Kings Blog: Five Things To Watch

LAKEWOOD — If recent history is any indication, Cherokee Trail locked up the Class 5A boys team title by winning the 800-meter relay in historic fashion on Friday afternoon at Jeffco Stadium. The school that wins that event has captured the last five 5A team crowns and eight of the last 10.

Time and time again, the bar was raised. Peak-to-Peak’s Kourtney Rathke and The Classical Academy’s Anna Willis never blinked. Thirteen feet, the standing Class 3A state meet record in the pole vault? No sweat. How about 13 feet, 4 inches? No problem. And 13-4 or 13-7? Cleared without issue. 13-10? A worthy challenge conquered. Finally, their thrilling dual in the sun at Jefferson County Stadium late Friday afternoon in the CHSAA state track and field championships ended when they both missed on three attempts at 14-1.

The University of Colorado Denver will move to remote classes and work “until further notice” because of the ongoing anti-war encampment on the Auraria Campus, university officials said in a message to students, faculty and staff Friday. Related Articles Education | More protesters cited for trespassing after refusing to leave Auraria Campus building Education | Pro-Palestine encampment set up at DU; protesters make themselves heard at CU Denver, MSU Denver graduations Education | How a pro-Palestinian protest has impacted a Colorado community college Education | Denver police refused Auraria’s request to clear encampment a 2nd time; chief says “no legal way” to do so Education | Auraria student organizers reject $15,000 donation offer to remove pro-Palestine encampment CU Denver and “our Auraria Campus partners” will move online, all Auraria campus events are canceled through next week and all campus buildings will be locked starting at 6 p.m.

Colorado voters in November will decide whether to make abortion a state constitutional right after the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office announced Friday that backers of a ballot initiative had gathered enough signatures. Advocates for the measure turned in 159,930 valid signatures last month — more than enough to place the question on the ballot, according to the state agency. The ballot measure, if approved by 55% of voters, would prohibit state and local governments from outlawing or impeding access to abortions.

Vic Vela, the former Colorado Public Radio host, says he has settled his discrimination claim against his longtime employer. Vela, who hosted CPR’s award-winning addiction and recovery podcast “Back from Broken,” in March filed a charge of discrimination with state and federal agencies, alleging the station’s management belittled and mocked his mental health concerns and accused him of using his addiction to manipulate higher-ups. CPR fired Vela in January after he had worked at the station for nine years, he previously told The Denver Post. On Friday, Vela confirmed the settlement, first reported by the Colorado Sun, and a CPR representative said the “matter has been resolved.” The parties didn’t disclose terms, but said they had agreed to allow Vela to produce future episodes of “Back from Broken.” “What happened in the past, I’m gonna put that aside and focus on the positive,” Vela told The Post on Friday.

A 22-year-old man charged with first-degree murder in the 2022 shooting of East Colfax community leader Ma Kaing was arrested Tuesday in a separate fatal shooting that Aurora police say occurred six weeks earlier. Lu Reh was in custody at the Denver County Jail on Tuesday when an Adams County district judge signed a warrant to arrest him on charges stemming from the shooting death of 44-year-old Aurora resident Ricardo Ryans, Aurora police said in a news release Friday. Police found Ryans dead from multiple gunshot wounds in an alley between the 1600 blocks of Willow and Xanthia streetsin Denver’s East Colfax neighborhood at 4:15 p.m.