? The City of Boulder is many things to many people, sometimes largely depending on your personal, political views. Some view them as one of the more forward-thinking local governments, others call them the “People’s Republic of Boulder.” Well, a story in the Boulder Camera reported that since the city is running out of space to develop, it wants the county to butt out of its land use decisions. Seems one of those intergovernmental agreements – this one reached way back to 1977 – called for four government bodies belonging to the city and county to agree on what each other does with the land at hand. Growth and time may end up changing this long-standing intergovernmental agreement.

? Denver’s ordinance that bans homeless people from camping on sidewalks and other public property could be in some hot water, depending on how an upcoming trial develops. Denverite.com reported three homeless defendants are challenging their tickets, issued last fall, and have pled not guilty. The story noted attorneys for the three people planned at least some of their defense on the outcome of a similar trial in Boulder, where that city’s homeless camping ordinance was a key part.

? Transportation has been in state Capitol headlines since the legislative session began in January, with state voters likely to be asked to boost sales taxes to help address maintenance and new construction needs. But CBS4 reported there’s another looming funding crisis and it could affect fire and ambulance services, especially in rural areas. It has to do with the conflict between two state constitutional amendments, Gallagher and TABOR. And like transportation, it will likely mean another statewide vote to decide how much money is available to treat the sick and injured and respond to wildfires.

? Denver’s Regional Transportation District spends more than $15,000 a year on tables at awards dinners and memberships, according to a story on the Watchdog.org website. But few elected directors responsible for RTD’s oversight attend those events, and they are not sure why the money is being spent or how it benefits the district or taxpayers.

? At the top of many people’s aggravating-but-I-have-to-do-it lists is likely going to the local department of motor vehicles office, taking a number and waiting and waiting to renew your vehicle registration. Well, maybe not, if you live in Arapahoe County. The Aurora Sentinel reported the county – with the state’s busiest DMV offices last year – is now the first in the state to use automated kiosks. There is a trade-off, though: a $3 transaction fee, and they can’t handle any transaction that requires proof of emissions inspection. But they seem to be cutting down hours and hours to just minutes, so here’s hoping other counties are watching.

? As the U.S. Senate started deliberations and vote-taking on the confirmation of Colorado’s Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, Denver residents were met with a billboard advertising campaign, according to Denverite.com. Reading “The only wall we need is between church and state,” the signs refer both to President Trump’s planned border wall, but also a message for Gorsuch. The Freedom From Religion Foundation and its local branch said the “church and state” part of the message referred to Gorsuch’s previous rulings on government and religion.

? While many Colorado restaurants worried the minimum wage increase adopted by voters would cause them headaches, another development seems to be causing them to lose workers: the legal marijuana industry. The Denver Business Journal reported a longstanding restaurant labor shortage has been compounded by marijuana business that can offer wages of $22 an hour and full benefits. And they couldn’t resist the line, say it with me: “Their workers are going to pot.”