National Western redevelopment to unveil governing board Thursday
Nominees for the board tasked with overseeing the revitalized National Western Center in Denver will be announced Thursday morning in the mayor’s office.
The 13-member group, including a full-time president and CEO, will be led by former Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia. Members will be introduced by Mayor Michael Hancock, Colorado State University President Tony Frank and Pat Grant, president and CEO of National Western Stock Show Association, the mayor’s office said.
The authority has a big job: to oversee contracts and governance for a proposed 50-year agreement between the city, CSU and the National Western for the $1.1 billion redevelopment of the stock show property and programs at Interstate 70 and Brighton Boulevard.
The 106-year-old show, which begins Saturday, has been in need of remodeling for years, and the decade-long development on the site is expected to create a hub for year-round tourism and agricultural education, as well as research. To boot, the nearby Swansea, Globeville and RINO neighborhoods will see spin-off benefits, supporters contend.
Nebraska to be 1st state to implement Trump’s new Medicaid work requirements | OUT WEST ROUNDUP
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 days ago
NEBRASKA Medicaid work requirements set Nebraska will become the first state to implement new work requirements for some people with Medicaid health insurance under a law President Donald Trump signed last summer. Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, announced on Dec....
Frozen funds, vetoes and lawsuits: Why Colorado says it’s in Trump’s crosshairs
Thelma Grimes
thelma.grimes@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
Colorado Democrats have accused President Donald Trump of deliberately targeting their state, arguing his administration is using federal powers to punish it for its policies and resistance. But whether Colorado is being singled out — and why — depends largely...
Colorado ‘un santuario’ for drug activity, DEA chief says
The Denver Gazette
the-denver-gazette@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
Colorado’s “sanctuary” laws, notably its prohibition against cooperating with federal authorities, are having a “chilling effect” on law enforcement’s ability to go after drug cartels operating in the state, an official of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency said. That situation...
Vince Bzdek: Coloradans are fed up with the high price of cars
Vince Bzdek
vince.bzdek@gazette.com
Updated 1 day ago
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Unsolicited advice to both Republicans and Democrats | SONDERMANN
Eric Sondermann
eric-sondermann@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 days ago
This even-numbered year will be one of political turnover in Colorado with the governor’s chair opening up, along with the other state executive offices (attorney general, state treasurer, and secretary of state), all due to term limits. A U.S. Senate...
New Jersey signs legislation banning cellphones in schools
Molly Parks, Washington Examiner
molly.parks.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 2 days ago
K-12 students in New Jersey will no longer be allowed to use their cellphones in school starting in the fall of 2026. Gov. Phil Murphy (D-NJ) signed a bill into law on Thursday establishing “phone-free” schools in the Garden State....
Gov. Jared Polis ‘frustrated, surprised’ at efforts to revive vetoed union bill
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
Gov. Jared Polis was surprised that Democratic lawmakers and labor groups are seeking to revive a union-backed legislation less than a year after he vetoed the bill due to concerns about its impact on businesses and mandatory dues. Elected officials...
Red Carpet Reception proves new home’s a winner for Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale | NONPROFIT REGISTER
Joanne Davidson Special to Colorado Politics
joanne-davidson-special-to-colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
NATIONAL WESTERN STOCK SHOW News: It wasn’t just the art that people were talking about at Thursday night’s Red Carpet Reception for the 34th Coors Western Art Exhibit & Sale. A good number of the 1,000-plus guests were on their first visit to the show’s spacious new location on the...
Colorado candidates switch parties, races as midterm election year looms | TRAIL MIX
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
The final days of 2025 saw an unusually high number of Colorado candidates switch parties and races, reshaping at least a few primaries ahead of this year’s midterm elections. The state has seen its share of switchers over the years,...
Denver Auditor: Office of Social Equity and Innovation risks mismanaging or losing taxpayer money
Deborah Grigsby
deborah.smith@denvergazette.com
Updated 6 hours ago
Denver’s Office of Social Equity and Innovation has yet to implement half of the 14 recommendations made by auditors in 2024, leaving the city and the Colorado Youth Detention Continuum Program at risk of misusing small-dollar funds. A follow-up report...
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