Denver Mayor Hancock expands measures to prevent spread of coronavirus
In support of Gov. Jared Polis declaring a state of emergency on Tuesday due to the novel coronavirus, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock is widening the city’s efforts to “ensure public health resources and authority are aligned.”
Hancock is directing that all non-essential, work-related travel by city employees be suspended and calling for the postponement of any optional city government-sponsored public meetings in which online services could be used instead.
Denver Technology Services also is coordinating with the city’s Emergency Operations Center to expand work-from-home options for city employees “should that become necessary,” and the city is providing paid sick leave for city employees if needed.
“We encourage everyone to continue to follow rigorous sanitation practices, including thorough hand-washing, and staying home if you have flu-like symptoms,” the Office of Emergency Management said in a Tuesday news release.
As of Tuesday evening, health officials had identified 17 cases of COVID-19 in Colorado, five of which are in Denver, excluding one indeterminate case that is currently under investigation. No deaths have been reported so far.
Colorado taxpayers would lose thousands in TABOR refunds under Democrats’ proposed ballot measure
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 6 hours ago
A nonpartisan analysis of a proposed ballot measure that seeks to increase public education spending by tapping Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds shows that about 75% of what would otherwise go to Colorado residents wouldn’t actually go to K-12 schools....
Appeals court reverses conviction after judge blocked questioning about witness’s criminal charges
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 10 hours ago
An Arapahoe County judge violated a defendant’s constitutional right to confront the witnesses against him by blocking the defense from asking a witness about her own pending criminal charges in the same jurisdiction, Colorado’s second-highest court ruled last week. Prosecutors...
Boebert challenger Eileen Laubacher, Republican Gabe Evans lead Colorado’s quarterly House fundraising
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 8 hours ago
The Democrat challenging U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in Colorado’s most solidly Republican congressional district again posted the state’s biggest fundraising numbers for the most recent quarter, while Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, who is defending the state’s lone toss-up seat,...
Federal shift on medical cannabis draws praise and concern in Colorado
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 8 hours ago
Colorado’s response to the federal reclassification of medical cannabis ranged from industry leaders celebrating the development to youth advocacy groups warning that the change heightens the need for stronger protections for children. The U.S. Justice Department and the Drug Enforcement...
10th Circuit orders second look at challenge to Colorado ‘ghost gun’ law
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 12 hours ago
The Denver-based federal appeals court issued a mixed decision on Thursday, finding that a group of plaintiffs could not challenge certain aspects of Colorado’s “ghost gun” prohibition, could challenge others, and ordered further analysis of the law’s constitutionality. To address the...
Divided appeals court reverses assault conviction over insufficient guidance about paramedics’ authority
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
Colorado’s second-highest court reversed a defendant’s conviction last week for assaulting a paramedic, concluding that a Denver judge needed to give jurors additional information about the duties that paramedics are legally authorized to carry out. Two paramedics were attempting to...
Bill prohibiting Colorado legislators from holding multiple elected offices heads to governor’s desk
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 13 hours ago
A bill that would prohibit members of the General Assembly from holding multiple offices narrowly passed through the House on Wednesday, clearing its path to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 059, sponsored by Democratic Sens. Matt Ball, D-Denver, and Lisa...
Colorado data‑privacy bill fails after sponsors shift it to a ballot measure
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 14 hours ago
A Colorado bill aimed at restricting law enforcement and private companies from purchasing personal data without a warrant failed to advance Wednesday after a 6–5 vote in the House Judiciary Committee. The proposal, originally titled the “Fourth Amendment Is Not...
Lawmakers introduce bipartisan ‘Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act’ to put the poultry on food stamps
Molly Parks, Washington Examiner
molly.parks.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 13 hours ago
In today’s hyper-partisan Congress, there is at least one thing that can quickly bring Democrats and Republicans to the same table: rotisserie chicken. A bipartisan group of senators introduced the “Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act” this week, a bill that would...
Todd Blanche orders federal reclassification of medical marijuana as less dangerous
Molly Parks, Washington Examiner
molly.parks.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 13 hours ago
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order on Thursday officially reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from a Schedule I to a less-regulated Schedule III drug, following President Donald Trump’s order to do so in December. The rescheduling move will relax...
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General Assembly leaders discuss governor's emergency declaration, next steps
The executive committee of the Legislative Council, the six legislative leaders of the Colorado General Assembly, met Tuesday afternoon to figure out what to do next. But they stumbled over whether they have the authority to move forward on certain actions, based on whether or not Gov. Jared Polis had issued an executive order declaring […]
Colorado's Democrats and Republicans seek options for assemblies amid coronavirus outbreak
Officials with Colorado’s Democratic and Republican state parties are working with legislators to enable the parties to hold assemblies and conventions using alternative methods as a rapidly moving viral outbreak forces cancellation of large gatherings, Colorado Politics has learned. “The facts might change tomorrow,” said Morgan Carroll, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. “The bottom […]