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Gun violence in Denver is going down. So far this year, the city has seen a 12% decrease in overall gun violence compared to the same point in 2023, including a 30% drop in the number of fatal shootings and a 28% drop in non-fatal shootings, Denver police Cmdr. Jake Herrera told City Council members Wednesday during a presentation to the Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee. The sweeping decline in shootings was countered by an increase in other gun violence — including robberies in which a suspect brandished a gun or incidents in which a suspect fired a gun but no one was hurt — that has stopped the city short, so far, of Mayor Mike Johnston’s goal to reduce gun violence by 20% in 2024. “If someone points a firearm at someone, but doesn’t use it, doesn’t shoot it, that’s still a violent gun crime,” Herrera said.

Arapahoe Basin’s new paid parking requirement is still a month out, but officials there concede there has been some criticism among ski area loyalists. “We’re getting mixed reviews,” said spokeswoman Shayna Silverman. “Anytime there is change at the resort, we’re faced with criticism. Some folks are excited to be assured they’ll have a spot and not feel rushed.

Federal officials released a range of scenarios Wednesday that could be used to manage the overallocated and shrinking Colorado River as time for the seven basin states to reach an agreement grows short. The Bureau of Reclamation’s four proposed plans are not set in stone, but for the first time offer insight into how federal leaders are planning for the future of a river that is depended upon by 40 million people across the Southwest.

Are you ready to light up the night? Holiday-event programmers sure are, with dozens of offerings that mash festive décor, drinks, music, shopping and old-fashioned spectacle. The popularity of lighting displays along the Front Range continues to grow, producers said, with hours, capacity and dates expanding to accommodate visitors this year.

By WAFAA SHURAFA and FATMA KHALED DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children.

Dear Eric: I have two brothers that have recently failed to send a birthday gift or even a card to my 12-year-old daughter. My wife and I on the other hand always send birthday gifts or money and a card to their kids, our nieces and nephews. My daughter took note of not getting a gift from them this past year in a sad kind of manner.