Senator John Hickenlooper will join President Joe Biden at the White House to celebrate the 12th anniversary of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. DACA was created to support those who were brought to the U.S. as young children and have continued to live here since but lacked legal status. The program offers them the right to work, pursue an education, and fully contribute to our economy. Since 2012, DACA has supported more than 800,000 DREAMers, including over 13,000 recipients in Colorado.
Colorado Governor
Governor Polis applauded President Biden for taking action to provide relief and streamline citizenship processes for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants on the 12th anniversary of DACA. I thank President Biden for expanding pathways to citizenship for Dreamers and others who have been in the U.S. for more than a decade. Here in Colorado, we know that our immigrant community is an important part of our community, our culture, our economy, and our success, and this is a critical step toward fixing our broken immigration system. I continue to call on Congress to follow the President’s lead and secure the border and pass comprehensive reform,” said Colorado Governor Polis.
Denver Mayor
Helping more than 1,500 Denverites get off the streets and into safe and stable temporary housing, the city’s All In Mile High initiative (AIMH) continues to bring transformation to the city. Through the All In Mile High initiative, which represents a significant strategic shift in the way the city addresses unsheltered homelessness, the City and County of Denver has not only increased positive outcomes, but brought tangible transformations of peoples’ lives and to the looks and feel of the city. “Thanks to the heroic work of our city teams, service provider partners, and people across the city, we’ve seen a tangible difference in our city and in the lives of countless Denverites,” said Mayor Mike Johnston.
At least four people were killed over the weekend when a vehicle carrying the body of Malawi Vice-President Saulos Chilima hit funeral attendees. Chilima died in a plane crash a week ago. At least 12 other people were injured in the incident, and among the victims who were killed include a pregnant woman.
Ghana grapples with power outages
Due to a shortage of supplies from Nigeria, residents in Ghana are expected to deal with power cuts for at least another three weeks. The area has dealt with regular power outages for years. Recent power outages are because of a temporary shutdown for maintenance work at a Nigerian gas supplier, according to Ghana’s state power firm. Power demands have increased in the area recently because of population growth and urbanization.
Asia
Major oil spill in Singapore
Officials in Singapore are rushing to clean up a major oil spill at the city-state’s southern coastline. The oil spill occurred when a Netherlands-flagged boat crashed into a Singaporean fuel ship. Around 400 tons of oil spilled in the incident, and several beaches across the country are closed until further notice.
Twin elephants born in Thailand
Caretakers of elephants in Thailand are celebrating the birth of a rare set of elephant twins. Officials called the birth a miracle as the mother elephant was not expected to deliver twins. According to the research organization Save the Elephants, twins occur in only around one percent of elephant births.
Europe
Putin visits North Korea
As of Monday, Russia President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to travel to North Korea. The Kremlin called the meeting a “friendly state visit.” This will be the first time Putin has visited North Korea since 2000 at the start of his presidency. Recent reports from South Korea suggest that North Korea has shipped around five million artillery shells to Russia to aid the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Pope hosts hundreds of comedians
Pope Francis hosted more than 100 comedians across the world at the Vatican. The gathering occurred before the pope’s visit at the G7 in southern Italy. Among those who were at the Vatican include Jimmy Fallon, Whoopi Goldberg, and Chris Rock. In total, 107 comedians from 15 countries visited the Vatican.
Latin America
Proposed abortion law sparks protests in Brazil
Brazilian officials are proposing a new law that would equate abortion to homicide. While Congress attempts to push the law through, thousands of people in Brazil protested the measure. Brazilians gathered in cities like Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasília. Brazil allows abortions in limited circumstances, like when someone is raped or if there is a risk to life.
Heavy rain fall causes deadly landslides in Ecuador
People in central Ecuador are dealing with heavy, deadly rain falls. At least six people were killed because of landslides caused by the rain. Meanwhile, several homes have been buried under mud, and at least 12 people were injured. Schools were closed, and local officials opened a shelter for those whose homes were damaged.
North America
Supreme Court lifts ban on bump stocks
The U.S. Supreme Court voted in favor of lifting a ban on bump stocks, a rapid-fire gun accessory. Bump stocks were used at a shooting that killed 60 people at a Las Vegas concert in 2017. Former President Donald Trump’s administration initially banned bump stocks after the incident. The Supreme Court voted 6-3 that the government does not have the right to ban the accessories.
Sandy Hook survivors graduate high school
Last week, around 60 survivors of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting held a private ceremony. The survivors spoke about the shooting as they graduate high school. In 2012, 26 students and six staff members were killed in a shooting at the Connecticut elementary school. The shooting is the deadliest ever at a U.S. primary school.
With so much happening politically in the United States—to refresh, an ex-president was recently found guilty of 34 felonies—it is understandable that far too little attention was paid to Mexico’s presidential election. But just ten days ago a woman who is also a scientist and academic, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, won a landslide election in Mexico’s presidential election. Sheinbaum captured nearly 60 percent of the vote. Sheinbaum (pronounced SHANE-balm) will become Mexico’s first ever Jewish president.
In her first announcement after her chief opponent for the office conceded, Sheinbaum, 61, told thousands of supporters after being declared the winner, “I do not arrive alone…we all arrived, with our heroines who gave us our homeland, with our ancestors, our mothers, our daughters and our granddaughters.”
The former mayor of Mexico City and progressive politician/scientist was also part of a 2007 team of scientists who won the Nobel Peace Prize for work on a United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on climate change.
Photo courtesy: Claudia Sheinbaum Instagram
Sheinbaum’s Mexican roots go back more than a century. Her paternal grandparents arrived from Lithuania in the 1920s, her maternal grandparents fled Bulgaria in the 1940s to escape the Nazis. Sheinbaum’s family continues to celebrate Jewish holidays and traditions.
Mexico’s new president won’t be sworn into office until October 1st, but already the U.S. and Colorado are paying close attention to the way she forms her government and how it will impact Mexico-U.S. relations.
Mexico recently supplanted China as America’s leading trading partner. But Colorado and Mexico have also enjoyed a decades long and healthy trading relationship, with Colorado sending everything from beef to aircraft parts across the border.
Colorado and Mexico have an annual trade, both import and export, that exceeds $2.3 billion. Colorado exports more than $1 billion in goods to Mexico while Mexico sends $1.3 billion to the state. The Colorado/Mexico trade corridor exceeds the combined trade it has with Germany and all of Central and South America. The relationship also supports nearly 100,000 Colorado jobs.
Agriculture has long been a central component in the Colorado-Mexico partnership and one staple the state sends south is essential to the economic health of the San Luis Valley, said Jim Ehrlich, Executive Director of the Colorado Potato Administration Committee.
“Business has been good,” Ehrlich said in a phone con- versation as he drove recently across the San Luis Valley. Ehrlich estimated that “11 to 12 percent of our volume” is sent to Mexico. “The last two years,” he said, shipments of the Valley crop “have increased by about 15 percent.”
Former Colorado Congressman John Salazar whose family has grown potatoes in the Valley for more than a century said trade policies under current Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador have been good. Of course, Sheinbaum, a protégé of Mexico’s current president, will have her own trade policies, Salazar said.
Sheinbaum will inherit the same political and social challenges that have plagued Mexico and, by extension, the U.S., for decades. Both countries meet regularly to discuss ways to curb the flood of migrants, the powder keg of violence inflicted by cartels, the tsunami of drugs crossing the border, especially fentanyl and other basic human rights issues.
Cartel violence, which polls show to be Mexico’s number one concern, is recorded nearly daily somewhere in the country. Dozens of mayors and local officials have already been killed this year by the cartels. While cartel violence is legend, so too is the culture of machismo and its residue of victims.
Like it or not, said University of Denver professor of international politics, Oliver Kaplan, part of Mexico’s story is machismo. It is also one of the motivating reasons for the exodus of countless numbers of women and families who have been its victims.
“It is a country known for violence against women,” he said. As the first women president, Sheinbaum will have to deal with it on both a micro and macro level, socially and politically. But Sheinbaum won’t be without examples for managing things. “Latin America,” he said, “has had other women presidents. This is becoming more and more normalized.”
But Sheinbaum is not new to power structures either in politics or in science, another traditional male dominated field. For proof, one need only look at her Nobel Prize or the fact that she presided over the largest city in north America. Add to that, she did win the presidency with 58 percent of the vote.
When Sheinbaum meets with whomever is elected in the U.S. Presidential Election, the scientist and academic president-elect has pledged to thoughtfully address the panoply of issues that connect the two countries, including the exodus of Mexicans to the U.S. “We will always defend the Mexicans on the other side of the border,” she said during her campaign.
Unless things change between now and her scheduled first meeting with the U.S. President, Sheinbaum will be discussing President Biden’s recent decision to temporarily shut the border to asylum seekers when illegal crossing spike. But, said Kaplan, “it’s a good sign when leaders that are elected embrace” long-standing friendships and policies.
Internally, Sheinbaum will also have to deal with pressure mounting from South American countries whose ex-pats traveling through Mexico to the U.S. have complained of harsh and even brutal treatment at the hands of authorities. But with a numerically strong majority in Mexico’s Congress, a nod of support from her predecessor and, of course, her overwhelming plurality in winning, Sheinbaum is off to a good start.
At home, she is saying the right things to the right groups. Her strong signals on gender equality and her long held commitment to the environment for now are working in her favor. But honeymoons for presidents, it is well documented, have notoriously short shelf lives.
Photo courtesy: Denver Museum of Nature and Science
About two years ago, Jessin and Liam Fisher, their father, Sam Fisher, and their cousin, Kaiden Madsen, were on a routine hiking trip in North Dakota.
While on the hike, the family made a significant contribution to science and our understanding of dinosaurs when they discovered a juvenile T. rex skeleton. As soon as the group discovered the fossil, they contacted Dr. Tyler Lyson, associate curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Ironically, Sam went to high school with Lyson, and shortly after, the two were reunited to identify what the family had found.
There have only been a handful of juvenile T. rex skeletons discovered over the years, but now the public will have an opportunity to see the family’s findings at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The fossil will be on display starting June 21 while a documentary about the family’s discovery will also be shown at the museum’s Infinity Theater.
“By going outside and embracing their passions and the thrill of discovery, these boys have made an incredible dinosaur discovery that advances science and deepens our understanding of the natural world. I’m excited for Museum guests to dig into the “Teen Rex Discovery” experience, which I think will inspire the imagination and wonder, not only our community, but around the world,” said Lyson in a statement.
The “Discovering Teen Rex” exhibit will include a wide range of dinosaur fossils, like Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, and a prep lab. In a release, the museum said the exhibit will enhance its educational programs to inspire the next generation of junior explorers and scientists.
To go along with the exhibit, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science will also be displaying the family’s story in a 40-minute documentary called “T. REX.” In theater at the museum’s Infinity Theater on June 21, the film includes state-of-the-art CGI and paleontological insights.
The discovered dinosaur is estimated to have been between 12 and 14 years old and weighed about half as much as some of the most famous T. rex specimens.
T. rex was a meat-eater and grew up to 40 feet long or about the size of a school bus. They featured massive skulls, powerful jaws with sharp teeth, short arms with two fingers, strong legs, and a long tail. The animal lived in western North America during the late Cretaceous Period or around 66-68 million years ago.
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is open seven days a week year-round (except Dec. 25) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To purchase tickets, the public can visit https://www.dmns.org/visit/. The public is encouraged to purchase advance tickets to avoid long lines at ticketing.
The Denver Broncos kicked off minicamp on Tuesday and Broncos top receiver, Courtland Sutton has apparently set aside his contractual-related differences and reported to Denver’s mandatory minicamp.
Over the past month Denver’s pro-bowler skipped all voluntary (Organized Team Activities) OTA’s in hopes of establishing a newly restructured deal. Currently Sutton will earn $13.5 million for the 2024 season of which only $2 million is guaranteed. Sutton looked to his career best 10-touchdown season as a catalyst for his hopes of a raise in 2024.
Denver’s number two receiver from the 2023 season, Jerry Jeudy was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March to work at number two behind Amari Cooper who is currently holding out of camp in Cleveland with similar grievances to Sutton.
Even with the departure of Jerry Jeudy, Denver’s receiving core is stacked with talent including Marvin Mims Jr. whose rookie season was shaded by Jeudy’s position at number 2. It’s still too early to call Denver’s one and two at receiver but they are nothing short of talent with the return of Tim Patrick and young talent like Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele and Marvin Mims Jr. back for his sophomore season which many believe will be his breakout season in Denver.
Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic was included on Team Serbia’s preliminary Olympics roster and is expected to play in this year’s Olympics.
The Avalanche are still mum about the future of Valeri Nichushkin but there’s no doubt that Colorado is looking to extend Avalanche forward Jonathan Drouin’s contract to stay in Denver. Drouin’s agent, Allan Walsh said on AP’s @walksha that he believed both sides looked like they were in agreement to hash out a deal soon.
The Colorado Rockies tied their four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend winning game one (on Thursday night) 3-2 and game three (on Saturday night) 6-5.
On Monday the Rockies kicked off a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins by getting shutout 5-0. Games two and three will be played this week (results of game two not available at the time of this writing) with game three scheduled for Wednesday at 11:10 a.m.
The Rockies are back home this weekend to host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a thee-game series.
In other sports the Florida Panthers have taken a 2-0 series lead over the Edmonton Oilers. Game three is scheduled for Thursday, June 13 at 6 p.m. in Edmonton.
The Boston Celtics have also taken a 2-0 lead over the Dallas Mavericks after beating them 107-89 in game one and 105-98 in game two. The series now heads to Dallas for game three.
While it may seem rhapsodic, almost mythical, there was a whole different movement percolating as the nation experienced the late sixties ‘Summer of Love.’ Back then the paradox of war and peace collided daily in headlines. But something else was germinating, almost stealth-like, but nonetheless taking hold.
As new words and expressions entered the lexicon, words like ‘body bag,’ ‘carpet bombing,’ ‘psychedelic,’ another was introducing itself. Chicano.
While ‘Chicano’ may have been new to the mainstream, to Mexican Americans it was as American as apple pie or menudo. And for the first time, people were taking notice and memorializing it, often times in art that adorned the walls of buildings, most often in Latino communities.
The art was a potpourri of emotions, ranging from anger to joy. It asked questions while providing a new look at a people long a part of the fabric but often ignored, unappreciated, marginalized.
“Definitely for my father,” said Lucha Martinez de Luna, Associate Curator of Latino History and Art at Denver’s History Colorado. De Luna’s father, Emanuel Martinez, was one of Colorado’s first Chicano muralists. His art, she said, depicted a history, sometimes painful and personal, experienced regularly by Latinos, so often shackled to what was then a ‘normalized’ second-class status in the land of equal- ity and opportunity.
¡Viva La Causa! Long Live the Cause!: The Art of Change, an exhibit of this Latino renaissance art movement is now on full display at Pueblo’s El Pueblo Museum. It will run through September.
Photo courtesy: History Colorado
Besides Martinez, painter and muralists Jodie Herrera, photographer Juan Fuentes and multi-media artist Floyd Tunson will also be featured. Beyond just paying homage to the Chicano movement, the exhibit will also have work that represents the Black Lives Matter movement.
To a lot of people, the only connection to the seismic power of the Chicano movement is through old, black and white film stock. This exhibit, intended to be more personal and intimate, said de Luna, “highlights the importance of artists during these social movements.” Like art throughout history, she said, it is the catalyst that influences, inspires and leads to change.
The exhibit, de Luna said, reflects the hardships, historical, often institutional mistreatment and ultimately triumphs of marginalized people. Her father, she said, while only one person, is the embodiment of all three.
“His childhood was very difficult,” she said. As a young boy, the combination of poor choices and often draconian and authoritarian enforcement of the law landed him in what was then Colorado’s only youth detention facility. He was thirteen.
While there, a nurse saw a nascent talent in a young Manuel’s art. Through this nurse’s encouragement, along with his ploy of finding a way to her office, Martinez kept his only slightly tapped talent burning.
“He would save matches,” de Luna said, and use the burned residue and “draw on paper towels.” His art and her encouragement lit the fuse on a talent that would only grow.
“There are many a¡rtists in this exhibit who have similar stories…who have been influenced and inspired to create change. They’re also activists.”
A number of murals created by Martinez and others can still be seen at various locations across Denver. But a lot of this period art—not only his but other artists whose work reflects the tumultuous period of the sixties and seventies—has disappeared, the victim of urbanization and gentrification. That is why, said de Luna, La Causa is so important. “It is full of sadness,” said the art curator and historian. “But that’s why it’s important for it to be recorded.”
The El Pueblo showing of ‘La Causa,’ is the second stop on this touring exhibit. It was recently shown at the Fort Garland Museum & Cultural Center where, said de Luna, it was well attended. “It was wonderful…a great showing,” she remembered. The Fort Garland showing also inspired a lot of “mixed emotions.” A number of people who saw the exhibit also shared their own experiences. “They’re descendants of this movement,” she said. Their connections were intimate.
The art and artists, working in a variety of mediums, are the sharing of emotions, said de Luna. They ask, “How do we express our frustrations and sorrows,” she said. These are the same questions artists have always asked. The art- ists, “become the mediators for us in finding consolation in recording this history.”
The exhibit, financed in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, opened on June 10th for its Pueblo showing. It runs through the end of September. The El Pueblo Museum is located at 301 N. Union Avenue and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free for kids under 18 years of age.
David Conde, Senior Consultant for International Programs
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), the outgoing President of Mexico, has a somewhat radical answer to the question of how to deal with the drug cartels that are afflicting the North American Continent in general and Mexico in particular. “Hugs, not bullets” is his motto referring to the thousands of young people that make up the army of cartel “soldiers.”
During his tenure, the President has managed to reinvent the expectation on the part of the poor and marginalized communities that look to government as a facilitator of better living conditions. He associates the youth that are employed by cartels as not having been reached by those new expectations and opportunities.
The President’s approach is not so much to attack the symptoms displayed by violence and lawlessness but to concentrate on the causes that lead to them. For that, he has been heavily criticized in the national and international media and by those opposed to the approach in Mexico and particularly in the United States where crime and violence are the focus of public safety institutions.
In turn, AMLO has repeatedly criticized the “public safety over fundamental causes” approach and offers an example relating to one of his predecessor President Felipe Calderon. As we may remember, Calderon declared an all-out war on the cartels and ended up with ineffective results and severe government corruption.
The President has further indicated that the circumstances that created the cartels are America’s problem since the drug culture was created in the United States and is extensively funded by Americans with plenty of money and an unquenchable appetite for them. As for Mexico and Mexican youth especially, he sees the issue as a generational problem that must be approached gradually over a period of time with the purpose of erasing the economic reasons why these young people chose to make a living in this manner.
The novel approach to changing the direction of a generation is fraught with many hazards because it cannot be a quick fix, as successfully attacking the causes of poverty, social and educational challenges requires a sustained effort over a long period of time. It is ironic that politicians, community leaders, academicians and others often talk about initiatives to solve the causes of our major ills, but do not follow-through mainly because most people expect immediate solutions to perceived problems.
President Manuel Lopez Obrador is the head of the ruling party MORENA, an acronym that stands for the National Regeneration Movement that is committed to what is called the 4th Transformation, a goal in line with 3 others including the Mexican Independence Movement (1810-1821) that freed the country, the Reform War (1858-1861) that established a Liberal Constitution and the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917) that won important rights for the common citizen. The 4th Transformation is dedicated to doing “away with privileged abuses that had plagued Mexico in decades past.”
At the heart of this is the elevation of the poor and marginalized (54 percent of the country) through effective expansion of opportunities and benefits such as livable pensions for the aged, job training programs for the youth and academic scholarships for all students at the elementary, secondary and university levels. It is initiatives like these that attempt to attack the living conditions that drove young people to the cartel life. It is a long-term effort with a lot of difficulties.
Mexico celebrated its presidential election this past June 2nd and Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo of MORENA won a 6-year mandate. This represents more time to turn a generation around.
The views expressed by David Conde are not necessarily the views of laVozColorado. Comments and responses may be directed to news@lavozcolorado.com.
Community will offer 56 units, wraparound services for at-risk youth
Mayor Mike Johnston together with Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) and partners celebrated the grand opening of Nest56 at Denargo Market, a 56-unit affordable, supportive housing development for youth ages 18 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness or transitioning out of Denver’s foster care system.
Developed by Pennrose with Rivet Development Partners and TGTHR, the community features one- and two-bedroom apartments available at 0-50 percent of the area median income (AMI), up to $45,650 for a one-person household in Denver. Of the 56 units, three are accessible with mobility features, five units are equipped with communication features for hearing or vision impairments, and seven units have visible alarms for persons with hearing impairments. HOST provided a $3,000,000 performance loan for the project’s construction, as well as $1,260,000 to fund onsite services.
“We are thrilled to offer affordable, supportive housing for youth at risk of homelessness that is tailored to their needs,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “Housing that is safe, stable, and accessible is the solution to not only resolving homelessness but preventing it from happening. With this project, we will make progress toward our goal of creating 3,000 units of affordable housing this year while helping young people at risk find their feet and follow their passions to build a thriving life.”
A key component of the development is the onsite delivery of trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate supportive services intended to promote housing stability among youth and aid in the transition to independent living. TGTHR, a Colorado-based nonprofit working to end youth homelessness, is the on-site service provider. TGTHR will provide behavioral and mental health care support, life skills support, substance use counseling, family services, employment, education assistance, and more.
“As communities across Colorado and the country grapple with the affordable housing crisis, Nest56 at Denargo Market is a testament to the innovative and wholistic solutions that can be achieved through cross-sector partnerships,” said Shannon Cox Baker, regional vice president at Pennrose. “Through safe, quality housing and wrap-around supportive services, we hope to provide youth with a steppingstone to a thriving, independent life with economic mobility.”
Nest56 is energy-efficient and meets National Green Building Standards Bronze level certifications. The build- ing’s architecture also draws on principles of trauma- informed design and incorporates ample natural light, open stairwells, clear sightlines, 24/7 staffing, and security cameras. The $27 million development also includes 1,000 square feet of commercial space, which will serve as art stu- dio space for Denver-based nonprofit RedLine Contemporary Art Center.
“It’s profoundly moving to be the service provider partner at Nest56, accompanying young people as they navigate life’s challenges and find stability,” said Annie Bacci, chief executive officer at TGTHR. “Witnessing their achievements — from securing jobs and completing education, to accessing behavioral health services and finding security in their own homes — is deeply moving. Their determination and individuality are a constant source of inspiration to our team. It’s truly an honor to know and support these young people.”
The project received Low-Income Housing Tax Credits provided by the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority. Additional funding was provided by the Colorado Division of Housing, Denver Housing Authority, Red Stone Equity Partners, American Express, and BMO.
Nest56 is the latest city-supported affordable housing development to take shape in Denver. A total of 2,155 affordable units that have received city financing are currently under construction/preservation at 24 sites throughout Denver. An additional 416 income-restricted units are in the planning stage. Learn more about this inventory at the Denver Affordable Housing Dashboard.
Statement from President Biden on Record Decrease in Crime in First Quarter of 2024: “Violent crime is dropping at record levels in America. It’s good news for our families and our communities. The FBI released preliminary data collected from over 11,000 law enforcement agencies around the country showing that, in the first quarter of this year, murders decreased by 26 percent, robberies by almost 18 percent, and violent crime overall by 15 percent. These large decreases follow major reductions in crime in nearly every category in 2023 – including one of the lowest rates for all violent crime in 50 years and significant declines in murder.
Colorado Governor
The 2024 legislative session delivered real results for Colorado businesses of all sizes and positioned the state’s economy to continue to thrive. From nation-leading investments to strengthen Colorado’s workforce and create housing Coloradans can afford near job centers to cutting taxes and increasing certainty for business leaders, Colorado is doubling down on its commitment to be the best place to start and grow a business. “We delivered real results this legislative session. Colorado’s strong economy will continue to lead the nation and pave the way for the sectors of tomorrow,” said Governor Polis.
Denver Mayor
Partners in Denver’s Housing to Health (H2H) pilot program, which provides supportive housing to individuals at the intersection of homelessness, the criminal legal system, and emergency healthcare, celebrated the release of the results of the program’s first independent evaluation and announced the subsequent payment to investors. According to the first report from the Urban Institute research team conducting the independent evaluation, the program has had early success, achieving 29,459 days of housing for participants in its first six quarters, resulting in a payment to investors of $567,085.75. “Our community has shown time and time again that when you offer housing and intensive wraparound services to individuals facing the most trying episodes of homelessness, you can save lives and build a more vibrant city,” said Mayor Mike Johnston.
Officials in Zambia sentenced 22 Chinese citizens and a Cameroonian man for cyber-related crimes in the country. Among those who were sentenced include the group’s leader, Li Xianlin, who received up to 11 years in prison. Zambian officials said victims in Peru, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates fell for the group’s online scams.
DR Congo rebels kill dozens
Rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo killed at least 45 civilians this past week. Fighting between armed groups over gold and mineral deposits has forced millions of people in the area to leave their homes. Local reports read that the attackers targeted several villages, torching some homes and stealing motorbikes.
Asia
South Korea bringing back speaker broadcasts near border
Officials in South Korea plan to resume propaganda broadcasts against North Korea. This past weekend, North Korea sent over 300 balloons to the South carrying scrap paper and plastic sheets. The country considers the loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts an act of war and has threatened to blow them up in the past. South Korea hasn’t played the broadcasts in six years.
Hindu pilgrims killed in bus attack
Police in the Indian federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir said nine people were killed on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims. Suspected militants fired gunshots on the bus, and 33 others were injured. The bus was traveling to the famous Hindu shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi when the militants opened fire. Among the victims included two children, ages 2 and 14.
Europe
Danish Prime Minister attacked
Last week, Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was attacked when a man walked up to her and struck her. She said she was left shaken from the attack, but said she is “fine.” The suspect, who has not been named, was arrested and charged with violence against a person in public service. Police noted that the attack did not seem to be politically motivated.
Russia detains French citizen over spy accusations
Officials in Russia say they detained a French citizen who is accused of gathering information about Russia’s military activities. Footage showed Laurent Vinatier in a Moscow café being arrested. French leaders denied that the man was working for France, and Russian officials said Vinatier will be charged in the near future.
Latin America
Man in Mexico dies from bird flu
Authorities say a 59-year-old man in Mexico died from the bird flu. None of the man’s close contacts caught the virus, and officials said there is no risk to the wider public. While it is unknown how the man got the virus, there have been cases in some poultry farms in Mexico. The victim had underlying health issues and was bedridden for weeks before he passed.
Wildfires in Brazil threaten wildlife
Firefighters in Brazil are working to contain wildfires in the country’s Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland. The area is home to various wildlife like jaguars, anteaters and river otters. Around 123 square miles of the wetland has burned, and windy conditions has hampered efforts to contain the fire. Climate experts said the wildfires are occurring earlier than normal and are more intense than previous years.
North America
Shark attack leaves three injured in Florida
One woman and two teenage girls were attacked by sharks in two separate incidents at the Gulf Coast of Florida. The woman was bitten last Friday and had to have part of her arm amputated. Two hours after, two teenage girls were attacked at a beach four miles further east. One of the girls injured her leg and hand while the other had minor injuries on one of her feet. There are typically around 70 to 100 shark attacks every year worldwide, according to the University of Florida.
Police locate thousands of stolen Lego sets
Authorities in California arrested two people as part of a suspected Lego theft ring. The arrests occurred after police found more than 2,900 stolen Lego sets. The sets range in price from $20 to over $1,000. The suspects are facing a charge of organized retail theft while another is facing a charge of grand theft. Lego sets are a popular target for thieves.
