Meth overdoses surpass heroin deaths in southern Colorado
PUEBLO – The number of people who died because of methamphetamine is up in southern Colorado, mirroring a statewide trend.
The Pueblo Chieftain reports that 16 people in Pueblo County died from meth overdoses in 2018, up from 14 in 2017 and eight in 2016.
Last year was the first time in recent years that there were more deaths attributed to meth than to heroin or other opioids in the county.
State data shows there were 318 meth overdose deaths in Colorado last year, up from 299 in 2017 and 196 in 2016.
Kirk Bol of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says a national survey of drug use indicates an increase in meth use nationally, with some larger increases in western states.
Poll: Most Colorado voters fear ICE may unlawfully detain people in expanded deportation campaign
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 6 hours ago
Roughly two-thirds of Colorado voters said they are worried federal immigration agents may unlawfully detain people who should not be caught up in the Trump administration’s expanded deportation effort, a new survey has found. The worry among Latino voters is...
Colorado justices receptive to allowing lawyers to ‘borrow’ allegations from elsewhere
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court seemed open on Tuesday to the idea that plaintiffs’ lawyers can use allegations made elsewhere to bolster their own clients’ claims, so long as the attorney first performs some degree of investigation into the...
DEA squashes cartel-tied drug dealing, seizes over 1,000 pounds of meth
Michael Braithwaite
michael.braithwaite@gazette.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Federal agents announced Wednesday that they had seized more than 1,000 pounds of methamphetamine in a string of drug busts spanning over 11 months, including a record 733 pounds in one operation in April. The sting targeted a criminal organization...
Cases jump to 31 in the botulism outbreak tied to baby formula. Here’s what to know
Bob Smith
bob.smith@gazette.com
Updated 7 hours ago
More than 30 babies in 15 states have been sickened in a growing outbreak of infant botulism linked to recalled ByHeart infant formula, federal health officials said Wednesday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 31 cases of...
Colorado justices skeptical that Colorado Springs is immune for crash caused by faulty signal
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Members of the Colorado Supreme Court seemed doubtful on Wednesday that the city of Colorado Springs cannot be sued over a collision that occurred as a result of traffic lights that were functioning normally in one direction, but were inoperative...
Lawmakers, Gov. Jared Polis clash on Medicaid provider rates
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 6 hours ago
Colorado legislators on Tuesday heard from an advisory committee, which proposed making several adjustments to the state’s reimbursement rates for health care facilities that provide services to Medicaid patients. The proposal from the Medicaid Provider Rate Review Advisory Committee diverged...
Colorado rolls out plan to supercharge clean-energy jobs boom
Scott Weiser
scott.weiser@gazette.com
Updated 5 hours ago
A new state analysis released Tuesday warns that Colorado will face significant shortages of skilled trades workers, threatening the state’s ability to meet Gov. Jared Polis’ greenhouse gas reduction goals unless it dramatically ramps up training. The report shows gaps...
Colorado House GOP announces committee assignments for 2026 session
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
The Colorado House’s Republican leadership has announced its members’ committee assignments for the 2026 legislative session, which begins Jan. 14. “These committee assignments showcase our readiness to bring accountability and common sense back into the legislative process,” said Minority Leader...
Colorado justices address conflict between anti-SLAPP law, state constitution
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
Colorado lawmakers in 2019 created a mechanism to quickly dispose of lawsuits over conduct that implicates a person’s First Amendment rights, specifically the rights to free speech and to petition the government. Known as the “anti-SLAPP” law, which stands for “strategic...
Aurora homeless navigation campus welcomes 176 people on first day
Kyla Pearce
kyla.pearce@gazette.com
Updated 7 hours ago
Aurora’s homeless navigation campus opened its doors to 176 homeless people Monday two weeks after its official ribbon cutting. The navigation campus — formerly a Crowne Plaza hotel — at 15500 E. 40th Ave., has been in the works for...
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