Local News

  Jeffco Public Schools could cut 344 teachers and staff over the next two years to help reduce the district’s operating costs in the face of a massive budget shortfall.

A draft by the budget advisory committee recommends an 8 percent reduction in spending in the general fund, out of which most teaching positions are funded. The district could also cut about 94 full-time jobs in support services, 16 in the division of instruction and others in various departments.

  Jefferson County last week settled a lawsuit surrounding the 2005 death of an inmate in the jail.

An unspecified amount will be given to plaintiff Kathie Sims, whose son Anthony was found dead in the jail on Nov. 1, 2005. Anthony was in custody and facing charges related to sexual assault on a child at the time of his death.

The Sheriff’s Office completed an investigation and ultimately determined Anthony’s death was a suicide, said spokeswoman Jacki Kelley.

Two men who followed an intoxicated man to a pub’s parking lot and pulled the key out of his car’s ignition were honored last week by the Jeffco Sheriff’s Office.

Capt. Patricia Woodin awarded Jefferson County commemorative coins to Q’s Pub & Grille, customer Mike Vanselow and Rich Rice, an off-the-clock bartender.

“This person was clearly in no condition to drive,” Rice said. “He would’ve hurt himself or someone else.”

Brady Sullivan was watching a news broadcast when he learned about Haiti’s cataclysmic earthquake. And the 9-year-old student at Shaffer Elementary School was quick to take action and do more than his share to help.

“I thought, ‘Is there something I can do to help? Can I do anything?’ ” Brady said.