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By COLLIN BINKLEY and BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS, AP Education WritersWASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are pushing back against Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency as it turns its attention to the Education Department, with lawmakers raising concerns about DOGE’s access to internal systems containing personal information on tens of millions of Americans.In a letter to the acting education secretary, a group of Democrats is seeking to intervene as DOGE gains increasing access to student loan databases and other systems. Democrats fear it could lay the groundwork for a takeover akin to Musk’s attempt to close the U.S. Agency for International Development. The letter demanded…

This photo shows a racist scene that federal prosecutors say was staged by supporters of Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade during the 2023 campaign. (Photo provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office) One of the three people accused of staging a racist scene in an attempt to support Colorado Springs’ Black mayor claimed in a court filing this week that the trio’s actions were protected free speech — not a threat. Derrick Bernard Jr., Ashley Blackcloud and Deanna West were indicted in November on federal charges after investigators said the trio worked together to spray-paint a racist slur aimed at Black…

A combative man was restrained by passengers aboard a Frontier Airlines flight from Denver to Houston Tuesday night. According to the Houston Police Department, a man on the flight was acting erratically and began punching the seat in front of him as well as the window next to him. Passengers around the man restrained him until the plane could land. Houston police responded to a welfare check when the flight landed around 11 p.m. According to Houston Police, the investigation has been turned over to the FBI and Frontier Airlines have declined to press charges. Frontier has declined to comment…

A Florida health system will at least partially take over Western Slope mental health provider Mind Springs Health, though the two organizations have yet to hammer out the details.Mind Springs, which provides outpatient mental health and addiction services to much of western Colorado, also owns West Springs Hospital in Grand Junction, the only psychiatric hospital in the state west of the Front Range.Both Mind Springs’ clinics and the hospital are coming off difficult years, which included multiple state investigations, allegations of fraud from former employees and financial struggles.Since Mind Springs is a nonprofit, South Miami-based Larkin Health System can’t buy…

Before their season tipped off last September, Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth candidly estimated that “we have nine real guys” on the roster.After the NBA trade deadline came and went quietly in Denver, Booth was asked to reassess that statement.“It’s really difficult to determine our starting lineup, right? We have six or seven starters, and we have a drop-off after that,” he said Thursday at Ball Arena. “And I think that’s not an insult to anybody, to Julian (Strawther) or any of the other guys on the roster. But I just think that’s where we’re at. I think those six…

NEW ORLEANS – Pat Surtain II has become seen by making receivers invisible.He has been good since he entered the league. Now, he is stamped with greatness.Surtain joined Hall of Fame linebacker Randy Gradishar as the only Bronco to win the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year honors. Gradishar claimed his award in 1978. Surtain was given his on Thursday night at the NFL Honors awards show.“It is special to me, and I know it is special to Broncos Country,” Surtain said. “I was nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. But when they called my name, I let…

A single-engine airplane slid off the runway at Centennial Airport on Thursday after the pilot landed without a landing gear, according to South Metro Fire Rescue. The pilot landed the Mooney 201 propeller aircraft at around 4:44 p.m., Centennial Airport officials said in a post on X. The pilot was the only person on board and was not injured, and the plane had minor damage. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Colorado sending aid to California for Los Angeles wildfires Crime and Public Safety | Plane crashed near Larkspur during lesson on emergency procedures Crime and Public Safety |…

Montana came to Greeley on Thursday night, and pushed its way closer in the race for the Big Sky Conference regular-season title.In a much-anticipated showdown between the conference’s top two teams, the second-place Grizzlies played more like the No. 1, coming out on top 86-78 before a season-best crowd at Bank of Colorado Arena.The Grizzlies (16-8, 9-2 Big Sky) spoiled the evening for the 1,989 fans from the start with an 11-2 run, and they led by as many as 21 in the second half to extend its current conference-best winning streak to five games.Montana’s victory, though, doesn’t pull it…

The Colorado Avalanche has a new dynamic duo, and they lit up the Calgary Flames on Thursday night.Nathan MacKinnon had three assists, while his new linemate Martin Necas had two goals and an assist to help the Avalanche shrug off a slow start before rolling past the Flames, 4-2, at Scotiabank Saddledome.Necas now has three goals and eight points in seven games since the blockbuster trade that brought him to the Avs from the Carolina Hurricanes.“Great players all around,” Necas said. “I feel like we kind of know our roles on the line and that’s always important. We’re building on…

In the latest edition of the Nuggets Ink podcast, beat writer Bennett Durando and sports editor Matt Schubert reconvene after the NBA trade deadline comes to a close. Among the topics discussed: For the second year in a row, Calvin Booth opted to stand pat at the NBA trade deadline. Is the inaction an indication the Nuggets general manager is happy with his roster? Or did he lack options to upgrade a team looking to win a second title in three seasons? Peyton Watson is out for a month after what at first blush appeared to be an innocuous injury.…