Today is March 5, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

Colorado voters set to weigh in on presidential preferences on Super Tuesday

Colorado voters finish casting ballots today in the state’s presidential primary, joining 15 other states and a territory voting on Super Tuesday.

In place since the late 1980s, it’s called Super Tuesday because it’s the busiest day on the primary election calendar, with more delegates at stake than at any other point on the road to the White House — roughly one-third of the total delegates available and nearly enough for the two frontrunners to lock down the nomination.

Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican former President Donald Trump have dominated early nominating contests, though Trump is facing a spirited challenge from former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who notched her first primary win on Saturday — in the District of Columbia — and was the only presidential candidate to campaign in Colorado ahead of the election.

US Supreme Court rules Colorado cannot remove Trump from ballot

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday unanimously told Colorado it could not use its election laws and judiciary to disqualify Donald Trump from the presidential primary ballot, overturning a contrary decision by the state Supreme Court from December.

While the unsigned majority opinion concluded states may not remove presidential candidates absent congressional authorization, the justices did not address the conclusion from Colorado’s state courts that Trump engaged in insurrection.

The decision arrived weeks after oral arguments and fewer than 48 hours before voting ends in Colorado’s March 5 primary. Although Trump’s name remained on the state’s ballot, it was an open question what would happen with votes cast for Trump in the event the nation’s highest court found him ineligible to hold office.

Colorado legislator proposes tougher approach to fentanyl possession

Arguing the status quo has failed to curb overdose deaths in Colorado, a Republican legislator is pushing for legislation to make it a felony for possessing any amount of fentanyl.

In response the overdose crisis, state policymakers in 2022 approved legislation to heighten the felony charges for possession of 1 to 4 grams of any substance containing fentanyl. The criminal penalty increase above 4 grams, an under 1 gram, possession is a misdemeanor.

In addition, the law allows defendants charged with the new felony to argue to a judge or jury that they didn’t know they possessed fentanyl, and if a “finder of fact” determines the defendant made a reasonable mistake of fact, the offense becomes a Level 1 drug misdemeanor.

Colorado Supreme Court to answer whether plaintiffs benefit from weekend, holiday extension in filing suit

If plaintiffs have three years from the date of their injury to file a lawsuit, but the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday or holiday, do they get until the next business day to submit their complaint?

The Colorado Supreme Court announced on Monday it will review a September 2023 decision of the Court of Appeals that found Carmelita Gomez could not benefit from the weekend grace period when her statute of limitations expired on a Saturday.

Gomez’s attorney warned the Supreme Court that multiple legal deadlines, not just Gomez’s, may be subject to new interpretation based on the decision.

At least three of the court’s seven members must agree to hear an appeal

Denver to close four immigrant shelters, starting with Aurora

Next week when Denver begins closing shelters used to temporarily house immigrants, officials will start with the shelter in Aurora that has driven a wedge between the two cities.

The shelter is one of four hotels that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston said earlier this week the city would be shuttering over the next month, a move that is expected to slash the city’s projected $180 million spending on the illegal immigration crisis by $60 million.

At least one Aurora official said Friday that the move was a little too little too late.