Colorado Springs teacher accepts role as U.S. Department of Education fellow
What do Mr. Harris’ students at Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in Colorado Springs School District 11 like about their teacher?
“He makes going to school fun,” says 10-year-old Priseis Friend.
“He lets us sit down in a bunch of different places,” says Jiovani Collis. “It helps us learn because we don’t have to stay in one chair.”
Air Force veteran Elmer Harris runs his fifth-grade classroom under a new methodology called Next Generation Learning Challenges, a nontraditional, personalized approach that allows students to use different ways to drive their progress and be in charge of their own learning.
Colorado justices approve changes to rules governing magistrates’ decisions
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court recently approved a set of revisions to the rules governing magistrates, which judges have long recognized as confusing. Although the justices adopted the package in early September, they later changed how the rules take effect. Originally,...
Colorado River crisis deepens as 7 states miss deadline for water management plan
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
The seven states that share the Colorado River blew past the Nov. 11 deadline without reaching even a framework for how to manage the shrinking river after 2026. According to the acting head of the Bureau of Reclamation, Scott Cameron,...
Justice Melissa Hart on unexplained ‘leave of absence’ from Colorado Supreme Court
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Justice Melissa Hart is on a leave of absence from the Colorado Supreme Court – with no end date and no general explanation why. A spokesperson for the Colorado Judicial Department confirmed to Colorado Politics that Hart has been on...
Denver’s new women’s soccer stadium to feature all-electric design
Bernadette Berdychowski
bernadette.berdychowski@denvergazette.com
Updated 3 hours ago
The national women’s soccer stadium to be built in Denver could be all electric. During the South Platte River committee meeting on Wednesday, Summit FC owner Robert Cohen said it would likely become the third all-electric stadium to be built...
Colorado Supreme Court addresses ‘weaponization’ of paraprofessional program by loosening rules
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court recently revised the rules governing the state’s relatively new legal paraprofessional program after hearing complaints that procedural barriers were preventing adequate representation of clients and generating unnecessary courtroom disputes. Last year, the court hosted a groundbreaking...
Polis’ budget proposal faces backlash over Medicaid and Pinnacol deal
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
Gov. Jared Polis’ proposed state budget for 2026-27 drew sharp criticism Wednesday from the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, as lawmakers from both parties criticized plans to slow Medicaid spending growth and to rely on a deal to privatize Pinnacol Assurance....
Denver Police Department celebrates 3 officers for acts of kindness
Michael Braithwaite
michael.braithwaite@gazette.com
Updated 4 hours ago
Three Denver police officers were recognized on Wednesday for extraordinary acts of compassion while on duty. The civilian awards, presented by the nonprofit organization Citizens Appreciate Police, were given to Capt. Daniel Morehead, Ofc. Robert Anderson, and Ofc. Michael Barrios....
White House dances around Trump officials meeting with Lauren Boebert on Epstein files
Mabinty Quarshie
mabinty-quarshie@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 7 hours ago
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt sidestepped repeated questions from reporters regarding reports that top Trump administration officials met with Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-CO, to discuss the Justice Department case files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The meeting was allegedly to pressure Boebert not to...
House returns for vote to end the government shutdown after nearly 2 months away
Kevin Freking
kevin.freking@associatedpress.com
Updated 8 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — House lawmakers made a long-awaited return to the nation’s capital on Wednesday after nearly eight weeks away to potentially put an end to the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. The House is scheduled to take...
With their government contracts in limbo, small businesses await a historic shutdown’s end
Mae Anderson
mae.anderson@associatedpress.com
Updated 11 hours ago
NEW YORK (AP) — The end of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history would be a relief for small businesses that depend on federal contracts or funding. For seven weeks, they’ve been reducing spending, weighing layoffs and looking for...