Week of September 8, 2022
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
CastleRockNewsPress.net
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 21
Castle Pines in ZIP code standoff USPS says no to city’s request BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Type “ZIP code” into the search bar on the online marketplace Etsy, and over 90,000 results will appear. Pillows, t-shirts, keychains and wine glasses on the webpage flaunt placeholder five-digit codes, waiting to be personalized to showcase any patron’s geographic location with pride. In many communities across the U.S., ZIP codes are a mark of identity. But in others, they are a source of confusion and consternation. Since 2018, the City of Castle Pines has been attempting to change its ZIP code. Castle Pines, which incorporated in 2008, sits across two different ZIP code boundary areas: 80108, which expands into neighboring Castle Rock and Parker, and 80134, which is also shared with Parker. ZIP codes, or Zone Improvement Plan codes, were invented in 1963 by SEE ZIP CODES, P6
Religious beliefs at center of claim BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Castle Pines is split by I-25, causing confusion between Castle Rock and Parker when it SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE comes to location.
Biden’s student debt relief plan met with mixed reactions Some say it is not enough BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Following the Biden administration’s Aug. 24 announcement of a sweeping plan to reform the student loan process for millions of federal borrowers, local educators said they see both benefits and challenges lying ahead. The proposal, one of Joe Biden’s chief promises during his 2020 pres-
School district to fight lawsuit filed by former employee
idential election campaign, could eliminate student debt entirely for nearly half of all borrowers, according to an analysis by the education department, which estimates 43 million Americans have federal student loans. It seeks to do this by forgiving $10,000 of federal debt for all borrowers making no more than $75,000 per year — and no more than $250,000 for married couples — and up to $20,000 for borrowers who receive Pell Grants. It will also cap monthly payments at 5% of a
Dream Big Dreams...
borrower’s income and eliminate accrued interest for borrowers making monthly payments, even when that payment is $0. Taken together, these reforms could make it easier and faster for the bulk of students to pay off their debt, educators said. “This is going to make that burden less severe,” said Ariel Mendez, director of financial aid at Arapahoe Community College. “This is a step, it’s not everything, but it’s definitely
Douglas County School District is pushing back against discrimination claims made by a former assistant principal who sued the district over his termination after he objected to a theater performance of ‘The Laramie Project.’ Corey McNellis, previously the assistant principal and athletic director for Ponderosa High School, sued DCSD in July, alleging he was fired for expressing Christian beliefs. A response from DCSD filed in U.S. District Court on Aug. 30 argues the district did not discriminate against McNellis because he made the statements as a district employee. McNellis was fired in October 2020 after an investigation into emails he sent regarding the high school production of “The SEE LAWSUIT, P11
Check out
HEALTH FALL 2022
Guide
In this week’s paper!
SEE RELIEF, P10
Special CD Rate
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*Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and interest rate of Certificate of Deposit (CD) may change after account opening. Fees could reduce earnings on the CD. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. *The CD is automatically renewed into a Standard 6 month CD with current rate at renewal. *The Annual Percentage Yield is current as of August 8, 2022.
Annual Percentage Yield (APY) and interest rate for Certificate of Deposit (CD) may change after account opening. Fees could reduce earnings on the CD. A penalty may be imposed for early withdrawal. *To open the CD, $1,000 minimum opening deposit is required. The CD is automatically renewed into a Standard 12 month CD with current rate at renewal. **To open the CD, $1,000 minimum opening deposit is required. The CD is automatically renewed into a Standard 24 month CD with current rate at renewal. The Annual Percentage Yield is current as of 11/22/018.
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