Family Sues for Shooting Death

The family of Rashaud Johnson, an unarmed man fatally shot by an Aurora police officer this spring, is suing the officer and the Aurora Police Department.

The shooting happened May 12 at an off-site Denver International Airport parking lot. Staff called 911 five times, asking for someone to “check on” Johnson. Officer Brandon Mills responded alone.

The lawsuit, announced Tuesday, says Johnson posed no imminent threat and Mills failed to de-escalate the situation before shooting him twice in the chest. Bodycam footage shows Johnson rushing Mills, resulting in a brief struggle.

District Attorney Brian Mason has yet to decide whether the shooting was justified. Mills is on administrative leave pending multiple investigations.

Third Colorado Wolf Dies in Wyoming

A gray wolf translocated to Colorado in 2023 has died in Wyoming, the third Colorado-relocated wolf to die in Wyoming and the seventh wolf death this year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) announced Wednesday.

CPW said it learned of the death on July 24. The wolf, a female from Oregon, had no established pack. Wyoming state law prevents CPW from sharing additional details.

Two other wolves, including one killed by federal wildlife officials, died in Wyoming this spring. While it’s illegal to kill wolves in Colorado, no such protections exist across most of Wyoming.

In Colorado, wolf conflicts continue to stir controversy. A secretly recorded phone call between a rancher and a CPW investigator has led some to question the agency’s depredation rulings.

Service Dog Saves Veteran’s Life

A Colorado veteran with PTSD says his service dog sprang into action to save his life in an unexpected way.

Hank Ford, a Fort Lupton resident, says he was asleep when Tommy, his 3-year-old Labrador, began urgently nudging, pawing, and barking at him, trying to wake him up.

Ford didn’t know why until he stood up, felt faint, and checked his vitals, discovering an extremely high pulse. He drove to the hospital, where doctors treated him for atrial fibrillation (AFib)—a rapid and irregular heart rhythm.

Doctors told Ford he likely would have suffered a major stroke or died if not for Tommy. Ford called Tommy his hero and hopes his story encourages other veterans to get service dogs.

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➤ Western Slope: The Lee Fire is now burning across 45,000 acres, while the nearby Elk Fire exceeds 14,000 acres, fire officials said Thursday. Gov. Polis mobilized the Colorado National Guard to support response efforts. (See Details)

➤ Jefferson County: A domestic cat died after contracting bubonic plague, the county’s first confirmed case since 2023, health officials said. (More)

➤ Larimer County: Authorities discovered human remains in a home that burned down along Poudre Canyon Road near the Greyrock Trailhead early Tuesday. (More)

➤ Northglenn: A new pet ordinance, effective Aug. 1, limits the number of dogs or cats per household to four. Some worry the law will negatively impact pet foster homes. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: More than one-third of Coloradans speed regularly, and nearly half use their phones while driving, according to an annual Colorado Department of Transportation survey. (See Survey)

➤ Castle Rock: A grand jury indicted a local woman on two dozen federal charges for allegedly collecting $3.4 million in online “pig butchering” scams. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: A pilot program exploring the viability of large-scale rainwater harvesting, launched in 2016, will likely end next year unless lawmakers find a way to extend it. (More)

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➤ The Denver Broncos won a Heartland Emmy for their 2024 hype video unveiling 1977-style throwback uniforms, featuring Pat Surtain II and Randy Gradishar in a retro-themed reveal of the updated “Orange Crush” uniform. (More)

➤ The Colorado Rockies lost 20-1 to the Blue Jays on Wednesday, setting a new MLB record by giving up 63 hits over the course of their three-game series. (More)

➤ The Denver Nuggets named assistant coach Ryan Bowen head coach of the team’s G League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Gold. The move opens up an assistant coaching vacancy on Denver’s bench. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Soccer | WNBA | PGA

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➤ Denver City Council voted to abolish minimum parking requirements for new developments citywide, allowing developers to build housing or business complexes without including parking spaces. (See Details)

➤ Douglas County District Court ruled in favor of Castle Pines and residents who opposed a plan to build a McDonald’s, upholding the city’s decision to reject the project. (See Details)

➤ Loveland police are investigating a possible illegal casino operating inside a downtown storage facility after concerned residents posted about it on social media. (More)

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De-Dollarization has begun: Central banks across the globe are loading up on gold—while quietly reducing their exposure to the U.S. dollar. The shift away from the dollar has officially started. What does that mean for your savings, retirement, and financial future?

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➤ A bear opened the door to a Telluride home and walked inside. Wildlife officials shared footage of the incident, reminding the public that bears are capable of opening doors. (See Video)

➤ Hot Rize, a Boulder-based, Grammy-nominated bluegrass band formed in 1978, will be inducted into the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame, making it the first Colorado band ever inducted. (More)

➤ Smoothie King and Heinz have launched the first-ever ketchup-based smoothie, blending Heinz ketchup with açaí sorbet, apple juice, strawberries, and raspberries. It’s available for a limited time at select Colorado Smoothie Kings. (See Smoothie)

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Would you try a ketchup smoothie?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Maybe

Yesterday’s Results:

How do you feel about building nuclear power plants in Colorado?

1. Support: 52%
2. Undecided: 24%
3. Oppose: 24%

How did the town of Telluride get its name?

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