Colorado water expert reacts to Bureau of Reclamation Colorado River system analysis
In this interview, attorney James Eklund, who leads the water and natural resources practice at Sherman & Howard, said the federal government’s water analysis means the basin states need to come up with a plan they can all agree on. This time, he said, the federal government showed it, indeed, carries a big stick. James served as Colorado’s lead negotiator and signatory on the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan. He was also the director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board.
Trends and challenges in higher education | Tom Cronin
Tom Cronin
tom-cronin@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 9 hours ago
Americans are both proud and critical of our higher-education system. More American universities are highly ranked than those in other countries. More international students come here than to any other country. And basic research at U.S. universities has earned more patents and Nobel Prizes than elsewhere. Yet...
Colorado’s rulers save democracy from the voters | Jon Caldara
Jon Caldara
jon-caldara@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Another week, another column about Colorado’s ruling class treating democracy like a state trooper treats the speed limit. It’s for other people. I swear, I want to write about literally anything else — aliens, sports, lab-grown meat, Bigfoot opening a...
White House withdraws hospitality executive as National Park Service nominee | OUT WEST ROUNDUP
The Associated Press
the-associated-press@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 6 days ago
MONTANA National parks nominee withdrawn BILLINGS — President Donald Trump is withdrawing his nomination of a hospitality company executive to lead the National Park Service, the White House announced on April 27. The withdrawal of nominee Scott Socha comes as...
Ron Hanks, Scott Bottoms sue to stop Colorado’s unaffiliated voters from participating in GOP primary
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 8 hours ago
Three Republican candidates in Colorado filed a lawsuit in Denver District Court this week seeking to prevent unaffiliated voters from participating in next month’s GOP primary, arguing that the state’s semi-open primary system violates their constitutional rights by forcing Republicans...
It’s almost Sine Die and it can’t come soon enough | Capitol M | Week of May 9, 2026
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
The lighter side of the state Capitol, usually. At first, May the Fourth might have been a bit of a disappointment. Usually, there’s a lot of Star Wars foolishness on this particular day, but early on, it was low-key. The...
NRA carves out early success story battling 1981 Colorado gun legislation | A LOOK BACK
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
Forty-Five Years Ago This Week: After House Bill 81-1542, which would have mandated detention for juveniles carrying concealed weapons, cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Paul Powers, R-Denver, said he had received 45 letters per day denouncing the legislation. And...
Colorado Politics Calendar May 11-17
Rachael Wright, Special to Colorado Politics
rachael.wright@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 4 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 needs a sane, viable opposition party | SONDERMANN
By Eric Sondermann
by-eric-sondermann@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 5 days ago
If you are upset with the increasing regulatory burden in Colorado, the exodus of too many large employers, accelerating property taxes, the condition of the roads, and all of the funding for transit schemes with low demand, of course, you...
Colorado lawmakers eye 5% ‘fee’ on online gaming ‘skins,’ other game features
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 10 hours ago
Colorado lawmakers are seeking to impose a new fee on online game purchases, in particular targeting “add-on transactions,” referring to features or enhancements that players can buy. Sponsors said they want to earmark the new revenue toward youth mental health...
TABOR showdown: Senate moves bill forward, Advance Colorado prepares for legal action
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
Despite objections from legislative staff and Republican opposition, Senate Democrats on Friday moved forward with a proposal to reroute $306 million in taxpayer refunds. Already, critics are preparing to sue over the proposal that seeks to take $300 million in Taxpayer’s...