Jefferson County

Four bear attacks occurred within one week alone across Colorado, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The most recent attack happened on Friday, injuring a man in Jefferson County.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are investigating a reported bear attack that occurred in Jefferson County on Friday evening. The incident involved a man suffering leg injuries, and the narrative details that a bear was subsequently euthanized after reportedly attacking a fisher.

An audit of Jefferson County Public Schools was released at the end of June. This district in Kentucky, which includes Louisville, is the state's largest and enrolls almost 100,000 students. The report by auditor Allison Ball revealed a complete institutional failure within the system.

Michael Maldonado, 47, has been incarcerated for 31 years for a crime he committed when he was 15 and now seeks commutation from Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ Commutation Advisory Board. His sentence relates to the killing of Ruben Borchardt in 1994 during which time the others involved were minors. Maldonado is noted as the only one of three youths who conspired to kill Borchardt who is still incarcerated.

A resident is concerned that severely overhanging and top-heavy trees on Bowles Ave in Littleton could fall onto passing cars. Concerns about the old condition of cottonwoods were raised, while experts clarified that tree maintenance responsibility varies greatly depending on whether the location is on private property or within specific city limits. The City of Littleton maintains some sections, but accountability depends on multiple factors.

A Jefferson County man admitted to raping young boys in Albany County. Separately, the Berkshire County DA's Office established a taskforce focused on combating gun violence. These issues are among the five key topics presented by the Lia Auto Group.

A Colorado couple was charged in a fatal road rage shooting following a vehicle crash and pursuit in Jefferson County. Steven Cole Simpson, 25, faces first-degree murder charges for shooting Andrew Luke Bott, 23, during the chase, while his wife, Corryn Simpson, 26, was charged as an accessory. Evidence included 911 calls, surveillance footage, and seized firearms linking the couple to the incident.

A married couple has been charged with murder following a road rage incident in Jefferson County on July 25. The incident involved a hit-and-run shooting that resulted in a fatality.

A West Metro Fire Rescue firefighter, Jarrod Leonard, injured during a high-angle rescue training exercise in Jefferson County, Colorado, is making small, encouraging improvements but remains in serious condition with a traumatic brain injury. The incident occurred on July 29 when Leonard fell 50 feet into rocky terrain while teaching specialized rescue skills.

Felony theft charges were filed against Ulises Tajonar Diaz, owner of My Sons Landscape Group, after multiple homeowners in Jefferson County reported losing thousands of dollars on landscaping projects that were never completed. Additional homeowners, including Ryan Harmon, came forward with similar complaints about deposits paid for unfulfilled projects, prompting an ongoing investigation by Jefferson County prosecutors.

A former Jeffco Public Schools security guard was arrested in 2026 for child sex assault charges after evidence of child sex abuse material was found on his device dating back to 2018. The investigation began when a child disclosed inappropriate touching by the suspect during a school safety program, leading to the discovery of hidden media files and surveillance equipment.

The CDC's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey is conducting free medical exams and health interviews in Jefferson County using a mobile examination center. The survey, ongoing for over 60 years, collects data to inform public health policies and includes 650 selected households in the county. The mobile center will remain in Arvada until September.

Tropical Storm Bertha is moving westward from Florida’s Panhandle, bringing potential flash flooding and up to six inches of rainfall. The National Weather Service has issued tropical storm warnings and watches, with the storm expected to gradually weaken by Friday.

A bridge on I-40 in East Tennessee will be renamed the Donald J. Trump Bridge. The event, led by U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, includes elected officials and takes place in Jefferson County, crossing the French Broad River in Dandridge.

A Jefferson County man was sentenced to four years of probation after being convicted of third-degree assault for shooting a 17-year-old boy in the face, which he called an 'accident.' The incident occurred in 2024 when the teens entered private property to take homecoming photos, leading to a trial where prosecutors argued reckless assault while defense blamed the gun.

Colorado counties, including Jefferson County under stage 2 fire restrictions, have banned personal fireworks for the holiday weekend, with fines up to $600 for violations. Professional firework shows, like the Red, White, and You event in Littleton, remain permitted. Director Mark Techmeyer of Jefferson County Sheriffs Office emphasized strict enforcement and public cooperation to mitigate fire risks.

Amanda Gonzalez won the Democratic primary for secretary of state. She was the Jefferson County clerk and led by 25.8 percentage points when The Associated Press called the race.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe vetoed $53 million and restricted $441 million in the state's $50.7 billion budget due to declining revenues and a shrinking pandemic-era surplus. The restrictions blocked spending on 42 new budget items and 28 unfinished construction projects, including a Missouri Capitol renovation and a Springfield apartment complex, while allowing some infrastructure projects like a parking garage and road relocation.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation to address severe weather, flooding, and tornadoes affecting multiple counties over several months. The proclamation aims to mobilize state resources and expedite recovery efforts, with potential federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Response program.

Colorado voters have until 7 p.m. to return primary election ballots, with drop-off locations including secure ballot boxes and in-person vote centers. El Paso County leads the state in ballot returns, but southeast Colorado Springs has historically lower turnout. Voters must ensure ballots are correctly filled out and submitted by the deadline.

A father of five drowned while attempting to rescue his children from the Cahaba River in Jefferson County, Alabama. The children survived, but the father, Israel Manual Montecino-Navarro, 35, was found submerged and did not resurface. He worked at two Chick-fil-A locations and was described as a devoted family man and person of faith.

Colorado's primary election has seen 14% voter turnout with over 639,000 ballots returned three days before June 30. Jefferson County leads with 16% turnout (76,000 ballots), while Denver County reports 12% (67,000 ballots). The 2018 midterm election saw 30% turnout, and voters must now use drop boxes or in-person voting by June 30.

Highway 6 in Jefferson County is closed at milepost 263 due to a rock slide, hours after reopening from previous closures. The Colorado State Patrol confirmed the closure on Thursday.

Residents of Jefferson County's Evergreen area are working to clean up debris and repair damage following an unexpected flood on Wednesday night. The cleanup efforts took place on Thursday as the community addresses the aftermath of the flooding.

Flooding in Evergreen and Kittredge areas of Jefferson County surpassed 2013 historic levels, causing significant damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The Evergreen Metropolitan District issued a boil water advisory for multiple streets, and major erosion exposed sewer lines and caused a water main break affecting 200 customers.

Jefferson County borough Brookville, Pennsylvania, passed a 180-day moratorium on data center development to assess regulations, citing concerns over water supply impacts. Council members aim to ensure any future data centers comply with local needs while acknowledging their necessity. The state's GRID Standards for data centers are optional unless developers seek tax benefits.

Two men from Jefferson County have been charged with $12 million in alleged Medicaid vision fraud. Attorney General Phil Weiser announced the charges, which involve Medicaid fraud.

Evergreen residents are advocating for improved safety on Evergreen Parkway after a hit-and-run crash killed Michael Longfellow and two other fatal crashes occurred in 2023. A petition led by Dave Masters calls for increased patrols, speed enforcement, and speed limit reviews. Colorado State Patrol and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office are collaborating on enforcement and exploring automated speed enforcement technology.

The National Weather Service confirmed nine tornadoes in southern Illinois from Sunday's storms, including an EF3 tornado in Jefferson County that killed two and injured five others.

A tornado in Jefferson County, Illinois, killed Delores Shelton as her neighbor Rodney Gass and his family attempted to rescue her. Their truck was trapped during the storm, leading to injuries, and Shelton's home was completely destroyed.

A tornado in Jefferson County, Ill., killed Delores Shelton as her neighbor Rodney Gass and his family attempted to rescue her. The storm destroyed Shelton's home, and Gass's truck was thrown by falling debris during the rescue effort. Shelton was later found unresponsive in a field.

A tornado in Jefferson County, Ill., killed Delores Shelton as her neighbor Rodney Gass and his family attempted to rescue her. The storm destroyed Shelton's home, and Gass's truck became trapped during the rescue effort, resulting in injuries to Gass's son Jacob. Shelton was later found unresponsive in a field.

A bear attacked a hiker in a Jefferson County park in Golden on Sunday, leading officials to close the park. Authorities are investigating the incident.

Jefferson County officials closed a park following the first reported bear attack of 2026, which injured a hiker. Increased bear sightings in Colorado are linked to a dry and warm winter driving bears into neighborhoods in search of food.

Two people were killed Sunday afternoon when a tornado touched down in rural Jefferson County, Illinois, as part of a day of active weather across the region.

A tornado caused two deaths and multiple injuries in southern Illinois, destroying several buildings. The victims were Sarita Kimble, 62, and Delores Shelton, 83, in Mount Vernon, Jefferson County. At least five others were injured.

Tornadoes killed three people in Illinois, Indiana, and Kansas, causing significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Over 30 tornadoes were reported in Illinois and Indiana, with storm threats shifting east to the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

A Jefferson County park in Golden is closed Monday morning due to 'aggressive bear activity.'

A high school psychologist in Jefferson County was sentenced to multiple years in prison for sexual assault. The individual was convicted of the crime, resulting in a prison term.

Jefferson County, Colorado, enacted Stage 1 fire restrictions due to high temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity under a red flag warning. Officials banned open burning and incendiary activities, while fire departments increased staffing and prepared for wildfire risks. Residents acknowledged the danger but enjoyed the weather.