Julie Leonardi

Recent Articles

  • Smoker stolen from front steps of new Denver barbecue restaurant

    DENVER — Owners of a new barbecue restaurant opened their doors to the public last week. The Hungry Wolf was open for business not even three days before their meat smoker was stolen just steps from their front door. The family-owned business lost a hefty amount in revenue for several days before a friend loaned them another smoker. “It’s been a lot of work, a lot of time and effort,” said Deja Williams of The Hungry Wolf. Deja and her […]

  • Water line bursts for third time in a year, frustrating nearby business owners

    DENVER — On Monday, cleanup was completed along West Evans Avenue in Denver where a water line burst on Friday afternoon. Business owners are frustrated; this is the third time the line has burst within a year. Roads had to be closed as part of the pavement caved in, forming a large hole. At least two feet of water filled nearby buildings. It’s not the first time this exact pipe burst. The same thing happened before both in May and […]

  • Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office turning to social media to apprehend fugitives

    ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — Gone are the days of faces on milk cartons and most wanted flyers posted on street corners. Now, many local law enforcement agencies like the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office are turning to social media to find criminals and make sure the community knows who and what to look out for. Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, Julie Brooks, said the department uses five different platforms to spread information and photos to target certain neighborhoods. “By […]

  • Denver gay couple say they were stabbed for holding hands

    DENVER — A night out with friends turned into a real-life nightmare for a Denver couple. The two men were just a few blocks from home when they said a man yelled homophobic slurs at them, then attacked the couple with a knife. They believe they were targeted because they were holding hands. The two said it happened just after midnight Sunday, but they don’t want this attack to define them. The Denver Police Department has arrested a man for […]

  • Wallet Hub ranks Denver No. 4 best city for youths to find summer jobs

    DENVER — Many teens are looking for part-time summer work to keep busy and save up for college. But these days, seasonal employment is hard to come by. Denver’s Water World amusement park is the largest youth employer in the North Metro area by employing one-thousand teens each summer. High school senior Grant Eppe has worked at Water World for two summers and has learned real-world skills in just a limited amount of time. Eppe has moved up to customer […]

  • Thousands raised for family of Arvada woman killed in motorcycle accident

    GOLDEN, Colo. — A fundraiser was held on Saturday to help and Arvada woman’s family after she was killed in a motorcycle accident on April 14. Maxine Maes-Benkowski, 47 was killed when she was thrown from her bike after it hit a deep pot hole on Ward Road. Hundreds of motorcyclists rode in her honor through Golden and ended at a local bar where an auction was held to raise money for the Benkowski children and grandchildren. The local non-profit […]

  • Finders of lost iPad hope to reunite the device with owner via social media

    DENVER — A Denver couple has been trying for more than a month now to reunite a lost iPad with the owner. They posted a family photo found on the home screen to social media, but no takers yet. The couple tells the Problem Solvers they found they device on a light rail train and figured the best way to keep it safe was to hold onto it themselves until the owners use the ‘find my iPad’ feature. But, that […]

  • Colorado man recounts car collision with moose that sent him to hospital

    JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — Two run-ins on the road with wildlife in Jefferson County happened in just 24 hours. A woman hit a mountain lion on Highway 285 Thursday morning and Wednesday morning another woman hit a bear on I-70 near mile marker 251. Additionally, two people recounted stories of their recent collisions with moose on Highway 125 in north central Colorado. One man shared details on the terrifying moments after he woke up bleeding from the head. David Greene […]

  • Denver residents gather for community meeting ahead of search for new police chief

    DENVER— The city of Denver wants feedback on the next police chief. Current chief Robert White announced in April he would be retiring, but until a new leader is chosen, the city wants community members to weigh in. Five community meetings will be held over the new few weeks, the first was held Tuesday in Green Valley Ranch. The city informed residents who attended that the search will only be internal, not nationwide. “Citizens have to have a say in […]

  • Stickers are everywhere, especially for Saul

    Stickers are everywhere. Get in your car, there’s a sticker telling you what your tire pressure should be. Open your microwave, there is a sticker telling you the wattage. Go in your kid’s bedroom, and, well, you get the point. Most of us probably don’t give stickers a thought on any given day. But, for Sticker Giant, in Longmont, their enthusiasm for stickers is what drives them. “Our passion is to help others tell their stories,” says Jesse Freitas, Sticker […]

  • Thousands run in Denver’s Colfax Marathon

    DENVER– It was perfect running weather Sunday morning as thousands of people participated in the Colfax marathon that kicked off at 6 a.m. in City Park. Denver’s only marathon started 13 years ago and has continued to grow, attracting runners from out of state and even out of the country. 20,000 people over the course of 2 days ran the full marathon in addition to 3 other races. Friends and family stood along the course cheering on the runners. “Conditions, […]

  • Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan remembered at funeral

    AURORA, Colo. — On Saturday, dozens of people filled the Heritage Christian Center in Aurora to celebrate the life and legacy of Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan. Hogan died last Sunday after a battle with cancer. He was 69 years old. The mayor was elected in 2011 and was instrumental in unifying the community after the theater shooting in 2012 that killed 12 people. Hogan was a well-respected city leader who was considered “the heart of Aurora.” His friend Rick Crandall […]