>>> HELLO, I'M KYLE DYER AND WELCOME TO COLORADO INSIDE OUT ON THIS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO THIS WEEK'S INSIDE PANEL.

PATTY CALHOUN, FOUNDER AND EDITOR OF WESTORD.

MARIANNE GOODLAND, CHIEF LEGISLATIVE REPORTER FOR COLORADO POLITICS AND THE DENVER AND COLORADO SPRING GAZETTE.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO, EDITOR WITH THE COLORADO POLITICS AND THE DENVER GAZETTE.

ALVINA VASQEZ, AND ADVOCACY LEADER IN DENVER AND MEMBER OF THE PBS12 COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD.

>> LET'S START WITH THE STORY THAT HAS PUT AURORA IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT AND THAT IT IS THE PRESENCE OF THE VENEZUELA GANG.

THE VIDEO OF ARMED MEN IN AN AURORA APARTMENT BUILDING HAS FUELLED THE NATIONAL DISCUSSION ON IMMIGRATION.

THE CITY OF AURORA HAS RELEASED CONFLICTING MESSAGES, BUT AURORA POLICE HAVE ARRESTED SOME MEMBERS OF THE GANG.

IT IS VERY CONFUSING, I THINK.

>> IF YOU REALLY FOLLOW THE STORY WHICH ISN'T REALLY TO DO.

AURORA HAS BEEN BAD AT COMMUNICATING.

WE HAVE APARTMENT BUILDINGS IN AURORA THAT BACK IN 2020 WERE SITED FOR HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.

THESE ARE APARTMENTS THE LANDLORD WAS SUPPOSED TO GO ON TRIAL.

HE GOT IT POSTPONED TO A MEDIATION HEARING.

NOW WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THE VENEZUELA GANGS WHICH IS A VERY CONVENIENT EXCUSE FOR PEOPLE TREATING THEIR RESIDENTS HORRIBLY.

THERE IS ALSO NO QUESTION.

THERE ARE SOME BUT SOME BAD ACTORS IN THE VENEZUELAN COMMUNITY INCLUDING TWO BROTHERS IN THAT SHOOT THEM UP VIDEO.

LET'S KEEP IT IN PERSPECTIVE AURORA IS NOT OVERRUNNED BY GANGS.

>> I AM SHOCKED HOW IRRESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS HAS BEEN ON THIS.

WHETHER IT IS DANIEL WHO HAS BEEN HYSTERICAL ABOUT THIS.

IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE.

LET THE CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO DEAL WITH THIS.

LET THEM WORK WITH THIS.

I ALSO BELIEVE AS PATTY DID THE CVC HAS EXPLODED THIS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN HORRIBLE CONDITIONS.

THEY WENT OUT AND TALKED TO THESE PEOPLE.

THEY SAID THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE GANGS.

WE GOT GANGS.

THESE PLACES ARE IN DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE BUILDING MANAGEMENT IS NOT DOING IN TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THESE RESIDENTS.

>> THERE IS A LOT OF HYPERVENTILATING HAPPENING.

A LOT OF IT HAPPENING.

HERE IS THE FACT.

THE CITY OF AURORA WAS IN BAD COMMUNICATING.

BUT THE CITY OF AURORA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE GANG PROBLEM.

WEEKS AND MONTHS BEFORE.

THEY HAVE ARRESTED GANG MEMBERS OVER THERE.

THERE WAS A SHOOTOUT THAT HAPPENED.

THERE WAS A BEATING THAT HAPPENED.

AND INITIALLY THEY WERE COMPLETELY DISMISSIVE THE WHOLE THING.

THEY SAID, WHAT WAS THE WORD, AN ALTERNATIVE NARRATIVE WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM.

YOU KNOW HOW COUNCILMEMBER AND MAYOR SAYING THE GANGS WERE HERE.

THEY WALKED BACK AGAIN.

THEY ARE IN FULL PUBLIC RELATIONS MODE.

YOU SAW THE VIDEO OF THE POLICE CHIEF GOING AROUND THE COMPLEX SAYING EVERYTHING IS GOOD.

POLICE OFFICERS KNOCKING ON DOORS WOULD SIMPLY ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM.

THAT IS NOT VINDICATE.

GO READ THE DENVER GAZETTE WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF REPORTING ON THIS ISSUE.

OUR REPORTING HAS BEEN FACTS BASED.

GO AHEAD AND IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS REALLYING GOING ON READ THE PAPER.

>> I DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

NO ONE TALKED ABOUT MAYOR KAUFMAN.

HE IS THE MAYOR AND SHOULD BE LEADING ON THE VOICE AND THE STRATEGY OF WHAT IS ACTUALLY GOING ON.

HE SAYS DIFFERENT THINGS TO DIFFERENT AUDIENCE.

AND SO, I THINK THESE ARE COMMON TACTICS EVEN WHEN HE WAS CONGRESSMAN.

MIKE KAUFMAN THIS IS UP TO HIM.

>> HE SAID THE CITY LOST CONTROL AND PULLED THAT BACK.

>> HE HAS DONE MIXED MESSAGE.

OUR REPORTER TALKED TO ALL THE RESIDENTS.

READ THEM BOTH.

>> HERE IS THE THING, WE GOT ALL KINDS OF FACT CHECKING.

OUR REPORTING HAS BEEN CAREFUL, HAS BEEN SOPHISTICATED.

NOTHING THAT YOU SEE ON THE NATIONAL MEDIA EXAGGERATING THINGS.

>> TO BE CONTINUED FOR SURE.

>>> THE COLORADO BALLOTS FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION ARE NOW SET.

12 CITIZEN INITIATIVES AND LEGISLATIVELY REFERRED MEASURED WILL BE ON THE BALLOT.

ORIGINALLY, WE THOUGHT THERE WOULD BE 14, BUT ON WEDNESDAY, THE TWO PROPERTY TAX MEASURES WERE WITHDRAWN FROM THE BALLOT, AS PROMISED FOLLOWING THE BIPARTISAN DEAL LAWMAKERS MADE DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

MARIANNE, YOU WHERE RIGHT IN THERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION, SO LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> BOY, WAS THIS A FUN COUPLE OF DAYS.

THE THING YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT PROPERTY TAXES ARE GOING UP.

EVEN WITH ALL OF THE SAVINGS.

I THINK THE ESTIMATE IS SOMEWHERE $3.7 BILLION.

THE PROPERTY TAXES ARE STILL GOING UP BUT NOT GOING UP AS MUCH.

EVERY TIME YOU HEAR THEM GOING DOWN, BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

THEY ARE STILL GOING UP.

WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL NOT BE BACK NEXT YEAR OR MOVING ON TO OTHER POSITIONS.

SOME MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE AND THAT KIND OF THING.

THE INTERESTING THING THE BIPARTISANSHIP THAT HAS BEEN A BIGGER ISSUE AND A MUCH MORE WELCOME ONE FROM MY PERSPECTIVE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND CONTINUED INTO THE SUMMER WHEN PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO KIND OF WORK THESE THINGS OUT.

IS THIS DEAL PERFECT?

NO.

THE COMMENT BY THE GOVERNOR THAT THE PROPERTY TAX WARS OVER WITH?

ARE THEY OVER WITH?

MAYBE.

THE DEAL REQUIRES ADVANCE COLORADO NOT TO RUN BALLOT MEASURES.

IT DOESN'T STOP EVERYBODY ELSE FROM DOING IT.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

>> EVERY TIME I THINK YOU HEAR CONCLUSIVE STATEMENTS FROM POLITICIANS YOU TAKE THEM WITH A GRAIN OF SALT.

MARIANNE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THIS PROPOSAL WOULD CUT DOWN, WOULD REDUCE PEOPLE'S PROPERTY TAXES BETWEEN WHAT'S THAT?

BETWEEN 200 -- >> 200 AND $500 DEPENDING ON THE PROPERTY VALUE.

>> DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE AT IN THE STATE.

IT IS SAVINGS.

SURE YOU CAN CALL IT SAVINGS.

THAT IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU WILL NOT BE CHARGED.

YOU WILL STILL SEE YOUR PROPERTY TAXES GO UP.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER, A LOT OF THIS IS DRIVEN BY THE COMMITTEE.

IF THERE IS -- THAT THINK HOW THE MARKET IS GOING TO GO WHETHER IT IS GOING UP AND DOWN.

I'M JUST GOING TO STOP THERE.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY.

>> I WANT TO TALK BIG PICTURE.

TAXES AREN'T A BAD THING.

THE TAXES THAT WE COLLECTED HAVE HELP GET US OUT THE BS FACTOR WITH THE SCHOOLS.

SO I WANT US TO REFRAIN TAX CONVERSATIONS.

TAXES ARE NOT BAD.

WHAT IS NOT GOOD WHEN THE UBER WEALTHY ARE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE AND THE TAXATION GOES ON TO MIDDLE INCOME, LOW INCOME FAMILIES.

SO WE NEED TO LOOK BIGGER AND BROADER HOW TO CREATE A TAX SYSTEM THAT IS MAKING FOLKS PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

THE MIDDLE INCOME FAMILIES ARE NOT BEING OVERBURDENED.

>> THE PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM IN THIS STATE IS PRIMARY BASED ON THE VALUE OF HOMES IN THE DENVER METRO AND FRONT RANGE.

WE HAVE NOT COME TO A SOLUTION OR LAWMAKERS HAVE NOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT PROPERTY TAX STRUCTURES ARE DIFFERENT ACROSS THE STATE.

THE AVERAGE HOME PRICES IN LAMAR OR RANGELY OR DELTA ARE NOWHERE NEAR THAT.

EVERYTHING WAS BASED ON WHAT A HOME WAS PRICED AT IN DENVER.

THAT'S MAYBE THE NEXT HURDLE THAT LAWMAKERS NEED TO LOOK AT.

HOW TO MAKE A TAX SYSTEM THAT IS FAIR FOR RURAL COLORADO.

THEY ARE NOT GETTING TREATED FAIRLY.

>> THE PROPERTY TAX WAR IS NOT OVER.

WE MIGHT HAVE A CEASE FIRE.

WE WILL START HEARING PEOPLE AIM AGAIN.

IT WILL BE A LITTLE LESS THAN IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN IF THIS HADN'T GONE THROUGH.

WE WILL HEAR FROM PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T FEEL THEY HAD A SAY DURING THIS SECOND SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY TAXES.

IT WAS NOT ALL CUMBAYA.

THERE WAS A FIGHT THAT BROKE OUT OVER THOSE STREET SIGNS ON IMMIGRATION AND THERE WERE FIGHTS ABOUT THAT DURING THE SPECIAL SESSION.

WE ARE GOING TO HEAR PLENTY.

IT IS NOT ALL SWEETNESS AND LIGHT THERE.

THE WAR CONTINUES.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO LOCAL BALLOTS, DENVER VOTERS WILL CONSIDER 11 LOCAL MEASURES AND YES, THAT'S ON THE TOP OF THE 12 STATEWIDE ISSUES.

EACH WEEK LEADING UP TO ELECTION DAY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ONE STATEWIDE OR LOCAL MEASURE.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW DPS IS ASKING DENVERITES TO APPROVE A $975 MILLION BOND.

>> IT IS NOT A TAX INCREASE.

THAT'S THE LINE FROM EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ASKED FOR A BOND MEASURE.

IT IS NOT A TAX INCREASE.

DPS LIKE OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAS BIG PROBLEMS.

IT IS DECLINING ENROLLMENT.

THEY ARE ASKING FOR A BILLION DOLLARS.

THEY WANT TO USE THE MONEY ON A LOT OF THINGS.

INCLUDING AIR-CONDITIONING FOR SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS.

IT IS A BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY.

AND IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THE DENVER VOTERS HAVE, I THINK, VOTED YES ON ALL THE BOND MEASURES IN THE LAST THREE DECADES OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE THING, I THINK VOTERS WILL SEE IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

THERE IS A BOND MEASURE FOR A BILLION DOLLARS FOR SCHOOLS.

THERE IS TWO STAFF INCREASES ON THE BALLOT.

THERE IS A SIDEWALK FEE HAPPENING PRETTY SOON.

YOU ARE STARTING TO PAY GARBAGE DISPOSAL.

ALL OF THESE THINGS COMING AT A TIME THE SCHOOL DISTRICT ASKING FOR THIS MONEY.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN NOVEMBER.

>> TAXES AREN'T BAD.

THEY ARE THERE TO HELP OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE THE DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOW WE ARE AGEING.

DENVER VOTERS PRETTY MUCH TRUST THESE DOLLARS ARE GOING TO BE PUT TO GOOD USE.

AS LONG AS DENVER PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO SHOW THEY CAN DELIVER, THEY WILL PROBABLY APPROVE IT.

>> A WEEK AFTER THEY SAID THEY WOULD GO FORWARD WITH THIS BOND MEASURE THE SUPERINTENDENT SAID THEY WILL HAVE TO CLOSE SCHOOLS.

>> IT DOES NOT LEAVE YOU WITH A LOT OF TIME TO CONSIDER IT.

THEY WILL COME UP WITH A LIST ON THE 7th OF NOVEMBER WHICH IS A PROBLEM.

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO MAKE DPS COMMUNICATIONS LOOK GOOD IS AURORA BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING SUCH A BAD JOB.

AURORA HAS NOT BEEN OPEN ABOUT DIFFERENT PROCESSES ABOUT THE SCHOOL CLOSURES.

THE SCHOOL BOARD IS MUCH SETTLED DOWN FROM WHERE IT WAS TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU HAVE GROWN UPS IN THE ROOM.

THEY HAVE WORK TO DO TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE GIVING MONEY IN THE RIGHT THING.

WE PASSED A BOND MEASURE.

WE THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING THE AIR-CONDITIONING.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A GOOD JOB OF COMMUNICATING WHY THEY NEED THIS NOW WHILE ENROLLMENT IS GOING DOWN.

>> IT IS SO HIGH.

>> ONE THING THAT STRUCK ME ABOUT THE WHOLE THING THE AVERAGE AGE IN DPS IS 55 YEARS OLD.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

THAT MEANS A BUILDING THAT WAS CONSTRUCTED IN THE LATE '60s EARLY '70s.

IF YOU ARE IN THE HOUSE THAT IS THAT OLD YOU NEED TO MAKE IT LIVABLE.

THOSE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT AT A TIME WHEN THERE WAS INVESTMENT AND ANYTHING THAT GOES ALONG WITH THAT.

LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST YEARS.

OUR EDUCATION IS IN THE LOW 48, 49, 50 SOMEWHERE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL.

THE TIME HAS COME TO PAY.

THE TIME HAS COME TO GET THE BUILDINGS BACK TO WHAT THEY SHOULD BE.

IS THAT THE RIGHT ANSWER FOR THAT?

THAT WOULD BE THE VOTERS TO DECIDE.

>>> WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION, COLORADO IS CONSIDERING LOWERING THE PASSING SCORE FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS BECAUSE OUR STATE SAW A DROP IN TEST SCORES LAST YEAR.

COLORADO SCHOOL DISTRICTS RELY ON S.A.T.

MATH SCORES ON A STUDENT'S PROFICIENCY, AND THOSE NUMBERS FELL LAST YEAR.

IF THIS CHANGE ISN'T MADE SOME SAY IT IS POSSIBLE OUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES COULD DROP.

>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME SCHOOL DISTRICTS SINCE COVID THERE IS THIS COVID HANGOVER.

ESPECIALLY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AGE.

THEY WERE GOING THROUGH COVID AT AN IMPORTANT TIME IN THEIR LIVES.

THEY ALMOST DON'T HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH WHAT WE GREW UP.

I THINK THAT WILL BE A CHALLENGE FOR A COUPLE MORE CYCLES.

I DID NOT TAKE THE S.A.T.

OR THE ACT.

I DON'T KNOW IF TESTING IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE THAT HAVE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THAT DON'T PUT THEM IN THE BEST PLACE TO TAKE A TEST OR QUALIFY FOR THIS OR THAT.

I DON'T THINK IT IS A PROBLEM.

>> PEOPLE MAKE CRITICISM FOR JUST SHOWING UP.

IF TEENAGERS SHOW UP AND GO THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL THEY ACTUALLY COME.

YOU SHOULD THINK OF DIFFERENT WAYS HOW THEY MANAGED TO HIT THE REQUIREMENTS.

THE LAST FEW YEARS HAS BEEN STRANGE FOR SO MANY PEOPLE ESPECIALLY KIDS THAT WENT THROUGH THAT.

MAKE SURE THEY COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL PROFICIENT IN WHATEVER THEY NEED FOR THE FUTURE.

IT MAY NOT BE AN S.A.T.

MATH TEST.

>> TO BE HONEST IT COULD BE HOW TO RUN YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT AND HOW TO UNDERSTAND YOUR TAXES.

>> I WORRY ABOUT DUMBING DOWN GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT THIS THAT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND.

WHY AREN'T YOU PUSHING TO MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN.

TO ME IT SEEMS LIKE A VERY ODD SHORT-TERM SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.

I WANT TO PIVOT AWAY FROM SOMETHING I FOUND FASCINATING.

COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO DID THIS INCREDIBLE STORY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY HAVE STARTED DOING IS MAKING SURE KIDS ARE NOT DISTRACTED BY SOCIAL MEDIA.

THAT MEANS TAKING AWAY THEIR CELL PHONES.

NOT ONLY IS THIS BETTER FOR TEACHERS.

THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ENGAGED WITH STUDENTS.

THE STUDENTS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE ENGAGED WITH OTHERS.

THAT IS WHAT WE MAY BE MISSING.

TO THE POINT ABOUT COVID, THIS IS WHAT KIDS GOT SO ACCUSTOM TO.

IT GOT THAT MUCH MORE WORSE.

LET'S FIX THIS PROBLEM AND SEE WHAT KIND OF IMPACT THAT HAS.

>> REMOTE LEARNING, THE SHUTTING DOWN OF THE SCHOOLS DURING THE PANDEMIC WE NOW KNOW HAS BEEN TERRIBLE FOR KIDS.

OUR CHILDREN ARE STILL SUFFERING FROM IT.

I KNOW WHAT THAT PERIOD WAS LIKE.

TO MARIANNE'S POINT, MY SON'S SCHOOL DID SOMETHING -- HE IS DOING -- HAS DONE SOMETHING SIMILAR FOR A NUMBER OF, I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG NOW.

THEY PUT THE CELL PHONE IN A ZIP.

THEY DON'T SEE IT UNTIL THEY ARE DONE FOR THE DAY.

AND RIGHT NOW THE TEACHERS ARE MOVING TOWARD PAPER COPIES.

THEY ARE WRITING ON PAPER.

MY SON WAS NOT THRILLED.

HE COMPLAINED MY HANDWRITING CAN'T KEEP UP WITH MY BRAIN.

I THINK THERE IS A CONSCIOUS MOVEMENT AMONG THE SCHOOLS TO GET THE CHILDREN MORE ENGAGED.

THE WAY THEY FIGURED OUT TO DO THAT, GET THEM AWAY FROM THE SCREENS.

>> LET'S TALK SOME OF THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THIS WEEK.

WE WILL START WITH SOME OF THE NEGATIVES SO WE CAN END WITH A HIGH NOTE.

>> THE LEGISLATURE DID SOME GOOD WORK THIS YEAR.

PART OF IT WAS NOT 157 WHICH MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE MEDIA TO DO THEIR JOB.

KUDOS TO THE PERSON TO MY RIGHT AND OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS WHO TOOK THE COLORADO ASSOCIATION TO TASK.

BOTH GOOD LEGISLATORS FOR NOT DOING BETTER BY THAT BILL.

>> YOU WROTE A VERY GOOD ARTICLE.

>> I DIDN'T WRITE THE ARTICLE, I WROTE THE LETTER.

MY DISGRACE OF THE WEEK.

THE CLOSER WE GET TO ELECTION DAY IT BECOMES A DAILY PART OF OUR LIVES.

TWO RUSSIAN INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT IN THIS COUNTRY WHO HAD GOTTEN THEIR HOOKS INTO A TENNESSEE MEDIA ORGANIZATION.

THEY WERE PAYING SOME OF THE HOSTS AND INFLUENCERS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A WEEK TO SPREAD DISINFORMATION.

SOME OF IT IS APPALLING BAD.

I SAW ONE PARTICULAR ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS.

THE INCIDENT THAT THEY CLAIM HARRIS WAS INVOLVED IN DIDN'T EXIST.

IT IS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO KNOW WHO DO YOU TRUST.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE WATCH OUT FOR THE DISINFORMATION.

IT IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.

>> I THINK I GOT BOMBARDED WITH ALL KINDS OF SCAMS, MOSTLY TEXTS ESPECIALLY THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

THEY HAVE BEEN REALLY ACTIVE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE'S MONEY FOR SURE.

ALL KINDS OF STUPID BUT CREATIVE, REALLY CREATIVE WAYS.

I'M A LITTLE BIT AFRAID FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO ARE OLDER RESIDENTS WHO ARE GETTING THESE SCAMS AND, I THINK THAT BECAUSE MY MOM LIVES WITH US AND SHE IS 84 YEARS OLD.

I SEE THESE THINGS ON HER CELL PHONE.

I GO DON'T BELIEVE THAT, THAT IS NOT TRUE.

THAT HAS BEEN DISHEARTENING.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO CENTER -- I PROBABLY BRING THIS A LOT.

THIS WHOLE VENEZUELAN GANG STORY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION AND PEOPLE'S HOPES AND DREAMS WE LOSE THE HUMANITY IN THAT.

THE BIGGEST DOWNFALL THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS LIVES.

NOW THEY ARE GETTING BULLIES BY OTHER PEOPLE COMING INTO THE COMPLEX.

WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

KIND OF THE THEME OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING POSITIVE.

>> FIRST TAKE AWAY YOUR MOTHER'S CELL PHONE AND PUT IT IN A ZIP BAG.

PLANNING THE CELEBRATIONS FOR THE U.S. AND COLORADO'S 150.

THERE WAS A MEETING WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

THE CITY IS STEPPING UP TO BE INVOLVED.

IT IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS GOOD ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> I HAVE A TON OF SHOUTOUTS TO GIVE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN CARRYING ME.

I WAS DEALING WITH CANCER.

I HAD A HYSTERECTOMY.

I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO EVERYBODY WHO STOOD BY ME, SUPPORT ME, IT WAS LIKE AN ARMY OF GOOD WISHES.

MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, PEOPLE AT THE STATE CAPITOL.

I'M WEARING THIS NECKLACE TODAY.

THIS WAS GIVEN TO ME ONE OF THE EDITORS AT COLORADO POLITICS.

IT IS A PEARL.

IT STARTS OUT AS AN IRRITATION AND GROWS INTO SOMETHING STRONG.

THAT HAS BEEN MY CANCER JOURNEY.

ON AUGUST 2ND I WAS DECLARED A CANCER SURVIVOR.

I INTEND TO WRITE ABOUT THIS.

THOSE OF YOU FIGHTING CANCER IT IS HARD BUT KEEP YOUR CHIN UP AND KEEP FIGHTING.

>> WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> HERE, HERE.

THANK YOU.

LOTS OF BAD NEWS BUT THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD THINGS.

WE SAW SCHOOL DISTRICTS BE AMONG THE TOP TEN.

SCHOOLS AMONG THE TOP TEN.

SOME HAVE CONSISTENTLY BEEN THERE.

TO MARIANNE'S POINT ABOUT NOT DUMBING DOWN THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS.

I THINK THOSE SCHOOLS ARE A GOOD EXAMPLE.

THEY TELL US IF YOU WORK REALLY HARD AND STICK TO THE PLAN, YOU GO THROUGH THAT STRAIGHT AND NARROW YOU WILL GET THERE.

THAT IS A GOOD THING.

THAT IS SO REWARDING.

STUDENTS DON'T KNOW IF IT IS AN ATTENDANCE MEDAL.

THEY KNOW THAT IS NO GOOD.

BEING IN THE TOP TEN BECAUSE OF HARD WORK, THAT IS WONDERFUL.

>> SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

TWO YEARS AGO THE STATES ACROSS THE NATION CAME UP WITH 988 THE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE LINE.

YOU DON'T NEED TO FEEL LIKE SUICIDE.

CALL 988 IF YOU NEED HELP.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE REMINDER.

MY HIGH OF THE WEEK IS OUR FRIEND BEING BACK.

THANKS FOR OUR INSIDERS.

THANK YOU TO THOSE LISTENING TO US.

WE DO RECOGNIZE THIS WEEK HAS BEEN AN EMOTIONAL ONE FOR OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WITH THE START OF THE TRIAL FOR THE KING SOOPERS SHOOTER.

LET'S TRY TO GIVE EACH OTHER SOME GRACE THIS WEEKEND.

I'M KYLE DYER, I WILL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK HERE ON PBS12.

\M\M \M\M \M\M \M\M >>> PBS12 BELIEVES IN THE POWER OF ORIGINAL LOCAL PROGRAMMING.

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