Your Daily Guide

🕵️ Boulder DA Challenges Decision to Clear Ramsey Family in JonBenét Murder

Nearly 30 years after 6 year old JonBenét Ramsey was found murdered in her Boulder home, Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty says he would not have cleared her family as suspects in 2008, as former DA Mary Lacy did. Speaking Tuesday alongside Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn, Dougherty emphasized the importance of keeping an open mind and following the evidence in the still unsolved case. [Denver Post 🔒]

• The family’s reaction: JonBenét’s half brother, John Andrew Ramsey, said he is not bothered by Dougherty's comments. Instead, he’s encouraged by investigators’ optimism, which he believes suggests progress they haven't publicly disclosed. [Denver Post 🔒]
• The 2008 exoneration: Dougherty said Lacy’s decision likely did not harm the investigation, noting that her public statements are not legally binding. [Denver Post 🔒]
• Forensic testing: Redfearn hopes advances in technology will allow investigators to examine evidence that could provide new leads. Officials are consulting forensic laboratories and prosecutors nationwide about future testing. [Denver Post 🔒]
• The ongoing investigation: Detectives have interviewed people in at least 17 states and reviewed hundreds of thousands of tips. No new suspects, leads or investigative results were announced Tuesday. [Denver Post 🔒]

✈️ Frontier Airlines Is Getting a First-Class Upgrade

Flying Frontier might come with a little more legroom soon. The Denver-based airline is introducing first-class seating in its two first rows, featuring a two-by-two configuration with no middle seats and up to 37 inches of distance between the fixed point of one seat and the same point on the seat ahead of it. Extra legroom seating will also be available in rows three through eight, with up to 34 inches in that distance. Reservations opened Tuesday, and installation is expected to be completed by March 5. Frontier also plans to roll out in-seat USB-C power and Starlink Wi-Fi beginning in 2027. [9News]

🏠 Denver’s Citywide Housing Expansion Plan Is Back on the Table

Denver is considering allowing duplexes, triplexes and four-unit buildings across much of the city again. The proposed “Unlocking Housing Choices” plan was scaled back in September following opposition from some residents and City Council members to focus on specific neighborhoods, but city planners have since returned to a citywide approach. Housing advocates say the changes could improve affordability, while critics have raised concerns about increased development and neighborhood disruption. The proposal aims to encourage construction of about 2,000 new homes annually and is expected to reach City Council in spring 2027. [Denverite]

• Colorado home sellers are feeling the pressure: More than 40% of listings across 15 Colorado markets faced price cuts in September. Colorado Springs (55.7%) and Denver (55%) led the nation’s large metro areas in the share of listings offering discounts, according to analysis of Parcl Labs data by the Common Sense Institute. However, real estate experts caution that listing discounts does not necessarily mean homes’ underlying values are falling. [Denver Post 🔒]

🚌 CDOTS’s Colorado Boulevard Bus Plan Hits a Roadblock

The Colorado Department of Transportation is dropping plans for center-running bus lanes along Colorado Boulevard, leaving transit advocates and opponents dissatisfied. Advocates argue the agency eliminated the option too soon, while Glendale officials and nearby residents worry the remaining proposals could worsen traffic and accessibility. CDOT will instead prioritize sidewalk and intersection improvements before reassessing other bus rapid transit options in 2028, using data from the Colfax Avenue BRT line. [9News]

• Raise your concern: A community forum on the project is scheduled for today at Infinity Park event center in Glendale. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the discussion starting at 6 p.m. [Lowry United Neighborhoods]

🚧 Bow Mar’s Proposed Traffic Gate Sparks Legal Battle

The town of Bow Mar wants to keep cut-through traffic out, but Denver and Litttleton are pushing back. The two cities filed a joint lawsuit Monday to block plans for a traffic gate near Sheridan Boulevard and Sunset Drive. Bow Mar officials say the gate would improve safety, while Denver and Littleton argue it would divert drivers onto neighboring residential streets and create longer routes for emergency responders. Despite the opposition, Bow Mar approved a $306,879 contract to build the gate last month. [Westword]