Today is Oct. 27, 2023, and here’s what you need to know:

Last winter’s better-than-average snowfall, coupled with promises of less water use by Arizona, California and Nevada, means less drastic actions between now and 2026 for the Colorado River from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

Water experts welcomed the news, which prompted officials in Arizona to describe the river system as “stable.” 

The federal agency on Wednesday announced it is revamping its plans for shoring up water levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell, based on a new analysis of the river’s hydrology and the promises by the three Lower Basin states to reduce their water usage by 3 million acre-feet over the next three years.

One acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons – enough to supply two families of four for a year.

The drive to conserve on the Colorado River is prompted by more than 20 years of historic drought, which means the river is no longer able to handle the demands to deliver water to the seven states’ 40 million people and keep agriculture, particularly in California, thriving. The shortages also raised concerns that, without drastic action, Hoover and Glen Canyon dams would struggle to supply hydropower to Western states. 

The majority of people who spoke on Denver’s proposed spending plan during Monday’s council meeting praised councilmembers’ push to earmark $17.5 million for the city’s rental assistance program, saying the latter helps to prevent homelessness.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston did not budge on his $12.6 million budget request when the council asked for additional funding. The council proposed to Johnston $17.5 million, $5.1 million more than his original plan to fund the emergency rental program in his proposed budget.

But a mayor’s spokesperson late on Tuesday said Johnston added $3 million to the program – for a total of $15.6 million.

The residents who showed up to the meeting mentioned the program and how they believe it would positively affect those who are dealing with the city’s lack of affordable housing.

Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, who is seeking reelection, leads his two rivals for the position in the money race, the latest campaign finance numbers show.  

Aurora voters will choose among three candidates for mayor on Nov. 7: Coffman, Councilmember Juan Marcano and Jeffrey Sanford.

Coffman raised almost $250,000, while Marcano took in a little more than $100,000. Sanford, a military veteran like Coffman, earlier said he is not accepting political contributions and reported raising zero dollars.

Marcano received contributions from twice as many people, which means Coffman secured money from fewer supporters but in larger increments.

Coffman’s total contributions added up to $242,317, according to his campaign finance report, which covers May 1, when he started fundraising, through Oct. 24, the end of the latest reporting period. 

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has issued praise for the House of Representative’s new speaker, adding he believes Rep. Mike Johnson of Lousiana will unify the House through his principles.

The House elected Johnson on Wednesday, ending Congress’s search for a new speaker that lasted for over three weeks. In reacting to Johnson’s election to the position, Gingrich praised the Louisiana conservative for being “a very solid person” who is “deeply religious” and has “a great family.”

“And I think that we’re going to discover that what he combines, which is really very important, is a solid conservative set of principles with a very moderate and reasonable approach to people so that he can actually unify people across ideological boundaries,” Gingrich said.