EDITORIAL: The power of an emergency declaration
Earlier this week, it appeared that the Trump administration would forgo calling the opioid epidemic in the United States a health emergency.
It could have made sense, because previous emergencies had been called in response to specific health threats, such as the zika virus or 2009 flu virus outbreak. Those called for specific measures from doctors and hospitals that could blunt the advance of a crisis.
On Thursday, however, the president himself seemed to overrule the opinion of his secretary of health and human services, telling reporters in New Jersey that paperwork was being prepared that would, indeed, declare a national state of emergency.
Governor Polis abruptly cancels unpublicized meeting with Joint Budget Committee
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 6 minutes ago
On Nov. 1, the governor is required to submit a budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year to the Joint Budget Committee. Gov. Jared Polis was scheduled to talk to the media at 12:30 p.m. Friday at the Governor’s Mansion...
Colorado Democrat Joe Neguse calls on House GOP to end ‘paid vacation,’ hold town halls | TRAIL MIX
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 hour ago
After concluding the 17th in-person town hall he’s held this year — more than every other member of Colorado’s U.S. House delegation combined — Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse vented frustration over the state’s Republican lawmakers’ refusal to schedule any...
Federal judge hears testimony, arguments over whether to order ICE to follow warrantless arrest law
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
A federal judge heard testimony on Thursday from multiple noncitizens who were arrested by immigration officers in Colorado this year, and arguments from their attorneys that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is violating the legal standard for conducting warrantless arrests....
Colorado lawmakers sign off on $10 million for food assistance as SNAP benefits are poised to run out
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
A panel of Colorado legislators on Thursday approved a $10 million cash infusion into food assistance for residents who are expected to lose food stamp benefits starting on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown. But state policymakers and budget staffers...
Candidates in Adams County rake in thousands
Kyla Pearce
kyla.pearce@gazette.com
Updated 16 hours ago
Candidates in Adams County, Commerce City, Thornton and Northglenn secured thousands in the final weeks of this year’s election season. Here are their latest campaign finance report. Commerce City The Commerce City City Council has nine members with four seats...
Candidates for Aurora Public Schools board raise thousands
Kyla Pearce
kyla.pearce@gazette.com
Updated 16 hours ago
Incumbent Anne Keke is leading the fundraising race for the Aurora Public Schools board, reporting $25,435 as of Oct. 27. Major contributors to Keke’s campaign included the Aurora Council for Teachers and Students, which gave more than $10,000, and Communications...
Colorado officials launch investigation into ICE encounter during Durango protest
Nick Smith
nick-smith@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 19 hours ago
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is investigating an immigration officer accused of shoving a woman to the ground during a protest in Durango, the agency announced on Thursday. The protest was sparked outside of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office...
Denver mayor announces food assistance task force as SNAP benefits set to expire Saturday
Michael Braithwaite
michael.braithwaite@gazette.com
Updated 16 hours ago
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced a new food task force on Thursday to help residents who might have a difficult time accessing food in the coming weeks. Just days before benefits from the federal Supplemental Nutritional Awareness Program (SNAP) —...
Colorado Supreme Court weighs whether lifetime sex offender registration amounts to ‘punishment’
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared wary last week of deeming lifetime sex offender registration “punishment,” even as they heard about the inescapable consequences for a person’s liberty and privacy. Under Colorado law, “sexually violent predators” are subject to lifetime sex...
Rank choice voting debuts in Fort Collins
Hap Fry, Special to the Gazette
hap-fry@gazette.com
Updated 22 hours ago
FORT COLLINS – There isn’t much Delynn Coldiron has not seen or done in her 30+ year career working as a city government employee — that is, perhaps, until this year. The Fort Collins City Clerk and her staff have...