Steamboat Today: Routt County treasurer needs to change tactics
“Less confrontation, more collaboration” was the title of a Steamboat Pilot & Today editorial published on Aug. 16, 2016, that encouraged Routt County’s elected officials “to work together to solve community problems and issues” and specifically called upon Treasurer Brita Horn to work more collaboratively with her fellow officeholders.
The editorial was prompted by Horn’s decision not to accept Peabody Energy’s overdue property tax payments without interest and her failure to communicate her strategy to the commissioners and the 18 taxing entities affected by her decision.
Fast forward to today, and it appears that the friction between Horn and the Routt County Board of Commissioners still exists, and this time around, that tension is costing taxpayers money.
Colorado House pass bill raising threshold for agriculture overtime by one vote
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 43 minutes ago
The bill that would raise the overtime threshold for overtime pay for certain agricultural workers won the narrowest of votes Thursday in the Colorado House. Senate Bill 121 won a 33-32 vote, a dramatic difference from votes cast Wednesday on...
Colorado’s $46.8 billion budget nears finish line
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 hours ago
The Colorado Senate on Thursday voted largely along party lines to approve $46.8 billion in spending for the next state budget. The spending plan is bigger than what legislators originally approved for the current fiscal year’s budget, driven by increases...
Colorado Senate passes bill for voluntary $5 fee to fund wildlife crossings
Scott Weiser
scott.weiser@gazette.com
Updated 3 hours ago
The Colorado Senate approved bipartisan legislation allowing drivers to voluntarily pay an extra $5 when registering their vehicles to help finance wildlife crossings and reduce the growing number of dangerous collisions between cars and animals on state highways. In 2024...
A proposed Democratic bill would make taking Colorado workers’ IDs a crime
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
After a narrow 6–5 vote, a bill to bar employers from taking workers’ identification documents is moving to the full Colorado House, sparking questions about how often such intimidation occurs and whether a new state law is necessary. House Bill...
House rejects effort to withdraw US forces from the Iran war as Republicans stick with Trump
Kevin Freking
kevin.freking@associatedpress.com
Updated 9 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected a resolution Thursday requiring President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran unless Congress authorizes military action. It was the latest such vote that fell short of passage as Republicans...
9 Colorado hospitals at risk of closing due to Medicaid cuts
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 9 hours ago
The $900 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade could threaten the viability of more than 400 hospitals nationally and at least nine in Colorado, a new report has found. The hospitals span the Front Range and rural communities,...
Democrats vow to block next Trump Supreme Court pick amid Alito speculation
Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner
ramsey.touchberry.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 9 hours ago
Justice Samuel Alito hasn’t tipped his hat on retiring just yet, but Senate Democrats are already entrenched in opposing the confirmation of a successor that would deliver President Donald Trump his fourth lifetime appointment to the high court. Democrats need...
Lakewood mayor calls for unity, community in State of the City speech
Sage Kelley
sage.kelley@denvergazette.com
Updated 10 hours ago
Lakewood held its first State of the City address since 2018 on Wednesday — timing Mayor Wendi Strom attributed to fate. “We got bumped a few times on dates,” Strom said to a room of nearly 100 residents and officials....
Colorado Senate reworks key programs, gives preliminary nod to $46B budget
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 10 hours ago
With the Senate’s traditional Budget Day barbecue setting a lighter tone, lawmakers worked through the $46.8 billion state budget Wednesday, navigating a long list of amendments but avoiding the partisan clashes that defined the House debate last week. The Senate...
Colorado budget plan seeks to keep $306 million by canceling TABOR refunds
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 10 hours ago
Tucked deep within the hundreds of pages of the proposed $46.8 billion 2026–27 state budget is a line item showing $306.1 million in savings — achieved by canceling Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds. Gov. Jared Polis has recommended withholding TABOR...
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