EDITORIAL: The CIRCLE program
The state has a lot of explaining to do.
This past week, The Chieftain reported that the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo was closing – at least temporarily – its high-powered CIRCLE program, which treats patients who are both mentally ill and have addiction problems.
Two Pueblo Democratic state legislators – Rep. Daneya Esgar and Sen. Leroy Garcia – along with Sen. Larry Crowder, R-Alamosa, have been pushing state officials to explain what’s going on.
Historically, the state hospital has struggled to hire enough staff to treat its demanding patients. And in today’s health care market, in which there is a nursing shortage nearly everywhere, CMHIP is struggling even more than usual. In fact, state officials told The Chieftain on Thursday an emergency staffing situation caused the shutdown.
Colorado, some Coloradans make appearances in the Epstein Files
RACHAEL WRIGHT Special to The Gazette
rachael-wright-special-to-the-gazette@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
With the U.S. Department of Justice’s release of 3 million more files pertaining to convicted sex felon Jeffrey Epstein, multiple written mentions of alleged connections to Colorado towns and business owners have come to light. A word search of the documents for “Colorado” generates 1,485 hits, with inquiries for cities including Denver and Aspen generating several thousands more. Chad...
New Mexico launches ‘truth commission’ investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s ranch | OUT WEST ROUNDUP
The Associated Press
the-associated-press@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 days ago
NEW MEXICO State investigates Epstein’s ranch SANTA FE — State legislators in New Mexico launched an investigation on Feb. 17 into past activity at a secluded desert ranch where financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein once entertained guests and whether...
Colorado’s federal judges maintain approach to immigration detentions while escalating warnings
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
Colorado’s federal judges are maintaining their view that the government’s assertion of broad immigration detention authority is unlawful, casting aside a recent appellate decision to the contrary as “unpersuasive” and out of step with the predominant interpretation by the judiciary....
In a meeting Colorado GOP chair Brita Horn calls ‘illegal,’ Republicans vote to demand her resignation
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 15 hours ago
Roughly half the membership of the Colorado Republican Party’s state central committee on Saturday voted overwhelmingly to approve a resolution expressing “no confidence” in state GOP Chairman Brita Horn’s leadership and calling for her immediate resignation in an online meeting...
Colorado Medicaid probe uncovers millions of dollars in alleged transport fraud ring
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 19 hours ago
Colorado Medicaid officials detected $25 million in abnormal billing over just four months two years ago — a surge that prompted a new state law and the suspension of dozens of providers in what authorities now describe as an organized...
One small step for dialing back the partisanship | SONDERMANN
Eric Sondermann
eric-sondermann@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Much ink, including a good deal of my own, has been spilled on the excesses of super-charged, toxic partisanship in this current era. Except for true believers along with those who profit from this all-consuming poison, there is broad agreement...
Greeley voters to decide fate of project that includes minor league hockey arena
Hap Fry, Special to The Gazette
hap-fry@gazette.com
Updated 19 hours ago
GREELEY • The fate of the Cascadia development — and quite possibly the future direction of the city — is in the hands of Greeley voters this Tuesday during a special city election on whether the landscape-altering project should be...
Colorado Politics Calendar Feb. 23-Mar. 1
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 days ago
CoPo’s weekly political calendar helps you find political and public policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances,...
Meeker rancher leads one of Colorado’s earliest attempts to transfer federal lands | A LOOK BACK
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Forty-Five Years Ago This Week: Former state Rep. Nick Theos, R-Meeker, was one of several people testifying before the Senate Agriculture Committee on Senate Bill 81-170, which would transfer ownership of public lands from the federal government to state control....
Democrats Michael Bennet, Phil Weiser make their cases to be Colorado’s next governor ahead of primary
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Nearly eight months before ballots will be counted in Colorado’s race for the its open gubernatorial seat, voters are lining up behind two of the state’s leading Democrats, who are facing off in a primary that will likely determine which...