EDITORIAL: GOCO audit is good news for conservation advocates
A long-awaited audit of Great Outdoors Colorado is out and, as it turns out, there was no reason for officials to resist, as its findings were mostly positive.
Last year we were among those calling for an audit in the face of resistance from the heads of Great Outdoors Colorado, commonly known as GOCO. It seemed suspicious enough that we are relieved the audit found minimal quibbles with how the state agency is run.
GOCO is tasked in the Colorado Constitution with administering millions of dollars in lottery proceeds every year for the benefit of Colorado parks, open spaces and wildlife. The entity is outside traditional state governance, and last week the state auditor released the first performance audit of the program.
10th Circuit dismisses paralyzed man’s claims against Colorado Springs, officer
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
The Denver-based federal appeals court upheld the dismissal last week of a man’s excessive force claims against the city of Colorado Springs and the officer who tased him, causing him to fall down a sloped surface and break his neck....
Powell will attend Supreme Court hearing on Trump power to fire Fed governor
Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner
zach.halaschak.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 14 hours ago
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court for a case in which President Donald Trump is testing the bounds of his power by attempting to fire a member of the central bank’s board of...
Pentagon orders 1,500 active-duty troops to prepare for Minnesota deployment
David Zimmermann Washington Examiner
davidzimmermannwashingtonexaminer@wpstage.coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
The Pentagon has ordered roughly 1,500 active-duty troops to remain on standby for a possible deployment to Minnesota, where anti-ICE protests are prevalent after an officer-involved shooting that killed a woman. Tensions between federal and state officials are growing increasingly...
With guidelines expiring, federal agency releases draft plan for Colorado River operations
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
Two months after the seven states of the Colorado River basin failed to reach consensus on managing the waterway, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation issued a set of proposed alternatives. The alternatives are familiar concepts, including “no action” — an...
Colorado justices weigh overlap between child prostitution offenses
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 17 hours ago
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court last week appeared willing to uphold a man’s conviction for an attempted child prostitution offense, which the state’s second-highest court previously found to be a violation of his right to equal protection under the...
State Supreme Court holds oral arguments, 10th Circuit revives dormant initiative | COURT CRAWL
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 17 hours ago
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. The state Supreme Court heard oral arguments last week in multiple civil and criminal cases, plus the Denver-based federal appeals court is doing something unusual...
Denver gas prices surge but diesel mix-up not to blame, expert says
Dan Boniface
dan.boniface@denvergazette.com
Updated 12 hours ago
Denver gas prices surged 16.6 cents per gallon last week, but one expert said the public should not blame the hike on a recent diesel mix-up that damaged hundreds of vehicles and contaminated nearly 50 gas stations. “No, it has...
Flock cameras assist in road rage shooting arrest in Douglas County
Dan Boniface
dan.boniface@denvergazette.com
Updated 15 hours ago
Douglas County deputies on Monday said Flock Safety cameras were critical in an investigation that led to the arrest of a road rage shooting suspect. Deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said 43-year-old Mitchell Aaron Weber was arrested Saturday...
Colorado governor insists local officers can work with DEA agents amid non-cooperation law
The Denver Gazette
the-denver-gazette@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday insisted that local law enforcement officers in Colorado can — and should — work with federal drug enforcement authorities to go after criminal activity. An official of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency earlier said Colorado’s...
Is a pardon for Tina Peters coming? Colorado governor confirms he is weighing options
The Denver Gazette
the-denver-gazette@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 12 hours ago
Gov. Jared Polis on Friday strongly indicated he is considering clemency for Tina Peters, the former county clerk convicted of a security breach at her election office. When pressed about the matter, Polis didn’t offer an explicit answer, but he...