COPO’S BEST OF THE WEEK | Colorado Senate passes death penalty repeal to the House; Gov. Jared Polis asks lawmakers to reconsider paid family leave for state workers
Here’s a recap of our best stories from the last seven days, authored by the Colorado Politics staff.
> Colorado Senate passes death penalty repeal to the House
> Gov. Jared Polis asks lawmakers to reconsider paid family leave for state workers
> IMPEACHMENT: Gardner says he doesn’t want to hear from more witnesses
> Governor’s budget request for 2020-21 hits a wall
> Alleged human traffickers in Denver face ‘first-of-its-kind’ charges from local law enforcement
> Colorado’s Democratic US Senate candidates spar at Longmont Latino forum
> Trump says in secret recording that marijuana leads to ‘an IQ problem,’ car crashes in Colorado
> Denver reaffirms its stance as a place of welcome for refugees
> Senate Democrats differ over paid family leave proposal for state employees
> Bill allowing organic ‘composting’ of deceased clears first hurdle
> Sen. Rhonda Fields braces for personal reality of banning the death penalty
> Democrats’ bill to give state workers bargaining power advances
> Polis, Weiser talk innovation, cooperation to Colorado Water Congress
> Doctors allege anti-Semitism and age discrimination against CU School of Medicine
> RTD to begin public meetings, outreach events on upcoming service changes
Colorado lawmakers propose changes to family court procedures | Bills in Brief
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
Colorado lawmakers introduce hundreds of bills each year. Bills in brief cuts through the noise by explaining which proposals matter, what’s at stake, and how decisions at the Capitol could affect everyday life across the state. Colorado lawmakers from both parties are...
Federal judge partially allows second World Cup trafficking lawsuit to move forward
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 16 hours ago
A federal judge allowed some claims to move forward last month against companies operating out of Colorado that allegedly participated in a human trafficking venture involving Filipino laborers who constructed facilities for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. There are...
Melania Trump hails first conviction under new law banning AI-generated child sex abuse images
Rena Rowe, Washington Examiner
rena.rowe.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 17 hours ago
First lady Melania Trump highlighted on Tuesday the first arrest tied to a law she championed targeting cyberstalking, threats of violence, and non-consensual explicit content generated using artificial intelligence. James Strahler II, 37, of Columbus, Ohio, pleaded guilty Tuesday to...
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit seeking to force Colorado secretary of state to screen out scam filings
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 11 hours ago
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit last week that sought to require Colorado’s secretary of state to verify corporate filings in the state’s database to reduce the risk of future fraud. Bernard Butts of Florida, who was 83 when he...
Colorado Democrats eye new fee on home insurance companies
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
Colorado Democrats are reviving a proposal to levy a new fee on home insurance companies, with the aim of distributing grants to fund “resilient” roofing. Introduced by Sen. Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, Senate Bill 155 creates a government “enterprise,” which would...
Poll: Colorado voters oppose legalizing prostitution, support suspending wolf reintroduction
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
A majority of Colorado residents — 61% — oppose legalizing prostitution in the state, an idea that lawmakers floated earlier in the legislative session before pulling their proposal. Just over half of Democratic respondents said they would support legalization, while...
Federal judge finds no constitutional violation by Huerfano County well inspectors
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
A federal judge concluded last month that two Huerfano County employees did not engage in an unconstitutional search when they approached the plaintiffs’ camper within 40 feet to investigate a potential code violation. In July 2021, the county’s building inspector,...
Colorado House opens debate on $46.8B budget already showing strain
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 12 hours ago
With rising Medicaid costs, no dollars set aside for new legislation and dozens of bills still seeking funding, Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday began debating the proposed $46.8 billion budget that is already proving difficult to keep on track. By the...
Colorado House Democrats focus on prison costs in budget discussions
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Colorado’s House Democrats pressed budget writers Tuesday over a nearly $70 million increase for the Department of Corrections, questioning why the state plans to add 941 prison beds and explore new prison capacity at a time when, they said, crime...
Federal judge warns of increasingly inadequate immigration bond hearings
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
A federal judge ordered the immediate release of a man in immigration custody last week and, seemingly for the first time in Colorado, warned that the government is increasingly conducting inadequate bond hearings for detainees. Colorado’s federal trial court is facing...
PREV
PREVIOUS
Gardner pulls in $2M for 4th quarter, has cash advantage over Dem challengers
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner raised $2 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31, according to campaign finance documents filed Friday afternoon by the Colorado Republican. While his fundraising lagged the $2.8 million brought in over the same period by former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, his chief Democratic challenger, Gardner began the election year with $7.75 […]
Capitol M: The airing of grievances - Week ending Jan. 31, 2020
The lighter side of the state Capitol, usually. A recent Senate Dems news conference allowed state Sen. Kerry Donovan, D-Vail, to talk about a bill she’s sponsoring that would clarify the laws – or lack thereof, as the situation currently stands – around allowing dogs on restaurant patios. Donovan said state law is actually silent on this […]