Home Care In Westminster, CO

As MPs and their staff prepare to return to parliament, the political pressure on Keir Starmer’s government to deliver economic growth is ramping up.

With inflation, unemployment and the cost of government borrowing all rising, the political fundamentals aren’t looking favourable.

As Labour approaches the party conference season and what is shaping up to be a make-or-break budget, ministers have three main audiences in mind: party members, the voters, and the debt markets.

Each of these audiences will need to be convinced things can and will get better. This is the backdrop to the prime minister’s agenda for the autumn.

Reports over the summer that chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning a shake-up of council tax or scrap stamp duty, alongside a second major push on planning liberalisation, suggest she is looking for a sweet spot that offers something for those three audiences.

The government’s first Planning and Infrastructure Bill, when assessed by the Office for Budget Responsibility earlier this year, was forecast to have the potential to add nearly £7 billion in extra economic growth, increasing GDP by a full 0.4% by 2034/2035. Media reports indicated that a second bill could go even further to cut the red tape and lower the risk of judicial review faced by major infrastructure projects.

If ministers want to point to new large-scale transport and energy projects that will increase productivity and lower power bills, they know they need to do more to make them easier to build.

Further moves on planning may also have a secondary benefit for the chancellor. If the OBR verifies that a new bill would be likely to increase economic growth in the future and then forecasts higher tax revenue as a result, the measure could give the chancellor more fiscal headroom and help her meet her tight fiscal rules.

New legislation would not only help build market confidence in the UK’s growth prospects but, by speeding up major projects, could also increase the chances that voters across the country start seeing more investment in communities, more signs of building and renewed economic activity before the next general election. No 10 strategists know the political power of investments that voters can see in their own community.

Alongside a move to speed up big projects, the government will also be focusing on “investing in place”, celebrating and highlighting specific local investments around the country and seeking to make the impact of new investments visible to voters.

Ministers have already announced a specific fund to invest in local amenities around the country. The growth theme will also run through US president Donald Trump’s state visit to the UK in September. The prime minister will attempt to walk a diplomatic tightrope in his engagement with the president; looking to secure further investment from American companies in the UK’s infrastructure, technology and energy sectors.

Reeves’ storytelling over the next few months is likely to emphasise that, after years and years of low productivity, the fundamental engine of growth in Britain is broken and that she has a plan to fix it. Demonstrating to the markets that she has that plan is likely to be the key to regaining lender confidence, while delivering in a way that improves living standards is the only way to show the public there is a path through the cost-of-living crisis.

Growth has long been the number one priority for this government. But as the political situation becomes more difficult, the next few months suggest accelerating that growth will become more important than ever.

Politics.co.uk is the UK’s leading digital-only political website. for all the latest news and analysis.

The 2025 Colorado high school football season continues with a non-conference matchup as the Westminster Wolves host the Denver South Ravens on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM. The game will take place at Westminster High School in Westminster, CO, with both teams looking to kick off their seasons with a strong showing.

Game Details

? Matchup: Denver South (Denver, CO) vs Westminster (Westminster, CO)
? Date & Time: Friday, August 29, 2025 – 7:00 PM
? Location: Westminster High School, Westminster, CO
? Live Coverage: Follow live scores on MaxPreps
Fans can attend in person by purchasing digital tickets on GoFan or stream the action live on the NFHS Network (subscription: $13.99/month or $79.99/year).

Denver South Ravens

The Ravens enter the season ranked #4,802 nationally, #54 in Colorado, and #26 in their class. Known for their athleticism and balanced attack, Denver South will look to establish tempo early in this opener. Their defensive unit will be counted on to contain Westminster’s playmakers.

? 2025 Record: 0-0
? National Rank: #4,802
? State Rank: #54 (CO)
? Class Rank: #26
? Strengths: Balanced offense, defensive athleticism, experienced roster
? Key to Win: Set the pace offensively and limit Westminster’s explosive plays

Westminster Wolves

The Wolves begin the year ranked #8,636 nationally, #103 in Colorado, and #36 in their class. Westminster will look to leverage home-field advantage and build momentum in its opener. A strong defensive performance will be crucial against a Denver South team with offensive firepower.

? 2025 Record: 0-0
? National Rank: #8,636
? State Rank: #103 (CO)
? Class Rank: #36
? Strengths: Home-field advantage, physical defense, determined roster
? Key to Win: Control time of possession and force turnovers defensively

Rankings & Records

The Jubilee Hall, a Grade II-listed sports hall based on the Covent Garden piazza

A LONG-STANDING group, originally formed to save the historic Covent Garden market from bulldozers, hopes to secure the future of a community sports centre threatened with closure.

The Covent Garden Community Association announced this week it has raised funds to bid to take over the Jubilee Hall, a Grade II-listed sports hall based on the Covent Garden piazza.

The plans would see the centre remain open for sports use and the association has partnered with a gym provider to help get their bid over the line.

Last year the charity which runs the space, the Jubilee Hall Trust, said it could no longer afford high running costs and it was looking to sell the building. It was rumoured that West End landlords Shaftesbury were in talks to take on the site, but a campaign from users saw the hall listed as an ACV, asset of community value.

The trust said numbers using the hall had fallen dramatically after the Covid-19 pandemic and maintaining a listed building and dealing with soaring energy costs was too expensive.

Users and residents held a public meeting at the nearby St Paul’s Church earlier this year and vowed to fight to keep it as a community-run charity. As an official community asset in planning terms, interested community groups were given six months to put together a plan to run the site before it could be sold.

The CGCA has done just that and has put together the bid which the charity’s four remaining trustees will now consider. The association said its proposals will ensure the hall remains community-owned and accountable, and remain a sports centre focusing on fitness and wellbeing, in line with a covenant placed on the building in the late 1970s.

It added that it is working with a well-known gym group to help manage the space and it has committed to putting in £250,000 of new gym equipment, retain all staff on increased wages in line with the London Living Wage, and create a staff training programme to improve the experience for users.

There is also plan to cap profits to keep the space affordable.

Elizabeth Bax, co-chair of the association, said: “This bid is a milestone in protecting Jubilee Hall for future generations. Our community has come together to ensure the hall remains a community sports facility, with investment, fair pay for staff, and a clear plan for growth. Jubilee Hall is not just a gym, it is a vital community space in the heart of Covent Garden.”

She added the plan had the support of councillors and the “Two Cities” Labour MP Rachel Blake, as well as other community groups and residents’ associations.

The Jubilee Hall Recreation Centre opened in 1978 on a temporary basis after the Covent Garden fruit and veg market moved to Nine Elms.

Residents cleaned out the hall and set up a gym.

Jubilee Hall Trust also manages The Armoury gym in Hampstead, based in an old army barracks and drill hall, as well as a gym in the House of Commons and another in Southwark.

Jon Giles, trust chief executive, said: “We are very grateful for the community in coming together with an offer and we are also considering an offer from a large social enterprise who also specialise in running leisure spaces specifically for the community. Trustees will be working through the options carefully, to ensure that they each present a genuine and reliable proposition for Jubilee Hall to remain open for community use for years to come. Over the coming weeks we will be carry out our due diligence on both offers and will announce the preferred bidder when permitted to do so in line with agreed confidentiality terms.”

WESTMINSTER, Colo. — When 16-year-old Brody Sandoval clocked out of his last shift at Astro Fun World earlier this summer, he expected a paycheck. Weeks later, he and more than two dozen other employees are still waiting to be paid in full.

Astro Fun World, a kid-focused indoor amusement park in Westminster, closed abruptly on July 7. That day, employees received a message from owner Ron Beem stating that the business would shut down immediately, having incurred losses exceeding $500,000 in the first half of the year. He promised final paychecks were on the way. But they never came.

Soon after, Denver7 began receiving messages from frustrated families. “The business has not paid their employees in weeks,” Sandy Rogakis wrote in an email to Denver7 on July 9. “This is horrible. I think these teenagers need help in getting what is owed to them.”

Another parent, Blair Cooper, wrote an email to Denver7 on July 9. “This isn't just about my daughter; it's about all the employees who are now facing unexpected unemployment and financial hardship due to what appears to be a clear violation of labor laws,” wrote Cooper.

Former general manager Jake Roth told Denver7 that Beem had a history of financial instability.

“There were times we lost power because the electricity bill wasn’t paid. Sometimes our paychecks were delayed. But we never thought he’d just walk away,” Roth said.

Employees say they are still missing wages from the June 20 through July 4 pay periods. Roth estimates he was owed about $5,000. He informed Beem that he spoke to Denver7 about the missing paychecks, and Beem sent Roth a payment via Zelle later that night.

Others say they’re missing hundreds or even thousands in wages and tips.

On July 10, after Denver7 left a voicemail for Beem, he messaged staff claiming their checks had been mailed from his Illinois location and should arrive by July 16. But many say nothing ever came. Instead, some employees began receiving partial payments through Zelle only after being interviewed by Denver7.

“I’ve been paid, but it wasn't the full amount,” said former party host lead Anina Zicko. “What he's doing is very concerning for sure, and there's something bigger going on behind it.”

Rogakis said her son, Brody, received a payment via CashApp the night of July 22, after Denver7’s inquiries, but claims the hours appeared falsified. “He worked more than 90 hours. The stub says 62,” she said. “It doesn’t add up.”

Roth and several others have submitted demand for payment of wages forms to Beem and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE), the first step in seeking legal resolution.

“These young workers did exactly what the law asks – they submitted formal demands,” said Rydge Rath, an associate attorney at Livelihood Law Firm. “Under Colorado law, an employer has 14 days to pay in full, or they’re subject to automatic penalties up to three times the amount owed.”

Rath says wage theft is a growing issue in Colorado, especially among teen workers in lower-wage jobs. In 2022 alone, more than $720 million was stolen from Colorado workers.

Even employees who’ve received partial payments may still be eligible for legal penalties if the full amount wasn’t delivered or pay stubs were missing. Several workers told Denver7 they never received accurate documentation, making it challenging to verify hours or even file for unemployment.

“I don’t have bills to pay, but I do have a life,” said former party host Vanessa Cooper. “That money was supposed to help me start college this fall.”

Zicko, who worked at the fun center for over two years, works multiple jobs and sympathizes with her coworkers. “I just feel bad that so many of my coworkers. I hope he doesn't do this to other people.”

Brody Sandoval, one of the youngest of the group at just 16, said the experience has been disheartening. This was his first job, and he only worked there for about a month. “I got pretty excited, because I was actually going to get paid, and then nothing actually showed up.”

Roth says that Astro Fun World’s flagship location, still operating in Aurora, Illinois, has also received similar complaints. Beem is also planning to open a new location in Battle Creek, Michigan, this August.

“My number one priority is making sure that all the employees are paid for what they're owed,” Roth said. “My number two priority is that he can't do this to other people.”

Denver7 reached out to Beem by phone, email, and the Astro Fun World website multiple times. He has not responded to our interview requests or provided proof that all employees have been paid.

Suppose you are a former employee of Astro Fun World or know someone impacted. In that case, you can learn more about filing a wage complaint by visiting the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment’s website.

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Trader Joe's is a grocery store with a magical reputation. With more than 600 locations across the U.S. — 205 in 46 states, including California where the chain was born in Pasadena in 1967 — it's known for its self-branded products throughout the aisles, from snack chips to cereals and frozen food, reasonable prices and reliable quality.

The Denver area has had Trader Joe's for some years. The first location, on Colorado Boulevard, opened in 2013. ow there are nine stores in the state, from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, with Boulder in between. There are two other stores in Denver and one each in Greenwood Village, Littleton, Parker... and now,, Westminster.

The Westminster Trader Joe's opened Friday to a party atmosphere that included upbeat renditions of rock and pop songs performed by the Rocky Mountain Steel Band to entertain the lines of people waiting to enter. The festive atmosphere was interrupted by protesters from Direct Action Everywhere Colorado, an animal rights group, who gathered in front of the store to urge Trader Joe's to stop carrying chicken products from Perdue...but few shoppers were deterred.

Once the customers got inside, staff (they're called "crew members") handed each shopper a Trader Joe's shopping bag made for Colorado (true fact: Trader Joe's shopping bags, especially the Colorado ones, which have illustrations of the mountains and sporty lifestyle, are very popular and treasured gifts in Japan, where there are no Trader Joe's).

Each section of the 9,000-square-feet store, from produce to the deli to the refrigerated and frozen sections, as well as the aisle of snacks, canned good and bakery, was jam-packed with customers who are already true believers of the chain's curated product mix, and with curious newbies who just had t check it out for while it's brand-new.

Alex Crone, a crew member who was helping manage the grand opening chaos, describes the company as "I think it combines fun and groceries, which is just a crazy combination, but it's worked for almost sixty years, and customers love it."

He adds that employees love it too. "And then the company really gives the support to the team, where we have more employees than most stores, you know, most companies, really, and we have more support on the floor. We don't have self checkout. It's about the people, it's interaction, and it's fun, like we try to keep a good vibe going."

One thing that Denver area customers don't think has been a good vibe is the parking, particularly at its stores in Denver on Logan Street and Colorado Boulevard, as well as in Boulder, is the parking at Trader Joe's. Crone is diplomatic and says, "So it depends on the real estate, where we can get in and all that. But it is a corporate decision."

It's true, that many Trader Joe's in other states have plenty of parking. And the new Westminster one, which is in a strip mall a few doors down from Barnes & Noble, has plenty of parking that doesn't require steering through a maze of one-way spots.

Crone acknowledges that this market has requested a location in the northern part of the metro area "for a long time."

Now there is one to serve everyone who lives in a northern 'burbs. Grab your Trader Joe's shopping bag and head on up!

The new Trader Joe's is at 9350 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster, and open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Find more information at traderjoes.com.