Arapahoe County

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Arapahoe Community College lands NASA aerospace training hub

ACC will train technicians for the fast-growing aerospace industry.

Aerospace

Arapahoe Community College isn&#x27;t sending astronauts into space, but it wants its graduates building the bolts, soldering the parts and drawing the plans that get them there.Why it matters: ACC&#x27;s leaning into aerospace as community colleges nationwide face pressures to prove their programs lead to good-paying jobs and four-year degrees.

Lawsuit challenges Aurora police reforms

A federal lawsuit alleges mandated reforms failed to change policing.

News

Rajon Belt-Stubblefield&#x27;s family will publicly address a new federal <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="civil rights lawsuit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/01/belt-stubblefield-lawsuit-aurora-police-neely/" data-vars-content-id="7407eaa5-59d6-487f-936f-a41ac011af40" data-vars-headline="Lawsuit challenges Aurora police reforms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.denverpost.com/2026/09/01/belt-stubblefield-lawsuit-aurora-police-neely/" target="_blank">civil rights lawsuit</a> Wednesday that raises fresh questions about whether years of court-ordered reforms have changed policing in Aurora.Why it matters: The lawsuit comes as Aurora <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="works to exit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.auroragov.org/residents/public_safety/commitment_to_progress/consent_decree_progress" data-vars-content-id="7407eaa5-59d6-487f-936f-a41ac011af40" data-vars-headline="Lawsuit challenges Aurora police reforms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.auroragov.org/residents/public_safety/commitment_to_progress/consent_decree_progress" target="_blank">works to exit</a> a consent decree imposed after state investigators <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="found" data-vars-click-url="https://coag.gov/press-releases/9-15-21/" data-vars-content-id="7407eaa5-59d6-487f-936f-a41ac011af40" data-vars-headline="Lawsuit challenges Aurora police reforms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://coag.gov/press-releases/9-15-21/" target="_blank">found</a> a pattern of excessive force and racially biased policing.

Pancakes and a side of friendship

A late-night IHOP meetup turned strangers into friends.

Culture

The customers scattered across the IHOP on East Colfax Avenue don&#x27;t know why Jonathan Cummings is here eating strawberry pancakes.<ul><li>A lot had led him to this booth.</li></ul>

Littleton tree to lose its top

Ips beetles infested the roughly 50-year-old tree near Main Street's west end, leaving one of Littleton's beloved landmarks fighting to survive.

Climate

Littleton&#x27;s most sentimental spruce is likely to look a lot different this time next month.The big picture: Ips beetles — aka engraver beetles — infested the roughly 50-year-old tree near Main Street&#x27;s west end, leaving one of Littleton&#x27;s most beloved landmarks fighting to survive.

Big Boy's Colorado adventure

The world's largest operating steam locomotive will stop in Strasburg for the final leg of its coast-to-coast America 250 tour.

America at 250

The train that &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="makes grown men cry" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/a-locomotive-named-big-boy-is-making-grown-men-cry-0f965e12" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/a-locomotive-named-big-boy-is-making-grown-men-cry-0f965e12" target="_blank">makes grown men cry</a>&quot; rolls into Arapahoe County on Monday afternoon.Driving the news: Union Pacific&#x27;s Big Boy No. 4014 stops at Strasburg&#x27;s Main Street crossing from 3:45-4:15pm for the final leg of its <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="coast-to-coast" data-vars-click-url="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/track" target="_blank">coast-to-coast</a> America 250 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="tour" data-vars-click-url="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule" data-vars-content-id="808257a3-77b3-48cb-92e5-c70a4e03333d" data-vars-headline="Big Boy&#x27;s Colorado adventure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.up.com/about-us/history/steam/schedule" target="_blank">tour</a>.

Colorado's golden beginnings

I found Colorado gold, but the story's worth far more.

Colorado&#x27;s 150th birthday is next month, but I don&#x27;t need a beard or a pickaxe to connect with stories that helped put our Centennial State on the map.Flashback: An 1858 <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gold discovery" data-vars-click-url="https://www.the-old-west.com/articles/pike-s-peak-gold-rush" data-vars-content-id="9c95c7d2-1ee0-4ba1-b69d-67baa69d3041" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s golden beginnings" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.the-old-west.com/articles/pike-s-peak-gold-rush" target="_blank">gold discovery</a> near Arapahoe County&#x27;s South Platte River and Little Dry Creek confluence was a major moment in the rush that drew fortune-seekers West.

Bennett's big small-town boom

Cheaper homes, open plains and aging infrastructure collide just beyond Aurora's edge.

Business

A small town straddling the Arapahoe-Adams county border is becoming Colorado&#x27;s latest growth test, as less expensive homes, open plains and aging infrastructure collide just beyond Aurora&#x27;s edge.Why it matters: Bennett is increasingly part of metro Denver&#x27;s housing market as builders look east and buyers search for something they can afford.

Bookstores fill gap left by disappearing third places

Book clubs, coffee and quiet spaces are drawing people back to local bookstores.

Bookstores are <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="finding new life" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/03/bookstores-barnes-noble-james-daunt" data-vars-content-id="9e6b2849-e95e-4312-b782-5a98d5156bb7" data-vars-headline="Bookstores fill gap left by disappearing third places" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/03/bookstores-barnes-noble-james-daunt" target="_self">finding new life</a> as Americans lose many of their casual gathering places.The big picture: The comeback isn&#x27;t just about selling books. It&#x27;s about turning browsing into belonging.

Bow Mar's starter homes cost $1M+

It's one of three Colorado cities with seven-figure starter homes.

Bow Mar has become a place where &quot;starter home&quot; means spending seven figures.Why it matters: The tiny town straddles Arapahoe and Jefferson counties and shows how the definition of entry level has shifted in wealthy, supply-constrained neighborhoods, where even the bottom rung of the market is mostly out of reach.

The international priests filling local pews

Catholic churches increasingly rely on clergy from abroad.

Nearly 40% of the priests serving Catholic parishes in Arapahoe County were born outside the U.S. — a sign of how heavily local churches depend on international clergy as priest shortages persist.Why it matters: A growing Catholic population and a shrinking pool of priests have made international clergy increasingly essential across metro Denver.

Fiddler's Green bass vibrations face scrutiny

Greenwood Village isn't about all that bass.

The low rumble of tasty bass isn&#x27;t so appetizing for some Greenwood Village residents.The big picture: Electronic dance music at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fiddler&#x27;s Green Amphitheatre" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fiddlersgreenamp.com/" data-vars-content-id="3aeaab99-2175-4bf9-9b69-7da0b47cab35" data-vars-headline="Fiddler&#x27;s Green bass vibrations face scrutiny" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fiddlersgreenamp.com/" target="_blank">Fiddler&#x27;s Green Amphitheatre</a> is the likely culprit.

The scoop: Park vs. park

One outperformed the other in a very serious test.

My dogs like parks and trails.Yes, but: Sometimes I forget to stuff my pockets with poo bags.

Culture

Pancakes and a side of friendship

A quick guide to the Colorado State Fair

Coloradans reveal the state's most annoying stereotypes

Olivia Rodrigo just changed this Colorado business overnight

Littleton tree to lose its top