Tag: douglas county
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Colorado Supreme Court to decide whether out-of-state defendant may be prosecuted for in-state crime
The Colorado Supreme Court recently announced that it will decide whether Douglas County prosecutors had grounds to pursue criminal charges against a woman in New York whose conduct occurred outside of Colorado. Erin Brennan and her children lived in New York, and her ex-husband moved to Colorado after their divorce. In 2022, she proposed a…
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Advocates tout new Colorado law targeting child exploitation
Douglas County officials and advocates celebrated the passage of a bipartisan bill Wednesday aimed at strengthening penalties for sexual crimes against children. House Minority Leader Jarvis Caldwell, a sponsor of Senate Bill 26-015, said the measure addresses gaps that previously allowed some offenders to avoid prison time. “The idea that you could rape a child…
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Colorado Cost of Living: Sky-high home prices narrow pool of buyers in Douglas County
Douglas County has one of the highest median incomes in the state, but home prices can rival some of the most exclusive communities in Colorado. As the population continues to grow, these demographics, combined with limited housing diversity, have made affordability an ongoing challenge. With a median listing price of $757,810 as of February, according…
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Colorado justices acknowledge judge’s misunderstanding of law in eminent domain case
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared to agree on Tuesday that a Douglas County judge incorrectly believed he lacked the authority to allow a property owner to pursue evidence challenging a government entity’s legal right to take the property through eminent domain. But during oral arguments, multiple justices bristled when an attorney for the…
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Red means go: 8 red rock destinations to visit in Colorado
The color red is central to some of Colorado’s greatest natural beauty, and it’s central to this state’s name. “Colorado” is derived from the Spanish phrase for “colored red,” as early explorers came to view the waterway we now call the Colorado River. The Spaniards then followed that river, which was tinted by silt that…
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Colorado counties cannot challenge state law restricting immigration contracts, appeals court says
Colorado’s second-highest court ruled on Thursday that counties lack standing to challenge a 2023 state law that restricts their ability to contract with the federal government or private entities for immigration detention. A three-judge Court of Appeals panel agreed with a trial judge that the Colorado Constitution provides the legislature with broad power to enact…
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Colorado teacher gets jail time after groping student
A former psychology teacher at Douglas County High School was sentenced to 300 days in jail last week after he pleaded guilty to groping a 17-year-old student. James Christopher Thomure, 57, was proctoring an exam for three students in a classroom at the high school in May 2024 when the groping occurred, authorities said. After…
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Newly formed PAC promises a stronger voice for southern Colorado businesses
A new political action committee has launched in southern Colorado, aiming to strengthen and elevate the voices of local businesses and their regional influence on state-level policy. Over the last two years, the Colorado Legislature has enacted more than 1,000 new laws that have burdened businesses with added costs and excessive regulations, and several more…
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Appeals court says jury not obligated to apply discounts to determine value of stolen merch
Colorado’s second-highest court concluded on Thursday that it was up to a Douglas County jury to determine the value of stolen merchandise at a defendant’s theft trial, after both sides presented different estimates of the items’ value. Under state law, a theft offense hinges on the market value of the stolen goods. Anything below $2,000…
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Grass wildfire in Douglas County reaches 500 acres, 100% contained
Responders reached 100% containment on a grass fire near Colorado Highway 83 in Douglas County on Thursday. The wildfire, which spread rapidly and prompted mandatory evacuations near Franktown, sparked near Dahlberg and Lake Gulch Roads, the Franktown Fire District said just after 1 p.m. on social media. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office correspondingly issued an…