Today is April 12, 2024, and here’s what you need to know:

Republicans Richard Holtorf, Mike Lynch qualify by petition for primary ballot in Colorado's 4th CD

Republican state Reps. Richard Holtorf and Mike Lynch have qualified for the primary ballot in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District by submitting a sufficient number of petition signatures, state election officials said.

Holtorf and Lynch join U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and former U.S. Senate candidate Deborah Flora in the June 25 GOP primary for the Eastern Colorado seat formerly held by Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who resigned in March.

The primary field could grow in coming weeks: Five additional Republican candidates are awaiting review of petitions they submitted by last month’s deadline.

Democrats Trisha Calvarese, John Padora land spots on 4th CD primary ballot at party assembly

Democratic delegates sent Trisha Calvarese and John Padora to Colorado’s 4th Congressional District primary ballot Thursday night at an online assembly.

They join Ike McCorkle, a Marine veteran and two-time previous nominee for the seat, who qualified for the primary earlier this week by petition.

Covering Douglas County, parts of Larimer and Weld counties and the Eastern Plains, the 4th CD was formerly represented by Ken Buck, a five-term Republican who resigned from Congress last month. It’s Colorado’s most solidly Republican congressional district.

Lawsuit seeks to prevent Democrat Trisha Calvarese from appearing on Colorado's 4th CD special election ballot

A Douglas County voter filed suit on Wednesday seeking to prevent the Colorado secretary of state from placing Democrat Trisha Calvarese’s name on the special election ballot to fill the remainder of former Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck’s term.

James Glasser, a Castle Rock resident, argues in the lawsuit filed in Denver District Court that Calvarese doesn’t meet statutory and party bylaws requirements that congressional nominees must be registered Democrats in Colorado for at least 12 months prior to their nomination.

The state Democratic Party and Calvarese say they’re confident she meets the requirements. A spokeswoman for Calvarese said the candidate plans to contest the lawsuit’s claims in court.

Colorado State Rep. Don Wilson leaves gun unattended in state Capitol

Rep. Don Wilson, R-Monument, left a loaded 9mm Glock handgun unattended in the state Capitol this week and has apologized for doing so.

Wilson penned a letter of apology to the House of Representatives on Thursday, noting that he left the gun in the building on Tuesday — after the building was closed to the public.

“I want to be clear that I take full and complete accountability for the incident,” Wilson wrote. “I made a mistake and am very sorry.”

He also thanked the state Capitol staff and the Colorado State Patrol for their quick response.

Federal judge refuses to dismiss suit against Fort Collins over ex-officer's meritless DUI arrests

A federal judge last month agreed a man wrongly charged with drunk driving could sue the city of Fort Collins for failing to appropriately supervise one officer as he repeatedly arrested motorists who were not intoxicated.

Jesse Cunningham is one of several arrestees who filed suit over their encounters with Jason Haferman, the former “DUI officer” for Fort Collins Police Services. Cunningham’s complaint described how Larimer County prosecutors dismissed the charges against Cunningham after his blood test results showed no intoxication — one of many instances in which Haferman wrongly arrested motorists for driving under the influence.

In a March 26 order, U.S. District Court Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney agreed Cunningham had credibly shown Fort Collins’ own failure to train or supervise Haferman played a role in the alleged violation of Cunningham’s constitutional rights.