Roger G. Kennedy, 85, Former Smithsonian Director, Dies

Denver Public Schools will close seven schools and reduce the number of grades served by three others at the end of the current academic year, a move by Colorado’s largest district to prevent a financial crisis as K-12 enrollment continues to plummet statewide. The district’s Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday evening to approve Superintendent Alex Marrero’s consolidation plan, which he announced two weeks ago.

A pedestrian was taken to the hospital Thursday afternoon after he was hit by a Regional Transportation District bus in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood. Denver police responded to the crash near South University Boulevard and East Florida Avenue at 3:43 p.m. The pedestrian was a male, but the department could not confirm his age Thursday night. Related Articles Crime and Public Safety | Driver accused of causing crash that killed parents, 2 children dies from injuries Crime and Public Safety | Pedestrian hospitalized in Denver hit-and-run near Acoma Crime and Public Safety | Northbound South University Boulevard reopens after crash Crime and Public Safety | Motorcyclist killed in Aurora crash caused by swerving sedan, police say Crime and Public Safety | SUV hit by train in Commerce City after getting stuck on tracks His injuries did not appear serious but officers are still investigating the crash, said department spokesperson Sienna Riley. RTD officials referred questions about the crash to the Denver Police Department. Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.

As the number grew on Janet Lowry’s GoFundMe page, the scope of her life came into focus just as it was ending. Hundreds turned into thousands until more than 400 donations totaled a little under $100,000 — all in support of Janet and her husband, Columbine football coach Andy Lowry, as she neared the final days of a seven-year battle with cancer, much of which had been fought in private. “I sure wish in my lifetime that I could pay it forward like these people have paid it to me,” longtime friend Monica Kellogg recalled Janet telling her. In reality, the community was paying it back to her. Janet died Nov.

Nik Bonitto is closing in on a major milestone. On Sunday against the Raiders, Denver’s third-year edge rusher will need just one sack to become the first Bronco to record double-digit sacks in a single season since Von Miller and Bradley Chubb both did it in 2018. At nine sacks total, Bonitto’s tied for second-most in the league. Head coach Sean Payton said part of the reason Bonitto has had an uptick in his numbers is because he is playing more snaps.

During a Week 9 blowout loss at Baltimore, Broncos defensive end Zach Allen noticed he was getting double-teamed more frequently. Such is life when you’re as productive as Allen’s been through the first three months of the NFL season. One differentiator between Allen’s first season in Denver and this one: He’s got a teammate on the defensive line capable of making offenses pay when they dedicate extra resources to him. It’s not a coincidence, then, that John Franklin-Myers has two sacks in Denver’s past three games and has made more splash plays the more attention Allen’s commanded. “If you’re rushing four and the center turns to Zach and he’s getting double-teamed, ‘JFM’ has had success,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said Thursday.

The Colorado State Patrol is increasing patrols for impaired driving for the Thanksgiving holiday starting today, according to an announcement from the Colorado Department of Transportation. From Thursday, Nov. 21, to Wednesday, Dec. 4, the Colorado State Patrol and 75 local law enforcement agencies will increase road surveillance for dangerous driving during the Heat Is On Thanksgiving Week DUI enforcement period.