Seth Garrett Franco arrested in 2017
Police encountered Seth Garrett Franco at a restaurant in Boulder in September 2017. Franco sued the city of Boulder alleging their welfare check was an unlawful arrest based on a probation violation, which is not a crime. A jury later awarded Franco, who has since died, $3.41 million. The city is appealing the ruling.
Dismissal sought in Michael Clark’s second trial
Jenny Deam
jenny-deam@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 8 hours ago
The murder conviction of Michael Clark should be dismissed due to a 32-year delay that led to crucial evidence being lost or destroyed, a bungled police investigation and “outrageous conduct” at the state crime lab, according to defense motion filed...
The need for a governor to say “no” to his friends | SONDERMANN
By Eric Sondermann
by-eric-sondermann@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
A wise man once remarked that the real test of a governor is his willingness to turn down and reject the pleadings of political friends and allies. That gentleman knew something of what he spoke. He occupied the corner-office executive...
Gov. Lamm scolds own party over losing modernization battle against GOP | A LOOK BACK
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Forty-Five Years Ago This Week: “The Democratic Party lost the battles of ideas and political technology last November,” Gov. Dick Lamm told the Boulder County Democratic Party at the annual Harry S. Truman Memorial Dinner. Lamm argued that the Democratic...
Colorado Politics Calendar May 4-10
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
CoPo’s weekly political calendar will help you find political and public-policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances,...
Colorado to get $75 million from opioid settlement with Purdue Pharma
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 21 hours ago
A $7.4 billion settlement reached with the pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family — its owners — is now legally effective a decade after attorneys general from multiple states launched an investigation and seven years after Colorado filed...
Committee approves reworked version of previously vetoed rideshare bill
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
Members of the Colorado House Business Affairs and Labor Committee voted across party lines to pass a modified version of a bill establishing regulations on rideshare companies. Last year, Reps. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn, and Meg Froelich, D-Englewood, introduced House Bill...
Fight over credit card ‘swipe fees’ attracts nearly 200 lobbyists in Colorado
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 21 hours ago
One of the most expensive fights of the 2026 session got a little closer to being over on Friday, when the Colorado Senate took a second final vote on the proposal to eliminate “swipe fees” on sales taxes. It’s not...
Veto likely as union-backed bill heads to Colorado governor’s desk — again
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 21 hours ago
For the second year in a row, a bill that would make it easier for labor organizations to impose fees on all workers, regardless of union membership, is headed for Gov. Jared Polis’ desk. The governor, who vetoed the legislation...
Aurora mental health nonprofit cuts 100-plus jobs after Colorado agency reduces reimbursement rate
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 day ago
A nonprofit that provides services through 11 mental health centers in Aurora announced Thursday that it is eliminating 111 jobs effective June 30, the result of federal and state budget reductions. Aurora Mental Health & Recovery said the positions being...
Denver law students create AI-powered tools in federal judge’s ‘design sprint’
Michael Karlik
michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 18 hours ago
A tenant discovered a handwritten note on his door stating he had 48 hours to move out. The landlord changed the locks without notice or court proceedings. The tenant paid rent on time and had never received any complaints about...