Colorado Politics

 Colorado justices approve changes to rules governing magistrates’ decisions

The Colorado Supreme Court recently approved a set of revisions to the rules governing magistrates, which judges have long recognized as confusing. Although the justices adopted the package in early September, they later changed how the rules take effect. Originally,...

 Colorado River crisis deepens as 7 states miss deadline for water management plan

The seven states that share the Colorado River blew past the Nov. 11 deadline without reaching even a framework for how to manage the shrinking river after 2026. According to the acting head of the Bureau of Reclamation, Scott Cameron,...

 Justice Melissa Hart on unexplained ‘leave of absence’ from Colorado Supreme Court

Justice Melissa Hart is on a leave of absence from the Colorado Supreme Court – with no end date and no general explanation why. A spokesperson for the Colorado Judicial Department confirmed to Colorado Politics that Hart has been on...

 Denver’s new women’s soccer stadium to feature all-electric design

The national women’s soccer stadium to be built in Denver could be all electric. During the South Platte River committee meeting on Wednesday, Summit FC owner Robert Cohen said it would likely become the third all-electric stadium to be built...

 Colorado Supreme Court addresses ‘weaponization’ of paraprofessional program by loosening rules

The Colorado Supreme Court recently revised the rules governing the state’s relatively new legal paraprofessional program after hearing complaints that procedural barriers were preventing adequate representation of clients and generating unnecessary courtroom disputes. Last year, the court hosted a groundbreaking...

 Polis’ budget proposal faces backlash over Medicaid and Pinnacol deal

Gov. Jared Polis’ proposed state budget for 2026-27 drew sharp criticism Wednesday from the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, as lawmakers from both parties criticized plans to slow Medicaid spending growth and to rely on a deal to privatize Pinnacol Assurance....

 Denver Police Department celebrates 3 officers for acts of kindness

Three Denver police officers were recognized on Wednesday for extraordinary acts of compassion while on duty. The civilian awards, presented by the nonprofit organization Citizens Appreciate Police, were given to Capt. Daniel Morehead, Ofc. Robert Anderson, and Ofc. Michael Barrios....

 White House dances around Trump officials meeting with Lauren Boebert on Epstein files

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sidestepped repeated questions from reporters regarding reports that top Trump administration officials met with Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-CO, to discuss the Justice Department case files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The meeting was allegedly to pressure Boebert not to...

 House returns for vote to end the government shutdown after nearly 2 months away

WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers made a long-awaited return to the nation’s capital on Wednesday after nearly eight weeks away to potentially put an end to the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. The House is scheduled to take...

 With their government contracts in limbo, small businesses await a historic shutdown’s end

NEW YORK (AP) — The end of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history would be a relief for small businesses that depend on federal contracts or funding. For seven weeks, they’ve been reducing spending, weighing layoffs and looking for...

 Douglas County school board rejects charter school renewal proposal, tackles transgender policy

The outgoing members of the Douglas County School District board spent their final meeting on Tuesday debating a last-minute proposal to amend charter school contract renewal timelines. The current board also discussed – but took no action on a proposal...

 Jefferson County declares emergency over stalled SNAP funds

Calling it a “humanitarian crisis,” Jefferson County has declared an emergency disaster as uncertainty over the federal food stamp program hangs in the air. The county issued the order on Saturday, allowing the county to create an emergency operations center...

 Senate votes to ban intoxicating hemp products nationally

Legislation passed by the U.S. Senate late Monday will ban nearly all hemp-derived THC products, despite Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul’s attempts to block the hemp-ban language from a part of the GOP-proposed deal designed to end the government shutdown.  Eight Democrats...

 Colfax revitalization begins after Aurora voters approve downtown development authority

Aurora city officials will take the next steps in revitalizing the Colfax Avenue corridor after voters approved the creation of a downtown development authority by a wide margin last week. Councilmembers in July unanimously approved taking the question to voters,...

 Colorado congressman backs bills to help veterans

Colorado Congressman Jason Crow, D-Aurora, is working with Republicans on a slate of bills to help address tough issues facing veterans, such as high rates of ALS and suicide.  The bills were expected to be introduced this week as the...

 Divided 10th Circuit lets Colorado enforce interest rate cap on out-of-state banks

The Denver-based federal appeals court ruled on Monday that Colorado may use a decades-old provision of federal law to require out-of-state banks to abide by Colorado’s maximum interest rates when they lend to in-state residents. A three-judge panel of the...

 Gov. Jared Polis seeks $12M to house suspects declared incompetent

Colorado is planning to invest up to $12 million to fund additional commitment beds for individuals declared incompetent to proceed to trial, Gov. Jared Polis has announced. In a recent news conference on the state budget, Polis announced plans to...

 Colorado Supreme Court suspends rules for ‘Indian child’ welfare cases

The Colorado Supreme Court suspended its rules last week that govern how judges handle custody cases when an “Indian child” is involved. The court’s move came after the legislature enacted extensive changes this year, partially in response to Supreme Court...

 Douglas County school board to discuss policy on transgender athletes

The Douglas County School District’s governing body, currently made up of a conservative majority, is discussing sports policy as it applies to transgender athletes right before four new progressive-leaning school board members are set to take over in about two...

 Outgoing Douglas County School Board to vote on last-minute 10-year charter school extensions

Lame duck elected leaders do not get held accountable for their actions. They have already been voted out or have reached the end of their term limits. Four conservative Douglas County school board members, voted out in last week’s election,...

 Appeals judge raises questions about review of custody decisions

A member of Colorado’s second-highest court suggested last week that appellate judges should have more leeway to decide whether trial judges correctly terminate or decline to terminate parents’ legal rights over their children. At the same time, the three-judge Court...

 Colorado’s Democratic senators slam deal to end shutdown, vow to fight for health care tax credits

Colorado’s two Democratic U.S. senators voted against a bipartisan deal reached Sunday to end the longest federal government shutdown in history, blasting the package’s failure to extend some health insurance tax credits. The full Senate passed spending legislation late Monday...

 U.S. Senate passes bill to end shutdown

HOUSE VOTE EXPECTED AS SOON AS WEDNESDAY WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate passed a major funding package on Monday night that is likely to bring to an end the longest partial government shutdown in history. On a 60-40 vote, the...

 Amid outbursts, Colorado Springs City Council postpones proposed vehicle camping ban

After about three hours of presentation, discussion and public comment, Colorado Springs City Council voted 5-4 Monday to postpone a proposal that would add a vehicle camping ban to city ordinances pertaining to illegal urban camping and consolidate them for...

 Denver council rejects 2026 budget, but mayor’s $1.66B spending plan will still govern operations

The Denver City Council rejected Mayor Mike Johnston’s $1.66 billion spending plan, but the proposal, as amended, will still govern operations, as the charter requires the city to have a budget in place by Nov. 12. In a split 6-6...

 El Pomar releases $1.5 million for food assistance to Colorado communities

El Pomar Foundation is releasing $1.5 million in immediate aid for food assistance that will be distributed to 112 nonprofit organizations across Colorado this week, the organization announced Monday. The move is in response to “increasing food prices and growing...

 Retired Army battlefield medic serves community though direct primary care practice

Jennifer Hawkins has spent her entire adult life caring for people. From her initial enlistment in the Army as a practical nursing specialist, to the tour she spent in Afghanistan, Hawkins has prioritized the well-being of others. Even her stint...

 County court judge suspended pending investigation, Supreme Court committee advances eviction rule | COURT CRAWL

Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. A San Miguel County judge is on suspension pending a misconduct investigation, plus a Colorado Supreme Court committee advanced a rule change designed to benefit...

 Colorado office serving people with disabilities faces budget crunch amid federal shutdown

A Colorado agency that helps people with disabilities with job training and career counseling is operating with just a quarter of its budget amid a federal funding freeze and significant cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, according to disability...

 New Jeffco Public Schools board members talk transparency, budget

The Jeffco Public Schools Board of Education will look a bit different going into next year. During the Nov. 4 elections, Jefferson County residents voted in three new board members in the five-person board, all while voting out incumbent School...