Latest news with #KMGH-TV
New York Post
a day ago
- New York Post
Jax Gratton, Denver hairstylist missing since April, found dead at 34
Jax Gratton, the 34-year-old hairstylist who had been missing in Denver since April, has been found dead, her mother revealed. Cherilynne Gratton-Camis made the tragic revelation a Facebook post Saturday, saying her daughter has been 'taken from this world far too soon.' 'With a broken heart, I share the news that our beloved Jax Gratton has been found — and she is no longer with us,' she wrote. 4 Jax Gratton, the 34-year-old hairstylist who had been missing in Denver since April, has been found dead, her mother revealed. Jax Gratton / Facebook 'There are no words strong enough for the grief we are feeling. The light she carried, the love she gave so freely, and the joy she brought into our lives have been taken from this world far too soon.' 'I want to thank everyone — near and far — who has shown up for us,' Gratton-Camis went on. 'Everyone who shared her story. Everyone who shared her face. Everyone who sent out a prayer, a hope, a kind thought. Everyone who hit the ground running and hasn't stopped.' In her post, Gratton-Camis shared that her daughter — a trans woman — helped her understand the experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community 'in ways I can't ignore.' 'It's not just about Jax — it's about all of you in the LGBTQIA+ community who face the world every day with courage, just wanting to live, love and exist safely and equally. That should never be a fight. And yet it is,' she continued. 'Jax Gratton was a light — I know that. She lit up so many lives just by being herself. Unapologetically. Fiercely. Fully. I see her in every act of love and strength you've shown, and I wish peace, love, and protection for all of you.' 4 Gratton was last seen leaving her Denver apartment on April 15 at around 10 p.m. Cherilynne Gratton-Camis / Facebook 4 Gratton worked as a hairstylist in Denver. Jax Gratton / Facebook Lakewood Police Department has since confirmed that a body was found on Friday. Gratton was last seen leaving her Denver apartment on April 15 at around 10 p.m., her family previously told KMGH-TV. She told her roommate that she was going to be out for about 3 hours, but she didn't return. 4 Her heartbroken mother has since paid tribute. Cherilynne Gratton-Camis / Facebook After her family reported her missing, her mother described feeling 'terrified' for her daughter. 'My fear is that somebody killed her,' Gratton-Camis told People at the time, alleging that she had previously been in abusive relationships.
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
15-year-old thwarts man's kidnap attempt near school, CO cops say. He's charged
A man accused of trying to kidnap a 15-year-old walking near a Colorado school has been arrested and charged, prosecutors say. Steven Houseman, 18, was charged with second-degree kidnapping and criminal attempt to commit sexual assault, Colorado's 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office said in a May 1 news release. The teenage girl was walking near Thornton Middle School the morning of April 28 when a man tried to grab her, Thornton police said in a Facebook post. When the girl resisted, the man fled, according to police. Police said they got a report about the incident at about 4 p.m. 'During the immediate investigation, officers secured video surveillance that clearly depicted the attempted abduction, providing crucial details about the suspect and a suspected vehicle associated with the suspect,' Thornton Police Commander Tom Connor told KMGH-TV. Subsequently, police put out a request for information on social media that included a photo of the suspect. The next day, police announced that Houseman had been arrested. Houseman's arrest came after 'vital information received from our alert community' helped school resource officers identify him as a suspect, Connor told KMGH-TV. 'I would like to thank the brave members of our community who, at our request, came forward with information that helped lead to the arrest of Houseman,' Interim Police Chief Greg Reeves said in the Facebook post. Houseman was taken into custody at Thornton High School on April 29, according to police. The 18-year-old is a student at the high school, according to a letter from the school's principal to families obtained by KUSA. Adams 12 Five Star Schools did not immediately respond to McClatchy News' request for comment on May 2. Police said they 'are working closely with Adams 12 Five Star Schools to ensure the safety of students and staff as the investigation continues.' Houseman is scheduled to appear in court May 2, prosecutors said. Thornton is about a 10-mile drive north from Denver.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Hairstylist, 34, Reported Missing Over 1 Week After She Was Last Seen Leaving Denver Apartment
Jax Gratton, a Denver hairstylist, has been missing for two weeks after she was last seen leaving her apartment building Her mom became alarmed when she didn't hear from her daughter on Easter "If she's out there, alive, she's going to make it through this," she said A Denver community is frantically searching for a 34-year-old woman who has been missing for two weeks, according to authorities. Jax Gratton, a beloved hairstylist, was last seen on April 15 near the 4200 block of E. Iliff Avenue, the Denver Police Department tells PEOPLE. She was reported missing on Wednesday, April 24. An investigation is ongoing. Friends and family told ABC affiliate KMGH-TV that Gratton left her apartment at approximately 10 p.m. local time after telling her roommate that she'd be out for about three hours, but never came back. A photo shared with the outlet shows Gratton wearing a jacket and carrying two bags. 'It's just, it's absolutely a mystery," the hairstylist's mom, Cherilynn Gratton-Camis, told KMGH-TV. She became worried when she didn't hear from her daughter, especially on Easter. "Jax calls me when great things happen and when bad things happen, and every single holiday,' the mom continued, according to the report. 'She has never missed a holiday." Related: After Teen Is Paralyzed from Super Rare Spinal Cord Stroke, Her Nurses Comfort Her with an Unforgettable Gesture (Exclusive) The mom told KMGH-TV that no one is aware of who Gratton was meeting or the location. Concern grew when loved ones realized Gratton didn't make plans for her cat, Madam Francesca, or take her medications or makeup, the outlet reported. 'She has had a very rough life being transgender, but she has survived and I'm so proud of her,' Gratton-Camis told The Denver Post. 'If she's out there, alive, she's going to make it through this.' Gratton's parents reached out to stylists who work at Solera Salon Suites, where Gratton rents out a space. Gratton's friend, Brandy Carey, a manager of the company's North Broadway branch, was able to access her computer and saw that Gratton had checked out her last client on Saturday, April 12, she told the paper. Related: Woman Was Buried Alive for 30 Minutes While at Work. Why She 'Never Thought' She'd Die Down There (Exclusive) Since her disappearance, the community has put up flyers featuring Gratton's picture and asking people about her whereabouts. A Facebook group entitled 'Find Jax Gratton Denver' currently has 1,800 members. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. For Carey, the response to Gratton's disappearance is 'hauntingly beautiful,' she told The Denver Post. 'I don't think any one of us, on a day-to-day basis, understands how many people care about us,' she added. Related: Police Are 'Concerned' About Well-Being of Massachusetts Teen Who Was Last Seen Walking Near Her Home In a Facebook update, Gratton-Camis said that her daughter is in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. 'We need to have a sighting of Jaxs,' her mom wrote on Monday, April 28. Gratton-Camis and Carey did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. Gratton has red hair, blue eyes, weighs 150 lbs. and is 5'8' tall, according to the Denver Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 720-913-2000. Read the original article on People
Newsweek
26-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Uber Could Be Halted For Millions of Americans
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Uber is threatening to cease operations in Colorado over a new bill passed by the state's House of Representatives. Why It Matters Millions of people could lose access to Uber if the company follows through on its latest threat to pull out of Colorado. The situation highlights the growing tension between lawmakers aiming to impose new protections for gig workers and companies that rely heavily on flexible business models. A man leaves the headquarters of Uber in San Francisco in this file photo taken on December 16, 2015. A man leaves the headquarters of Uber in San Francisco in this file photo taken on December 16, 2015. Eric Risberg/AP What To Know Uber warned this week that it may cease operations in Colorado entirely if a new rideshare bill becomes law. The bill, HB25-1291, passed the Colorado House of Representatives in a bipartisan 59–6 vote on April 16. It includes new requirements such as criminal background checks for drivers every six months and mandatory audio and video recording of trips. It would also prohibit drivers from offering passengers drinks and snacks. The legislation, described as aiming to "increase protections for persons engaged with transportation network companies," has since moved through the Senate Committee on Business, Labor, & Technology and will face a full Senate vote on Friday. It was spearheaded by state Representative Jenny Willford. Willford introduced the bill into the legislature in January 2025 after she filed a lawsuit against Lyft alleging she was sexually assaulted by a man pretending to be a rideshare driver in February 2024, according to reporting from KMGH-TV. "This legislation has been very personal to me," Willford told KMGH-TV. "I decided to use my own pain and the platform that I have to hold a company that has ignored survivors for far too long accountable, and what we saw today — them announcing that they're going to leave — is them feeling that accountability for the first time in a very long time." Uber's major concerns, according to the Colorado Sun, center around new liabilities—such as drivers potentially being sued for offering passengers food or drinks—and the financial burden of reimbursing drivers for recording equipment. In a statement Wednesday, Uber said it would have "no choice" but to leave the state if the bill is signed into law. Willford called Uber threatening to leave Colorado a "cynical and disheartening move by a multi-billion dollar company to turn their back on survivors rather than implement real safety measures" in a statement posted to her Instagram account Thursday. Uber has made similar threats in the past. Notably, in 2024, Uber and Lyft warned they would leave Minneapolis after the city council passed a minimum wage increase for drivers. However, both companies ultimately remained after a statewide compromise on driver pay was reached. What People Are Saying An Uber spokesperson said in a statement to KKTV11: "HB25-1291 is a deeply flawed proposal, which if implemented could leave us no choice but [to] cease operations in Colorado. "It threatens user privacy by requiring every trip to be recorded, imposes major technical and financial burdens, and offers no clear safety benefit in return. We support real, evidence-based safety policy – not legislation that checks a box but fails to deliver. As written, this bill not only misses the mark, it risks doing more harm than good." Representative Jenny Willford said in a statement posted to her Instagram: "The bottom line is one sexual assault is too many, but for Uber, 8,900 aren't enough to take action. This is a cynical and disheartening move by a multi-billion dollar company to turn their back on survivors rather than implement real safety measures. We have worked with Uber in good faith for months and accepted many of their amendment requests - including a full rewrite of the bill. "For years, Uber has checked the box on safety, but time after time failed to deliver for victims. It's clear Uber won't stand up for safety so they can continue to maximize profits rather than address the horrible incidents that change the lives of riders and drivers forever." What Happens Next The Colorado Senate is expected to review HB25-1291 on Friday. If it passes, it would move to the governor's desk for a signature.
USA Today
25-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Uber threatens to leave state if new legislation passes: Here's what to know
Uber threatens to leave state if new legislation passes: Here's what to know Show Caption Hide Caption Ninth annual 'Uber Lost & Found' list released Divorce papers and live animals like rabbits and lobsters are among the bizarre items on Uber's 2025 "Lost & Found" list. Uber said it will pull out of Colorado if a bill aimed at improving rideshare safety becomes law. House Bill 25-1291, spearheaded by state Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, looks to require rideshare drivers to make audio and video recordings of trips and prohibiting drivers from offering passengers drinks and snacks. The bill would also require companies to conduct more thorough background checks on drivers and track and report violent incidents. The bill was introduced into the legislature in January 2025 after Willford filed a lawsuit against Lyft alleging she was sexually assaulted by a man pretending to be a rideshare driver in February 2024, according to reporting from KMGH-TV, an ABC affiliate in Denver. In an emailed statement obtained by USA TODAY Friday, Uber called the bill "a deeply flawed proposal, which if implemented would leave us no choice but cease operations in Colorado." Uber claims HB25-1291 "threatens user privacy by requiring every trip to be recorded, imposes major technical and financial burdens, and offers no clear safety benefit in return. We support real, evidence-based safety policy - not legislation that checks a box but fails to deliver," Uber said in the statement. "As written, this bill not only misses the mark, it risks doing more harm than good." Willford called Uber threatening to leave Colorado a "cynical and disheartening move by a multi-billion dollar company to turn their back on survivors rather than implement real safety measures" in a statement posted to her Instagram account Thursday. "We have worked with Uber in good faith for months and accepted many of their amendment requests - including a full rewrite of the bill," the statement continued. "For years, Uber has checked the box on safety, but time after time failed to deliver for victims." "It's clear Uber won't stand up for safety so they can continue to maximize profits rather than address the horrible incidents that change the lives of riders and drivers forever," Willford concluded in her statement. In its emailed statement, Uber said it has "led the industry on safety from day one - backed by technology, transparency, and real accountability." Uber points to features like the audio and video recording, RideCheck, and Emergency Button as examples of safety features contained within its app. Uber said its Record My Ride feature in the app enables drivers to record video using the front-facing camera on their smartphone, similar to a dashcam. The feature has been live in the US since last year, Uber said. Audio recording is also available for both riders and drivers during a trip in the Uber app. When a driver or rider uses the Emergency Button within the Uber app, the car's make and model, license plate, and GPS location are made available to 911 dispatchers, according to Uber's website. The Colorado Sun reports the bill passed the House by a 59-6 vote earlier this month and currently awaits a hearing on the Senate floor. The legislative session ends May 7. Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@
