NewsBreak Original

In a recent news report from Douglas County, Nebraska, an unsettling incident involving an Omaha man, Nicholas Thomas, has captured our attention. We’re here to provide a detailed look at the facts surrounding this event, emphasizing the importance of community safety and the role of law enforcement.

A YMCA in Omaha is under investigation after a person with an active case of tuberculosis potentially exposed more than 500 individuals to the disease. The infected person was part of the YMCA's drop-in childcare program, so the majority of those at risk are young children.

Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / Sept. 11, 2023. (Douglas County, Colo.) The Colorado Department of Transportation reported 55 teen drivers have died in crashes as of Aug. 30, up 77% from this time last year.

[DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — Two Douglas County commissioners want to make sure the boards and commissions their colleague, Commissioner Lora Thomas, serves on know they censured her.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 23, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — In a contentious hearing, Douglas County commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal voted Tuesday to formally censure their Republican colleague, Lora Thomas.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 22, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — Concerns about potential vigilante violence at this Saturday's Douglas County PrideFest event led the county commissioners to consider canceling the LGBTQAI+ event during their Tuesday administrative meeting.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 21, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — Human trafficking was the subject of Thursday night’s live town hall meeting held by the Douglas County Commissioners, with a wide-ranging discussion led by a panel of counselors and law enforcement officials.

Clarification: This story and headline were edited to correct the timeline regarding a past censure attempt against Lora Thomas. By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 16, 2023.

Heather Willard / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 15, 2023. (Douglas County, Colo.) The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of a recent fraud trend where older adults meet with scammers.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 11, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — What do your elected officials think about climate change?. Castle Rock resident Katie Barrett, who described herself as an environmentalist and science teacher, wanted to know.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 10, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — While monthly numbers varied widely so far this year, Douglas County had 1,000 fewer residents covered by Medicaid in July than in January.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 9, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — A wildfire prevention project grant program begun by Douglas County last year helped around 75 private landowners lower fire risks on more than 790 acres of land and over 200 homes.

(Castle Rock, CO) DougCo students, teachers, principals, charter school administrators, parents, and community leaders stood up one after another to ask the school board to place a $66 million mill levy override (MLO) and $484 million bond on this year’s ballot, despite facing increased property taxes and high inflation.

(Castle Rock, Colo.) United States Attorney General Merrick Garland visited the Castle Rock Police Department on Aug. 7 after speaking to the American Bar Association in Denver.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 8, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — After repeatedly defending her actions regarding the release of names of applicants for Douglas County's fledgling water commission, Commissioner Lora Thomas walked out of a Tuesday morning meeting.

(Douglas County, Colo.) A Douglas County man received a 97-year prison term for shooting his sister, her boyfriend and their dog on Feb. 8, 2022. On July 19, Casey Devol, 31, pleaded guilty to murdering Jessica Mitchell, 32, and Bryan Todd Gray, 34, after the couple was found shot to death in their garage on Russellville Road, an unincorporated area of Douglas County called Franktown.

By Mike McKibbin / NewsBreak Denver / Aug. 2, 2023. [DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLO.] — A limited number of people will be allowed to fish at Rueter-Hess Reservoir starting Friday, Aug. 4. But don’t plan to catch your dinner, as the fishing is catch and release only.

(Castle Rock, CO) Nearly 500 Douglas County students lacked stable housing during the 2021-2022 school year (according to the most recent data). While that number has decreased in the county for the last decade, the ever-increasing cost of living could leave families struggling to make ends meet.

Lacey LewisPhoto by18th Judicial District Attorney. (Parker, Colo.) A Douglas County judge sentenced the woman who killed Lacey Lewis, 25, to serve 20 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for driving under the influence of drugs.