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Untitled Alexis Kenyon
Defense rests in Boulder’s King Soopers mass shooting trial
The defense in the Boulder King Soopers mass shooting trial rested its case on Wednesday after the defendant, Ahmad Alissa, chose not to testify.
Alissa faces charges of 10 counts of first-degree murder, 38 counts of attempted first-degree murder, and other charges in connection to the March 2021 shooting.
The defense’s final witnesses included a cultural psychiatrist, a forensic psychologist, and Alissa’s younger brother, who testified about Alissa’s mental health struggles.A forensic psychologist diagnosed Alissa with schizophrenia, describing him as “remarkably psychotic” at the time of the shooting.
However, a forensic psychiatrist hired by the prosecution countered that Alissa was legally sane, emphasizing that his actions during the shooting appeared purposeful, deliberate, and “almost robotic with a lot of practice.”
Closing arguments are set for Friday.
Xcel is planning to lower energy prices until the end of the year and then raise them permanently in February
Xcel Energy will lower gas bills for residential and small business customers by up to 12% for the last quarter of 2024. Residential customers will see a drop of about $10/month, bringing their average bill to around $80/month.
According to Xcel, this reduction comes from increased natural gas production and milder weather, which have built up reserves and lowered costs.
In February 2025, Xcel plans to raise rates, increasing residential bills by $5 per month. The proposed rate increase has stirred opposition, with many customers submitting complaints to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC).
Judge tells Boulder that they can’t evict tenants from Ash House. Boulder officials appeal
A Boulder judge has temporarily stopped the City of Boulder from forcing students to leave Ash House, a privately owned off-campus student housing building at 891 12th St., near the University of Colorado Boulder.
The Ash House was originally built in 1923 to serve as the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house and later was converted into the Marpa House.The most recent owners of Ash House purchased the property in 2022.
The city issued an emergency closure on Sept. 16 after discovering that 15 additional bedrooms were constructed without permits, life-safety inspections, or approval. City officials argued the unauthorized additions posed a serious safety risk to the 60 students living there.
However, the property owners obtained a temporary court order allowing students to remain until a hearing on Sept. 26. The city has since filed a motion to dissolve the court order, requesting an expedited review, citing urgent safety concerns. Boulder officials remain focused on enforcing building codes to protect residents, but for now, the students can stay.
At least 13 of the students living in the unapproved bedrooms may need to find permanent housing, with support from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Boulder Valley School Board addresses declining enrollment
The Boulder Valley school board met Tuesday to discuss declining student numbers and possible solutions. The district expects enrollment to drop from around 27,000 students last year to around 25,000 in five years, which could lead to fewer teachers, fewer electives, and more mixed-grade classes.
To combat this, the district hopes to boost enrollment by attracting more out-of-district students through open enrollment, which brings in revenue from neighboring districts. They also discussed giving priority to families of workers in Boulder for open enrollment, and making that enrollment process more transparent with more info to parents about their chances of getting into certain schools.
According to The Daily Camera, kindergarten enrollment is up this year, but district officials still predict a slow, steady decline due to fewer young children and limited housing turnover.
Schools with very low numbers, like Heatherwood Elementary, are under review, with recommendations expected in October.
Boulder police help stranded baby snapping turtles reach safety
Boulder police officers recently assisted a group of stranded baby snapping turtles, helping them safely relocate to a nearby lake.
The Boulder Police Department shared the story on social media, explaining that they received several calls about the turtles stuck in a stairwell near an apartment complex. Animal protection officers were able to guide the turtles to the lake
This isn’t the first time officers have intervened to assist snapping turtles in the area. Last year, police worked with the community to place signs around a known turtle nest at the same apartment complex.
Snapping turtles, which can live over 100 years, are native to Colorado and commonly found near bodies of water. Boulder police remind the public to give wildlife space and to call animal protection for help if needed.
The post Judge tells Boulder that they can’t evict tenants from Ash House; and defense witness calls King Soopers mass shooter “remarkably psychotic.” appeared first on KGNU Community Radio.