Colorado Casinos Hit A Hot Streak

Colorado’s new statewide paid-leave program doled out more than $311 million in compensation to tens of thousands of workers in its first six months, the state Department of Labor and Employment said Monday. More than 62,000 workers have had their pay partially replaced under the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (or FAMLI) program.

Lori Graves has welcomed a seemingly endless stream of people at her Morning Fresh Dairy Farm in Bellvue, Colorado since a shiny monolith mysteriously appeared there more than a week ago. At first, she was amused by the curiosity of locals stopping by to catch a glimpse of the structure and ponder theories about its origins. But the onslaught of visitors has also exhausted Graves and her staff — emblematic of why similar monoliths have been quickly removed from other locations where they popped up. “We had easily 800 people yesterday,” Graves said Monday by phone, “and yesterday wasn’t as busy as the day before.” The intrigue around the monoliths has been undeniable since the installations first captured headlines in 2020.

A Denver Police Department officer arrested on suspicion of domestic violence-related charges pleaded guilty on Friday to misdemeanor harassment, according to court records. Ramone “Razor” Young, 53, was arrested by Aurora police March 21 on suspicion of two counts of misdemeanor harassment. Aurora police accused Young of harassing his ex-girlfriend by following her around, implying he could interfere with her Child Protective Services case and threatening to file anonymous reports about her boyfriend, according to an arrest affidavit. Young was already under investigation by the Denver Police Department internal affairs for harassing and possibly stalking the woman when he was arrested, Aurora police wrote in the report. He was hired by the DPD in 2013 and most recently worked in the patrol division, but was placed on a non-patrol assignment when he was arrested. Young pleaded guilty to one count of misdemeanor harassment related to following someone in a public place, according to court records.

By SCHUYLER DIXON and TIM REYNOLDS DALLAS — Klay Thompson is moving on from the Golden State Warriors, with the four-time league champion agreeing to join the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks and change franchises for the first time in his 13-year NBA career, two people with knowledge of the decision said Monday. ESPN and The Athletic first reported the deal which, as currently constructed, will be executed as the sign-and-trade of a three-year, $50 million contract involving the Warriors, Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets, said the people, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the agreement has not been publicly announced.

Northbound Interstate 25 reopened near Mead after a crash, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation, but the right lane remains closed. The highway was closed between exit 245 for Mead and Colorado 56 at 12:43 p.m., causing up to 44-minute delays in the area, according to CDOT’s online trip planner website. The left lanes reopened as of 2:05 p.m.

The one-time Tom’s Diner building is taking a new form once again. Champagne Tiger, a soon-to-be French-American diner, has leased the building at 601 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver that was home for two decades to Tom’s Diner and then, briefly, Tom’s Starlight. Owner Chris Donato said he’s targeting a September opening for his restaurant that will feature specialty pasta and piano nights, as well as drag brunches on Sundays “I’ve always been looking for a diner space.