Vital Colorado River reservoir OK for now, but shortages are on horizon
U.S. government water managers say a vital reservoir on the Colorado River will be able to meet the demands of Mexico and Southwestern U.S. states for the next 13 months, but a looming shortage could trigger cutbacks in late 2019.
The Bureau of Reclamation released a report Wednesday on the health of the river and its biggest reservoir, Lake Mead, behind Hoover Dam.
The report echoes previous warnings that a long trend toward a drier regional climate coupled with rising demand could drain so much water from Lake Mead that cutbacks would be mandatory.
Mexico, Arizona and Nevada would be hit first.
The river serves 40 million people and 6,300 square miles of farmland.
California, Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah also rely on the river.
Mysterious letter causes uproar, investigation in Mesa County GOP | A LOOK BACK
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Twenty Years Ago This Week: An unregistered activist group calling themselves ‘The Colorado Republican Caucus’ mailed letters to at least 160 Republicans in Mesa County calling various Grand Junction Republicans “turncoats” and “traitors.” “The danger was that the letters were...
Colorado Politics Calendar Apr. 20-26
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
CoPo’s weekly political calendar helps 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,...
A happier budget week | Capitol M | Week of April 18, 2026
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
It’s budget time at the state Capitol, and generally, it’s a humorless situation. It certainly was that way in the House last week, with a 15-hour reading of the long bill at 661 pages that resulted in lawmakers having to...
Colorado lawmakers advance bill to tackle Colorado’s prison capacity issues
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
As lawmakers move the 2026–27 state budget toward completion, they are intensifying efforts to address overcrowding and capacity challenges within the Department of Corrections and related agencies—issues that have contributed to increased spending in the budget. The state Senate on...
Colorado justices, lawyers speak with rural students through outreach program
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 11 hours ago
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared before students from eight rural schools on Thursday to hear a pair of cases, field questions, and mark the first time the state’s newest justice participated in the long-running program. “I had such...
Democrats want Colorado colleges to provide medication abortion
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
A bill proposing to require Colorado colleges and universities to provide abortion medication services cleared a legislative committee on Thursday. Advocates said the measure — which exempts religious-based institutions but applies to public, private, and community colleges — will improve...
Trump ‘in discussions’ with IRS to cut deal in tax record lawsuit
Brady Knox, Washington Examiner
brady.knox.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 1 day ago
President Donald Trump is in talks with the Internal Revenue Service to strike a deal over the release of his tax records. The news was revealed in a legal filing, where his legal team said they were in “discussions” with...
Governor’s wildlife commission picks face pushback ahead of Colorado Senate hearing
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
Colorado’s largest coalition of hunters, anglers, and wildlife conservation groups is urging state lawmakers to reject two of Gov. Jared Polis’ latest nominees to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, setting up a contentious confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture...
Colorado justices skeptical of snowboarder’s bid to revive injury lawsuit after signing new waiver
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 12 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court seemed to agree on Thursday that a plaintiff is not entitled to continue his snowboarding injury lawsuit because he purchased another pass in the middle of litigation that released all past legal claims. “It says you’re...
Colorado Supreme Court appears OK with revised ‘reasonable doubt’ instruction
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 9 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court appeared largely comfortable on Thursday with the recently revised definition of “reasonable doubt” that is now part of the template jury instructions for criminal cases. To date, multiple Court of Appeals decisions have endorsed the constitutionality...
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Boulder to vote on keeping money from sugary-drinks tax
Voters in Boulder will be asked whether they want to allow the city to keep extra money raised by a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. The 2 cent-per-ounce tax approved in 2016 has so far brought in more than $3.2 million for health and nutrition programs for low-income residents and those with chronic diseases and illnesses […]
Colo. senators meet resistance on historic-site proposals
WASHINGTON – The enthusiasm of Colorado’s U.S. senators for federally designating more historic sites in the state was not shared by the deputy director of the U.S. National Park Service during a Senate hearing Wednesday. Both Sens. Michael Bennet and Cory Gardner have proposed bills that could commemorate historic events in Colorado. But P. Daniel […]