Week of September 29, 2022
$1.00
An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 45
County discusses opioid settlement spending Funds to address five areas BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Artists from across Colorado gathered Sept. 24 at The Streets at SouthGlenn for the Centennial Chalk Art Festival.
PHOTOS BY TAYLER SHAW
Artistic talents on display at Centennial Chalk Art Festival Annual event draws plenty of talent BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Amidst the sea of artists decorating The Streets at SouthGlenn in Centennial, Katherine Chow worked for hours to create the vibrant chalk art piece “Pokémon Jubilee” on Sept. 24. It was a family affair, with her 7-year-old child’s obsession for Pokémon being part of the inspiration behind the artwork and her SEE CHALK ART, P10
A newly formed council of Arapahoe County leaders discussed plans to spend millions in funds won through a multi-state settlement with some of the country’s largest drug giants during a Sept. 22 virtual meeting. The Arapahoe County Regional Opioid Council — comprised of 12 members that includes elected officials, law enforcement and social service workers — will help guide about $25 million in new spending over the next 18 years. The money is but a slice of the massive $26 billion settlement to states and local governments agreed to in February by drug distributors AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, McKesson and manufacturer Johnson and Johnson, which faced lawsuits for their role in fueling the opioid epidemic. In Arapahoe County, officials estimate there were more than 19 overdose deaths per 100,000 residents last year, with more than 500 opioid prescriptions dispensed per 1,000 residents. Deaths related to fentanyl, a synthetic opioid now found more commonly in illicit street drugs, have also risen. In Arapahoe County, 56% of all overdose deaths were related to fentanyl in 2021, up from 47% the year before.
Kari Dusenbery named her chalk art piece “Screaming Teacher.”
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 20
SEE OPIOID, P11
Check out
�� �u���es�
In this week’s paper!