WEEK OF OCTOBER 10, 2024
VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 41
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Hispanic Serving Institutions empower Local car the futures of Latino students registration fees possible Colorado bill could let local governments collect fees for bike lanes, crosswalks BY SARA WILSON COLORADO NEWSLINE
• Vestas to lay off 200 employees •27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
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BUSINESS LOCAL
A student in graduation cap and gown shows the “First Generation” stole in bright colors. BY LONDON LYLE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Autumn, like spring, is a season of transitions and new beginnings. With that inspiration, Colorado is offering aspiring college students the opportunity to apply to any of the state’s 32 public colleges and universities (as well as several private institutions) for free, as part of Free Application Days, Oct. 15-17. As new and old students start thinking about which colleges to attend, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, it’s important to highlight the Hispanic Serv-
ing Institutions in Colorado. “An HSI is a unique designation that was created by the U.S. Department of Education. It qualifies a university who has an enrollment of at least a minimum of 25% Hispanic students,” said Isabelle Melendez, a career navigator at Emily Griffith Technical College, which has been an HSI for 11 years. Forty percent of students enrolled at the college identify as Hispanic or Latinx. “It means we’re really expanding, enhancing capacity and the quality of student achievement for Latinx or Hispanic students,” she said.
Adams State University, Colorado Mountain College, Colorado State University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Regis University, the University of Northern Colorado and University of Colorado-Denver are all HSIs, according to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and are part of the free application event. In addition, Aims Community College, Community College of Aurora, Front Range Community College, Morgan Community College and Pueblo Community College are also considered HSIs by the group and are free to ap-
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ply for admission all year round, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. “(HSIs) benefit the community because by becoming more educated, students are able to enhance their lives and in turn, their families’ lives. Sometimes breaking those generational cycles of being a first-generation college student, they’re able to achieve social mobility and careers through certification and education,” Melendez said. “This status (of an HSI) really shows a pillar of hope in the community.”
The Colorado Legislature could consider a bill next year that would enable local governments to impose additional vehicle registration fees to pay for infrastructure proven to make streets safer for non-drivers. That bill advanced through the Transportation Legislation Review Committee on a 12-5 vote as one of its interim bills to be introduced during the regular session. It would let cities and counties charge registration fees on light trucks and passenger vehicles beginning in 2026 to fund so-called “vulnerable road user protection strategies,” which are road features to make streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists. That includes bike lanes, street medians, crosswalk visibility enhancements, rumble strips and traffic circles designed to manage speed, which are all features that the Federal Highway Administration recommends. “We want to convince folks to hop on the bus, get on their bike or to walk to the market. But we recognize that our members need to feel safe doing so,” said Anita Seitz, the advocacy director for Colorado Communities for Climate Action. “In 2023, Colorado saw cyclist deaths increase and pedestrian deaths reach an all-time high. Bike and pedestrian friendly infrastructure investments help to protect our residents and save lives, but there’s simply limited dollars dedicated to this purpose.”
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