Today is March 27, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

'For cause' evictions bill passed by Colorado Senate, clearing major hurdle

A two-year effort to add more stringent requirements before a landlord can evict a renter cleared a major hurdle on Tuesday, when the state Senate approved a House measure on a close vote.

On Monday, the measure, which requires landlords to show “cause” before evicting a tenant, went through a six-hour debate in the Senate. Republicans and moderate Democrats tried to water it down with a half-dozen amendments.

In ultimately approving the bill on a 19-15 vote, the Senate made several amendments that will now go before the House.

Colorado lawmakers want to disrupt Tiktok, YouTube scrolling among children

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit during her freshman year of high school, Kaitlyn Tollefson turned to social media to occupy her time and connect with friends during the lockdown.

It quickly evolved from a way to keep in touch with her peers to a full-blown addiction, with Tollefson spending about 12 hours each day scrolling through TikTok.

“I would scroll on social media, losing hours of sleep, skipping meals, or using it as an unhealthy coping mechanism, never feeling any better for being on it for half of my day,” said Tollefson, now 19.

Tollefson is among several people who testified in support of a proposal that sponsors said would help protect children’s mental health amid the pervasive use of social media among minors. The Senate Committee on Education advanced the measure on Monday.

Republican congressional candidate Deborah Flora qualifies for 4th CD primary ballot by petition

Douglas County Republican Deborah Flora, one of nine GOP candidates running for the Colorado congressional seat formerly held by Republican Ken Buck, has qualified for the primary ballot by submitting a sufficient number of petition signatures, state election officials said Tuesday.

The nonprofit founder and former talk radio host joins two-term U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert on the June 25 Republican primary ballot, which will decide the party’s nominee in the 4th Congressional District for the November election.

Boebert, who moved from the more competitive 3rd Congressional District into the solidly Republican 4th CD in January, qualified by petition earlier this month.

Federal judge throws out attorney's defamation claim against local blogger

A federal judge on Thursday threw out an attorney’s defamation claim against a blogger who was critical of her work representing a special district in Jefferson County and who, she believed, contributed to the district’s decision to oust her.

Mary Joanne “Jo” Deziel Timmins sued the Green Mountain Water and Sanitation District after it fired her in the summer of 2021. Timmins also named as a defendant John Kiess Henderson, who she accused of defaming her by posting untrue statements on his website.

Last year, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney dismissed Timmins’ claims against the district, but allowed Timmins and Henderson to argue whether Timmins could overcome the shield Colorado law generally affords to speech on issues of public concern. Sweeney concluded she could not.

As crime in Denver soars, RTD finds itself in the frontlines

The Lakewood Police Department described a disturbing scene that unfolded on Feb. 13 at a Regional Transportation District light rail station.

Two teenage girls allegedly assaulted a man at the Wadsworth Boulevard light rail station, the police said. The teens seemingly attacked the man at random, holding him down, kicking him and calling him racial slurs, the police added.

The incident was one of several crimes that occurred in metro Denver’s public transportation system in the last several months. Other incidents garnered considerable media attention not only because of their deadly results, but also because of how brazen they had been.