It’s time to celebrate the people, places and businesses that make our community shine. The ✨ Best of the Best ✨ contest is back, and this year it’s all about YOU having your say. ❗Vote here: https://www.coloradocommunitymedia.com/best_of/ 

Longtime disability service provider Support, Inc. has opened a new location in Littleton, offering residential, day and clinical services. https://www.littletonindependent.net/news/article_870c36bc-c8b8-4c35-b822-4f8adc3b94af.html 

New sites will be able to be explored this summer as the Town of Castle Rock is set to open some of the trails in the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space. https://www.douglascountynewspress.com/news/article_f75d6356-3931-4ed5-9521-79ee75c182db.html 

One spontaneous decision led Hannah Zhang to turn a class at Rock Canyon High School into her dream business, Ready, Set, Loaf! https://www.highlandsranchherald.com/news/article_41c8e811-6b9b-4723-9622-91b5c2aaec81.html 

Jeffery Armstrong, Krew Averett and Mindzie Madsen were among the 15 Colorado students to be awarded the Western Golf Association’s Chick Evans Scholarship. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_558636a5-8aac-4e99-a2be-fec49a5b0c3a.html 

Updates on homelessness, new hires and infrastructure were key topics at this year’s State of the City address, which was delivered by Arvada Mayor Pro Tem Randy Moorman on April 10 at Social Capitol. https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_f59bb15d-6a40-4189-9930-eebef821c430.html 

Tim McChesney was reunited with his classic Chevy Bel Air more than 20 years after selling it. https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_4883de45-4204-4281-9f6d-e41a12834788.html 

The fence surrounding Ketring Park’s cottonwood tree has been removed after 21 years. https://www.littletonindependent.net/news/article_015cc2dc-7c6a-42d1-a8ef-48c90aa85d13.html 

A former sergeant with the Parker Police Department is facing multiple charges after he allegedly took part in official misconduct and unlawful sexual conduct. Details: https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_2320997d-8b6c-4895-bcce-96b1faf19b9b.html 

After one of the driest winters on record in Colorado, the City of Arvada has declared a Stage 1 drought and will begin implementing mandatory watering restrictions on April 15. https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_4b3545d3-3a5e-4c7e-86c5-77acb7c569e6.html 

No foolin': 303 Ramen in Olde Town seems to have permanently closed after a fire on March 3. The building is now for sale: https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_ab2a6e64-7a8a-4ba1-bd11-0f9a1f77a6d6.html 

GFiber, also known as Google Fiber, aims to offer services to all of Douglas County, starting with Highlands Ranch. https://www.douglascountynewspress.com/news/article_0f89e351-8ec9-4961-b768-ae4124c84235.html 

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation assisted the New Mexico State Police in apprehending Jaime Gilbert Martinez, who was wanted on suspicion of first-degree murder. https://www.jeffcotranscript.com/news/article_c3154ac0-3613-46d7-a600-ddd1efb65516.html 

After hearing from residents about the need for additional transportation services, the Link on Demand microtransit service is expanding once again, this time into Parker. What to expect? Find out here: https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_9e8824a8-c3df-4166-a735-f44b08bbef36.html 

After the warm, dry winter, the Elbert County Office of Emergency Management is asking community members to be vigilant this spring and summer and help mitigate fire risk. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/elbert/article_c66f3a88-05ea-44d0-a596-09e0061219c2.html 

Click the link below to get an understanding how Highlands Ranch’s Fly’n B Park came to be: https://www.douglascountynewspress.com/news/article_1fa9e095-ee3a-4d7a-add9-aa65feaf4efa.html 

A Douglas County judge has sentenced a former Douglas County School District teacher, Tera Johnson-Swartz, 45, to 14 years in the Department of Corrections for sexually exploiting a child. https://www.douglascountynewspress.com/news/article_ad3086c9-90c4-474c-977b-5c8185a13890.html 

Arapahoe Community College (ACC) has announced that it will be closing its child care center, Puma Cubs Early Learning Center (PCELC), at the end of the school year. https://www.littletonindependent.net/news/article_8cff73ec-5d81-47ab-a805-5422f01323ed.html 

Fast as Pho opened on Bowles Avenue on March 19, bringing a speedy, healthy Vietnamese option to the neighborhood. 🍜 https://www.jeffcotranscript.com/business/article_2836c478-5890-4102-a017-8b88f3294b58.html 

A local Boy Scout troop has partnered with the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4266 to perform flag retirement ceremonies to properly dispose of American flags in Parker. Click the link for the details. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_6efcee28-7696-4226-93f2-18017672ae1e.html 

As a residential neighborhood known as Ramblewood is one step closer to being built near Parker, not everyone in the community agrees that the development fits the character of the area. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_6ad39c3a-a85e-4010-9e53-972dd5a515ae.html 

Jeffco Schools has responded to a Department of Education probe into its policies for transgender students. Read full story: https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_6c073c39-07dc-40ad-9e00-664f5dbb5087.html 

People who visited Bout Time Pub & Grub, located at 5225 W. 80th Avenue in Arvada, from 8 p.m. on March 10 into the morning of March 11, specifically 12:30 a.m., may have been exposed to measles. Learn more: https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_e60f7560-1510-449f-817e-a35a60607ad5.html 

A Pennsylvania man turned himself in to Jefferson County Sheriff's on March 9 after a nationwide investigation into alleged sexual exploitation. https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_01bfe727-838f-46d4-a683-8597278cd7f2.html 

Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer and will undergo treatment. https://www.arvadapress.com/news/article_362692b2-6df5-487b-b7dc-746209770ce4.html 

Due to the ongoing warm and dry conditions in the region, below-normal snowpack and an increase in water demand, a drought watch has been issued for the Highlands Ranch Water service area. https://www.highlandsranchherald.com/news/article_3a56908d-fc47-4a11-af8d-42a1fe2ed231.html 

A deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has been terminated from the agency following his arrest in the Town of Parker. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_971c6d43-1ded-40ca-9a66-4c51b4f47b37.html 

Five months after shots rang out at Evergreen High School, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation into the shooting is done. https://www.jeffcotranscript.com/news/article_25e64376-bf2e-4120-86e0-4905ce37a707.html 

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help from the public in identifying and locating two suspects involved in the theft of a puppy from a Centennial pet store. Details: https://www.littletonindependent.net/news/article_ccb55c16-804f-4aa1-acf6-4b115ee94489.html 

Colorado Community Media owner Times Media Group is expanding into Texas! (1/2)

Arapahoe County is seeking input on its Arapago: Transit Connections Plan, which aims to make it easier to travel through the urban parts of the county. https://www.littletonindependent.net/englewood/article_1c2019c4-941d-442a-95e7-231662d5de42.html 

Those who use the ballfields at Salisbury Regional Park will notice a slight change to one of the fields later this year as the town takes part in a pilot program to evaluate water efficiency. Learn more: https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_5dce6e68-5825-4884-9562-8c4266b60fd4.html 

Every dog has their day, and golden retrievers’ is almost here. On Feb. 7, thousands of people and their pups will take over downtown Golden for the annual Goldens in Golden event. 🐕 https://www.jeffcotranscript.com/news/article_26038cfb-9876-4563-8255-d662bcde3daa.html 

South Metro Fire Rescue is warning people to stay off the frozen ponds and lakes. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_6608376d-859a-4232-8336-f3b295f82818.html 

Dozens of students from Arvada High School walked out of class on Jan. 29 to protest recent actions by the federal government. https://www.arvadapress.com/article_53227560-c361-4d00-9977-a60ac256ce62.html 

The appearance of Pride flags in a production of “Shrek the Musical” at Parker’s PACE Center has led to backlash following its opening weekend. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_6581ecec-e7a6-44b0-a3f2-6c16b244e8d1.html 

The Colorado State Patrol and local law enforcement will team up this Super Bowl weekend to increase patrols over the Front Range. https://www.northglenn-thorntonsentinel.com/news/courts-crime/state-patrol-plans-dui-crackdown-on-super-bowl-weekend/article_c28a4291-2468-4af4-a96d-9c0ec178e162.html 

Furry, four-legged Englewoodsters have a new place to roam free and play, as the new Cushing Park Dog Park is officially open. https://www.littletonindependent.net/englewood/article_7b814b26-cff5-4677-b55e-a6d6e4e787be.html 

Jefferson County Public Library’s newest branch officially has a name: Deer Creek Library. Deer Creek Library is the district’s latest expansion, meant to serve the community in south Jefferson County. https://www.jeffcotranscript.com/news/article_e190ecc5-2c1b-4c0d-9f35-e8e4070d981c.html 

Over 100 Arvadans gathered in Olde Town on Jan. 25 to hold a vigil for Alex Pretti, who was killed by Border Patrol agents. Pretti's parents live in Arvada. https://www.arvadapress.com/article_a843ba6d-df37-4be8-a0e8-f4dc6a2e2280.html 

Aims Community College is offering free tax assistance through the Tax Help Colorado program, with e-filing beginning in February. https://www.thebrightonblade.com/news/aims-community-college-again-offering-tax-help-for-free/article_42169df5-826b-566e-9fa0-08df4047657a.html 

A big upgrade to Colorado’s DMV website will delay online transactions Feb. 13-17. Learn more: https://www.thebrightonblade.com/news/system-upgrade-taking-dmv-offline-in-february/article_7ce08697-a8d0-5dfe-bad2-db7d6ec50a48.html 

The Littleton Public Schools Board of Education has unanimously approved a $3.85 million settlement with the families of three students who were abused on an LPS bus. https://www.littletonindependent.net/news/article_4f8578ae-65fe-4e6a-905b-1f2c0a77496b.html 

The City of Arvada announced that it has abandoned plans to build a railroad underpass at the Union Pacific crossing at 72nd Avenue. The future of the bond project — which was approved by voters in 2018 — is uncertain. https://www.arvadapress.com/article_2e293426-f15d-4a7d-9865-ac4b46b72983.html 

Jefferson County Public Schools will eliminate 139 positions, including 50 filled jobs, as part of a plan to cut $45 million in spending to close a $60 million budget gap. https://www.jeffcotranscript.com/news/article_ee708bc1-2b47-4e7c-ac46-c527ff9025b8.html 

Numerous nonprofit organizations and partnering agencies involved in the Douglas County Community Care Network are coming together once again to bring forth the Winter 2026 Strive to Thrive event on Jan. 27.https://www.highlandsranchherald.com/news/article_28e21d64-70ce-4787-a0d5-6360e70ca022.html

The NFL is teaming up with the Red Cross to celebrate National Blood Donor Month this January. Everyone who donates between Jan. 1 and Jan. 25 will be entered in a giveaway for a trip to Super Bowl LX. https://www.denvernorthstar.com/news/article_138ef5b3-cfd7-4359-8fbb-bae0c3ea911a.html 

What started as a simple idea has turned into one of North Denver’s hottest comedy spots. Denver Comedy Underground celebrated its first anniversary on New Year’s Eve, embracing a year of laughs. https://www.denvernorthstar.com/article_a48fada5-1f63-4dbf-a266-7dc6dc868c6b.html 

With the goal of offering a more personalized and thoughtful approach to pediatric healthcare, a new primary care practice, Pinery Pediatrics, has opened its doors in Douglas County. https://www.parkerchronicle.net/news/article_c3c83264-8c4f-4414-96bc-1192b7a0ea63.html 

25-year-old Elvyn Ramos of Routt County was arrested Dec. 30 after local investigators determined the Oct. 24 car fire that closed westbound Interstate 70 was a hoax. https://www.jeffcotranscript.com/news/article_a525654c-26a7-4dff-9248-0ef8f577d5ee.html