Breaking news reporter
Lauren Penington
Lauren Penington is a breaking news reporter at The Denver Post. Before joining the Post in 2023, she wrote for Law Week Colorado, the Lincoln Journal Star in Nebraska and more.
Born and raised in Colorado, Lauren studied journalism and political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln before returning home to Parker. When she's not in the newsroom, Lauren enjoys concerts (especially at Red Rocks), crossing national parks off her bucket list and hiking in the mountains.
Featured Stories

Rising popularity, cost of e-books forces some Colorado libraries to limit access
The boom in e-book popularity is accompanied by a rise in cost, forcing some Colorado libraries to limit who can access their highly sought-after digital collections.

Final arsonist in Green Valley Ranch fire that killed 5 members of Senegalese family is sentenced to 60 years in prison
“The sentencing of Kevin Bui marks the end of one of the darkest chapters in Denver’s history,” Deputy District Attorney Courtney Johnston said during the hearing.

Colorado victims of childhood sex abuse, blocked by state Supreme Court, hold out hope for future chance at justice
The Wetzler sisters were preparing to file a lawsuit under Child Sexual Abuse Accountability Act when a unanimous decision by the Colorado Supreme Court on June 20 struck down the...
All Stories

Southbound I-25 reopens in Douglas County after crash
Southbound I-25 reopened near Larkspur in Douglas County after a Tuesday morning crash and vehicle fire, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

One killed, two injured in I-225 rollover crash with ride-hail vehicle
One of the rideshare passengers died at the scene of the crash, Aurora police said. Paramedics took the driver and a second passenger to the hospital with serious injuries.

Colorado weather: Record heat returns to Denver, northern part of state
Denver has broken or tied the March heat record three times this month and is on track to break it again on Wednesday, according to the weather service.

19-year-old gets 35 years in prison for murder in Denver shooting
The fatal shooting happened just after 9 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2025, near the intersection of South Sheridan Boulevard and West Wyoming Place, Denver police said.

Woman shot, killed while driving in Aurora parking lot
Police are searching for suspects after a woman was fatally shot Saturday night while driving in a northwest Aurora apartment complex parking lot, officials said.

Evacuations lifted for 7,300-acre wildfire near Fort Carson
As of Monday morning, the 24 fire near Fort Carson had charred 7,385 acres in Fremont and El Paso counties with no containment, according to the Fremont County Sheriff's Office.

2 killed in suspected DUI crash on I-25 in Lone Tree
Two people died early Sunday morning in a suspected drunken driving crash that shut down northbound Interstate 25 for hours in Douglas County, according to Lone Tree officials.

No word ICE is coming to Denver airport, officials say, as agents start assisting with security nationwide
Denver International Airport is not on a list obtained by CNN of 13 airports where deployments of federal immigration agents were expected Monday.

Former Douglas County STEM teacher gets 14 years for child sex exploitation
A former Douglas County teacher was sentenced this month to more than a decade in prison after initiating a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student in 2024, sheriff's officials said.

Denver weather: City’s first 90-degree day of 2026 forecast amid record-breaking heat
Above-normal temperatures are expected to continue in Denver this week as the city's first 90-degree day of 2026 enters the forecast, according to the National Weather Service.