Latest news with #LarimerCounty
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Police: Colorado man resisted eviction by boarding windows, setting animal traps
A man who barricaded himself for 13 hours inside a northwest Fort Collins home now faces additional charges after investigators found several spring-loaded, steel-jawed bear traps they believe were set to injure law officers. Fifty-five-year-old Kevin Lee Walker initially faced four charges after he was taken into custody the night of Aug. 7. Half those charges were felonies attributed to Walker allegedly pointing a gun at SWAT officers who entered the home in the early stages of the incident. Friday, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office upgraded the charges to a total of 11 felonies and six misdemeanors. Walker now faces five counts each of attempted First Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Felony Menacing. An LCSO spokesperson told CBS Colorado that several of the bear traps were set and positioned around the home. That style of foothold or leghold trap is banned in some states and heavily regulated in Colorado. Colorado recently suspended short-term permits for foothold traps after an imported gray wolf was discovered in a trap meant to keep coyotes from livestock. A Colorado Parks & Wildlife officer released the wolf from the legally placed trap on May 14. The wolf died from its injuries the following day. LCSO deputies arrived at the home at 2630 LaPorte Avenue at 9:20 a.m. that day to serve a court-ordered eviction, according to the agency. Walker had already boarded up the windows and tampered with the door locks, the agency reported. Deputies made announcements over loudspeaker demanding Walker surrender for an hour before they made their way into the home. When Walker aimed a rifle at them, the deputies backed out and called for backup. The Larimer County All-Hazards Crisis Response Team, Fort Collins SWAT team, crisis negotiators, and drone operators responded to the scene along with fire department, ambulance and police personnel from as far away as Johnstown. Neighbors were alerted to stay inside their homes. Walker refused to leave the home and barricaded himself in the basement, reportedly texting threatening messages to family members and crisis negotiators, per LCSO. A search of online public records shows the home is owned by other members of Walker's family. Walker was eventually pulled from the basement. "The home sustained damage during the incident as law enforcement worked to safely access the suspect, who remained uncooperative throughout the incident," the sheriff's office stated in a press release. Walker remains jailed on a $10,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 28. "When you've got an armed, uncooperative person hiding in a basement, there are no easy buttons," Larimer County Sheriff John Feyen added in the press release. "Our incident team showed significant patience and restraint during a long, extremely hot, and tactically difficult situation. Thanks to the extensive efforts of law enforcement and our partners, nobody died. Every single peace officer, firefighter, and medic on that call went home safely to their family. The suspect lived to have his day in court. Protecting lives is our highest priority, and the team accomplished that mission despite the many challenges they faced."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
BK Technologies Corp (BKTI) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Revenue Growth and Margin ...
Release Date: August 14, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points BK Technologies Corp (BKTI) reported a 4.5% increase in second-quarter revenue to $21.2 million, aligning with their targeted single-digit growth for 2025. Gross margin improved significantly to 47.4% from 37.3% in the same quarter of the previous year, driven by a favorable sales mix and cost reduction initiatives. The company launched Relay 1, a portable repeater kit, and received a purchase order from Larimer County Sheriff's Office, indicating strong market acceptance. BK Technologies Corp (BKTI) received substantial federal orders, including a $12.9 million order from the USDA Forest Service, highlighting their strong position in the federal communications market. The company raised its full-year gross margin target to 47% and increased its GAAP EPS target to $3.15, reflecting confidence in their business trajectory and improved operating models. Negative Points Selling, general, and administrative expenses increased slightly to $6 million, reflecting strategic investments in engineering and product development. Engineering and product development expenses rose to 10.9% of sales, primarily due to non-capitalizable development costs for new products. Sales and marketing expenses increased to 9.2% of sales, driven by the addition of new sales personnel and increased trade show participation. The backlog at the end of Q2 was lower than anticipated at $16 million, partly due to the timing of federal orders. The company remains cautious about potential changes in tariff policies, which could impact future financial performance. Q & A Highlights Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Signs with BKTI. Q: Can you elaborate on the factors driving the improved gross margin outlook? A: (Scott Mellinger, CFO) The improved gross margin is primarily driven by a more favorable tariff environment and a shift towards higher-margin products. Additionally, cost savings from outsourcing production to East-West Manufacturing have significantly contributed to this improvement. Q: How is the BKR 9,000 performing in terms of sales, and what is the sales cycle like? A: (John Suzuki, CEO) We expect to ship 2 to 3 times more BKR 9,000 radios this year compared to last year. The sales cycle for the BKR 9,000 can vary; for larger customers, it can take up to 18 months, while smaller customers might take around 6 months to make a purchase decision. Q: What is the current backlog, and how does it compare to expectations? A: (Scott Mellinger, CFO) The backlog at the end of Q2 was approximately $16 million, which was slightly lower than anticipated due to federal orders received early in July. Considering these orders, the backlog is reasonable. Q: Can you provide an update on the development of the BKR 9,500 and its market potential? A: (John Suzuki, CEO) The BKR 9,500 development is on track, and we expect to start recognizing revenue from it in 2027. The market for mobile radios like the BKR 9,500 is substantial, representing about 35-40% of the $2.3 billion U.S. device market. Q: How do you view the impact of tariffs on your financial guidance? A: (Scott Mellinger, CFO) While the tariff situation is not ideal, we believe it is mostly behind us for this year. Our products produced in Mexico and Canada are coming in tariff-free under USMCA, which gives us confidence in our gross margin guidance. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Northern Colorado crews investigate after ultralight aircraft crashes in Larimer County
Crews rushed to investigate after an ultralight aircraft crashed in Northern Colorado on Wednesday morning. The crash happened about 8:40 a.m. on Larimer County Road 2 west of LCR 21. According to Andrew Kuiken, the Division Chief of Berthoud Fire, when crews arrived, the plane with a single occupant was on fire with nearby power lines down. The NTSB and the FAA are investigating the crash. The condition of the pilot is unknown. The CBS Colorado helicopter flew above the crash scene, where two other aircraft were seen parked in the field near the crash site. Kuiken confirmed that those aircraft were flying with the third craft when it crashed.
Yahoo
12-08-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Heat-related early releases, closures possible as Poudre School District begins new year
With forecasts calling for high temperatures of 97 degrees on the first two days students return to school for the start of the 2025-26 school year, Poudre School District is reminding the community of its protocol for heat-related early releases or school closures. The district will consider, but not necessarily implement, two-hour early releases or full-day closures for all elementary and middle schools and alternative high schools other than its three mountain elementary schools, whenever: The HeatRisk Index for Larimer County, as determined by the National Weather Service, is at the red (major) or magenta (extreme) levels NWS forecasted highs of 95 degrees or above for ZIP code 80525 NWS forecasted highs of 90 degrees for three consecutive days, including weekends, for ZIP code 80525 'The meeting of these conditions does not automatically result in a heat-related early release or closure,' the protocol on the district website reads. 'As these decisions are made, the district will notify staff and families.' Schools subject to heat-related early releases and closures include all early childhood programs and elementary schools other than Livermore, Red Feather and Stove Prairie, all middle schools, Centennial High School, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School and Poudre Community Academy, according to the district policy. PSD's traditional high schools — Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge, Poudre and Rocky Mountain — all have air conditioning and would remain open, as would Timnath and Wellington middle-high schools, Poudre Global Academy and Transitions Pathways programs. Conditions at the mountain elementary schools will be monitored but remain in session unless otherwise noted, the district policy reads. The NWS forecast Aug. 11 for the 80525 ZIP code for Aug. 13, the first day of school for sixth- and ninth-graders in PSD, and Aug. 14, the first day of school for all students in the district, called for a high temperature of 97 each day. PSD is adding air conditioning to all of its school buildings that don't have it with money from the 2024 debt-free schools mill levy that was approved by voters. But it can only complete a handful of schools each year because of financial constraints and the availability of contractors to perform the work, Chief Financial Officer Dave Montoya has said in multiple presentations to the Board of Education over the past two years. Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@ and This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Heat-related early releases or closures possible as school year begins Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
06-08-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Haze from Colorado, Utah wildfires threatens air quality in Northern Colorado
Fires currently burning in western Colorado, Utah and beyond have caused the air quality in Colorado's Front Range to diminish. Health experts in Larimer County confirmed their data shows air quality has dipped in the last two days in Northern Colorado. "Right now, we are seeing quite a bit of haze and smoke, at least on the foothills," said Tom Gonzales, Larimer County's public health director. "We are seeing a worsening in air quality, slowly increasing to a moderate level." Gonzales encouraged residents in the region to consider shifting their activities to an indoor setting, citing the increase in ozone and particulates in the air. "We encourage people to look before they go out and enjoy the outdoors," Gonzales said. "The blue skies, everything looked clear, so today seemed fine," said Missy Vansickle, a Fort Collins resident who elected to go on a bike ride Tuesday. Vansickle and Meghann Schaffer recently purchased new e-bikes. "We are out riding, enjoying the sunshine and enjoying the outdoors and the heat," Vansickle said. The duo noted that they were aware of the thick plume of smoke that covered much of Northern Colorado Monday evening. "It was just so dark in the sky. As the sun set, it was just this orange glow, which just seemed unhealthy," Schaffer said. "I was concerned about it yesterday. But when we decided to come out and bike ride this morning, we checked and it looked OK. So we were like, 'We are probably safe.'" While the air quality may have been slightly better Tuesday compared to Monday, Gonzales still warned that the air quality might be more dangerous for some people. He said those who are young, elderly, or women who are pregnant should consider staying indoors during the poor air quality. He suggested people sleep with their windows shut and air conditioners on while the air quality takes a hit, noting the county has resources on the health department page that can better assist the community with knowing when to stay inside. Gonzales admitted he know Fort Collins and Northern Colorado residents are prone to getting outdoors no matter what. So he suggested residents consider doing their outdoor activities either in the early morning or late evening, citing a decrease in particulates in the air during those hours. "Limit outdoor activity, stay indoors. If you have an air purifier, great. I would close the windows. At the same time, we are having high heat with forecasts of nearly 100 through Friday," Gonzales said. "So that is a compounding concern. If people's houses are too warm, we are encouraging them to find colder spaces, public spaces such as the library, shopping center."
