• The FBI reported finding empty folders meant for classified documents in their raid of Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago resort. 
• Queen Elizabeth died on September 8th at the age of 96. She will be succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III.
• On September 28th, Hurricane Ian touched down in Fort Myers, Florida. A category 5 hurricane, it is one of the most powerful storms to hit the US in decades, with wind speeds being recorded at over 150 mph.
• On September 16th, the EPA announced it has granted $121 million in federal funding to Colorado for watersheds and clean drinking water as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 
• The U.S. Senate delayed their vote on a bill protecting same-sex marriage until after the midterm elections. 
• The body of Hillaree Nelson, a Coloradan extreme skier famed for reaching the summit of Mount Lhotse, the fourth highest mountain in the world, was discovered in Kathmandu, Nepal. Reports say she was skiing Mount Manaslu and fell off the mountain. 
• A prescribed burn was scheduled on September 27th to teach fire investigation students. Conducted by West Metro Fire, the students will learn about fire prevention and management through the prescribed burn which lasted three days. 
• A Boulder woman, Laura McCall and her two sons disappeared abruptly on September 14th. The children were found the next morning alone in their mother’s car. McCall was soon found nearby and arrested on two charges of misdemeanor child abuse. The children were subsequently reunited with their father. 
• A 20 year old Greeley woman named Yareni Rios-Gonzalez was critically injured after being placed in the back of a police car that was parked on train tracks which was then hit by a train. She is expected to recover and no charges have been filed at this point.
• Disgraced pop star R. Kelly was charged with child sexual abuse and the production of child abuse imagery on September 14th. Kelly was already serving a 30-year sentence on charges of racketeering and child abuse and the new charges are expected to add to that sentence. 
• Amtrak halted all long distance trains in response to potential stoppages related to two prominent rail freight unions working out contract negotiations. 
• Famed rapper Coolio, known for his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” died at age 59 on September 28th. 

Small Talk

“Home prices in Colorado increased by 40% in less than two years, so I think what we are seeing now is a little bit of correction. Rising interest rates are tightening the market and I think we are switching from a seller’s market to a buyer’s one.”

– Nick VinZant, a senior research analyst at QuoteWizard, an insurance website, in regard to a decline in Colorado’s home prices. 

“That’s the past, and this is the now. I just know what we’re about to go out there and try to do. I know it’s going to be a great game in a rivalry between these two teams, and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

– Broncos Coach Nathaniel Hackett in regard to the team’s game against the Raiders.

“We are trying to engage more volunteers all of the time. We want folks that want to do citizen science work. It is really important because it is just a snapshot, and it’s good to look at whether the water is improving or declining.”

– Barb Sheedlo, president of the St. Vrain Anglers Chapter, part of the national nonprofit Trout Unlimited regarding the “Citizen Scientist” program that allows volunteers to assist with the collection of aquatic macroinvertebrate to see whether diverse species are living in the waterways, which gives researchers insight into the health of the river system in the Longmont area.

“This was a pretty cool event, and we wanted to make sure everybody knew about it.”

– Mountain View Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jeff Webb at an event honoring Addison Meyer, an Erie 11 year old that was commended for reporting a fire at a neighbor’s house before it got out of hand. 

“If you have received a settlement or denial letter from your insurance company, it’s important to share this information with FEMA. This information is crucial to updating your FEMA case.”

– A release reminding those attempting to apply for disaster assistance through FEMA after the Marshall Fires to make sure their applications are up to date.

By The Numbers