The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel Editorial: No more foot-dragging
To what degree President Donald Trump’s “energy dominance” agenda has accelerated permitting of natural resources extraction on public lands is difficult to pinpoint.
But after nearly a decade of trying to clear regulatory hurdles, SG Interests is a step closer to implementing an energy development plan near Paonia. In singling out the Trump administration for completing an environmental impact statement, SG Interests Vice President Robbie Guinn echoed a common complaint: In an industry where time is money, it simply takes the Bureau of Land Management too long to green-light drilling.
To be fair, there are a lot of moving parts in any BLM decision. The 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, requires federal agencies to assess environmental effects of any action, including oil and gas exploration, on federal lands before it can issue permits to drill.
Out-of-state judges address ex-discipline director’s lawsuit, Colorado justices accept federal invitation | COURT CRAWL
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 hour ago
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. A pair of out-of-state judges got down to business in a lawsuit brought by Colorado’s former judicial discipline director, plus the state Supreme Court has...
Power grid shutdowns in Colorado bring protection — and problems
Scott Weiser
scott.weiser@gazette.com
Updated 2 hours ago
A downed power line in Sunshine Canyon in the mountains west of Boulder in December posed an electrocution risk to firefighters and bystanders after Xcel Energy re-energized it without repairing it, despite being notified of the break the day before....
Aurora wildland fire contained at Buckley Space Force Base
Nicholas Fogleman
nicholas.fogleman@denvergazette.com
Updated 1 hour ago
A wildland fire burned Sunday morning on the southwest end of Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora, authorities said. The fire no longer posed a threat and crews were clearing the scene as of 10:53 a.m., according to Aurora Fire...
Unsustainable: How Colorado’s Medicaid spending exploded
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 3 hours ago
The state’s Medicaid program — which covers about one in four Coloradans — is poised for its largest single-year jump in at least two decades, with officials proposing a $2.3 billion increase, even as lawmakers face a $1.5 billion budget...
Oklahoma’s governor picks energy executive Alan Armstrong to fill US Senate seat | OUT WEST ROUNDUP
The Associated Press
the-associated-press@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 58 minutes ago
OKLAHOMA Governor makes US Senate pick OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s governor on March 24 appointed energy executive Alan Armstrong to serve in the U.S. Senate through the end of the year and finish the term of Republican Markwayne Mullin, the...
Phil Weiser wins top spot in Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary at party’s state assembly
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
Attorney General Phil Weiser’s name will appear first on Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary ballot after his overwhelming win Saturday at the party’s state assembly in Pueblo. Weiser joins U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the June 30 primary for the office...
‘No Kings’ protest draws tens of thousands to Colorado state Capitol
Matt Kyle
matt.kyle@denvergazette.com
Updated 2 days ago
The third round of the national No Kings Day protests hit Denver Saturday, when tens of thousands gathered near the Colorado state Capitol to criticize the Trump administration. Organizers addressing the crowd estimated there were 30,000 present for the Saturday...
Denver Democrat Diana DeGette trails challenger Melat Kiros at assembly as both qualify for primary
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
U.S. Rep Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, qualified for Colorado’s June primary by the skin of her teeth Friday at the party’s district assembly, where the 15-term incumbent received fewer than half as many delegate votes as her challenger, 28-year-old...
Kwame Spearman warrants plenty of criticism, not cancellation | SONDERMANN
By Eric Sondermann
by-eric-sondermann@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 days ago
All of us are flawed humans, some more so than others. This is the tale of Kwame Spearman who burst onto Denver’s business and political scene a handful of years back. His ride has taken a downhill trajectory. Within the...
Colorado Politics Calendar Mar. 30-Apr. 5
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
CoPo’s weekly political calendar will help 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,...