Local News
Reporting on civic life, public decisions, and communities across South Metro Denver.
FOLLOW FREDA – NEWS BRIEFS 10-15-26
Color, Creativity & Community Fill The Streets at SouthGlenn
Centennial’s Sept. 12 Chalk Art Festival ’26 drew nearly 150 artists and about 7,000 visitors to The Streets at SouthGlenn.
Arapahoe County District 2: Jessica Campbell and Carl Schuldies
Freda Miklin published Q&A answers from District 2 incumbent Jessica Campbell and challenger Carl Schuldies.
Arapahoe County District 4: Leslie Summey and Sonda “Sunny” Banka
The Sept. 17 Villager printed questionnaire answers from District 4 incumbent Leslie Summey and Sonda “Sunny” Banka.
Susan Maguire announces run for Cherry Hills Village mayor
In the Sept. 17 Villager, Susan Maguire said she is running for Cherry Hills Village mayor.
State’s voters will decide between competing income tax ballot measures, likely without realizing all the implications
The Nov. 3 Colorado ballot includes two directly competing state income-tax measures. Freda Miklin reports how Amendment 87 and Proposition 136 interact if both pass.
Phil Weiser and Greg Lopez answer questions at Colorado governor forum; Victor Marx declines
On Aug. 27, Phil Weiser and Greg Lopez took questions at a gubernatorial forum in Colorado Springs. Victor Marx declined the invitation.
Centennial Chalk Art Festival is coming up Saturday, September 12 at The Streets at SouthGlenn
Centennial’s Chalk Art Festival ’26 is Saturday, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Streets at SouthGlenn.
Art on the Green: a weekend of art in Greenwood Village, Sept. 19–20
The Villager’s Sept. 10 issue promoted Art on the Green at Curtis Park in Greenwood Village on Sept. 19–20.
Over the Edge: rappel a 19-story Denver hotel for Children’s Hospital Colorado
Cancer League of Colorado says Over the Edge is Sept. 16, 17 and 18 at the Kimpton Claret Hotel, with a $1,000 pledge minimum. The classified calendar in the same issue lists Sept. 17–19.
Monfort, DePodesta assess ‘Climb’ so far
Rockies President Walker Monfort and baseball-operations president Paul DePodesta met ticket-plan holders about The Climb, even as the club flirts with a fourth straight 100-loss season.
Follow Freda: South Metro briefs from the Sept. 10 Villager
Freda Miklin’s Sept. 10 briefs cover Littleton Restaurant Week, In-N-Out’s Denver plans, a Greenwood Village hit-and-run arrest, FEMA disaster aid, and the CCA presidency.
Looking back: The Villager’s Man and Woman of the Year, 2026
In the Jan. 28, 2026 edition, The Villager named Greenwood Village Mayor George Lantz and Arapahoe County Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully as Man and Woman of the Year. Full print feature interviews are forthcoming.
Greenwood Village celebrates Mayor Lantz as Villager Man of the Year
On Feb. 27, 2026, Greenwood Village published a newsflash that Mayor George Lantz had been named The Villager’s Man of the Year, pointing residents to the Jan. 28 feature.
South Metro midyear: taxes, trails, and a November municipal ballot
By mid-August 2026, Centennial had placed a transportation tax on the Nov. 3 ballot, banned some of the fastest e-bikes from parks and trails, and Cherry Hills Village was in its petition window for mayor and three council districts.
Front Range Passenger Train from Fort Collins to Pueblo would serve 10 communities and require voter approval of a $0.33% sales tax for future phases
Freda Miklin reports the Colorado Connector passenger-train plan and a November sales-tax question printed as $0.33%, or 33 cents on every $100 spent.
Aurora voters will decide whether to add 0.325% to the city sales tax rate for community facilities, public safety, and transportation infrastructure, raising the total tax rate to 8.325%–9.075%
Aurora City Council placed four November questions on the ballot, including three TABOR tax increases that together add 0.325% to city sales-tax rates.
From Orr to Makar — a sign of the times
Denny Dressman writes that when Cale Makar’s extension takes effect for 2027-28, he will become the NHL’s first-ever $20-million player.
A sign of the times: Grace Chapel will replace Boot Barn at Orchard & I-25 but the huge Sheplers sign will stay
Freda Miklin reports that Grace Chapel will replace Boot Barn at Orchard and I-25. Council voted 4-3 to retain the huge non-conforming Sheplers sign.
CHV to waive municipal property taxes in 2027
Cherry Hills Village plans a one-year municipal property-tax holiday in 2027 after staff said a strong fund balance can support one-time relief.
Former Mayor Doug Tisdale launches campaign to return as Cherry Hills Village mayor
Doug Tisdale is running again for Cherry Hills Village mayor. The same issue lists council-roster changes for November 3.
Lightning and Thunder highlight Broncos’ loss
Denny Dressman writes that a 20-yard Nix-to-Harvey score and a new white horse stole the show in a 33-13 preseason loss. The horse is unnamed until Sept. 20.
CHV rule banning e-bikes on trails was adopted in 2021
Freda Miklin reports Cherry Hills Village applied its motorized-vehicle trail ban to e-bikes in 2021 and will restudy it in 2027.
City of Centennial will ask residents to approve 1% sales tax increase
Freda Miklin reports Centennial’s Aug. 11 vote to place a 1% sales-and-use tax increase on the November ballot.
GV approves $500,000 Cherry Creek Schools SRO agreement; two council members vote no
Greenwood Village’s Aug. 3 council meeting approved the annual SRO IGA 6-2 after a fight over school-district communication.
Another accident at Belleview and Franklin in Cherry Hills Village
Freda Miklin reports another collision at Belleview and Franklin while Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village and CDOT remain at a standoff.
Former Republican Greg Lopez will appear as an unaffiliated candidate for governor
The Aug. 6 Villager reported Greg Lopez, former Parker mayor, certified as an independent candidate for Colorado governor.
New state demographer discusses Colorado population trends
Freda Miklin reports a July 16 interview with state demographer Neal Marquez on migration, births and aging.
Three unaffiliated candidates for U.S. Congress certified for November 3
The July 30 Villager reported unaffiliated congressional qualifiers including Samir Ezzeldin Witta and Joe Krzeczkowski.
Student caddies discover what’s next beyond the golf course
The July 23 Villager reported the second year of the JA and Colorado Golf Association caddie partnership.
Aspen Academy sold to London for-profit firm
Freda Miklin reports Aspen Academy at Orchard and University was sold to UK-based International Schools Partnership.
Preliminary results from the June 30 primary election
The July 2 Villager printed Tuesday-night preliminary results from Colorado’s June 30 primary.
Arapahoe County uses federal funds to make its detention center more livable
Freda Miklin reports Arapahoe County finished a detention-center expansion paid with American Rescue Plan Act funds.
CSI panel looks at the 2026 session of the Colorado General Assembly
Common Sense Institute’s June 9 panel, reported in the June 25 Villager, put a Republican and a Democrat on the 2026 session.
Follow Freda: South Metro briefs from the June 25 Villager
Freda Miklin’s June 25 briefs cover water-tax grants, Centennial Stadium, the FirstBank-PNC change, and obituaries.
Weiser and Bennet debate draws out differences between them
Freda Miklin reports Phil Weiser and Michael Bennet on housing, Project 2025, and unaffiliated voters.
GV Council passes first official resolution regarding trash policy
Freda Miklin reports Greenwood Village’s May trash-policy vote and the Landmark condo exclusion fight.
GOP candidates for governor: Kirkmeyer, Bottoms and Marx
The June 11 Villager reported Barbara Kirkmeyer, Scott Bottoms and Victor Marx at a 9News gubernatorial forum.