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STANDARD BLADE B R I G H T O N

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1903

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VOLUME 119

Issue 39

WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2022

Colorado adds water quality protections for South Platte, Clear Creek

Voting questions answered

Overturns 2020 ruling BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

The Colorado Water Quality Control Commission unanimously reversed a controversial 2020 decision and added new pollution protections for the South Platte River and Clear Creek through metro Denver, citing a “compelling” campaign by environmental justice advocates who demanded the repeal. The vote on Sept. 13 adds new defenses for urban streams and culminates a two-year campaign by a broad coalition of conservation groups, racial and economic justice advocates and local, state and federal officials to overturn the 2020 ruling. That year’s ruling had said existing polluters could discharge more waste into the urban streams without new state anti-degradation reviews. Now those permitted polluters, including Metro Water Recovery and Molson Coors, will have to prove any new actions won’t further damage the Denver-area streams, where aquatic life is already troubled by runoff, pollution discharge and high temperatures. The hearings this week were the result of the commission previously agreeing to review arguments from its own staff and the outside coalition, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. SEE PROTECT, P23

How to vote and more BY SANDRA FISH THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado Election Day is Nov. 8 with a U.S. Senate seat, eight congressional contests, races for four statewide offices, 100 state legislative jobs, 11 ballot initiatives and more at stake at the county and local levels. As part of our 2022 election guide, we’re here to answer some questions about voting and how the election works. Let us know what other questions you have by filling out the form at the bottom of this article and we’ll do our best to answer them.

Environmental sampling specialist Patrick Maes samples water from the South Platte River at Metro Water Recovery on April 6, 2022, in Denver. Metro Water Recovery is the largest wastewater treatment facility in the western U.S. and treats PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN /THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA up to 130 million gallons of water daily.

Grand jury indicts parents of Brighton toddler STAFF REPORT

A grand jury returned first-degree murder and Colorado Organized Crime Control Act charges against the parents of a toddler who died from fentanyl poisoning earlier this year. Adams County District Attorney Brian Mason made the announcement Sept. 22. The indictment accuses Alonzo Montoya and Nicole Casias, both 31, of participating in a drug-traf-

ficking enterprise before, during and after their one-year-old daughter’s death. The original charges against Montoya and Casias were for child abuse resulting in death and the distribution of a controlled substance. The new indictment means those charges were dropped. A press statement said the grand jury reviewed evidence from the North Metro Drug ask Force, the Brighton Police Department and

OBITUARIES LOCAL CALENDAR SPORTS CLASSIFIEDS LEGALS

the DA’s office. The new charges also include a count of conspiracy, child abuse resulting in death and two counts of child abuse as they relate to manufacturing a controlled substance Montoya and Casias are in custody in the Adams County Jail. Montoya’s next court appearance is for a motions hearing at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5. Casias is due in court at the same time for a conference hearing.

LOCAL

2 •Brighton Housing 3 accepting Section 8 8 applications 9 20 • Page 3 22

How do I register to vote? Colorado has automatic voter registration if you get a driver’s license or interact in some other way with state government. But you may also register online with a valid driver’s license, Colorado identification card or Social Security number. Is there a deadline to register? No. Coloradans may register in person or online to vote through Election Day. To receive a ballot in the mail, you must be registered by Oct. 31, and you will have to return it to a drop box or vote center. How do I check whether I’m registered? Check your voter registration by entering your name, ZIP code and date of birth. You may also change your address online. But if your name changed, you’ll have to fill out a paper form. If your registration says it’s “inactive,” that’s because you’ve missed voting SEE VOTING, P17

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