Editorial: Ag Secretary: Let’s hope late nomination does not suggest agriculture is an afterthought
Much has been made of the fact that incoming President Donald Trump’s support centered on the heartland, while Hillary Clinton’s came from more populous cities and coastal areas.
For that reason, it’s surprising that he would delay so long in nominating someone to head the Department of Agriculture.
In naming former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue late Wednesday evening, he chose someone with a valuable ag background. Perdue grew up on a farm and earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Georgia is not one of the top-10 ag states. The cattle industry is strong there, but it is run differently than the cattle industry of the West. Still, Perdue knows something about the topic, which is a relief.
Colorado’s federal courts announce preparations if shutdown is prolonged
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
The federal trial and appeals courts headquartered in Denver have announced anticipated changes to their operations should the lapse in congressional appropriations be prolonged, with Oct. 17 being a critical date for the judiciary. In an Oct. 1 letter to...
Colorado bingo night: It’s all about the prizes, not so much the charity
David Migoya
david.migoya@gazette.com
Updated 34 minutes ago
It’s a Thursday night at Bingo Oasis in Northglenn. Located on the outer edge of a nondescript strip mall just west of I-25, it has a simple façade sign advertising what goes on behind the mirrored and postered windows: BINGO. ...
Colorado allocates $7.5M for food assistance program for women and children amid federal shutdown
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
The federal government shutdown prompted the Colorado General Assembly’s budget writers to take action on Tuesday, allocating additional funds to the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) food program. The state portion of the federal program falls under the Department of...
Air Force Academy, Peterson and Schriever to see closures during shutdown
Mary Shinn
mary-shinn@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 19 minutes ago
The Air Force Academy and Peterson and Schriever Space Force Bases announced Wednesday that some functions are closed because some civilian employees are furloughed. The academy announced on its website that the planetarium will not host any public shows and...
Colorado lawmakers trade blame over federal government shutdown, call on the other side to bend
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 15 hours ago
Colorado’s Democratic and Republican lawmakers dug in Wednesday, as the federal government entered its first shutdown in nearly seven years after Congress failed to approve rival stopgap spending plans put forward by the two parties the night before. Both sides...
Appeals court agrees Lochbuie cannot challenge alleged lack of services from library district
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 hours ago
Colorado’s second-highest court concluded last week that the town of Lochbuie cannot challenge the alleged lack of services its residents are receiving from a Weld County library district that has been in existence for four decades. However, a three-judge Court...
Air traffic controllers report to work, as Denver airports brace for impact should federal shutdown linger
Deborah Smith
deborah.smith@denvergazette.com
Updated 39 minutes ago
After Democrats and Republicans failed to agree on a plan to keep the U.S. government funded, several federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, are preparing to wait out another government shutdown, the first since 2019. The FAA posted a...
For now, shutdown’s impact is minimal on Colorado government, though officials say state will see ripple effects if it persists
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 17 hours ago
Colorado officials do not not expect to see major impacts on Colorado-run programs or its workforce for the first week of the federal shutdown, though the state stands to feel the strain, particularly if the stoppage goes into the second...
Parents, advocates sue Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado health agency over cuts to autism services
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 19 hours ago
The Colorado government is facing a lawsuit from a behavioral health association over cuts to autism funding. After the passage of the Congressional budget in July, Gov. Jared Polis and lawmakers had cut more than $250 million from the state...
10th Circuit orders resentencing after government concedes man’s serious probation violation cannot stand
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
The Denver-based federal appeals court granted an unusual joint request between the prosecution and the defense on Wednesday, directing a judge to resentence a man who was incorrectly found guilty of a severe probation violation. There are multiple classifications of...