Douglas County

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A rogue road sign sparks a theory involving clever locals and naming rules.

Development

Don&#x27;t say this newsletter doesn&#x27;t get results, dear readers.Remember that rogue &quot;Main Street&quot; sign I wrote about this summer, just outside Parker&#x27;s boundaries, west of South Chambers Road?

1-minute voter guide: Lauren Boebert and Eileen Laubacher seek 4th District seat

he race tests whether a Democrat running toward the political middle can win over Republican and unaffiliated voters.

Election

Republican Lauren Boebert faces a challenge from Democrat Eileen Laubacher in Colorado&#x27;s 4th Congressional District.Why it matters: The race tests whether a Democrat running toward the political middle can win over Republican and unaffiliated voters to compete in a GOP stronghold that includes Douglas County and the Eastern Plains.

Boebert and Laubacher jab over CD-4

The candidates sparred over Trump, Iran and their political records.

Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher faced off this week in their only debate before voters in Colorado&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="4th Congressional District" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/10/08/boebert-laubacher-cd4-race" data-vars-content-id="7b4be082-e8ba-42f9-838e-58a1aa9c92a4" data-vars-headline="Boebert and Laubacher jab over CD-4" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/douglas/2026/10/08/boebert-laubacher-cd4-race" target="_self">4th Congressional District</a> head to the polls.Why it matters: It was a rare chance to size up the candidates in a race that&#x27;s drawn unusual attention for a Republican stronghold.

Colorado's unexpectedly interesting House race

A moderate Democrat is pressuring Boebert this election season

Lauren Boebert&#x27;s challenger in Colorado&#x27;s 4th Congressional District race is testing whether four M&#x27;s — money, momentum and moderate messaging — can crack one of the state&#x27;s last Republican strongholds.Why it matters: CD-4&#x27;s a test of whether a Democrat running to the middle can peel away enough Republican and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unaffiliated voters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/09/17/colorado-registered-voter-unaffiliated-democrat-republican" data-vars-content-id="44c2f48e-6589-441a-afee-fbf1cf7d136c" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s unexpectedly interesting House race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2025/09/17/colorado-registered-voter-unaffiliated-democrat-republican" target="_self">unaffiliated voters</a> to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="compete in Trump country" data-vars-click-url="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/18/democrats-are-feeling-increasingly-bullish-about-controlling-congress/" data-vars-content-id="44c2f48e-6589-441a-afee-fbf1cf7d136c" data-vars-headline="Colorado&#x27;s unexpectedly interesting House race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/09/18/democrats-are-feeling-increasingly-bullish-about-controlling-congress/" target="_blank">compete in Trump country</a>.

Walk on Colorado's wild side

Animals are crossing the new wildlife overpass — an early sign the $15 million project is working.

Environment

Pronghorn and elk are taking the high road in Douglas County.Why it matters: The animals are crossing I-25 on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Greenland Wildlife Overpass" data-vars-click-url="https://www.codot.gov/projects/archives/i25greenlandwildlifeoverpass" data-vars-content-id="4227a05c-2b3a-4404-9835-bd1277da8d77" data-vars-headline="Walk on Colorado&#x27;s wild side" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.codot.gov/projects/archives/i25greenlandwildlifeoverpass" target="_blank">Greenland Wildlife Overpass</a> — a promising sign that the continent&#x27;s largest wildlife superhighway is working.

Cutting class in Douglas County

Teen students cut hair, give facials and build career skills.

Business

Eighteen-year-old Carly Kidd grabbed a pair of scissors and eyed my seven years&#x27; worth of DIY haircuts.What she&#x27;s saying: &quot;You&#x27;ve got thick hair,&quot; she told me before her first snip.

Boebert denies sexual relationship allegations

The formal complaint claims she had sexual relationships with three congressional staffers she supervised.

U.S. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rep. Lauren Boebert" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/06/24/lauren-boebert-controversy-congress" data-vars-content-id="7cef6a97-12eb-4fc7-95d7-e2973d1bec52" data-vars-headline="Boebert denies sexual relationship allegations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/denver/2024/06/24/lauren-boebert-controversy-congress" target="_self">Rep. Lauren Boebert</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="denies" data-vars-click-url="https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-boebert-denies-allegations-september-17-filing?utm_source=chatgpt.com" data-vars-content-id="7cef6a97-12eb-4fc7-95d7-e2973d1bec52" data-vars-headline="Boebert denies sexual relationship allegations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://boebert.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-boebert-denies-allegations-september-17-filing?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">denies</a> allegations she had sexual relationships with three congressional staffers she supervised, calling recent claims from an anti-Boebert group whose super PAC terminated last year &quot;<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="filthy garbage" data-vars-click-url="https://x.com/laurenboebert/status/2101808327558881750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2101808327558881750%7Ctwgr%5Ea1a212cb849048061ca92350b431fda3e097d13c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhereisthebuzz.com%2Flauren-boebert-responds-to-media-coverage-of-staffer-allegations-i-hate-to-spoil-the-fan-fiction-but-yall-need-to-do-better%2F" data-vars-content-id="7cef6a97-12eb-4fc7-95d7-e2973d1bec52" data-vars-headline="Boebert denies sexual relationship allegations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://x.com/laurenboebert/status/2101808327558881750?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2101808327558881750%7Ctwgr%5Ea1a212cb849048061ca92350b431fda3e097d13c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwhereisthebuzz.com%2Flauren-boebert-responds-to-media-coverage-of-staffer-allegations-i-hate-to-spoil-the-fan-fiction-but-yall-need-to-do-better%2F" target="_blank">filthy garbage</a>.&quot;The latest: David Wheeler, who leads American Muckrakers, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sent a sworn complaint" data-vars-click-url="https://media.coloradotimesrecorder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Boebert_Complaint_REDACTED_For_Publication_Redacted.pdf" data-vars-content-id="7cef6a97-12eb-4fc7-95d7-e2973d1bec52" data-vars-headline="Boebert denies sexual relationship allegations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://media.coloradotimesrecorder.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Boebert_Complaint_REDACTED_For_Publication_Redacted.pdf" target="_blank">sent a sworn complaint</a> to the House Ethics Committee on Sept. 17, but committee rules bar it from being accepted within 60 days of an election.

DougCo's choose-your-own-adventure commissioner fight

Voters face connected questions over how the DougCo's commission should work.

Your ballot will ask whether Douglas County should go from three commissioners to five this November.Yes, but: That simple question won&#x27;t come close to capturing the messy fight that put it there.

DougCo tames fiery summer

Climate

For a wildfire season that looked downright scary a few months ago, Douglas County fared pretty well.The latest: The county Sheriff&#x27;s Office responded to 113 wildfires through August, emergency management director Mike Alexander tells Axios.

"I did what anyone else would do"

A stranger on a dark sidewalk needed help. Brent Buford didn't hesitate.

Culture

Outside a room packed with nearly 100 people there to celebrate him, Brent Buford wanted no part of the fuss.What he&#x27;s saying: &quot;I did what anyone else would do,&quot; the 68-year-old grandfather said.

News 🗞

Colorado Springs enters race to host U.S. Space Academy

Nature could be the prescription for loneliness

Nuggets return with tempered expectations

DougCo street cred

State audit blasts Colorado's marijuana testing framework