Bill expanding private care for veterans goes to Trump
WASHINGTON – Congress has approved expanding private care for veterans as an alternative to the troubled Veterans Affairs health system.
A Senate vote on Wednesday sent the bill to President Donald Trump, who has championed the idea of giving veterans such options.
The sweeping measure would allow veterans to see private doctors when they don’t receive the treatment they expected, with the approval of a Department of Veterans Affairs health provider. Veterans could access private care when they have endured lengthy wait times or VA medical centers don’t offer the services they need.
The measure also averts a shutdown of the VA’s Choice private-sector program. The program is slated to run out of money as early as next week.
Some critics worry the VA is moving toward privatization of services.
Paul Pazen, a former police chief, launches bid for Denver City Council
Deborah Grigsby
deborah.smith@denvergazette.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Former Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen announced his bid for the District 2 City Council seat to be vacated by Kevin Flynn in 2027. Flynn is term-limited. Pazen, who began his law enforcement career in 1995 with the Denver Police...
Resolution calling for increased road funding clears Colorado Senate committee
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 15 hours ago
A Republican legislator said he was pleasantly surprised on Wednesday when the state Senate’s transportation panel advanced a resolution brought to him by county commissioners urging the Colorado Department of Transportation to invest more money to fix roads. Road maintenance...
Hail drives up to 54% of homeowners’ insurance premiums in parts of Colorado
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Hail is the largest cost driver of homeowners’ insurance spikes in many parts of the state, according to data collected by the Colorado Division of Insurance. The department requested data from 20 homeowners’ insurance carriers to calculate average premiums and...
Denver advances face covering ban for law enforcement
Deborah Grigsby
deborah.smith@denvergazette.com
Updated 13 hours ago
A Denver City Council committee on Wednesday advanced a proposed ordinance banning law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces during an arrest or detainment or inside a city facility. The proposed ordinance also establishes a minimum...
Colorado Supreme Court blocks ‘child-to-parent violence’ testimony in Boulder County case
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court concluded on Friday that a Boulder County judge incorrectly green-lit a psychologist’s expert testimony when the defendant had not laid the necessary groundwork for the evidence. State law requires criminal defendants to provide notice and undergo...
Colorado justices concerned about retrying defendant after jury signaled acquittal
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared uncomfortable on Tuesday with allowing a criminal defendant to stand trial a second time after a Larimer County jury signaled it was deadlocked on some counts but found him not guilty of...
Colorado budget gets clean opinion from Office of the State Auditor
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 15 hours ago
Colorado’s state auditor issued a “clean” opinion on the financial statements prepared by the government and higher education institutions, concluding they met generally accepted accounting principles and the documents were presented fairly. The state’s financial statements reported total assets of...
Missy Woods pleads not guilty; trial set for fall
Jenny Deam
jenny-deam@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
The former Colorado Bureau of Investigation DNA expert charged with more than 100 felonies entered a plea of not guilty to all of them Wednesday in a packed Jefferson County courtroom. The plea was entered by her defense attorney Tom...
Colorado justices question process for parole board appeals
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 20 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court considered on Tuesday whether criminal defendants whose parole is revoked must appeal the decision internally to the state’s parole board before seeking review by a judge. The process for returning someone to incarceration for violating the...
Leaders, past and present, inducted into Colorado Business Hall of Fame | NONPROFIT REGISTER
Joanne Davidson Special to Colorado Politics
joanne-davidson-special-to-colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 20 hours ago
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT ROCKY MOUNTAIN DENVER METRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Denver News: The men and women who were inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame this year made their marks in different ways, yet they had this in common: They dared to...
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Colo. newspaper advocate hails ruling on Trump Twitter blocks
Wednesday’s federal court ruling saying it’s unconstitutional for President Donald Trump to block his critics on Twitter cheers the head of a trade and advocacy group representing Colorado newspapers. It isn’t so much about politics but about the concept of freedom of speech, Jerry Raehal, CEO of the Colorado Press Association, told Colorado Politics Wednesday. […]
NORAD boss retiring after facing down missile tests, natural disasters, nuclear threats
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