play_arrow06_24_2024amheadlinesPhilip Armour
Aurora Cops fatally shoot unarmed black man
New body camera footage shows a Black man killed by Aurora police in May was unarmed and holding a phone at the time of his murder.
The footage, released on Thursday by the Aurora Police Department, showed 37 year-old Kilyn Lewis standing next to an open trunk of a car in an apartment complex next to a walker. Officers surrounded him and demanded he get on the ground.
Lewis placed his right hand behind his back, before raising his hands in front of him toward his head, holding a phone in his right hand. Within six seconds of beginning to shout commands, Aurora police SWAT Officer Micheal Dieck shot him.
Lewis was shot on May 23, and died from a single gunshot wound on May 25. The Camera reports Lewis was a suspect in a first-degree murder attempt.
Dieck has been placed on paid administrative leave. An investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
Aurora Police officers were also involved in the killing of another unarmed black man, Elijah McClain, in 2019. One officer was found guilty in that murder, of the three charged.
Boulder city council changes meeting participation rules
Many of the new procedural rules are aimed at minimizing disruptions during meetings. In a meeting last Thursday, councilmembers said the rules are needed to make sure meetings stay orderly.
Some community members said the changes feel aimed at silencing them. Since last fall, impassioned public speakers have regularly come to council meetings to speak about Israel’s war on Gaza, according to the Daily Camera. Some have urged the council to pass a ceasefire resolution, while others have called on council to stay out of the international conflict and keep its focus local.
The Camera reports that participation rules have been amended nearly three dozen times since they were first adopted back in 1982.
North Boulder Library Opening
A new library in North Boulder is set to open June 29th, nearly 30 years after the idea was conceived. North Boulder Library will join four other branches under the new Boulder Public Library District. The library is replacing the previous Corner Library, which was too small to keep up with community demands.
According to Boulder Reporting Lab, the new library will be fully staffed with 11 employees, some coming from the Corner Library. Organizers hope that the library will serve as a free meeting place for community to connect. Amenities will include meeting rooms, study rooms, a makerspace and a computer area.
The new branch is a result of a property tax-funded library district, approved by voters back in 2022. That decision put Boulder County’s libraries in the hands of a seven-member Library District Board of Trustees, rather than the City of Boulder.
The NoBo Library, located at 4500 13th Street, will host a grand opening party on Saturday, June 29, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include food, activities, and the unveiling of an art piece on the second floor.
Colorado’s first gray wolf pup
There’s a new gray wolf pup in Colorado – the first to be born since the species was reintroduced back in December.
Last Thursday, Colorado Parks and Wildlife confirmed the pup was sighted in Grand County during their routine wolf monitoring.
According to Colorado Politics this means the wolves are officially considered a pack. Colorado Parks and Wildlife have named them the Copper Creek Pack.
Parks and Wildlife may have identified the wolf’s mother. All the adult wolves are fitted with GPS collars, and one female wolf in particular stopped moving as usual in early April. That wolf restarted normal movement later in the month, leading experts to say she was possibly in a den and out of reach with the satellites during that time.
While only one pup has been confirmed for now, it is possible that there are more. Wolves typically give birth to an average of four to six per litter.
In the meantime, Parks and Wildlife says it’s continuing to monitor the area for more pups, and working with nearby landowners to minimize potential disturbances.
Boulder and St. Vrain creeks tubing bans end
Tubing is once again allowed at the Boulder and St. Vrain creeks. Boulder County put tubing bans in place due to high water flow. Those bans were lifted late last week.
Though water levels have calmed down, tubing on the creeks remains hazardous. The Daily Camera is reporting that a man had to be rescued from St. Vrain Creek on Saturday, after he got stranded on a rock in the creek near Lyons. The man sustained minor injuries. Tubers are still encouraged to exercise caution, as well as wear personal safety equipment; including life jackets, wetsuits and helmets.
Those using water sport equipment are also encouraged to communicate their whereabouts with others and label their equipment in case it’s lost in the water.
