Colorado, advocates back in court over jail mental health
A Colorado advocacy group says the state has failed to meet the terms of a federal court settlement intended to ensure people do not face lengthy waits in county jails before receiving mental health treatment.
Under the settlement, people awaiting trial must be admitted to the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo within 28 days of a judge’s order for mental health evaluation or treatment.
Attorneys for Disability Law Colorado said the average wait time in May was more than 90 days.
They asked a federal judge on Friday to set a deadline for the Department of Health Services to comply with the agreement.
Attorneys for the agency, though, said the settlement allows for leniency in some situations.
The judge did not immediately issue a ruling.
Primary rival sues to prevent Democrat Eileen Laubacher from going through assembly in Colorado’s 4th CD
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Democratic congressional candidate Trish Calvarese on Monday asked a judge to prevent one of her primary rivals, Eileen Laubacher, from participating in the caucus and assembly process to seek the nomination to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s...
Colorado lawmakers tackle legislation on sexual assault
Jenny Deam
jenny-deam@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
A panel of Colorado lawmakers on Monday unanimously approved a bill that supporters say will offer protections and support to victims of domestic violence, stalking, sex trafficking and sexual assault, including mandatory training for law enforcement on trauma. The measure,...
Colorado Supreme Court clarifies restraining order violations can always support burglary charge
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court’s majority ruled on Monday that a violation of a restraining order can also serve as a basis for finding a defendant guilty of burglary. Under state law, a person commits second-degree burglary by unlawfully entering or...
Big week ahead for major legislation to address housing affordability woes
Zach Halaschak, Washington Examiner
zach.halaschak.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 18 hours ago
The Senate is pushing ahead with a bipartisan bill to improve housing affordability, teeing up a critical week for housing on Capitol Hill and raising major questions about what provisions will be included. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) filed cloture on legislation from the...
Macron goes nuclear with increases to French warhead arsenal
Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner
timothy.nerozzi.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 18 hours ago
French President Emmanuel Macron is channeling the atomic spirit of his predecessor Charles de Gaulle with orders for the French military to “increase the number of nuclear warheads” in the nation’s arsenal. Macron announced the seismic shift in France’s defensive...
Who has been killed so far during US-Israel mission in Iran?
David Zimmermann and Keely Bastow, Washington Examiner
david.zimmermann.and.keely.bastow.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 19 hours ago
There have been numerous casualties on all sides since the joint U.S.-Israel strikes against Iran commenced over the weekend, with more lives expected to be lost as the campaign continues. The Islamic regime’s leadership is currently bearing the brunt of...
Colorado Senate swears in Adrienne Benavidez after district vacancy win
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 18 hours ago
Sen. Adrienne Benavidez, a Democrat from Adams County, was sworn in Monday to the Colorado Senate, just four days after winning a vacancy election in District 21. She was sworn in by Colorado Court of Appeals Justice Lino S. Lipinsky...
10th Circuit judge creates vacancy, district court gets new chief judge | COURT CRAWL
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 20 hours ago
Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics’ roundup of news from the third branch of government. A longtime member of the Denver-based federal appeals court will give the president a vacancy to fill, plus Colorado’s federal trial court will see a...
Denver mayor says his commute time tripled following ‘road diet’ change
Mark Samuelson Special to The Denver Gazette
mark.samuelson@denvergazette.com
Updated 18 hours ago
Mayor Mike Johnston is pushing back sharply against the claim by Denver councilmembers and bike activists that the city succumbed to lobbying pressure in revising a “road diet” plan for East Alameda Avenue, while noting that his own commute time...
Rural legislators, Colorado farmers defeat pollinator bill backed by Gov. Polis
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 19 hours ago
A proposal to limit the use of neonicotinoid-coated crop seeds collapsed in the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week, as rural lawmakers, including two Democrats, joined Republicans to reject what they called an expensive, impractical mandate on farmers....
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TRAIL MIX | Is Colorado becoming the new Iowa?
In just the last week, three potential Democratic 2020 presidential candidates have landed in Colorado, including one who lives here but spent much of the last week in other states. Get used to it. Not only is the field wide – more than 20 Democrats have either expressed interest in running or been the subject […]
Court upholds protection for Gunnison sage grouse in Colorado, Utah
A rare bird found only in Colorado and Utah will stay on the endangered species list, at least for now. A federal judge in Denver on Friday upheld a 2014 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the Gunnison sage grouse as a threatened species. State and county governments in Colorado and […]