The Boulder Daily Camera editorial: Grand jury should investigate Firestone blast
As the reality sank in last week that a cut, live flow line from an oil and gas well caused a home in Firestone to explode, killing two well-known members of the tight-knit community and severely injuring a third, it became obvious again how much the state of Colorado relies on the industry to police itself.
Matt Lepore, director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, said this:
“I would like to think anybody that turns on a gas line knows where it’s going to go, where it ends up.”
Imagine that. The man at the helm of the agency charged with regulating this dangerous industry would like to think so. Wouldn’t we all.
10th Circuit rebuffs Jeffco’s attempt to expand immunity footprint
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 hour ago
The Denver-based federal appeals court confirmed on Wednesday that it would not treat a judge’s decision to move a civil case forward as the automatic equivalent of denying immunity to governmental officials. The order from the U.S. Court of Appeals...
Colorado Supreme Court to hear cases on witness retaliation, slip-and-fall
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will decide whether defendants can be convicted of retaliating against a victim or witness when that person has not yet testified and is not scheduled to testify. At least three of...
Polis delivers final state address to Colorado legislature
Colorado Politics
colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
Gov. Jared Polis delivered his final State of the State address to the Colorado General Assembly this morning and outlined his agenda for this year’s legislative session, with a focus on housing, early childhood development, and the economy. He expectedly...
Colorado Supreme Court struggles with rubric for significant reductions in parenting time
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court attempted to identify on Wednesday the circumstances under which judges may reduce the number of days a parent spends with their child post-divorce without it rising to the level of a “restriction” that requires more rigorous...
Douglas County Sheriff, DA sue Polis administration over immigration policy
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 21 seconds ago
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly and District Attorney George Brauchler filed a lawsuit against Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, challenging the constitutionality of a state statute on immigration visas. Filed on Wednesday, the suit also named Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser,...
Colorado justices wary of expanding rezoning by ballot initiative
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court appeared wary on Wednesday of allowing rezonings of planned-unit developments to occur through a vote at the ballot box, rather than a municipality’s detailed review process that accounts for specific factors. In contrast to traditional, or...
In Tina Peters appeal, judges telegraph some degree of reversal | ANALYSIS
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 19 hours ago
Former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters seems poised to walk away from the state’s Court of Appeals with her criminal convictions largely intact, even as a three-judge appellate panel raised concerns about her sentence and one specific conviction. Peters, a...
Colorado House introduces first 20 bills of 2026 session, prioritizing housing, labor and consumer protections
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
Lawmakers from Colorado’s House of Representatives have introduced their first 20 bills of the session, which are often their top priorities for the year. In 2026, priorities include labor unions, increased affordable housing, and consumer protections. The very first bill...
Senate Republicans defeat Venezuela war powers resolution as Trump pressures 2 GOP senators to flip
Stephen Groves
stephen.groves@associatedpress.com
Updated 7 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted to dismiss a war powers resolution Wednesday that would have limited President Donald Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks on Venezuela after two GOP senators reversed course on supporting the legislation. Trump put intense...
Colorado Senate kicks off 2026 session with bills on competency law, housing, schools and public safety
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 22 hours ago
The Colorado Senate opened the 2026 legislative session Wednesday with a flurry of policy proposals, including changes to the state’s competency law, tougher penalties for child trafficking, early action on school funding and measures addressing housing, firearms and immigration enforcement....