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Voter ID bill facing Republican infighting advances out of committee

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

A legislative committee has finally advanced a bill to comply with a voter ID requirement approved by Nebraska voters last November, but with infighting among Republicans, it’s unclear whether lawmakers have time to pass the bill before the session ends early next month.The bill, introduced by Republican Sen. Julie Slama, was advanced from the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday after being amended to focus on photo IDs. Slama had sought more far-reaching requirements, including verification of voters’ citizenship, notarization of mail-in ballots and audits of witness signatures for mail-in ballots.The amended version would allow a wide array of photo identification voters could present at the polls, such as passports, driver’s licenses, military and tribal IDs and Nebraska college IDs. Even expired IDs would be allowed as long as they have the voter’s name and photo. Residents of hospitals, nursing homes and assisted living centers wou...

UN warns that urgent funding needed to avert catastrophic hunger in northeast Nigeria

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — At least $396 million is urgently needed to prevent widespread hunger and malnutrition in northeastern Nigeria from turning into a “full-blown catastrophe,” the United Nations office in the West African nation said Thursday.“We are ringing the alarm bell that there are people close to or dying (of hunger) right now in the northeast,” Matthias Schmale, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Nigeria, said in the capital, Abuja, while releasing the lean season food and nutrition crisis plan.Security forces in northeastern Nigeria have been battling Islamic extremist rebels who launched an insurgency in 2009 to fight against Western education and to establish Islamic Shariah law in the region. At least 35,000 people have been killed and more than 2 million displaced as a result of the violence, according to data from U.N. agencies in Nigeria.A breakaway faction of the Boko Haram extremist group, known as the Islamic State West Africa Province, has risen to prominenc...

Debt ceiling negotiators pushing for weekend deal, but much work remains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiators from the White House labored Thursday over the U.S. debt limit with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s emissaries at the Capitol, grinding through head-to-head talks trying to strike a budget deal to avert a looming economic crisis.With hopes for a breakthrough as soon as this weekend, President Joe Biden and McCarthy tapped their top representatives to work out a deal after talks with a larger contingent stalled.Upbeat, McCarthy said it was important to have an “agreement in principle” by the weekend if they hope to get to a House vote next week. That would leave enough time for the Senate to act, too, ahead of a deadline as soon as June 1.“Everyone’s working hard.” McCarthy told CNN and others at the Capitol.The White House team also appeared upbeat as they entered the building, but declined comments and departed two hours later. They were expected to be back at it on Friday and into the weekend.“This does not have to be a crisis,” Vice Presid...

Severe storm threat issued for the Denver area

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- The National Weather Service issued a severe storm threat for Denver and surrounding areas including parts of the Front Range. "A few severe storms are possible this afternoon and evening, with large hail and wind gusts up to 70 mph. Some storms could also produce localized heavy rain, with a threat of flash flooding in the foothills portion of recent burn areas," an NWS Boulder tweet said. The Pinpoint Weather team said if clouds break in the afternoon and temperatures rise, there are good chances for thunderstorms. The NWS said those storms will move east across the foothills and the Interstate 25 corridor including Denver through 2 p.m. Around 4 p.m., a flash flood warning was issued for Boulder and Weld counties, including Firestone, Longmont and Erie. Small hail fell heavily in Longmont as seen in this Facebook video post and the photos below. Hail in Longmont (Photo credit: Ariana Sanchez)Hailstorm in Longmont (Photo credit: Ariana Sanchez)Another viewer poste...

Teen who used dad's police gun sentenced to 5 years in shootings

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR) — The teenage son of a Denver Police detective was sentenced Thursday afternoon to five years in state custody for crimes Jefferson County prosecutors say he committed with his father's service weapon.Samuel Rose, 17, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon to five counts related to a pair of housing shootings in May 2022. The counts were possession of a handgun by a juvenile, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, second-degree assault and aggravated juvenile offender.Rose also pleaded guilty to second-degree assault after staff members at Mountain View Youth Services Center say he attacked a fellow juvenile inmate on Nov. 19. Aurora man accused of $9 million cryptocurrency theft Rose was originally charged as an adult, but under the plea deal he agreed to, he's being sentenced as a juvenile.As a result, he will stay in state juvenile custody until the age of 21. When he turns 21, there will be a hearing to determine if he gets released from state custody on ...

Fewer Colorado voters registering as Republican

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — A Colorado conservative stronghold voted for an independent as mayor. Voters in Colorado Springs chose the first Black man elected to lead the city, beating out Republican and former Secretary of State Wayne Williams. Yemi Mobolade won with 58% of the vote, compared to 42% of the vote going to Williams. For "Colorado Point of View" this week, the Data Desk looked into the numbers and found more voters are choosing to identify as unaffiliated. In El Paso County, nearly 228,000 voters — or 48% of the county — now identify as unaffiliated, outpacing both registered Democrats and Republicans.The county still has the greatest number of registered Republicans statewide, with more than 147,000 comprising 31% of the county’s registered voters. That number has decreased by more than 10% since 2016.What do shifting politics mean for the Republican Party?FOX31’s political analysts disagree about what these numbers and election results in Colorado Springs mean for the future of ...

May now 9th rainiest on record in Denver

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- Denver is now up to 4.77 inches of rain this May, making it the ninth wettest on record in Denver. Denver picked up a few hundredths of an inch of rain Wednesday night into Thursday. Although it wasn't a lot, it was enough to boost this May's rain total from the 10th highest on record to the 9th highest. Most of the rain this May came from last week's Wednesday through Friday storm system that brought over 4.5 inches of rain causing widespread flooding. Denver would only need .18 inches of additional rainfall accumulation before May is over to break into the top 5 rainiest on record. The wettest May in Denver was back in 1876 with 8.57 inches of rain. Denver has the chance for scattered showers and storms Thursday night into Friday morning that could bring heavy rain and flooding to some areas. Shower and storm chances will go up towards the middle and end of next week.

Denver superintendent gets 10% raise, contract extension

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — After a 4-3 vote by the Denver Public Schools Board of Education, the superintendent of Colorado's largest school district will see a bump in pay and a contract extension.Dr. Alex Marrero initially signed a contract with the district in July of 2021 for a $260,000 salary. In the roughly two years since, that number has been has been bumped up to $276,354 annually, due to a cost of living adjustment.The new deal extends Marrero's time as superintendent until 2026. His contract was set to expire in 2025. It will pay him $305,000 per year, representing a 10% raise from what he earned in base salary in 2023. Public pushes back on SROs in Denver schools The new contract also includes incentives for Marrero to earn more money, depending on how many "measures" he achieves each year. The measures are goals set by the board, and under the deal, Marrero could see up to 12.5% of his base salary paid through incentives, provided he hits every goal."What you will see in this co...

Only 11% of Colorado in a drought after recent rains

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado has seen big improvements in this week's drought monitor thanks to the impressive rainfall totals from last week's storm system. Parts of the Front Range picked up 3-6 inches of rain in just the last week. The May rainfall total for Denver is now at 4.77 inches, making it the ninth-wettest May on record so far. Denver cracks into top 10 for wettest May on record This week's drought monitor update has 11% of Colorado still in a drought. The rest of the state is completely drought-free or in abnormally dry conditions, indicated by yellow in the graphic below. The Front Range is currently not in any type of drought condition, nor is most of the western half of the state. Around 55% of Colorado is in the drought-free category. The other 45% of the state is in abnormally dry conditions (yellow), which is the step just under a moderate drought.The last time this much of Colorado was not under any type of drought conditions was in August 2021. Crews begin work ...

Smoke from Canada fires affects Colorado air quality on Thursday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:57:06 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) -- An air quality health advisory was issued Thursday morning as wildfire smoke affected northeast Colorado.Several counties were included in the advisory issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The advisory was in effect as of 10 a.m. Thursday and will last until 8 p.m. Severe storm threat for Denver area Residents are advised to remain indoors and avoid outdoor activities if smoke is thick or becomes thick in their neighborhood, especially for people with heart disease, respiratory illness, the youth and the elderly.If smoke is present indoors and is making you feel ill, the department recommends relocating to an area near you with better air quality.Here are the counties that were included in the advisory.Logan CountySedgwick CountyPhillips Morgan CountyWashington CountyYuma Countyeastern Weld CountyAccording to the department, if visibility through smoke is less than five miles then air quality has reached unhealthy levels.Air quality ...