BEST OF THE WEEK: Making Colo. better, Trump vs. Kochs, trade trouble and more
Here’s our recap of some of our best stories of the week from the Colorado Politics staff.
> COVER STORY | Imagine a great Colorado: 7 perspectives on how to lift up the state
> Billionaire conservative funder Koch takes on Trump over trade at Colorado meeting
> More on Koch Colo. conference: Another blast from Trump on trade criticism
> Now it’s the RNC going after the Kochs following Colo. conference
> As trade war escalates, Colo. faces broadening impact on export economy
> Colorado woman’s son to receive posthumous Medal of Honor
> INSIGHTS | Colorado beat the Russians at its election games
> Q&A with Henry Sobanet | Colorado’s fiscal Jedi moves on
> Colo. lawmaker Leonard drops re-election bid over child support issues
> HUD chief Ben Carson tours Aurora complex, touts partnerships to ease housing crisis
> Initiative 97: Backers of oil & gas measure allege buyout of a signature gatherer
> Initiative 108 could blunt local land-use rules, officials warn
> Initiative 108: Opposition ramping up against pro-oil & gas ballot measure
> Initiative 108: A record 209K petition signatures turned in
> Polis, Stapleton commit to debates (but not all the same ones)
> Polis’ plan to skip Club 20 debate kicks up a fuss on the Western Slope
> Campaign cash: Stapleton raises $255K, Polis drops $1.6M into gov. campaign
> ENDORSEMENT WATCH | EMILY’s List gets behind Democratic legislative candidates
> Obama endorses Polis, other Colorado Democrats for midterm elections
> Attorney general says state Constitution doesn’t bar sports gambling, but …
> Tight timetable on federal oil and gas lease sales is scrambling protests
> California filmmakers throw their talents behind long-shot CD5 Democratic challenger
> Colorado, Kansas reach settlement over Republican River
> Senate searches for ways to reduce health care administrative costs
> Republicans raise the $10K needed for Trump portrait at Capitol in less than 36 hours
> Does a Wyoming governor candidate live in Colorado?
> Federal freeze of fuel-efficiency requirements would hamper Hickenlooper’s plans
> Trump, Clinton donate campaign cash to 6th District rivals Coffman and Crow
Why it could take weeks to feel the brunt of a DHS shutdown
David Sivak, Washington Examiner
david.sivak.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 23 minutes ago
The Department of Homeland Security’s broad reach means that everything from disaster relief to airport security could be hampered if funding runs out on Saturday, but it might take weeks before the public feels the impact. The dispute over how...
Trump says he’s sending second aircraft carrier to the Mideast as he seeks Iran deal
Jon Gambrell
jon.gambrell@associatedpress.com
Updated 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that he decided to move a second aircraft carrier into the Middle East as he presses Iran to make a deal over its nuclear program. The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s...
Colorado justices skeptical of challenge to water enterprises’ eminent domain power
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared receptive on Wednesday to the notion that water-related enterprises have the legal authority to exercise the governmental power of eminent domain over private property. An enterprise is a government-owned business that provides fee-based...
Colorado Democrats seek to legalize prostitution by July
The Denver Gazette
the-denver-gazette@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
A group of Democrats is seeking to legalize prostitution in Colorado, arguing that current penalties “endanger” consenting adults. The proposal, if enacted, would decriminalize prostitution statewide and preempt local ordinances. If signed into law, it will take effect this July,...
Colorado judges lean left — just look at the numbers | George Brauchler
George Brauchler
george-brauchler@gazette.com
Updated 4 hours ago
Colorado’s judicial selection system is heavily skewed toward Democrats and defendants. It is time to drop the pretense that our system adequately minimizes the impact of partisan political influences on the selection of the judicial branch. In less than two...
Shooter dead, no other injuries, at Evergreen CommonSpirit center
9News
9news@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 hour ago
An active shooter died from a self-inflicted wound before he hit anyone with gunfire near a CommonSpirit Primary Care center in Evergreen Thursday, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. People first began reporting hearing multiple gunshots in the area...
‘There will be costs,’ warns Jason Crow after failed indictments for ‘illegal orders’ video | TRAIL MIX
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, the Aurora Democrat who represents Colorado’s 6th Congressional District, signaled this week that he’s considering pursuing legal action against members of the Trump administration after a federal grand jury in Washington declined to indict Crow and...
Colorado policymakers scramble with prisons on track to exceed capacity
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
Colorado’s prison system is on track to exceed capacity within the next year, driven by a sharp slowdown in parole releases, staffing shortages and an aging inmate population — all as lawmakers grapple with an $800 million general fund shortfall...
Two front pages, one false choice for Colorado lawmakers | OPINION
Maya Wheeler
maya-wheeler@gazette.com
Updated 4 hours ago
Every day, the headlines remind us how fragile safety can be. Stories of violence, loss, and families searching for answers are becoming far too common — and they demand serious, thoughtful policymaking. Recent reporting on federal immigration enforcement has been...
Hardworking Coloradans deserve dignity, right to access wages they earned | OPINION
Colorado Politics
colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
By Monica Duran and Sean Camacho Across Colorado, too many families are doing everything right, yet still cannot make ends meet every month. Inflation has driven up the cost of groceries, rent, childcare and gas, while wages remain unchanged. For...