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Denver Mayor Mike Johnston still hasn’t named leaders for several critical posts, from sheriff to city planning

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

Four months into his tenure as Denver’s mayor, Mike Johnston still has holes to fill on his administration’s leadership chart and is trailing his predecessor in building out his cabinet.Johnston’s slower pace of naming appointees — including several for key cabinet-level positions charged with helping shape public safety, development and infrastructure in the city — has caught the attention of political observers.“It’s surprising,” said Paul Teske, the dean of the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs. “Watching Mike over the years, he’s always had smart people working with him. He’s a very well-networked guy.”Of 60 appointed positions under the mayor’s control, 11 were either vacant or occupied by interim or acting leaders as of Friday, according to a list provided by the administration. Five of them are positions spelled out in the city charter.The missing pieces include permanent leaders fo...

Tattered Cover, leaner and with a lender, sounds optimistic at hearing

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

After shedding three stores and one-fourth of its employees, and securing $1.3 million in new financing, Tattered Cover is on track to emerge from bankruptcy before long.Testifying under oath at a bankruptcy hearing Friday afternoon, CEO Brad Dempsey said the bookstore chain, which filed for Chapter 11 in October, intends to be out of bankruptcy “at the beginning of next year.”That expedited timeline is made possible by the closure of stores in LoDo, Westminster and Colorado Springs, according to Dempsey, who is also a bankruptcy attorney. The company’s permanent staff has shrunk from 103 to 74, not counting eight seasonal workers.“The closure of the three stores is important because it reduces the amount of inventory we need to finance,” Dempsey said. Books from those stores have already been shipped to the remaining four locations and all furniture will be moved out by Monday, he added.“Unfortunately, we have laid off a number of employees from those (closed) stores,” Dempsey said...

CU football notes: Third down defense a struggle for Buffs

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

There have been some positives for the Colorado defense this year.Among the highlights, the Buffaloes have been dramatically better in creating turnovers and sacks this year than the 2022 version of the Buffs.Overall, however, it’s certainly been a roller coaster ride for the defense and one issue that has plagued the Buffs (4-7, 1-7 Pac-12) almost all season is the inability to get off the field enough on third downs.Related Articles Keeler: Jay Norvell’s CSU Rams ain’t easy to find. But unlike Deion Sanders’ CU Buffs, they ain’t hard to watch in November Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, CSU Rams creep closer to bowl eligibility with 30-20 win over Nevada PHOTOS: The CSU Rams beat the Nevada Wolf Pack at Canvas Stadium Under the weather: Coach Prime’s CU Buffs hit low point at Wazzu Keeler: Deion Sanders, CU Buffs, please shut QB Shedeur Sanders down. Before Utah Utes finish what Wazzu started...

Men’s basketball: CU Buffs move up to No. 18 in AP top 25

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The hot start compiled by the Colorado men’s basketball team continues to draw national attention.Prior to the Buffaloes tilt against Richmond on Monday night at the Sunshine Slam, CU learned it had moved up to No. 18 in this week’s Associated Press top 25. The Buffs made their season debut in the poll last week at No. 25.Related ArticlesCollege Sports | Women’s basketball: CU Buffs move up to No. 3 in latest AP Top 25 rankings College Sports | RJ Smith fitting into bench role for No. 25 CU Buffs men’s basketball College Sports | Women’s basketball notes: Aaronette Vonleh dominant for CU Buffs in victory over LSU College Sports | CU Buffs women’s basketball leans on dynamic duo at point guard College Sports | CU Buffs men’s basketball lineup takes shape with season opener a week away The Buffs received 241 points in this week’s poll, a substantial increase from the 78 points C...

Video shows flash mob thieves ransacking Nike store in South L.A.

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

A large group of juveniles stole around $12,000 worth of products from a Nike store in a flash mob raid that was captured on video Sunday evening, authorities said. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the call regarding the retail theft came in shortly before 6 p.m. at the Nike Community Store located in the 9800 block of South Alameda Street. Initial reports indicated that ten to 15 youths had entered the business and taken multiple products, but that number was later increased to 17, LAPD confirmed. The video shows the juveniles, most of whom are dressed in hooded sweatshirts with masks, hastily grabbing merchandise off shelves and clothing racks. (Citizen App)Four of the suspects are female and the other 13 are males, authorities said. They range from 15 to 20 years old.A video posted to the Citizen App shows the thieves rushing through the story with blue bags, hastily grabbing merchandise off shelves and clothing racks as other shoppers look on. Wayne Brady ...

Man charged for allegedly pointing rifle at West Hollywood charter school employee

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

A man arrested last week after he allegedly pointed a rifle at an employee of a charter school in West Hollywood has been charged in connection with the incident.Vahe Armen, 32, was charged with one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of having a firearm on school grounds, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office announced Monday.Armen was taken into custody last Thursday near the Larchmont Charter School campus in the 1200 block of N. Fairfax Avenue. The D.A.'s Office alleges Armen pulled into a school dropoff zone around 8:30 a.m. where dozens of students were in the process of starting their day. He's accused of then pulling out the rifle and pointing it at a school administrator who was directing traffic.That employee told investigators that she believed the weapon was an "assault-style rifle."The school was then placed on lockdown and parents were notified through the school's emergency alert system.L.A. County Sheriff's deputies are seen outside Larchm...

The TikTok crowd is learning how to make small talk

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

Mobile devices and social media have created new ways for people to connect. But are they also undermining social skills?The Wall Street Journal reports that young people are increasingly finding themselves incapable of small talk and handling many in-person social interactions.And colleges are responding by offering remedial training in, you know, communicating with others."Everybody seems to have a theory about why many young adults have trouble with so-called soft skills, which include the art of persuasion and civil conversation," the Journal says."Blame smartphone addiction, Covid cocooning or helicopter parting. Regardless of the cause, a growing number of college professors in various disciplines around the U.S. are trying to keep professional chitchat from becoming a lost language." Why guys who post a lot on social media are seen as less manly Which is to say, young people have to be trained in subtle niceties such as eye contact and active listening.Claire Ralph, a Calte...

Collapsing building halts traffic in Riverside

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

Debris from a collapsing building has led to a traffic closure in Riverside Monday afternoon."Mission Inn Ave. is closed to through traffic b/w Park Ave & Commerce St. until further notice to clear debris from a nearby collapsing building," the city said on X, formerly Twitter. Riverside spokesperson Phil Pitchford said he was first alerted to the building damage at about 9:20 a.m.The building, a former soda works building at 2983 Mission Inn Ave., was damaged in a fire a few years ago, and it was further affected by the winds on Monday, which began at about 1:30 a.m., Pitchford said.While it's not a complete collapse, sections of the uninhabitated building are coming down.No injuries have been reported, and no estimated reopening time was provided."Please plan accordingly & use alternate routes," the city said.Nidia Becerra contributed to this report.

Emotional Oakland court hearing sees pleas for mercy from murder victim’s family, then a life sentence

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

OAKLAND — The family of a 75-year-old man who was murdered during a 2021 robbery attempt in Oakland used their right to speak in court to ask for mercy for the man who killed their loved one, and moved a judge to issue the minimum prison term allowable under state law.For Teaunte Bailey, 28, that meant a sentence of 25 years to life for the murder of 75-year-old Pak Ho, who Bailey punched in the head during a March 2021 robbery. Judge Scott Patton said he was prepared to sentence Bailey to 29 years to life, but changed his mind at the last minute after hearing from Ho’s family.“Today I extend my forgiveness to Mr. Bailey not because his actions can ever be justified or forgotten, but in the hope that he will embark on a journey of self-improvement and positive change,” Ho’s daughter, Connie Vong, said in the September sentencing hearing. “I wish for him to find the strength to forgive himself as well. May the same energy that once fueled his destr...

And the Boardwalk for the San Jose edition of Monopoly is…

Published Fri, 07 Feb 2025 15:00:55 GMT

The new San Jose edition of Monopoly was released Monday, and the most coveted spots on the board — what would normally be Boardwalk and Park Place — went to two local landmarks with more than 150 years of history between them: the Winchester Mystery House and Original Joe’s.Fittingly, the game  — which is now on sale for $39.95 on Amazon, at CVS and other retailers — was unveiled at the Winchester Mystery House, where Mr. Monopoly himself posed for photos with Original Joe’s co-owner Brad Rocca, Winchester Mystery House Executive Director Walter Magnuson and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, among others.“San Jose has so much history, so much to be proud of, so much to celebrate and this is just one more great opportunity to do that,” Mahan said. “I know we’re all very excited to see many of our local landmarks and local history and culture be memorialized on this game board for generations to come.”San Jose Mayor Matt Maha...