Colorado town bans underage sale of herbal supplement kratom
Castle Rock has banned the sale of the herbal supplement kratom to anyone under the age of 18.
The town council approved an ordinance this week that imposes a $300 fine on anyone caught selling the substance to minors.
The town late last year imposed a six-month moratorium on the licensing of any new kratom shops while new rules were established.
Kratom, which is derived from the leaves of a tree that grows in southeast Asia, often is used in the form of an extract or a pill.
Many see it as a safe, natural alternative to opioid painkillers. But the Food and Drug Administration says it exposes users to the risks of addiction, abuse and dependence.
Ted Tow appointed as next Court of Appeals chief judge
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
Judge Ted C. Tow III will be the next chief judge of Colorado’s second-highest court, the judicial branch announced on Thursday. Tow will succeed Chief Judge Gilbert M. Román on the Court of Appeals, who is completing a four-year term....
SNAP benefits on their way to Colorado families
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 hours ago
With the government shutdown over after a vote Wednesday by the U.S. House, federal food aid, which has been delayed almost two weeks, is on its way to nearly 600,000 Coloradans. Colorado will move rapidly to deliver 100% of Supplemental...
Appeals court rules civil trial over Kendrick Castillo’s death not required if STEM School pays max damages
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Colorado’s second-highest court determined on Thursday that a civil trial over the 2019 shooting death of Kendrick Castillo is not required after the defendant agreed to pay the maximum damages available to Castillo’s parents, without admitting liability. John and Maria...
States scramble to send full SNAP food benefits to millions of people after government shutdown ends
David A. Lieb
david.a..lieb@associatedpress.com
Updated 6 hours ago
With the longest U.S. government shutdown over, state officials said Thursday that they are working quickly to get full SNAP food benefits to millions of people, though it still could take up to a week for some to receive their...
Boebert claims ‘no pressure’ to remove her name from Epstein petition
Christopher Tremoglie Washington Examiner
christophertremogliewashingtonexaminer@wpstage.coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Colorado U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert denied reports that her meeting at the White House on Wednesday was to pressure her to remove her name from a congressional petition that would necessitate a vote to release files related to disgraced financier,...
Federal workers question whether the longest government shutdown was worth their sacrifice
Fatima Hussein
fatima.hussein@associatedpress.com
Updated 7 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — Jessica Sweet spent the federal government shutdown cutting back. To make ends meet, the Social Security claims specialist drank only one coffee a day, skipped meals, cut down on groceries and deferred paying some household bills. She...
Trump signs deal ending government shutdown
Rachel Schilke
rachel-schilke@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 9 hours ago
The longest federal government shutdown ended Wednesday night after the U.S. House voted for a new spending measure and President Donald Trump shortly after signed the deal reached by Democrats and Republicans. In a 222 to 209 vote, the House passed a...
Colorado justices approve changes to rules governing magistrates’ decisions
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 23 hours ago
The Colorado Supreme Court recently approved a set of revisions to the rules governing magistrates, which judges have long recognized as confusing. Although the justices adopted the package in early September, they later changed how the rules take effect. Originally,...
Colorado River crisis deepens as 7 states miss deadline for water management plan
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 23 hours ago
The seven states that share the Colorado River blew past the Nov. 11 deadline without reaching even a framework for how to manage the shrinking river after 2026. According to the acting head of the Bureau of Reclamation, Scott Cameron,...
Justice Melissa Hart on unexplained ‘leave of absence’ from Colorado Supreme Court
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 hours ago
Justice Melissa Hart is on a leave of absence from the Colorado Supreme Court — with no end date and no general explanation why. A spokesperson for the Colorado Judicial Department confirmed to Colorado Politics that Hart has been on...
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Officials mull demolishing then rebuilding Columbine High
Jefferson County Schools authorities are gauging support for demolishing Columbine High School and rebuilding it nearby. In a letter Thursday, Jeffco Schools Superintendent Jason Glass says the school building has remained “a source of inspiration” for people with a dark interest in the 1999 shooting that killed 12 students and a teacher. In April, a […]
Head of Denver's National Western Center leaves to take Denver Center job
A veteran Denver city official who has overseen the construction of the National Western Center at the site of the annual stock show is leaving to take a new job as chief operating officer of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Gretchen Hollrah, an 18-year employee with the city, will step down as executive […]