Tipping Point: Colorado River basin farms stunted by megadrought
Farmers across the Colorado River Basin are facing an uncertain future in agriculture as the river’s watershed faces ongoing drought, rising irrigation costs, and conservation cutbacks. (Video by Skyler Ballard)
Rural education is an advantage — start funding it that way | OPINION
Colorado Politics
colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
By Denille LePlatt When people talk about rural schools, the conversation too often starts with struggle. I’d like to start somewhere different: with the 135,000 students across Colorado’s rural communities who show up every day with talent, drive and potential...
Colorado House pass bill raising threshold for agriculture overtime by one vote
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 6 hours ago
The bill that would raise the overtime threshold for overtime pay for certain agricultural workers won the narrowest of votes Thursday in the Colorado House. Senate Bill 121 won a 33-32 vote, a dramatic difference from votes cast Wednesday on...
Colorado’s $46.8 billion budget nears finish line
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 8 hours ago
The Colorado Senate on Thursday voted largely along party lines to approve $46.8 billion in spending for the next state budget. The spending plan is bigger than what legislators originally approved for the current fiscal year’s budget, driven by increases...
Colorado Senate passes bill for voluntary $5 fee to fund wildlife crossings
Scott Weiser
scott.weiser@gazette.com
Updated 8 hours ago
The Colorado Senate approved bipartisan legislation allowing drivers to voluntarily pay an extra $5 when registering their vehicles to help finance wildlife crossings and reduce the growing number of dangerous collisions between cars and animals on state highways. In 2024...
A proposed Democratic bill would make taking Colorado workers’ IDs a crime
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 9 hours ago
After a narrow 6–5 vote, a bill to bar employers from taking workers’ identification documents is moving to the full Colorado House, sparking questions about how often such intimidation occurs and whether a new state law is necessary. House Bill...
House rejects effort to withdraw US forces from the Iran war as Republicans stick with Trump
Kevin Freking
kevin.freking@associatedpress.com
Updated 13 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected a resolution Thursday requiring President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran unless Congress authorizes military action. It was the latest such vote that fell short of passage as Republicans...
9 Colorado hospitals at risk of closing due to Medicaid cuts
Nico Brambila
nico.brambila@denvergazette.com
Updated 14 hours ago
The $900 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade could threaten the viability of more than 400 hospitals nationally and at least nine in Colorado, a new report has found. The hospitals span the Front Range and rural communities,...
Democrats vow to block next Trump Supreme Court pick amid Alito speculation
Ramsey Touchberry, Washington Examiner
ramsey.touchberry.washington.examiner@gazetteedit.wpenginepowered.com
Updated 14 hours ago
Justice Samuel Alito hasn’t tipped his hat on retiring just yet, but Senate Democrats are already entrenched in opposing the confirmation of a successor that would deliver President Donald Trump his fourth lifetime appointment to the high court. Democrats need...
The grift at the core of Colorado ed department’s ‘innovation programs’ | Paula Noonan
Paula Noonan
paula-noonan@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 12 hours ago
Colorado’s K-12 school finance, transparency and accountability systems have urgent, connected problems with a slow-motion state response. Money is spilling out of school finance funds to home-schooled and private-school students. This multi-million-dollar flood of funds to cooked-up micro schools, home-school...
‘Second look’ bill would cause lasting harm to crime’s victims | OPINION
Colorado Politics
colorado-politics@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 24 hours ago
By Robert Fallbeck Senate Bill 26-115, being considered by lawmakers in the current legislative session, seeks to allow re-sentencing (aka a “second look”) of inmates who have served 20 calendar years in the Colorado Department of Correction (DOC) for two...