Fort Collins Coloradoan Wednesday 10/21/26

What is Fort Collins Coloradoan?

Aftersight is a media organization that serves individuals with barriers to print. This podcast is produced by Aftersight under the Chafee Amendment to the Copyright Act which states that authorized nonprofit organizations whose primary mission is to provide copyrighted works in specialized formats to individuals with barriers to print are exempt. By continuing to listen, you verify you are blind, have low vision, or barriers to reading print materials.

Kevin Martindale (00:01)
Hello, you are listening to the Fort Collins, Coloradoan. My name is Kevin Martindale. Thank you for joining us. Let's get started.

Front page of the Coloradan Safe Parking Plan moves to council. Commissioners cited concerns about timing and process. A program that would offer safe overnight parking to people experiencing homelessness is on the fast track to Fort Collins City Council, but some residents and planning and zoning commissioners

Are asking to pump the brakes. The Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Commission voted October fifteenth to not recommend proposed land use code updates to City Council that would allow a licensed safe parking program to operate in any of the city's zone districts.

Safe parking programs allow for people to legally sleep in their vehicles overnight in sanctioned parking lots. They are seen as a light touch, low investment option geared toward people who can't or won't go to a shelter. Fort Collins City staff has been exploring the possibility of a safe parking program since 2022.

According to Fort Collins Planning Director Clay Fricky, who presented program details to the Planning and Zoning Commission on october fifteenth.

At a September eighth City Council work session, s council members directed staff to bring forward an ordinance to establish a year-long safe parking pilot program in the city, Frickey said. Council members also asked staff to host neighborhood outreach meetings, which were planned for 5 30 to 7 30 PM october nineteenth and twenty second.

At the North Side Astlan Community Center at one hundred twelve East Willow Street. What would a safe parking program look like in Fort Collins? As currently proposed, the program would require participants to meet certain requirements and apply for a program license. Once licensed, participants could operate under these proposed parameters.

Though they are still subject to change, Fricky said.

Parking lots could host eligible overnight car campers from 7 PM to 7 AM. Each lot would allow for a maximum of seven passenger vehicles. Overnight campers must pass a background check and have a valid driver's license, registration, and vehicle insurance. Nonprofit organizations like Family Housing Network and

Catholic charities would oversee intake and case management for the program. License holders would be required to provide restrooms, trash, security cameras, and indoor space for campers in the case of extreme weather. Pets would be allowed, but would have to remain either in their owner's vehicle or leashed at all times.

It's unclear at the moment what sort of impact if any the program would have on individuals who have vans or other overland camping vehicles who choose to sleep in their vehicles regularly. The language only describes campers as those who are experiencing homelessness. So far two Fort Collins churches have shown an interest in participating in the program.

First United Methodist Church at one thousand five Stover Street and Trinity Lutheran Church at three zero one East Stewart Street. There are people in Fort Collins sleeping in vehicles tonight. First United Methodist Church Reverend Bradley Lorvick told the Commission during the public comment section of its october fifteenth meeting.

They need a lawful place to sleep. Safe parking is not a solution to homelessness, Lorvick added, but it can provide some stability while people work toward one. What are the next steps to create a safe parking program in Fort Collins? To create this program, Fort Collins City Council would need to update city code and

To establish a license program and make an exception to the city's current camping prohibition. Traffic code would need to be updated to make an exception to its ban on individuals sleeping in cars on public roadways and in parking lots. The city's land use code would also need to be updated to allow the safe parking program to operate as an accessory permitted.

Use in parking lots. These code changes, as well as operational parameters for the program, are set to go before the city council for a first reading on November 3rd. The goal is to get the necessary code changes made by the end of this year to allow for participants to get licenses and start operating in their

respective parking lots by January of twenty twenty seven, Fricky said.

City staff recommended the planning and zoning commissioners approve the land use updates to allow this use in all of the city's zone districts, citing that the city already had permits a lot of nonprofit uses in every zone district, and that by allowing it in all zone districts, it would keep these programs from being concentrated in certain parts of the city.

Of the city. Some planning and zoning commissioners pushed back and expressed concerns about giving the program blanket approval in all zone districts without the parameters for its licensure fully set in stone. We would authorize this to be everywhere, Commission Chair Adam Sass said.

Noting the program's review process would then take place at the license licensing level, but we don't know what those requirements are or what those things are going to be because it's not done yet.

This is cart before the horse, Sass said. Commissioner Shirley Peel agreed and said that while she's a big advocate for safe parking programs, I'm very uncomfortable with the sequencing and the timing of the meetings. I'm uncomfortable with the rush timeline that does not contribute to public trust.

And I'm very uncomfortable being asked to change the code based on unknowns. I hope that we keep working on this and I hope that we bring it back, Beale continued. But tonight I can't support this. Commissioner Julie Stackhouse said she shares some of Beale's concerns, but still supported the proposed change to the land use code. That said,

I want to be very vocal with City Council about those concerns, Stackhouse added, noting that she supported recommending the land use code changes while also giving City Council a series of recommendations that address what we think council should consider. Of the ten individuals who spoke during the meeting's public comment section,

Four were in support of the program as proposed, and six voiced concerns about the program. Several advocated for a delay in the process and time for more public outreach and neighborhood involvement. The Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Commission ultimately voted five to two to not recommend the proposed land use code updates to City Council.

In her motion, Commissioner Peel cited the program's rushed timeline and unknowns for the Commission's decision not to recommend the changes. Peel's motion also said the Commission recommends City Council revisit the safe parking program timeline, give time for adequate input, and move forward in a logical sequential manner that creates a robust licensing program first.

Before then updating city traffic and land use codes. Commissioners Kent Broxfort, Trevor Sheeley, Sass Peel, and Vice Chair Russell Connolly voted for the motion. Commissioners York and Julie Stackhouse voted against it. Fort Collins City Council is scheduled to hear the first reading of an ordinance for a safe parking pilot programming.

On November third.

Election twenty twenty six What a yes or no vote would mean for Proposition one hundred thirty five. Colorado voters will decide whether to prohibit certain surgeries for minors and restrict public and private funding for those procedures. ⁓ Proposition one hundred thirty five prohibits surgery on minors in response to

Perception of sex or gender asks voters whether Colorado should prohibit surgeries for minors that alter biological sex characteristics in response to a minor's perception of sex or gender. The measure would also prohibit state and federal funds, Medicaid, reimbursements, and private insurance coverage from paying for those procedures.

Here's a look at the ballot language, how it got to the ballot, what a yes or no vote would mean, and how many votes it needs to pass. Election day is november third. Ballot language for Proposition one hundred and thirty five. Shall there be a change to the Colorado revised statutes modifying existing law?

By prohibiting surgery on a minor for the purpose of altering the minor's biological sex characteristics and in connection therewith, prohibiting any health care professional or other person from knowingly performing, prescribing, administering, or providing any surgery to a minor for the purpose of altering the minor's biological sex characteristics and

And prohibiting the use of state or federal funds, Medicaid reimbursement, or insurance coverage to pay for this type of surgery. Was it citizen initiated or put on the ballot by the legislature? This measure was citizen initiated. Supporters gathered enough signatures to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot.

The proposal qualified as initiative number one hundred ten and was later assigned the ballot number proposition one hundred and thirty five. What a yes vote means a yes vote would prohibit surgeries on minors that alter biological sex characteristics when performed in response to a minor's perception of sex or gender.

It would also prohibit government funds and health insurance from paying for those surgeries, according to the twenty twenty six State Ballot Information Booklet, also called the Blue Book.

The measure does not include a list of specific surgical procedures that would be prohibited. Instead, whether a surgery would be prohibited depends on the reason it is performed according to the blue book. The prohibition would include gender-affirming surgeries, which the blue book describes as a range of procedures that may be provided to transgender individuals.

To make their physical appearance match their gender identity, such as surgeries that alter, remove or reconstruct sexual and reproductive organs, modify body shape, change facial appearance, or alter vocal characteristics. Proposition one hundred thirty five would not prohibit male circumcision, treatment for medically verifiable disorders of sex development, or treatment for acquired.

physical or chemical abnormalities. Proposition 135 also wouldn't apply to non-surgical gender-related treatments like counseling and social transition support. Arguments for one Proposition 135 listed in the blue book include that minors should not undergo irreversible surgical procedures before reaching adulthood.

That more long term research is needed on gender affirming surgeries for youth. What a no vote means. A no vote would keep current Colorado law in place. Surgeries that alter minors' biological sex characteristics would remain legal, and public and private health insurance programs could continue covering those procedures, according to the book.

Arguments against Proposition 135 listed in the blue book include that the measure is overly broad and could interfere with medical care for both transgender and non-transgender minors, and that it could create uncertainty for patients, physicians, and insurers, because the prohibition is based on the reason a surgery is performed rather than a specific list of prohibited procedures.

Another argument listed in the blue book is that the measure's limited exceptions could restrict access to some medically necessary treatments and give insurers a reason to deny coverage for a broader range of procedures. How many votes it needs to pass? Proposition 135 needs a simple majority vote to pass. That means that more than 50% of voters must.

Vote yes.

Fort Collins police arrest men accused of sex crimes against children. Fort Collins police are drawing attention to the arrest of four men last month during a cybercrimes unit operation to identify suspects of sexual crimes against children. Police believe there could be victims who haven't yet come forward, according to a news release on october nineteenth, announcing the arrests.

The investigation was launched in August, and the suspects were arrested between September seventh and September twenty fourth. Fort Collins Police Services identify the suspects in their news release at FortCollins.gov, where they also detail the individual charges against each of them. The men are accused of felony crimes like attempted sexual assault on a child.

Internet luring of a child, attempted sexual exploitation of a child, soliciting for commercial sexual activity with a child, and promotion of obscene material to a child. Police say anyone who has been victimized or witnessed exploitation can contact the FCPS TIP line at nine seven zero four one six.

two one, two five.

Fort Collins, downtown holiday lights to be switched on for the season. Downtown Fort Collins, it's time to twinkle. The city's holiday lights, which illuminated Old Town's three tree-lined blocks throughout the holiday season, will be switched on again on November sixth. Like in past years, the lights will be turned on during a lighting ceremony in Old Town Square.

The event, which runs from 5 30 to 7 p.m., will include live music and a few words from city representatives. The lights will then be switched on after a brief countdown around 6:30 p.m. November 6th. The event will coincide with Downtown Fort Collins monthly First Friday Art Walk, a self-guided walking tour of select downtown boutiques, cafes, and studios that will

Stay open late for the extra foot traffic from 6 to 9 PM. The lights have been historically illuminated each night through February 14th. Tips for attending the Downtown Holiday Lighting Ceremony. Since this lighting ceremony typically packs Old Town Square, expect limited parking availability and more traffic congestion. Attendees are encouraged to walk or bike to the event.

Or opt for public transit over driving. Extra bike racks will be made available in the north side of Walnut Street according to the city's website. Parking for vehicles will be available on downtown streets and in downtown parking garages. A few road closures planned in the area will also tighten things up. The following roads will be closed for the event starting at 3 p.m. November 6th.

Walnut Street, the two hundred block of Lyndon Street from the end of Old Town Square to Jefferson Street, and Mountain Avenue between College Avenue and Remington Street.

Our next local article comes to us in the sports section. It's Colorado State football. It says quarterback hedge knee in line to start against San Diego State.

Right now, as it stands, House will start on Saturday. He's rolling, look good out there today, said Jim Mora, Colorado State head football coach.

House Hedgney was hurt in week three against BYU, but is nearing a return and is expected to step back into the starting quarterback role. Right now, as it stands, House will start on Saturday, Morris said. Morris said Hedgney practiced fully October 19th ahead of the October 24th home game against San Diego State. He's rolling, Morris said, that looked good out there today.

Angeny injured his hamstring in week three on September nineteenth.

He started CSU's first three games, completing sixty-four percent of his passes for six hundred and nineteen yards, ten touchdowns, and one interception. He carries a 178 passer rating. Edschney also has 13 rushes for 128 yards. That's 9.8 yards per carry and a 75-yard touchdown run. Backup, Kassan Ferrar started CSU's last three games.

He's completed sixty two percent of his passes for nine hundred and thirty one yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He carries a one hundred twenty four point seven nine passer rating. Ferrar has fourteen carries.

Update on injured receiver RJ Vick. RJ Vick, CU's leading receiver, missed last week's game against Texas State, but is improving as well. Morris said Vick did some side work in practice October 19th. Morris said Vick's injury designation early in the week likely would be questionable, but that he hopes he can progress to be a game time decision.

Vick has twenty four catches for three hundred and sixty seven yards and four touchdowns in five games played.

From high school football, Fort Collins is still the last 5A unbeaten. It's hard to believe the 2026 Colorado high school season is already down to the penultimate week of the regular season. Chass's official rankings entering week nine are still volatile, with three new number one teams, tons of movement across the top tens and

Teams vying for playoff spots further down the rankings. There are only 14 undefeated teams left in Colorado, including just 10 in 11 man classifications after previous Northern Colorado unbeatons Timnath and Loveland fell in week eight. However, Fort Collins at 8 0 stands alone as the lone unbeaten left in Class 5A.

Here are the 2026 Colorado High School Chassa football rankings entering week nine, including the top 20 teams by class. We won't read all of them. How about that? In 5A football rankings, Cherry Creek number one, Valor Christian number two, Grandview number three, Mountain Vista number four, and Fort Collins number five.

In four A, it's Broomfield number one, Roosevelt number two, Ponderosa number three, Montrose number four, Monarch number five, and Loveland number six.

In three A we have Palmer Ridge number one, Holy Family number two, Mead number three, Palisade number four, and Timnath number five.

In two A we have the Classical Academy number one, Elizabeth number two, Delta number three, Wellington number four, and Eton number five. And lastly in Colorado one A football rankings we have Meeker is number one, Denver Christian number two, North Fork number three, Colorado Springs Christian number four, and Centauri number five.

My last sports article is What's Banana Ball? How to get tickets for twenty twenty seven games in Colorado. Banana ball will slip back into Colorado in twenty twenty seven, but you need to act soon to have a shot at buying tickets. The Savannah Bananas, the barnstorming team that launched a highly appealing version of the game, won't be coming.

But two of the teams in the league based on its style of play will. The Party Animals and the Loco Beach Coconuts will play a pair of games at Coors Field in Denver next May. While there's more than seven months before they take the field, fans need to sign up for a lottery to get a chance to buy seats, unless they have certain Colorado Rockies season ticket packages.

Are the Savannah Bananas coming to Denver in 2027? No. The team that established the rules for Banana Ball will not be coming. Instead, two of the Banana Ball Championship League's other teams, the local Beach Coconuts and Party Animals, will be playing. When will Banana Ball be played in Denver? The games are scheduled to square off May 29th and 30th at Coors Field in Denver.

How do you get banana ball tickets in Colorado? Colorado Rockies full season. MVP and Hall of Fame Passport Mini Plan season ticket holders will get the first shot at banana ball tickets through a pre-sale. If you don't have one of the season ticket plans, the only way to get the ability to purchase tickets is through a lottery. Interested fans need to register for the lottery by nine.

59 p.m. Mountain Time on October 31st. Ticket sales will happen about two months before the games. How does the banana ball lottery work? Fans can select one city of interest when they enter. After registration closes, entries are randomly selected.

Hmm. Entering early does not give you a better chance of winning, nor does it guarantee you will get to buy tickets. What is banana ball? Banana ball is a fast paced version of baseball designed to be more entertaining and have more fan involvement. Here are some of the eleven rules that are different than Major League Baseball. All games have a two hour time limit.

If a fan catches a ball in the stands, it's an out. Games are decided by which team has more points. They get a point for each inning in which they score more runs than their opponent. Players must sprint instead of walk if they receive four balls, a plate appearance. And they can try to take more than one base.

One fan selected for each game can challenge an umpire scall, but must fire off confetti and hold up a sign to do it.