Sentinel Colorado 7.30.2026

Philip Morris International opens $1.2 billion Aurora Zyn nicotine pouch factory as critics warnings of health risks

PMI U.S. INVESTED IN COLORADO BUILT IN AURORA

Less than two years ago, this was an empty lot.

Today, it’s state-of-the-art complex producing ZYN, one of the modern nicotine products helping millions of American legal-age adults leave cigarettes behind.

$1.2B

In a new Aurora manufacturing facility, projected to generate more than $5B in total economic impact over 10 years

500

The PMI U.S. Aurora campus is creating a range of high-quality career opportunities across engineering, production, technical, quality control, and support functions.

Through our investment here, we’re helping drive real impact for Aurora.

Because being invested in America means being invested in Aurora.

Direct full-time jobs in Aurora, supporting over 1,500 jobs annually

#1

Smoke-free brand in the U.S., ZYN, produced at the new Aurora facility*

Colorado’s own Odd Is He competition heats up for the last few conservative voters

So,if you’re down in the dumps because you live in a country where one of the craziest and corrupt people in the nation runs the country, and a few million people really think that’s cool, you can take a breath.

No, sorry. President Donald Trump isn’t resigning or being forced out by his slightly more sane and cogent cabinet using the 25th Amendment. Yet.

But despite what you think, he’s not the most whack dude in the nation to seek or get an important government job. That moniker falls to the two conservatives trying to win the Colorado governor’s seat this fall.

First, Colorado Republicans chose Victor “Bang Bang” Marx as the GOP standard carrier to run against the Democrats’ choice of Attorney General Phil “Yawn” Weiser.

But this week, in a replay of recent Colorado history, Republican former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez, shed his GOP cloak but not his history and got himself on the ballot to run against Marx and Weiser for Colorado governor.

Of course you know who Greg “Make It Stop” Lopez is. He was kinda recently back in the news, and not for any criminal accusations or charges.

Oh, yes, the former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez who filled in as a GOP congressman for House District 4 while Rep. Lauren Boebert finished her carpetbagger act from the Western Slope to the GOP stronghold of the nation in northeast Colorado.

He’s the same George Lopez who ran unsuccessfully against fellow Republican Heidi Ganahl for the party nod to run for governor in 2022.

During that campaign, Lopez scored points among many mega MAGA Trumpers in places like Texas and Florida by insisting that all Colorado abortions should be illegal, even if they were needed to save the life of the mother.

That might not sound so harsh from a man who rationalizes a 1993 domestic violence episode with his then-pregnant wife.

The Denver Post, the now-defunct Rocky Mountain News, 9News and others repeatedly wrote about the assault, which Lopez admits to but explains away as an episode of young love. He was 29.

He and his wife were arguing when she hit him over the head, according to police reports. He then pushed her down, kicked her and pulled her by the hair, according to the charging report.

He, and his wife, have since said there was no hair pulling. He regularly points out that they both

QUIDNUNC

Quidnunc, whose name comes from the Latin “what now,” is out and about as often as possible to bring you news overheard in elevators, rest rooms and spied in various e-mail boxes.

were ticketed. He was accused of assault. She was accused of harassment.

So sweet. Lopez calls it a live and learn situation.

That’s essentially how he also referred to his DUI charge in 2003.

It’s less clear how Lopez codifies his run-in with federal prosecutors. Lopez was forced out of his appointed high-level SBA role in 2014. In 2020, he settled a Department of Justice civil case against him for $15,000 after being accused of trying to “exert improper influence over a federal agency on behalf of his friend” according to DOJ records.

But wait. Lopez insists that Marx is so nuts and unqualified that he has no choice but to drop his GOP affiliation and run for governor as an independent to save conservatism and Colorado.

If this is ringing a bell, he’s picking up the Congressman Tom Tancredo and his tale of saving conservatism in Colorado by dropping his GOP identity, like he did in 2010 to run for governor as an independent against then the craziest guy in the room, Dan Maes.

Look it up.

So Lopez, who couldn’t talk voters out of supporting Heidi “Grrrrrr” Ganahl for governor, is

QUID HAS HEARD that there’s no present like the time it takes to think up things in Aurora that go grump in the night. Seems that one of the many wonders of the third-largest city in Colorado this week goes to the folks living in the northeast part of town in the Harmony tract-housing development who made it clear with some clamboring at city hall this week that a gas-station-convenience-store-andfast-food-cafe on the corner East Alameda Avenue and South Powhaton Road does not befit the vibe of their prairie-turned-sprawl purlieu. The few city lawmakers this week who didn’t have a conflict of interest in the project voted to scrub the plan, Monday night, making clear that no one in the ‘hood has a need for gas, pop, cof-

fee, milk, coffee or lottery tickets, and that the lot zoned for businesses like the All-In-One gas station and convenience store will be reserved for the next Michelin rated rarebit room or Scandinavian parlor-furniture boutique.

AND QUID HAS HEARD that Colorado doesn’t need better candidates for statewide elections, we just need plague and pestilence. Seems that ballot and bingo types are all hyped up about the super-de-dooper high voter turnout during the June 30 Primary Election. A whopping 36% of voters weighed in on their mail ballots this time, pretty far and above the measly metrics for most years. But Quid wants to point out that primary voter turnout in 2020 was a whopping 45% that year? Why? Party poopers and pundits say it was because it was the height, or low, of the pandemic and there was nothing better to do than vote. We clearly don’t need the Trump SAVE silliness. Just bring back masks and long drinking weekends at home alone.

AND THAT’S ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS SendqualitygossipleadstoQuid@SentinelColorado.com.

convinced he can sway what’s left of the GOP electorate away from Marx.

This is either going to be really funny or really sad or really scary.

In case you forgot already, Marx is the guy who started out his tale of “whoa” with a story about being forced as a 7-year-old to hold a gun against a man’s head and pull the trigger. The moment was the climax of what he said was years of abuse by a step-dad in Louisiana.

“If you ever tell anyone what I’ve done to you, it doesn’t matter how old you get, he said, I’ll tell the police that you killed this man, and I have the pistol with your fingerprint on it. And he said, they’ll electrocute you. And I knew what electrocution was, ‘cause he’d done it a few times. And so, it sealed and instilled in me a fear where I never talked about that ‘til I was an adult.

No evidence of the killing has ever been produced.

There’s no need to look for evidence in the killings of other people he may or may not have wasted since then, which he wanted to talk about a few weeks ago, just not in detail, and now, not at all.

His paying job is that of a “high-risk” missionary that risks his life to save victims of war and trafficking, raising and spending millions to provide about 67,000 stuffed animals to kids in wartorn countries. Not only does he traffic in weird exaggerations about his life, he dabbles in exorcisms, too, he told Next on 9News host Kyle Clark. He said he asks possessed people to let him talk to their demons and then tells them to get out of their victims, which they do and “ban them to perfect judgment from Christ.”

I’m being generous by suggesting that Marx and Lopez will be splitting about 2%-%3 of the vote this Nov. 3.

No doubt, Weiser can plainly see that he won the “can’t fail” election lottery here, as can we all.

So between now and Election Day, we can ask Weiser about who he’s going to appoint to cabinet posts, what kind of chair he likes in the top office under the gold dome, and bills he thinks he will and won’t sign.

And, we can relax just a little, knowing that as bad as Trump is, he’s not Marx or Lopez.

Follow @EditorDavePerry on BlueSky, Threads, Mastodon, Twitter and Facebook or reach him at 303-750-7555 or dperry@SentinelColorado.com

Aurora City Council demands GEO Group cooperation over tuberculosis case

MAYOR

MIKE COFFMAN SAID THE ISSUE WAS NOT ABOUT HOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL ABOUT IMMIGRATION, BUT RATHER ABOUT TACKLING A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

The Aurora City Council this week approved a statement calling on the immigration detention facility run by The GEO Group to cooperate or face consequences with county and state health investigators after a case of tuberculosis was confirmed at the site.

During a July 27 study session, the council agreed to publish a statement sharing concerns about the public health risks and reiterating the ethical and legal requirements of the facility to comply with investigations.

“We demand that the GEO ICE Processing Facility immediately and fully cooperate with public health officials to determine the scope of the active tuberculosis case to make sure that it is contained,” the statement says.

Mayor Mike Coffman said the issue was not about how council members feel about immigration, but rather about tackling a public health crisis. He indicated litigation could happen in the future if the facility continues to ignore public health officials’ requests.

The Adams County Health Department has been investigating a confirmed case of tuberculosis in a detainee at the GEO Group detention center in Aurora since June, but says the detention facility still has not provided all of the information necessary to complete the investigation.

A statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that as of July 15, the Aurora facility did not currently have an active tuberculosis case, but local health officials said that at one point, there was an inmate who had tested positive for tuberculosis.

Hope Schuler, communications director at the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, said the department received “a communication from GEO indicating there were no active cases of TB present in the facility, but it did not detail how they have determined there is no TB present.” She added that as of July 17, the department had not yet been given access to the facility or information it needed.

The Adams County Health Department also said on Friday that it continues to seek information and work with the state health department to investigate the case. The statement says the intent of the investigation is not to assign blame, but prevent disease transmission.

“Our responsibility is simple: to apply Colorado’s public health laws consistently, follow the science, and to protect the health of every person and every community we serve,” Dr. Kelly Weidenbach, executive director of the Adams County Health Department, said in the statement.

The health department previously said it confirmed one case of tuberculosis, adding the GEO facility has not notified the department about other confirmed cases.

The health department issued a Public Health Order on June 25 to require the facility to comply with Colorado laws around tuberculosis investigations after the facility did not voluntarily provide the information needed to investigate the tuberculosis case.

Colorado law requires facilities and healthcare providers to notify local and state public

AROUND AURORA

Aurora council agrees to ask voters whether to shift city elections to even-numbered years

Voters will decide this November whether to move Aurora municipal elections to even-numbered years to align with federal elections, which has been shown to increase voter turnout.

City council approved 6-2 an ordinance sponsored by Councilmember Alli Jackson to put a question on the November ballot to move city council elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. Opposing council members were Stephanie Hancock and Angela Lawson, while council members Françoise Bergan and Curtis Gardner were absent.

Monday’s meeting was the deadline for council to put measures on this year’s ballot.

A majority of the council supported the switch, citing higher voter participation, while noting voters will get the ultimate decision.

Hancock and Mayor Mike Coffman said they opposed aligning the municipal ballot with even-years because they worried about voter fatigue leading people to skip questions on long ballots. They also raised concerns about local nonpartisan races being tainted by national politics and the potential impacts to campaigns, like increasing costs and more competition for fundraising.

“When we have these elections all lumped together like this, I believe that the local elections tend to get lost in the sauce,” Hancock said. “They’ll just start at the top of the ballot and just check all the way down or they’ll just vote for the national candidates or (Congressional candidates) or whoever it is and forget the rest of them. I think it’s great that we have our own elections.”

Jackson and Councilmember Alison Coombs responded that even with some participation drop-off on long ballots, switching to even-years would still ultimately mean more people voting. Coombs pushed back on the voter fatigue argument, saying voters are also fatigued by having elections every year.

election turnout go from 36% in 2019 to 76% in 2024.

In Colorado, Boulder residents approved switching to even-year elections in 2022. Castle Rock and Parker also have municipal elections on even years.

The switch could also impact the cost of elections, which are more expensive in even-numbered years because more people are participating and the ballots are often longer. In 2024, the city paid more than $121,000 to place one measure on the ballot, while it paid almost $72,000 for five ballot measures and five council seats on the 2025 ballot.

About 151,400 votes were cast on a citywide ballot measure in 2024, while in 2025, the five citywide measures received between about 76,400 votes and 78,900 votes.

However, Jackson said looking at the cost of election per voter shows it’s more cost-effective to have elections in even-numbered years, adding that some money would be saved by not having to pay for elections every year.

If voters approve the change, it would go into effect for the 2030 election. To facilitate the transitions, any council members and the mayor elected in 2027 and 2029 would have threeyear terms. Council members and the mayor otherwise serve four-year terms.

None of the sitting council members’ current terms would be impacted, but if they were reelected in 2027 or 2029, they would have a shorter term than usual.

Jackson said she campaigned on aligning elections with even-numbered years and served on a city committee to examine the switch prior to being elected to council, so she feels there is voter support for the measure.

“This even-year election measure is really about making a stronger democracy for our local elections,” she said.

— McKenna Harford, Sentinel Staff

Aurora lawmakers deny permit for controversial gas station complex in Aurora Harmony area

by said. The All In One development had been unanimously approved by the city’s planning and zoning commission and city staff recommended it for approval, determining the development met the criteria of the conditional use permit. Council’s decision Monday reverses that approval.

Mayor Pro Tem Alison Coombs and councilmembers Alli Jackson and Ruben Medina said they opposed the development over the potential adverse impacts to neighbors.

“I don’t see that the particular gas station and liquor store is going to help that community at all,” Medina said.

Coombs acknowledged that the developer had tried to address the com-

›› See METRO, 6

health authorities on a strict timeline and requires the local health departments to investigate every confirmed case. It is illegal to “willfully violate, disobey or disregard” a public health order.

A statement from an ICE spokesperson said that as of July 15, the Aurora facility does not have any confirmed active cases of tuberculosis and has complied with “all federal CDC guidelines and policies on communicable disease, as well as with Colorado law, guidelines, and policies on the same.”

Aurora Congressman Jason Crow said Friday that he believes the GEO facility broke state laws by not cooperating with the investigations.

In a July 15 online report by Crow’s congressional office, which regularly releases details from in-person inspections, GEO and ICE staff in Aurora said there was one individual being monitored for tuberculosis, adding that there was a detainee who tested positive for tuberculosis but that they had been deported. Staff also said they held a medical town hall for detainees in the affected area, who had the option to be tested, and those tests have been completed.

Crow said Friday his office was unable to confirm the deportation, and while the person may no longer be inside the Aurora facility, it’s unclear whether that person has now been removed from the country.

Congressional staff raised concerns about transporting the person on transport with other people, possibly being exposed.

Attorney General Phil Weiser said he agreed

GEO Group had to comply, but he did not say what specific legal action his office might pursue.

“As a private company, GEO Group is required to comply with state health and safety regulations,” Weiser said in a statement. “The reported tuberculosis case at the ICE detention camp in Aurora is a serious public health issue and GEO must work with the State to investigate any potential outbreak or exposure to others. My office stands ready to work with the Governor’s Office and state health officials to bring GEO into compliance with the law.”

Aurora’s city council also recently passed two ordinances that will require the facility to report communicable diseases to the fire department and submit to regular health and safety inspections, which went into effect on July 25. It’s unclear if the ordinances would apply to the current tuberculosis investigation or would only apply to future confirmed cases.

“I think it creates a more stable and reliable campaign season that reduces fatigue for everyone who’s actively involved in the process and that’s one of the reasons why support this question,” Coombs said. “Better turnout is good.”

Lawson said she wasn’t necessarily opposed to switching elections to even years, but opposed putting the question on the ballot this year because the city is also asking voters to approve a sales tax increase. She said she didn’t want those ballot questions to be overshadowed.

Jackson told the Sentinel before Monday’s meeting that she introduced the ordinance with the hope of improving participation in elections and reducing barriers to voting.

“It’s kind of a numbers game and looking at what will help voters be able to engage in the political process in a more fair and effective way,” Jackson said.

Data from Citizens Union, a nonpartisan civic watchdog group based in New York, found that several cities saw huge increases in voter participation for mayoral races after switching to even-year elections. In El Paso, the voter turnout for the mayoral race in 2017 was 8%, while in 2024 it was 35%. San Francisco saw its mayoral

A group of residents in an east Aurora neighborhood successfully lobbied city council to deny the development of a gas station, liquor store and restaurant proposed for East Alameda Avenue and Powhaton Road.

Council denied a conditional use permit for the All In One Harmony development on a 4-3 vote, with council members Stephanie Hancock, Gianina Horton and Angela Lawson voting to approve the permit. Council members Françoise Bergan and Curtis Gardner were absent from the meeting and Councilmember Amy Wiles recused herself from the vote because she signed a petition opposing the development before her election to city council.

Mayor Mike Coffman and City Attorney Pete Schulte also recused themselves from the discussion, with Coffman saying he had previously advised the developers over email and Schulte saying he owns a home in the affected Harmony neighborhood.

Harmony residents have consistently opposed the All In One since its proposal in September 2025 and reiterated their concerns about crime, traffic and environmental impacts to council on Monday. A petition circulated in Harmony and surrounding neighborhoods to oppose the gas station combination has garnered more than 800 signatures, resident Mark Saxel-

munity’s concerns, but she said the impact of the hours of operation and type of uses weren’t being mitigated enough.

Councilmember Hancock said she felt the development met the city’s criteria and worried that denying the permit would risk a lawsuit.

“I worry about the precedent this sets,” she said.

The development was proposed at the intersection of Alameda Avenue and Powhaton Road in a currently undeveloped area which is zoned for mixed-used commercial. The Harmony neighborhood is on the other side of Alameda Avenue.

In response to neighbors’ concerns, developer Manraj Singh made some adjustments to the development. The original proposal included a 24-hour model, which was adjusted to 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the gas station and convenience store; 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. for the liquor store; and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the restaurant.

Singh also outlined a good neighbor agreement, where he would provide a direct contact to neighbors in case concerns popped up, as well as promised to quickly address graffiti and trash. To address safety, Singh said he planned to hire overnight security. The site plan included landscaping to provide a buffer around the property and lighting designed to limit light pollution.

“I do want to maintain a good standard, remove graffiti or anything within 48 hours, do want to address any concerns they may have, which is why I’m providing the contact,” Singh said. Harmony residents were adamant-

ly opposed to having a gas station and liquor store at the location, raising worries about the business bringing crime and it not fitting the character of the neighborhood. They also questioned whether other businesses would be attracted to the area if the gas station moved forward.

“Having a gas station would completely change the character of the surrounding area,” one resident said.

“Harmony is not opposed to commercial development outside of the neighborhood, but this specific establishment we are not OK with. There is no need for a gas station and liquor store outside of the neighborhood.”

Neighbors’ concerns included air quality impacts, increased traffic and opposition to the proposed hours, which did not align with neighborhood quiet hours.

Singh owns three similar gas stations, liquor store and restaurant combos in Denver and Aurora. He said he’s never had a robbery nor a break-in at those locations.

With the council denying the permit, it’s unclear what next steps are for the lot and the developer.

— McKenna Harford, Sentinel Staff

Mayor Mike Coffman appoints himself to Aurora Housing Authority board

Mayor Mike Coffman appointed himself to the board for the Aurora Housing Authority, saying he hopes to ensure the housing authority and city council are working in tandem.

Coffman announced his self-appointment last week in a Facebook

post where he said he’s had concerns about the authority and city working in “separate silos when it comes to affordable housing.”

“My goal will be to be the bridge between the Aurora City Council and the Aurora Housing Authority so that both organizations are working together to expand opportunities to help meet the need for affordable housing that so many of Aurora’s struggling families have,” Coffman wrote.

The housing authority owns and manages apartments and townhomes in Aurora, most of which are income-restricted. The agency also administers federal Section 8 housing vouchers and develops affordable housing using federal, state and local grants.

As mayor, Coffman has the unilateral authority to appoint members to the board for five-year terms.

Coffman will replace the housing authority’s former board chair, Barb Cleland, whose term ended in June.

While Cleland pushed back on the idea that the housing authority and the city haven’t been close partners, Cleland said she hopes Coffman being on the board will bolster the city’s affordable housing efforts.

“I hope that with the mayor on the board that he will be helpful in finding money for the projects,” Cleland said.

She also emphasized that the housing authority follows state and federal regulations, which can sometimes differ from city ordinances.

“I hope that he understands that as a housing authority, we are ruled not by city rules, but by the state of Colorado and (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development),” Cleland said.

The housing authority recently won a lawsuit against the city over changes brought by Coffman and former councilmember Dustin Zvonek to the board appointment process. The change would have required board members to be appointed by a majority of city council and would have limited board members to two three-year terms.

A judge ruled that the city did not have the authority to change the board appointment process, which voided the process changes.

Reflecting on her time on the board, Cleland said she is very proud of the work to bring more affordable housing to the city.

“The city and the housing authority have worked extremely well for years and years,” Cleland said.

In a press release about Coffman joining the board, Aurora Housing Authority Executive Director Steve Blackstock praised Coffman’s history of public service. Prior to becoming mayor, Coffman served in Congress, the state legislature and as state treasurer and secretary of state. Coffman also served in the military.

“Mayor Coffman’s career in public service exemplifies the kind of qualities that AHA looks for in commissioners,”

Blackstock said. “We expect he will be of true service to AHA’s mission and vision.”

One more position on the housing authority’s board is open. Cleland said the position is required to be held by someone who lives in a housing authority property. She hopes to see current board member Martina Spencer reappointed to that position.

— McKenna Harford, Sentinel Staff Writer

Aurora homeless Navigation Campus reports drop in 911 calls; Council considers shelter goals

After a series of setbacks, the Aurora Regional Navigation Campus is working to fix its structural issues and improve the experience for the homeless people staying at the shelter facility.

Over the last three months, the Navigation Campus has seen a drop in 911 calls linked to the center and made progress mitigating mold in some of the housing, which had caused it to temporarily close. To keep an eye on the progress of the campus, city council will soon consider adopting accountability measures and performance expectations.

In a July 21 presentation to a city council committee, Jim Goebelbecker, CEO of Advance Pathways, which operates the campus, said emergency calls declined 24% in the second quarter of the year. From April to June, 435 calls for service were made, compared to 569 calls in the first three months of the year.

During the same time, the Navigation Campus served an average of 234 people each day, with nearly 300 people staying each night.

An hourly breakdown of when calls are made shows that fewer calls are made when the facility’s health clinic partner is on site, Goebelbecker said. He said the campus is working to expand the hours of the clinic services to hopefully alleviate even more calls. In the second quarter, there were ›› See METRO, 7

COPS AND COURTS

621 clinic visits and 385 referrals to other providers.

“It clearly shows the impact that Stride has and, I’ll say more broadly, the impact of having medical services — to be able to provide the basic assessment of needs and satisfy those or refer them accordingly — is fewer people going to the emergency room, which is significant,” Goebelbecker said.

Stride Community Health Center operates daily weekday hours to provide medical services at the Navigation Campus.

The campus has also been working to fix some issues with the building and has completed mold mitigation in its Tier 3 housing, which has been temporarily closed. Now, the rooms are in the process of being rebuilt, according to the July presentation.

The shelter, formerly a 255-room Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference center, uses a tier-system, where Tier 1 housing is an emergency shelter, Tier 2 provides more privacy with personal pod spaces and Tier 3 offers a personal room. Tiers 2 and 3 come with requirements, including engaging with a case manager and having a job.

In addition to the mold mitigation, the campus hired a contractor to replace the roof over Tier 3.

From April to June, Tier 1 housing averaged 232 people per night and Tier 2 housing averaged 64 people per night, according to shelter records. The day center served more than 6,800 people in the second quarter.

Other than housing, the campus also provides services in partnership with community organizations. Goebelbecker said 210 guests are engaged in case management and 42 are enrolled in WorkBridge, which is a skills development program.

In order to keep track of campus operations and determine its success, Councilmember Gianina Horton introduced a plan to establish accountability metrics and performance expectations.

The plan addresses intake, case management and referrals; onsite services; staffing and training requirements; safety and operational protocols; performance evaluation and data reporting; community engagement; and financial accountability and reporting.

The campus would give an initial comprehensive six-month report and then report its data to the city quarterly.

“This resolution, in my perspective, really aims to tighten up some of the metrics so that as city leadership, we understand what’s being met, what’s not being met, where we’re at, where we’re going and to be able to face the public and say this is well spent taxpayer dollars on this new and innovative effort that the city is doing,” Horton said at the June housing committee meeting, where she introduced the plan.

Horton said she worked with Goebelbecker and city staff to create the plan. City staff said it’s already compiling most of the requested information, but the reports would present it all in one place.

The accountability plan is slated for discussion during a July 27 city council study session.

— McKenna Harford, Sentinel Staff

Aurora anti-violence advocate gets 51 years for in prison for water park ‘revenge’ shooting

A former mixed martial arts fighter and self-described Aurora anti-violence advocate was sentenced Friday to 51 years in prison for the 2024 fatal shooting of a man outside a Commerce City water park in front of numerous witnesses, including the victim’s young son.

Lumumba Sayers, 47, was sentenced by Adams County District Judge Jeffrey Ruff after a jury convicted him in April of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence and attempted tampering with physical evidence, court officials said in a statement.

Prosecutors said Sayers shot 28-year-old Malcolm Watson Aug. 10, 2024, in the parking lot of Paradice Island Water Park after attending a peace rally in Denver. Sayers targeted Watson because he believed Watson was connected to the 2023 shooting death of Sayers’ son in Denver, according to 17th District Attorney spokesperson Chris Hopper.

Sayers was wearing a shirt depicting his slain son when he approached Watson and opened fire. Watson was struck multiple times, including once in the head, police said.

The shooting occurred during the fifth birthday celebration of Watson’s son. Watson was dressed in a “Sonic the Hedgehog” costume at the time.

District Attorney Brian Mason called the killing “an unconscionable and brutal act of violence.”

“Justice is carried out in courtrooms, not in parking lots in front of children by someone seeking revenge,” Mason said in a statement.

Sayers is a former mixed martial arts fighter and self-proclaimed anti-violence advocate who founded the Heavy Hands, Heavy Hearts anti-youth-violence organization in Aurora.

The organization’s website says the group is “dedicated to making the streets safer for everyone by instilling youth and young adults with the confidence to resist the temptation of gang and gun violence.”

Commerce City police investigators said it appears Sayers used a ghost gun in the shooting and gave the weapon to a family member afterward.

The gun used in the shooting was never found.

Investigators said cell phone video recorded by a witness showed Sayers rubbing a different gun on Watson’s hands before placing it on the ground a short distance from the victim’s body.

During the two-week trial, Sayers testified that an unidentified person shot Watson and fled the scene. He also claimed he was attempting to retrieve a $15,000 gold necklace that had fallen near Watson’s body. Prosecutors said no evidence supported either claim.

After reviewing video, forensic evidence and witness testimony, the jury convicted Sayers on April 27.

Judge Ruff sentenced Sayers to 48 years for second-degree murder, followed by consecutive sentences of 1½ years each for tampering with physical evidence and attempted tampering with physical evidence, for a total of 51 years in state prison.

— Sentinel Staff

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Back-to-school events provide free supplies and services to students in Aurora, across metro area

The first day of school is almost here. If you need help finding free backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, clothing, and more, here’s where to get it in the metro area.

Saturday, Aug. 1

Aurora Public Schools Back to School Kickoff

10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Town Center at Aurora, 14200 E. Alameda Ave., Aurora

This event is for Aurora Public Schools families only. Students can receive free backpacks and school supplies, as well as low- or no-cost vaccinations.

Packz 4 Kidz Denver

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver

Kenzi’s Causes will give away free backpacks filled with supplies on a first-come, first-served basis. Children are encouraged to attend to choose their own backpack.

Backpack Giveaway

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sloan’s Lake Park, West 26th Avenue and Tennyson Street, Denver

The Silva Family Foundation and other community organizations will give away one free backpack to each child. Children must be present to receive a backpack.

Backpack Giveaway

Saturday, Aug. 1, but families must register by July 30

Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada

Climb Credit Union will give away backpacks and school supplies to students who register.

Back to School Community Day

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Skyland Park, 3300 Ivanhoe St., Denver

This event, sponsored by the Park Hill Financial District, will provide students with free backpacks, school supplies, food, and entertainment.

Sunday, August 2

Back to School Heart-Reach 2 to 5 p.m.

Centennial Center Park, 13050 E. Peakview Ave., Centennial Registration is required to attend this event, which will feature free backpacks, school supplies, entertainment, and an In-N-Out Burger cookout.

Saturday, August 8 Denver

Preps

The last time Cherokee Trail linemen won the Hog Wars title, it turned out to be a fantastic omen for their season.

That was in 2013, when the Cougars captured the crown of the annual strength and teamwork competition hosted by Rangeview and then went on to make it all the way to the semifinals of the Class 5A state playoffs before a loss to Christian McCaffrey and Valor Christian.

Whether that kind of scenario could happen again is yet to be seen, but regardless of the outcome of the upcoming season, Cherokee Trail has bragging rights among Aurora area lineman as newly-crowned Hog Wars champions.

Ayers brought to an end a series of close calls for Cherokee Trail in recent years, including a loss on a tiebreaking final event to Pomona last season. This time, the Cougars left nothing to chance. They crushed the competition in the bench press with 103 reps — 25 more than the second place team — in the most commanding of their four event victories.

“Bench press is my favorite,” Naser said. “It’s a grind, but you just get to rack it and keep going.

I was able to get 35 reps, which was big.” Cherokee Trail also won the monster truck tire flip relay, the weighted sled push, timed obstacle course and 4×100 meter relay, which has to be completed with an oversized pizza box in place of a baton.

Cougars flex

“A couple of years we’ve come in second because of some tiebreakers, so to take the helm this time is fantastic,” Cherokee Trail assistant coach

Enrique Estrada said.

“It’s definitely a big confidence builder and the guys get excited to compete,” he added. “The skill position players have their 7-on-7s all summer, but this is our opportunity to show out and and show what we’ve been working for all summer.”

With a total of 39 points, the Cougars staved off a determined effort by host Rangeview — which sought its first title in the event since 2018 and 12th all-time since it originated the contest in 2005 — and prevailed after results were tabulated from a series of events contested in brutal summer heat.

The

Gillespie, Ethan Eshetu and Ryan

“Even though it was the hardest, my favorite thing was the sleds,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like I pushed myself the most and did the most for my team there.”

Across the board, the Cougars who competed believed the benefits of the victory will be felt once practice for the season officially begins Aug. 3. Cherokee Trail is determined to put last season’s disappointing end behind it as it lost to Fountain-Fort Carson 14-7 in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs to finish the season 4-7.

“I think it was a great way for us to boost our confidence going into the season and also take a look at some of our competition as well,” Rodriguez said.

Added Naser: “Every day this summer has been a grind. We shouldn’t lost the way we did in the playoffs last year, so we’ve been working

We’ve got a brand new group of guys and it looks like it’s going to be a great year for us.”

HALL OF FAME

Eaglecrest chooses next class of its Hall of Fame

The next class of inductees into the Eaglecrest High School Athletics & Activities Hall of Fame has been selected. Blend Avdili, Barrett Miller, Adam Odekirk and Rachel Sabourin will be the honorees at a ceremony on Nov. 19 at Heritage Eagle Bend as the 12th class. Those eligible for the Athletic and Activities Hall of Fame must be graduated from Eaglecrest for at least five years and be nominated by a member of the community. Honorees are selected by a committee of school administrators, members of the community and local media.

Miller (Class of 2019) is one of just two Eaglecrest players to win the prestigious Gold Helmet award, given out by The Denver Post since 1951 to recognize the state’s top football player, scholar and citizen, as he joined Xavier Lewis (2012) when he was honored in 2018 before he headed off to Stanford. Miller starred on the offensive line for the Raptors, which was one of the key reasons they advanced to the Class 5A state championship game in 2017 before they fell to Pomona 52-49 in what remains the highest-scoring large school championship game in Colorado history. A four-year starter and two-time AllState first team performer in football, Miller also placed fourth in the shot put at the 2019 state track meet.

For more on these stories, visit sentinelcolorado. com/preps

Avdili (Class of 2015) started for

Cherokee Trail won the championship, but walked away empty-handed in terms of hardware as Eaglecrest — the event champion in 2024 and the previous two seasons before that as well — has not returned the traveling trophy despite repeated requests from Rangeview head coach Chris Lopez.

Last season’s winner, Pomona, also did not get the trophy.

The Raiders had designs on reasserting themselves atop a competition they have largely owned over the course of its history.

The group of seniors Biram Griffey, Brayden Goddard, Callen Evans, Jaiden Deans and Avoryon Brown — with seniors Bobby Balsach and Sebastian Hernandez as alternates — ended the competition with its lone event victory in the tugo-war, but was second in the bench press, monster truck tire flip and timed obstacle course.

Lopez’s team graduated a significant number of skill positions players, so the trench group will likely be a key as it looks to improve on last season’s 5-5 mark. Rangeview hasn’t qualified for the postseason since the 2021 season played in the spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Rangeview’s rival — Vista PEAK Prep — grabbed third place with a total of 27 points. The Bison claimed

Eaglecrest’s boys basketball and soccer squads for three seasons. He was a member of the Eaglecrest boys basketball team that won the 2012-13 Class 5A state championship, he was twice a member of the Aurora Sentinel’s All-Aurora Boys Basketball Team and made CHSAA’s All-State second team as a senior before he went to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and eventually a pro career in Kosovo. His combination of size at 6 feet, 5 inches, plus ability to go get the ball made him a valuable goalkeeper and he backstopped a 12-win Eaglecrest team that made the 5A quarterfinals in 2012.

Sabourin (Class of 2019) combined with a previously inducted Eaglecrest Hall of Famer — Kailey Wilson — to form a devastating power combination for a softball team that went 22-2 and lost in the semifinals of the 2017 5A state tournament. Sabourin started four seasons and appeared in 90 games, which helped her establish program career records in home runs (31), hits (135), runs scored (127) and RBI (122), while she twice earned 5A All-State first team accolades. Sabourin went on to play five years at the University of Hawaii. Odekirk (Class of 2002) was a key part of the performing arts fabric in Eaglecrest in the late 1990s and early 2002s as a regular participant in concerts, musicals, plays and more. While

he also played on the Eaglecrest football team, Odekirk excelled in the performing arts and was on the All-State choir, while he had leading roles in school productions of MyFairLadyand Footlooseand performed many choir solos. Odekirk has returned to acting as an adult at the Candelight Playhouse and he works in Aurora Public Schools as a career and technical education liason.

BASEBALL

Ex-Grandview ace Ethan Wachsmann signs deal Former Grandview High School ace pitcher Ethan Wachsmann signed with the Minnesota Twins July 22 and launched a professional career a short time after he was selected in the Ma-

After years of planning, UN Heritage for Korean War Memorial unveiled in Aurora

“WELCOME TO YOUR MEMORY.” — PETER SEUNG WOO LEE

Few cities around the world could create and celebrate a Korean War memori -

al reflecting the nuance of the conflict that in so many ways matches the character of the U.S city home to the site.

Aurora did.

That was one of the key messages repeated Monday when nearly 200 elected and government officials, veterans and community members with links to nations all over the planet met at the former Fitzsimons campus to unveil The UN Heritage for Korean War Memorial at General’s Park.

“It really is a reflection of what Aurora is and how Aurora cares,” said former Army Air Force medic Bernie Rogoff, 95, a veteran of the Korean War and beyond.

The memorial project, more than 10 years in the making, was dedicated and open to the public at 9:20 a.m., 73 years to the minute of when an armistice pact was signed, bringing an unofficial and precarious end to the three-year Korean War.

The war fueled the growing Cold War at the end of the 1940s, drawing 22 nations into the battle between budding communism in North Korea and democracy in South Korea. Those nations that answered the international call included India, the Philippines, Turkey, Colombia, Ethiopia and Thailand, beyond South Korea and the United States.

The North Koreans, who invaded South Korea June 5, 1950, were backed by China and the Soviet Union.

More than 178,000 military personnel from around the globe were killed in the conflict, another 566,000 were injured during the war. As many as 3 million civilians were killed, historians estimate.

More than seven decades after the conflict began, its scars and impact remain visible in North and South Korea and across the globe, the Associated Press pointed out during international coverage of the anniversary. The scarred include those whose lives of separated families and survivors continue to carry memories of loss and longing.

Although the fighting first ended with the armistice agreement, the traces the war left behind serve as enduring reminders of the past, ensuring that history is not only remembered but passed onto future generations, Korean officials said this week.

The flags of the contributing nations at stone monuments along the sprawling Aurora memorial mirror people from the nations that have immigrated to Aurora and now call it home. Aurora has long been home to one of the largest municipal populations of Korean-Americans and immigrants in nation. The city currently has the sixth-largest Korean community among American cities, according to

While the Korean War was tied to the growing, global political war between communism and democracy, the conflict has long been regarded as an epic in global community camaraderie among hugely disparate cultures, countries and communities, much like Aurora.

In the shadow of World War II, the war touched lives across Aurora, and the nation, for years during and after the conflict ended.

The memorial, and the war, have a “personal” link for Mayor Mike Coffman, he said during the dedication ceremony.

His father was a Korean War veteran, an infantry soldier, Coffman said. So many fellow soldiers in his unit were killed or injured during his father’s tour of duty that he worked his way up to master sergeant in record time as his fellow soldiers were felled.

“In the span of one year he was promoted four times,” Coffman said.

Peter Seung Woo Lee, board chairman of the United Nations Heritage for Korean War, also pointed out how the war was a turning point in international cooperation, and a reflection of the importance of such recognition today.

Consul General of the Republic of Korea Lim Jung-taek said the memorial was much more than stone and metal. It is a place of remembrance that honors the sacrifice of Korean War veterans. And it is a lasting legacy preserving the history of freedom and peace safeguarded together by Korea, the United States and all the nations that participated under the United Nations banner.“

A variety of supporters credited the vision of former Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan, years ago, for the project. Hogan, who died in 2018, pressed for such a memorial for years before his death.

But the memorial would never have been completed, and established in such a world-class fashion, had it not been for the persistence of Hogan’s wife, Becky Hogan, according to other memorial principles, including former Aurora Chamber President Kevin Hougen and former Councilmember Nicole Johnston.

“She’s the reason we’re here today,” Hougen said. Hogan, who was adopted as a Korean by an American family, said the mission and purpose of the memorial inspired and drove the project.

“I just knew we had to get it done,”she said.

The memorial sits on a large parklike space in what’s called General’s Park on the southeast corner of the Anschutz Medical campus at Peoria Street. The area was carved out by the city years ago as the former Army

scene & herd

“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” at Vintage Theatre

Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig weaves a heartwarming romantic comedy inspired by his parents’ real-life WWII courtship. The play tells the story of Jack, a U.S. Army doctor stationed in Oregon, and Louise, an aspiring performer living in New York City. As they exchange letters back and forth across the country, their pen-pal relationship deepens into love despite the uncertainty, distance, and historical chaos surrounding them. Filled with Ludwig’s signature wit, warmth, and nostalgic charm, the production offers a moving look at resilience and connection.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through Aug 30

Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.

Tickets: $20–$36

Information: vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830

“Midsummer Night’s Dream for Youth” Showcase at Aurora Fox Arts Center

Young performers take center stage as part of the Foxlight Theatre Lab series. Youth actors present their culmination showcase of Shakespeare’s classic whimsical comedy, featuring enchanted forests, mischievous fairies, and tangled love affairs. Under professional direction, the cast brings fresh energy to classic dialogue, showcasing local youth talent in standard theater craft, physical comedy, and ensemble storytelling.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Through July 31

Place: Aurora Fox Arts Center, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.

Tickets: Included with program enrollment / Free public showcase registration

Information: aurorafoxartscenter.org or 303-739-6591

“Howard Jones: Things Can Only Get Better Tour” at Fiddler’s Green 80s synth-pop icon Howard Jones headlines an evening of classic electronic music and new wave performance art. Joined by special guest acts Wang Chung, The English Beat, Modern English, and DJ Richard Blade, the concert blends live theatrical visuals with chart-topping synth hits.

IF YOU GO:

Date: July 30 Gates open 6:30 p.m.

Place: Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre, 6350 S. Fiddlers Green Circle, Tickets: $39.50–$125.00

Information: fiddlersgreenamp. com or 303-220-7000

“The Scarlet Pimpernel: An Old Time Radio Production” at ACAD / The People’s Building Experience live audio drama staged in classic mid-century broadcast style. This production brings Sir Percy Blakeney’s daring rescues during the French Revolution to life through live sound effects, vintage voice acting, and period radio atmosphere in the heart of the Aurora Cultural Arts District.

IF YOU GO:

Date: July 31 through Aug. 6; July 31 at 7:30 p.m., Aug. 1 at 9:00 p.m., Aug. 2 at 2:30 p.m., Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Place: The People’s Building, 9995 E. Colfax Ave.

Tickets: $20-28

Details: /www.thepeoplesbuilding.co

David W. Kincannon II: “Typed Out – Parts We Play” at Vintage Theatre

Vocalist and performer David W. Kincannon II takes the stage for a onenight-only musical event exploring identity, classic theater selections, and personal storytelling. The cabaret-style production offers an intimate musical journey inside the Bond-Trimble Theatre space.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.

Tickets: $24

Details:[vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830

“The 10½ Commandments” by One Night Stand Theater at Vintage Theatre

One Night Stand Theater presents a fast-paced evening of theatrical readings featuring short plays inspired by modern ethics, human vices, and everyday virtues. Local playwrights and actors collaborate to present diverse perspectives on moral dilemmas and contemporary life.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.

Tickets: $12

Details: vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830

Excision Live at Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

Electronic music producer Excision delivers a high-decibel audiovisual spectacle featuring massive visual production, lasers, and bass heavy-hitters. The two-night amphitheater engagement showcases cutting-edge stage engineering and electronic soundscapes.

IF YOU GO:

Date: July 31 and Aug. 1 at 5 p.m.

Place: Fiddler’s Green 6350 S. Fiddler’s Green Circle

Tickets: $55–$135 at www.axs.com

performing arts venue. Featuring signature ballads like “Amazed” and “I’m Already There,” the concert highlights three decades of country storytelling and harmony.

IF YOU GO:

Date: July 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Place: PACE Center20000

Pikes Peak Ave.

Tickets: $49–$64

Details: parkerarts.org or 303-805-6800

“Beetlejuice JR.” Youth Musical at PACE Center

Parker Arts Presents a youthful stage adaptation of the Broadway musical based on Tim Burton’s classic film. The story follows eccentric teenager Lydia Deetz as she attempts to navigate a new home inhabited by deceased former owners and a mischievous demon named Beetlejuice.

IF YOU GO:

Date: July 24 through Aug. 1; July 30, July 31, and Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Place: PACE Center20000

Pikes Peak Ave.

Tickets: $18–$24

Details: parkerarts.org or 303-805-6800

“Mozart Under Moonlight” with the Colorado Symphony at Arvada Center

The Colorado Symphony presents an outdoor evening of symphonic masterworks dedicated to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Conducted under the open night sky, the concert features famous overtures, concertos, and symphonic movements.

IF YOU GO: July 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Place: Arvada Center Outdoor Amphitheater 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.

Tickets: $25–$50

Details: arvadacenter.org or 720-898-7200

”Shadows & Secrets” at Vintage Theatre

Insight Colab Theatre presents

*”Shadows & Secrets,” a staged multimedia mystery by playwright Nancy Wang that blends live theater with the style of a classic radio drama. Inspired by the real-life death of Wang’s grandfather, Chicago restaurateur Chin F. Foin, the play revisits a decades-old cold case set during the Prohibition era. As a live studio audience watches the fictional Mystery Radio Playhouse investigate whether Foin’s fatal fall down an elevator shaft was an accident—or murder—the story unfolds through suspense, historical intrigue and family memories. Set against the backdrop of 1920s Chicago, the production explores tong wars, corruption, greed and the search for long-buried truth. The 75-minute performance is recommended for mature audiences and is presented without an intermission.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Aug. 28-Aug. 30; performances Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m.

Place: Vintage Theatre, 1468 Dayton St.

Tickets: $25-$35; student discounts available.

Information: insightcolab.org or 303-437-8917

“Live Music at The Local Drive’ at Stanley Marketplace

This ongoing live music series transforms the Stanley Marketplace hangar into a vibrant performance space featuring local and regional musicians. The programming spans genres—from indie and folk to jazz and rock—creating an eclectic soundtrack for Aurora’s creative community.

IF YOU GO:

Date: Fridays and Saturdays after 5 p.m.

Place: Stanley Marketplace, 2501 Dallas St. Tickets: Free admission

Details: fiddlersgreenamp.com or 303-220-7000

Lonestar at PACE Center Award-winning country band Lonestar brings their repertoire of chart-topping hits to Parker’s premier

base was decommissioned and converted to a sprawling medical, hospital and research campus. The total cost of the memorial was $950,816, according to memorial details. Adams County Open Space provided a grant for $625,050 and the UN Heritage for Korean War provided $315,766 toward the memorial’s construction. About 150 people made individual donations.

The memorial board and committee are now seeking additional donations to cover annual maintenance costs, estimated at about $50,000 a year. Donation details are available by emailing to: honorkwvets@gmail. com.

Adjacent to a pond and fountain, the circular monument includes a variety of features intertwined on a garden path, offering interpretive features pointing out the potential power of international cooperation and highlighting some of the leaders and service members who made the quest for South Korean freedom possible.

“Freedom is not free,” Lee said during the dedication. “Welcome to your memory.”

Philip Morris launches $1.2 billion Aurora Zyn nicotine factory as critics warn of teen health risks

‘WHEN WE GO IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND WORK TOGETHER, WE CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IN RECORD TIME’ — JARED POLIS

A$1.2 billion factory for Zyn nicotine products opened Monday in Aurora to loud cheers by government officials from both the city and the state.

The news drew jeers, however, from local health and teen advocates.

The flavored nicotine pouches are a product of Philip Morris International, an international powerhouse in the tobacco industry. They are separate from Altria-Philip Morris USA which sells Marlboro and Parliament brand cigarettes inside the United States. According to an annual report from the company in 2024, PMI sold nearly 617 million cigarettes that year, all outside the U.S. in 180 countries, along with around 1 billion cans of oral tobacco products, like Zyn. The leading cigarette brand sold by PMI was Marlboro, according to company reports.

Until recently, the Zyn pouches were made in Kentucky and Sweden. They are banned for sale in the United Kingdom and much of the European Union, and in Denver. In France, possession is also illegal. PMI officials said that some variants of Zyn are available for sale in Denver. Denver voters upheld a ban on flavored

nicotine and tobacco products two years ago.

PMI touted its new manufacturing facility in northeast Aurora, stating in a press release that its operation has planned $1.2 billion in investment for the project between 2024 and 2028. According to PMI, that includes land acquisition, facility construction, advanced manufacturing equipment, infrastructure development, and “future production capabilities.”

The company projected that its new factory will create 500 permanent positions for engineers, production staff, and other roles in product manufacturing. Alongside the permanent jobs, PMI said the project’s construction generated around 5,000 construction jobs and that “1,000 indirect jobs [are] expected to be supported by facility operations.”

PMI calls the facility a “manufacturing campus.” It sits on 780,000 square feet of prairie, south of DIA.

Brian Erkkila, the head of scientific engagement for PMI, said that he was excited to put out a product that, in his view, would be a step toward harm reduction and getting people off of cigarettes, which the company sells in other countries. In a recent annual report, PMI officials make clear the company is working to

expand its “smokeless” offerings. “Zyn nicotine pouches are small pouches and, in that pouch. They are tobacco leaf-free, spit-free, but they deliver nicotine,” Erkkila explained.

Available in 3 mg or 6 mg pouches, Zyn comes in a variety of flavors, many of them fruity and the most popular being flavored with mint. The flavors draw controversy to the products linked to accusations that the product is marketed to teens. Purchasers must be 21 in Colorado,and Zyn officials say they specifically work to keep their products out of the hands of those too young to purchase them.

Consumers dissolve the pouch between their upper lips and gums to absorb the nicotine. The effects last anywhere from 30 minutes to about an hour, according to Zyn details.

Erkkila said that the product has been on American markets for about 12 years now. According to representatives of PMI, Aurora was where the first container of Zyn pouches were sold in the United States.

Addressing health concerns linked to the product, Erkkila said that Zyn pouches were recently classified as a “modified risk tobacco product” by the Food and Drug Adminis-

to happen. But in Colorado, when we go in the right direction and work together, we can make things happen in record time.”

Polis said that this new facility was a “powerful message to the business community and capital across the country that Colorado is the best place to invest in new business.”

“I also deeply appreciate PMI’s deep philanthropic investment in our community,” Polis said. “For the next eight years, there will be $250,000 a year [from PMI] supporting transitional housing in Aurora and Adams County which is so needed for people to move into stable homes and stay connected to their community.”

Polis ended by saying that the project proves that Aurora is a “new gateway to markets around the world” and proves that “Colorado is ready to compete in the global economy with partners in advanced manufacturing.”

billed as a model to reduce addiction, but that the ultimate results of these products is less cut and dry.

John Bailey, a longtime metro area sports coach and youth health advocate, said he was disappointed at city officials welcoming ZYN into Aurora. Bailey and numerous health advocates and activists point to research showing that children of color, especially Black teens and advocates, are more likely to become addicted to nicotine, and that for years, the tobacco industry specifically targeted those communities.

“You look at the pushback against the vape pens and nicotine packets across the country and Aurora seems like it’s taking a step back,” John Bailey said. “For the mayor or anyone else to be celebrating this new facility is a slap in the face to the Black community and youth of color across this city.”

tration, which is a designation that indicates that the product could “reduce harm and the risk of tobacco-related disease to individual tobacco users.”

In short, the suggestion is that cigarette smokers can use Zyn pouches to wean themselves off smoking tobacco, similar to nicotine patches and other nicotine substances.

Still, Zyn and similar tobacco-less nicotine products have come under fire for being tempting to youth or directly marketed to them. PMI officials emphasized their attempts to curb the use of their products by teens and other youth. Even as overall tobacco use has gone down, the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Study that the company cited said that nicotine pouches were the one nicotine product that saw a small increase among young users since the FDA started monitoring it in 2021. The report states that pouch use has increased from 0.7% to 1.7% as of 2025. While the rise is relatively small, critics of the industry say it’s the only nicotine product that did not fall among youth users.

What are elected officials saying?

Aurora City Councilmember Amy Wiles said that, although most of the work PMI had done on this was prior to her election, she was optimistic that the company would be a “great partner with our city.”

“They’re looking at ways that they can support small businesses,” Wiles said. “They’re

Youth advocates and medical community raise concerns over adolescent nicotine use

Pediatricians and medical professionals who work with young people are concerned that PMI’s marketing of Zyn runs the risk of creating more adults who are addicted to nicotine, according to Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher is a professor of pediatrics and population health at Stanford University who specifically focuses on the impact of nicotine on adolescents.

“Many people believe — I certainly do — that nicotine is nicotine. No matter what form it comes in, so whether you’re talking about nicotine in the form of a nicotine pouch, a cigarette, an e-cigarette, hookah, or anything, nicotine is a problem and is bad for the developing brain,” Halpern-Felsher said.

Earlier in the year, the Aurora City Council placed some licensing restrictions on nicotine products, but stopped short of banning the sale of flavored nicotine products that some believe are marketed to children, such as in Denver.

In 2024, Dr. Stacy Parra, a local pediatrician, penned an op-ed for the Sentinel voicing her opposition to the new factory, stating that she had seen “firsthand the devastating impact nicotine addiction can have on young lives.”

Parra warned that pediatric professionals and parents have to be more vigilant as the tobacco and nicotine product industry continues to “target young people”.

According to the National Lung Association, nicotine pouches have yet to receive FDA-approval as a quit medication and that the current research suggests that the pouches run the risk of introducing younger consumers to nicotine.

doing a great job of hiring locally, and they’re being really responsible in the way that they’re approaching their building, their hiring, and the industry overall.”

Wiles added that in the talks she has been privy to at the municipal level, PMI has expressed interest in sponsoring community programs, although the details haven’t been completed.

Councilmember Allison Coombs said that she hoped that the facility would create good, high-paying jobs for people in Aurora.

PMI “and their ZYN product, which they have submitted an application to be approved as a smoking cessation product, but is currently on the market as a general product,

is the result of a partnership between the city, Adams County, and the State of Colorado, to bring this factory here,” Coombs said, adding that the company has committed into wide overall investments into the city.

Stacey Kennedy, the U.S. CEO for PMI, thanked both Gov. Jared Polis and Mayor Mike Coffman for working with the company to bring the facility to Aurora.

“This is truly a transformative day for the City of Aurora,” Coffman said.

“This facility is a $1 million investment in this campus. The 500 direct jobs being created and the broader impact on the greater metro economy is a reflection of a belief in the city and support for the state, and the promise of a strong economic future

for our residents.”

Coffman lauded PMI’s efforts to support community institutions, namely the monetary support the company has provided to Aurora Water Cares, the Community College of Aurora, and a variety of veterans’ affairs programs.

Polis remarked on how fast the campus was planned and then created.

“19 months between groundbreaking to completion, I think that’s one of the many reasons that PMI chose Colorado,” Polis said. “They knew we had a can-do attitude. There are states where they would have been bogged down in permitting for years — local land use, state air permits, all the various things that have

“My big concern with nicotine pouches is that teenagers are starting or on-ramping to nicotine through pouches because of their popularity, their flavors, the buzz that they give,” Halpern-Felsher. “We’re going to see them becoming addicted to nicotine through these pouches and either continue to use pouches or some other tobacco/nicotine product as adults.”

According to Halpern-Felsher, there is currently not a body of evidence to suggest that nicotine pouches will help adults transition off cigarettes or other tobacco products.

Halpern-Felsher said that, according to her own research, she has seen an uptick in youth who say they have used tobacco and nicotine products. One study that Halpern-Felsher recently conducted found that there was a three-fold increase between 2023 to 2025 among high school age survey respondents who said they had used the product in the past 30 days.

Halpern-Felsher pointed to recent history with e-Cigarettes as an example of a similar proposal that was

The Lung Association found that only 35% of adults who used nicotine pouches had previously smoked cigarettes and of those, only 10% were able to successfully stop smoking and switch to pouches completing. On nicotine pouches specifically, the association said: “This is not quitting, this is merely switching to another tobacco/nicotine product sold by the tobacco industry to sustain lifelong customers.”

Additionally, the NLA noted that the biggest names in the nicotine pouch market have specifically targeted social media to advertise their product. A niche phenomenon that the association refers to as “Zynfluencers” promotes these products to increasingly larger audiences on TikTok and Instagram.

Zyn officials said they do not pay for social media influencers nor heed their broadcasts.

Halpern-Felsher has worked to create resources to combat addictions to oral nicotine and other smokeless tobacco products which have been adopted by school systems across the country.

The time to get answers about the Aurora GEO ICE jail TB infection is now

The Aurora City Council is right to tab the tuberculosis case at the GEO ICE detention facility as a public health crisis and not part of the local and national immigration debate.

Details reported by The Sentinel last week are alarming enough to warrant immediate attention, even at a time of endless national distractions and chaos.

Adams County health officials have been investigating a confirmed case of tuberculosis at the detention center since June. The GEO facility has not provided the information investigators say they need to ensure inmates, employees and the public are safe.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment reports that weeks after it first learned of the crisis, it still has not been granted access to the facility nor the data necessary to determine whether the disease has been contained.

Aurora Congressperson Jason Crow’s office says staffers can’t confirm ICE reports that the detainee who tested positive was actually deported, as Trump officials have claimed, nor whether that person remains in the United States.

That should alarm and outrage every resident of Aurora.

Tuberculosis is not a disease that can be managed with public relations statements and bureaucratic evasions. It requires rigorous contact tracing, transparent reporting, medical documentation and coordination with public health authorities. Yet the GEO facility’s response, backed by ICE, has been marked by contradictions, delays and an unnerving lack of verifiable information.

This is precisely why the Trump administration’s already dismal record on disease control and public health protocols matters. From repeated attacks on scientific expertise to the politicization of federal health agencies and the erosion of public trust, this administration has demonstrated that it is ill-equipped to make credible medical and public health judgments.

That lack of competence is especially concerning within Homeland Security and ICE, agencies whose primary mission is enforcement, not epidemiology.

Because the Trump administration has squandered its credibility through secrecy and hostility toward independent oversight, it is essential that the Adams County Health Department and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment be given immediate access to the facility, its medical records, testing data and transportation records.

The public deserves a detailed accounting from professionals whose obligation is to follow the science, not protect a federal contractor.

Most important right now, where is the infected detainee?

The administration says there is no active case in the Aurora facility. That is not the same thing as proving the person was safely treated, properly isolated or removed without exposing others. Crow’s office could not verify the deportation. Local officials do not know whether the individual remains in the country. We do not know whether other detainees, employees, transport personnel or community contacts were exposed. We do not know whether potentially infected individuals are still in Aurora.

In a tuberculosis investigation, those aren’t minor gaps. That is the investigation.

Residents of Aurora have a right to know whether inmates or employees of the GEO ICE detention center may have been infected and whether anyone connected to the facility could be transmitting disease outside its walls.

At this point, just talking about concern isn’t enough. Attorney General Phil Weiser, members of Congress, the governor’s office, state health officials and the Adams County Health Department should immediately coordinate a unified legal response. If GEO and ICE continue to withhold information or deny access, they should face prompt court action compelling full compliance with Colorado public health law.

Now. Every day without complete transparency is another day in which contact tracing may become more difficult, exposure chains may widen and public trust may deteriorate further.

Aurora is not asking for special treatment. It is asking for the minimum that any community is owed during a potential infectious disease emergency.

Now.

Witness at Sand Creek: Silas Soule letters recount a massacre

ear Ned,” Silas Soule began his letter of December 14, 1864. “Ned” was Soule’s military friend, Major Edward Wynkoop.

Soule proceeded to tell Wynkoop about the atrocities committed by U.S. soldiers, mostly volunteers, on November 29 at Sand Creek, in what was then the Colorado Territory. He told how one soldier cut a woman’s arm off with a hatchet, then “dashed the hatchet through her brain.” He told how one woman, shot through the leg and facing fire, cut her own children’s throats to save them from additional brutality, then killed herself. He told how children on their knees had their “brains beat out.” He told how soldiers cut off the scalps, ears, and private parts of native victims for souvenirs. He told how soldiers cut the unborn child from a woman’s belly before scalping her.

As for himself, Soule wrote, “I refused to fire and swore that none but a coward would.” None of the men under his command fired. Unfortunately, the cowards ran amuck that day and perpetrated one of the most notorious massacres in American history.

This past Saturday, Nancy Niero, author of “Witness at Sand Creek: The Life and Letters of Silas Soule,” read Soule’s letters to a small crowd in front of Soule’s unassuming grave at Denver’s Riverside Cemetery.

There my son, my wife, and I met Silas, a toddler named by his parents for the Colorado hero. We met a fourth-grade teacher who gives a Silas Soule award to a member of her class who acts courageously. We met Byron Strom, a distant relative of Soule’s who has researched Soule’s story. I saw Kevin Simpson, who has written extensively about Soule for the Colorado Sun.

under Col. John Chivington, who led the assault at Sand Creek, fueled speculation that Soule’s murder was a politically-motivated assassination. That’s how Niero described it. It seems likely that Soule was murdered for speaking out against injustice, but the facts may never be conclusively established.

One thing I learned from Niero’s readings from the letters is that Soule and Chivington knew each other very well. They served together for years, went on grueling cross-country marches together, and fought together. So it must have been very difficult and painful for Soule to speak up against a man he had once admired as a brother in arms.

What I cannot figure out is how Chivington, an abolitionist (like Soule), a Civil War hero for the Union Army, and a Methodist minister who once participated in a missionary trip to serve native peoples in Kansas, came to commit such a brutal act.

All I can figure is that eventually Chivington was overcome with hateful bigotry toward native peoples. He reportedly said, “Damn any man who sympathizes with Indians! I have come to kill Indians, and believe it is right and honorable to use any means under God’s heaven to kill Indians. Kill and scalp all, big and little; nits make lice.” Even if that quote is not exactly right, if he said anything like that, as it seems he did, that helps explain his mindset.

Another thing I learned from Niero is that Soule was by correspondence a friend of the poet Walt Whitman, and he wrote to Whitman about “Leaves of Grass.” Tragically, Whitman’s letters to Soule do not survive. Soule reported losing papers and letters in flooding, so maybe that explains the absence.

It was an emotionally heavy morning and a painfully hot one weather-wise. On our drive in on 58th Avenue we passed by two dead horses on the road that we guess had fallen off a truck. That morning the cemetery, now overrun with mowed weeds, was hosting an event in part to discuss the possibility of planting more native grasses. The trains that pass within yards of Soule’s grave periodically drowned out Niero’s voice. The Suncor Refinery belched in the background. This is not a lovely spot. But it is a sacred spot. Soule testified before Congress in early 1865 about what he witnessed at Sand Creek. He married Hersa Coberly on April 1. Far away, Abraham Lincoln was shot on April 14; he died the next day. On the evening of April 23, while serving as provost marshal in Denver, Soule, while investigating gunshots, was shot and killed by Charles Squier, who escaped and fled justice. As Simpson notes, the fact that Squier had served

I can imagine Soule sitting around a fire reading Whitman’s words:

“Do not trouble my spirit to vindicate itself or be understood,

I see that the elementary laws never apologize, I reckon I behave no prouder than the level I plant my house by after all.

I exist as I am, that is enough, If no other in the world be aware I sit content, And if each and all be aware I sit content.”

I, on the other hand, will not be content until the whole world becomes aware of Soule’s courage.

Ari Armstrong writes regularly for Complete Colorado and is the author of books about Ayn Rand, Harry Potter, and classical liberalism. He can be reached at ari at ariarmstrong dot com