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PM headlines Gabrielle Mendoza
Presidents’ Day protests across the nation
Thousands upon thousands nationwide took to the streets on Presidents’ Day yesterday to rally against the current head of the United States, Donald Trump.
Protesters focused on the administration’s sweeping cuts to government agencies, and aggressive efforts to deport immigrants.
We have several KGNU folks attend the President’s Day outside of Denver’s Capitol building. You can hear voices from that protest here.
Hundreds of people protest layoffs outside of Colorado national park
Speaking of protests – hundreds gathered outside Rocky Mountain National Park yesterday to take a stand against the federal government’s massive multi-sector layoffs.
Last Thursday, the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service laid off thousands of probationary employees, according to 9News.
The protest started around 10 a.m. and lasted for several hours.
Employees and their loved ones expressed concerns about more potential layoffs on the horizon, and how that would affect their livelihoods – including their homes. Many federally employed parks workers live in Colorado park housing.
King Soopers workers end strike
King Soopers’ unionized employees decided to step out of the picket line last night and return to the bargaining table with the grocery giant.
This move ends the 12-day strike by over 10,000 union members in the Denver Metro area and Pueblo.
The United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 (UFCW7) attempted to resume negotiations over the weekend, but failed – until last night.
Under the new agreement that’s effectively ended the strike, King Soopers can’t lock out workers or implement any offer for at least 100 days. On top of that, the company will offer new proposals – meaning their initial “last, best and final offer” will no longer stand. That’s according to The Denver Post.
King Soopers said that the union committed to removing all picket lines by 11:59 p.m. yesterday.
Any stores and pharmacies whose hours were impacted by the strike plan to return back to normal on Thursday.
The Post reports that both sides voiced concern about striking workers losing their health care coverage if the walkout had continued. That’s because in order to keep their health care benefits, workers under the current new collective bargaining agreement must work at least 80 hours in a four-week month.
The strike initially began on February 6 and involved 77 stores in the Denver Metro area. During the strike, the union filed complaints of unfair labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board.
King Soopers sought a temporary restraining order against striking workers picketing its stores, to mostly no avail.
CU Boulder student who went missing a week ago remembered by loved ones
Family members and loved ones of 18-year-old CU Student Megan Trussell gathered yesterday morning in a parking lot off Boulder Canyon to honor her.
Trussell went missing on February 9th. A person matching her description was found dead over the weekend, near the area where they held the memorial.
The Boulder County Coroner’s Office has not yet identified the individual found as Trussell, but her family members have publicly acknowledged her passing. The sheriff’s office says it’s too soon to say whether foul play is suspected, or if the case is being investigated as a homicide. That’s all according to The Denver Post.
Colorado Department of revenue still not processing tax returns
The state of Colorado has not yet started processing state tax returns – even though tax season started weeks ago.
The Internal Revenue Office, or IRS, started accepting individual tax returns on January 27th.
Meanwhile, the Colorado Department of Revenue’s site for filing tax returns is not up and running yet. The department’s website says to check back in early February, but now that the month is more than halfway over residents are wondering where they can file their tax returns.
In previous years, the state’s Department of Revenue usually starts processing income tax returns between Martin Luther King Jr. day and early February.
All must file their taxes by April 17.