🌱 $1.6M Spent On School Board Election + Union Station Update

Hello, neighbors! It's me again, Amber Fisher, your host of the Denver Daily. I'm bringing you the latest COVID-19 statistics in our city, an update on Denver Union Station crime, the latest on the Denver school board election and other important news.

First, today's weather:

It's getting cooooold! You can expect a rather cloudy day, with a high of 39 and a low of 29.

Here are the top stories in Denver today:

1. The rate of new COVID-19 cases in Denver has decreased recently, but under the CDC's transmission classifications, our city is still ranked as 'high.' There were 1,743 recorded cases in Denver between Nov. 25 and Dec. 1, which is 34 percent lower than the previous seven days. It will take a couple of weeks before scientists know more about the new variant, such as whether it is more contagious or if current vaccines and treatments are less effective against it, according to the World Health Organization. (Denver Patch)
2. Hope is in the air for the crime-ridden Denver Union Station — patrols were ramped up in the area for the Parade of Lights, police and transit workers cleared the station throughout the weekend to keep the station safe. Mayor Michael Hancock said the city will redouble efforts to keep the station safe after many complaints of crime there. (The Denver Channel)
3. More than $1.6 million was spent in this year's Denver school board election, campaign finance reports show. Reform organizations spent a lot of money on retaining representation on the board, but weren't successful, Chalkbeat reports. (Chalkbeat via Patch)
4. This may come as no surprise for those who've spent hours at Denver International Airport waiting for delayed departures: It's one of the worst big airports in the nation for on-time departures, according to a new analysis. Takeaway: Give yourself plenty of time to make it through security if you're flying out for the holidays. (CBS Denver)
5. Only 50.9 percent of Colorado voters supported reintroducing gray wolves into our state, and the majority of those who supported the initiative weren't from the regions that will be home to the wolves. This means that Colorado Parks and Wildlife is tasked with navigating clashes among ranchers, wolf advocates and other stakeholders as the plan unfolds. (Colorado Newsline)

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From my notebook:

• Denver Public Schools: "The DPS Community today is heartbroken at the loss of our treasured colleague Dr. Sharon Bailey, who passed away last night while at home. Our thoughts of strength and love are with Dr. Bailey’s husband, John, and the entire Bailey Family." (Facebook)
• Denver Police Department: "On November 30, 2021, a victim walked into the District 3 Station to report a fraud incident. The victim explained that the suspect called the victim and claimed that her Amazon account was used to make a purchase but additional funds were needed to complete the purchase. The victim insisted that she did not make a purchase, but the victim began to threaten her and claimed to be an agent with the Federal Trade Commission." (Facebook)
• VISIT DENVER: "Transport yourself to a wintery European village square with the Denver Christkindlmarkt. Located at the festively lit Civic Center Park till Dec. 23, experience the region’s only authentic German Holiday Market ..." (Facebook)
• Denver Broncos Community Development: "Trauma patients, premature infants, heart surgery patients and people fighting cancer all require blood transfusions for their care. That’s why Vitalant and the Denver Broncos are encouraging all fans and eligible donors to make an appointment ..." (Facebook)

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— Amber Fisher

About me: I'm a Patch editor covering news in Denver's metro area and Boulder. I've spent the past nine years working for various news outlets across North America, including Chicago Patch, Global News and WBEZ. I've covered high-profile court cases, civil rights abuses, mass shootings, natural disasters and major crimes — but also countless happy news stories about kindness, innovation and resilience. When I'm not writing articles, I can be found hiking, snowboarding, debating politics with my husband and attempting to be a sci-fi and astronomy geek.