuesday night. Moroney got through three songs before she stopped.

Ball Arena put out a post on social media in the middle of the show, saying Moroney was unable to continue because of an illness.

Moroney posted to her Instagram story, saying "Denver - That was the hardest decision I've ever had to make & I'm so sorry to cancel the show tonight. I never ever will give you guys a show that is not 100% and by song 3 I knew that I was not capable of giving that you tonight. I'm typing this is I'm quite literally bawling my eyes out in my dressing room & it hurts me so much to disappoint you all."

The country star said she'll be back at Ball Arena on Thursday, August 27. Tickets that fans bought for Tuesday night's show will be honored, according to Ball Arena. If fans can't make it, refunds will be available.

For months, RTD has been reviewing different parts of its transit system to close the more than $200 million deficit the agency has been facing.

Denver7 was at a Tuesday night meeting of the RTD board of directors as riders urged leaders to keep fare prices where they area.

"I use RTD access a ride to get to work. Without public transportation, I would have to rely on my family and friends to give me rides to work," one person said.

"Flex ride is not just a transportation service, it's an essential part of community that helps people remain connected, independent and safe," another said.

Tuesday night, board members struck down the idea of increasing fares to achieve an additional $8 million savings, totaling $12 million.

Though members decided to not raise fares, they are moving forward with 6.7% service reductions to save the agency about $20 million.

In a 9-6 vote, the Board of Directors elected to have staff build the proposed 2027 budget based on the $20 million saving target.

Service changes would be created based on priorities including preservation and growth of ridership, local transit needs, and board adopted service standards that include a focus on cost per boarding, revenue service hour cost, and service duplication.

The changes would take effect no later than May or June of next year.

Board members also voted to move forward with a High-Volume Event Service pilot with the Broncos, meaning Broncos Ride could return at some point.

A few lingering storms are still possible over the mountains and far eastern plains before things quiet down overnight.

Thursday will bring fewer storms overall, but scattered afternoon showers and thunderstorms are still expected, mainly over the mountains, foothills, and Palmer Divide. A few stronger storms could also develop out on the northeast plains later in the day.

Any stronger storms through Thursday afternoon could produce heavy rain and localized flash flooding, especially over burn scars and along and east of the southern I-25 corridor. While the overall flood threat will be lower than today, it's still worth keeping an eye on changing weather conditions.

Another round of isolated strong thunderstorms is possible on Friday. Some storms could bring gusty winds and brief heavy rain, although exactly where the strongest storms develop remains a bit uncertain.

Looking ahead to the weekend, the weather turns drier and much warmer as high pressure builds back in. Temperatures will climb above normal, with hot conditions likely by Sunday and Monday.

DENVER WEATHER LINKS: Hourly forecast | Radars | Traffic | Weather Page | 24/7 Weather Stream

Click here to watch the Denver7 live weather stream.

The U.S. Department of Education said Tuesday it is investigating Denver Public Schools over allegations that a high school teacher required students of the same sex to kiss in front of a class.

The probe will determine whether DPS violated a federal law that gives parents the right to opt out of school evaluations on topics including sexual behavior or attitudes, the department said.

Parents must be the decision-makers in matters impacting the most intimate parts of their childrens lives, Frank Miller, director of the Student Privacy Policy Office at the Education Department, said in a statement.

Denver schools spokesman Scott Pribble said the district put the teacher on administrative leave and completed an investigation after students raised concerns in March 2025. The statement did not specify what prompted the students concerns.

The Board of Education fired the teacher in May, he said.

The safety, emotional well-being, and dignity of our students are the absolute highest priorities of DPS, the statement said. Our actions to date have been wholly consistent with those priorities.

DPS did not say whether its investigation substantiated the specific allegation cited by the Education Department.

The department also announced a separate investigation into a Washington state district, the Bethel School District, about an hour south of Seattle, after vials of testosterone were displayed in an LGBTQ Pride Month exhibit at Graham-Kapowsin High School.

Bethel School District said the vials were not authorized by school administrators and were immediately removed and turned over to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office. Some vials had a small amount of unknown liquid, the district said.

Testosterone is prescribed for gender-affirming care. The district said it will cooperate fully with the Education Department's investigation.

Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Carly Cappetto said Bethel school administrators identified the student who brought the vials to campus. No charges were filed, and the juvenile student was referred to a drug and alcohol diversion program, Adam Faber, a spokesman for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney's Office, said in an email. He said the vials were not tested for testosterone, which is a controlled substance.

The district said it is reviewing its protocols for overseeing displays to ensure all school materials strictly align with our educational standards and community expectations.

The two districts are in states headed by Democrats. President Donald Trump is a Republican.

The Trump administration has opened dozens of investigations into schools that make accommodations for transgender and LGBTQ+ students, often taking aim at districts that allow students to use bathrooms or locker rooms that align with their gender identities. It accused Denver schools last year of violating Title IX protections against sex-based discrimination over such a bathroom policy.

Trump officials have also pushed against schools accused of keeping information about students gender identities confidential from their parents, which the department says is a violation of federal privacy laws.

The Education Department tied the new investigations to National Parents Day on Sunday. The agency said it will be announcing significant actions involving the enforcement of parental rights laws through the week.

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Associated Press writer Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.

SAN DIEGO (AP) Fernando Tatis Jr. went 5 for 5 with two RBIs in the first five-hit game of his career, and Xander Bogaerts' sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the San Diego Padres an 8-7 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday night.

Tatis became the first major leaguer with five singles in a game this season and the first Padres player to do it since Adrin Gonzlez on Aug. 11, 2009.

Manny Machado had three hits for the Padres, including an eighth-inning single that was misplayed by right fielder Jake McCarthy for an error allowing Jake Cronenworth to score the tying run.

San Diego loaded the bases against Jimmy Herget (0-4) with nobody out in the ninth on Jackson Merrill's leadoff single and two walks. Merrill scored on Bogaerts fly to center field, giving the Padres (54-53) their fourth straight win.

Mason Miller (3-1) struck out all three batters in the top of the ninth to keep it tied at 7.

Padres manager Craig Stammen was ejected in the fourth after arguing with plate umpire Jeremie Rehak, who did not grant Bogaerts an ABS challenge.

San Diego scored twice in the second on Luis Campusanos run-scoring double and Tatis RBI single. Machado had an RBI single in the fifth to pull San Diego within one, and Tatis tied it at 4 with another run-scoring single in the sixth.

Ezequiel Tovar and Mickey Moniak each had an RBI double in the seventh to give the Rockies a 6-4 lead.

San Diego evened it in the bottom half when Merrill singled home a run and Ty France scored on a fielding error by third baseman Willi Castro.

Tovar drew a bases-loaded walk from Adrian Morejon in the eighth to put Colorado in front 7-6.

Castro and Moniak both homered in the third as the Rockies scored four times to take a 4-2 lead. McCarthy hit an RBI single and came around on Moniak's two-run shot.

Rockies RHP Gabriel Hughes (0-2, 2.79 ERA) takes the mound Wednesday. The Padres had not announced a scheduled starter for the series finale.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) Patrick Surtain II felt like he was in a maze. Quinn Meinerz was glad his truck wasn't baking in the Colorado sun.

The Denver Broncos prepared to open training camp this week from their new $175 million headquarters, which was designed with players in mind.

Oh, this is incredible, said Meinerz, the Broncos' perennial All-Pro guard. I'm finding new things every time. I've just stayed on the first floor. I got to park underground. When I get done with practice my truck's not going to be 150 degrees. That's a nice little thing.

The Broncos will hold their first practice of their acclimation period Wednesday in the shadows of the new state-of-the-art facility funded by owners Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner.

It was designed to keep players from having to exert extra energy in a superfluous manner, such as long walks to their weight room like they had to make in their old headquarters across the football fields, buildings that will be torn down after training camp next month.

The locker room is close, the food's right there, the weight room's right there, the field's right here," Meinerz said. The ease of everything is just incredible."

Meinerz said when he first walked into the spacious new locker room, I couldn't stop smiling, it was just incredible. It feels like it has more of a social atmosphere to it. It's kind of a big room with like an underlayer of couch, TVs. So, I'm excited to see the flow of it.

The Broncos are counting on their new headquarters having an positive impact not only on performance but also on the offseason recruitment of free agents.

I've already noticed how much closer everything is, Meinerz said. Like in the previous building ... it sounds so spoiled but you have to walk a little bit to get to the weight room. And right now, the weight room is connected to the locker room pretty much. So, everything is so close. Those little minutes of time do add up throughout the day."

Surtain couldn't name his favorite feature of the new digs, which the media will tour this weekend.

Honestly, everything's state-of-the-art, he said. When I first got in yesterday, I was like, wow, I was in awe. It's pretty special. ... It feels like I'm in a maze right now, though. I've got to figure out where to navigate.

Surtain sees it attracting free agents, too, just like the digs at Alabama, where he played in college.

Yeah, pretty much so, Surtain said. It feels like I'm in college again, immersed into that experience. Like I said, credit to Greg and Carrie for putting all this together. My expectations were high. It's definitely exceeded my expectations. I don't think there's anything like this in the league.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Dozens of Aurora residents packed an Arapahoe County Commission meeting Tuesday, delivering a petition with more than 3,000 signatures demanding a reconsideration on plans to install oil well pad near the Aurora Reservoir and the Southshore community.

The petition targets the Sunlight-Long well pad, which was approved by the Energy and Carbon Management Commission in April and is part of a larger 156-well drilling project. The commission approved the broader project in 2024, but each well pad needs separate approval.

Some of those well pads would sit less than a mile from homes and the Aurora Reservoir. Residents considered it a major victory in December when state regulators paused Sunlight-Long's development plans after months of heated public hearings.

Now, they are hopeful their voices will make a difference once again calling on county leaders to hold a public hearing and a public vote on the already approved Sunlight-Long pad.

Aurora resident Diane Mock was among those who attended the meeting.

"I'm here because I realize what harm this can do to our community and myself," Mock said, getting emotional.

Residents spoke out during Tuesday's public comment, expressing concerns over health and environmental impacts.

"Our children's health and safety should be our top concern," said Melissa, a Southshore resident. "I worked hard as a single mom to purchase my home in this community, I do not want to move again due to health concerns."

Watch Adria Iraheta's report in the video below:

The neighborhood advocacy group Save the Aurora Reservoir argues that new materials submitted by the developer in recent months should trigger a fresh review of the project. County officials, however, disagree. In a letter sent earlier this month, the acting county attorney told the group the changes do not warrant another examination.

The county has argued that the changes cited by residents do not materially affect the approved permit and therefore do not require a new public review process.

Arapahoe County Spokesperson Jill McGranahan said the county remains committed to oversight of the project.

"We will continue to moderate. We have a robust inspection program that we're very proud of. We will continue to stay on top of this and make sure that they honor the application as it was approved," McGranahan said.

Aurora resident Christine Dayton said the community's core demand is simple.

"Ultimately, what it comes down to is there should be a vote, and there should be a public hearing to where there's interaction," Dayton said.

Dayton said residents are not prepared to accept the county's position.

"They can give us every excuse in the world about why they can't, but none of that is true. So you know, we just got to keep trying," Dayton said.

Aurora resident Joe Over echoed that resolve, urging commissioners to truly listen.

"Please continue to listen to us, and please, please actually hear us," Over said.

Mock said she hopes the county commission will take action.

"I'm hoping that the next step will be that we will hear from our board of county commissioners, and they will say to us, 'Yes, we will reopen these fracking permits, and we'll review them,'" Mock said.

Dayton said the community's advocacy will continue regardless of the county's response.

"We're going to continue speaking out. We're going to continue writing and calling," Dayton said.

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