Colorado
NRSC’s Cory Gardner responds to Jones win: ‘Do the right thing’ and vote with Senate Republicans
DENVER – Sen. Cory Gardner, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Tuesday that Alabama voters deemed Roy Moore unfit for election, but also that he hopes Democratic victor Doug Jones will vote with Republicans once in the U.S. Senate.
“Tonight’s results are clear – the people of Alabama deemed Roy Moore unfit to serve in the U.S. Senate,” Gardner said in a statement. “I hope Senator-elect Doug Jones will do the right thing and truly represent Alabama by choosing to vote with the Senate Republican Majority.” Continue reading
Hickenlooper and bipartisan panel of governors call for immediate CHIP reauthorization
DENVER – Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper continued to press Congress to restore the Children’s Health Insurance Program before states’ funding dries up, sending a letter Tuesday to congressional leaders signed by him and 11 other governors from both parties.
“Since its creation, CHIP has enjoyed strong bipartisan support. We encourage you to work across the aisle to find common ground that will allow this important program to continue and give the families who rely on CHIP the peace of mind of knowing that their children will be able to get the health care they need in the new year,” the letter said, which was written by Hickenlooper and Republican Gov. John Kasich, among 10 others. Continue reading
Ex-Northglenn HS teacher arrested in sex assault investigation
THORNTON, Colo. – A former teacher at Northglenn High School was arrested Monday for investigation on charges of sex assault on a child and others, court records show.
Aaron Link, 37, was booked into the Adams County jail after his arrest, and made his first court appearance Tuesday morning.
Court records show Link was arrested for investigation on charges of sex assault on a child; sex assault on a child by a person in a position of trust; and aggravated incest. All three are felonies. Continue reading
Ex-Lake County undersheriff Fernando Mendoza indicted on 7 counts amid harassment, other allegations
LAKE COUNTY, Colo. – Former Lake County undersheriff Fernando Mendoza was arrested Tuesday following a grand jury indictment on seven charges relating to his alleged harassment of several 911 dispatchers, as first reported by Denver7. He was also indicted on attempted child sex charges and embezzlement.
A Denver7 report called Mendoza into question on Nov. 7 related to claims he sexually harassed several women in his office. Mendoza was fired from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office several weeks ago in response to those allegations. Continue reading
Marijuana use among Colorado teens declines again, government report shows
DENVER – Colorado adolescents are using marijuana at the lowest rate in a decade, and the rates at which the same group of children are using it continues to decline since recreational marijuana went on sale here in 2014, according to new data published by the federal government.
The new data comes from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health yearly report, which is performed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
According to the report, the rate by which children aged 12-17 have used marijuana in the past month fell from 11.13 percent in 2014-15 to 9.08 percent in 2015-16. Continue reading
Police: Former DougCo school staffer shot upskirt videos of students
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. – The former Douglas County School District staffer arrested Friday on sexual exploitation of a child charges recorded “upskirt” videos of at least two underage girls and several other women, according to police records released Monday.
Steven Michael Jenkins, 55, made his first court appearance Monday morning. He is being investigated on sexual exploitation of a child charges. Continue reading
Special prosecutor appointed in Rep. Lori Saine gun investigation
DENVER – The 20th Judicial District Attorney’s Office will handle any possible charges, if any, police decide to pursue in the gun case involving state Rep. Lori Saine, it was announced Monday.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann asked the office, based in Boulder County, to take the case as special prosecutors because she had previously worked with Saine, a Weld County Republican, when both were state lawmakers. Continue reading
Gang of Five? Bipartisan group of senators working to extend DACA before year’s end
DENVER – One of several measures under discussion to restore protections for Dreamers is being put together by a bipartisan group of senators, including several from the “Gang of Eight,” who want to have DACA restored before the end of the year, sources tell Denver7.
The new discussion involves pairing the Dream Act with some border security measures in an attempt to pass a bipartisan solution for the undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, three Senate aides told Denver7 in interviews this week. Continue reading
Sen. Cory Gardner says Roy Moore ‘will never have the support’ of the NRSC
DENVER – U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, reaffirmed his opposition to Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore Thursday just days before the Dec. 12 special election.
“Roy Moore will never have the support of the senatorial committee. We will never endorse him. We won’t support him,” Gardner, a Colorado Republican, told the Weekly Standard Thursday. “I won’t let that happen. Nothing will change. I stand by my previous statement.” Continue reading
Jeff Sessions scoffs at intern who questioned his marijuana stance, video shows
DENVER – U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions argued with Justice Department interns this summer over the safety and efficacy of marijuana use, according to new videos obtained by ABC News.
In the videos, which were shot during a lecture series for Justice Department summer interns that took place in June, Sessions chastised a woman who questioned his opposition to legal marijuana programs. Continue reading