Dustin Zvonek pinpoints Colorado’s housing-first homelessness failures | The OpEdge Podcast
As homelessness continues to persist across Colorado, former Aurora City Councilman Dustin Zvonek paints a compelling picture of how the primary policy prescription may be enabling the root cause more than providing a permanent solution.
In this OpEdge Podcast conversation with Gazette and Colorado Politics Deputy Opinion Editor Antonio Olivero, Zvonek, now the homelessness fellow at the Common Sense Institute, explains why he believes Colorado needs to pivot on its approach to better address the squalor on Centennial State streets.
Watch here!
To keep up to date on the latest episodes The OpEdge — hosted regularly by Olivero and Gazette investigative columnist Jimmy Sengenberger — subscribe now on YouTube or your favorite audio podcast app:
Mental Health Colorado names 2026 legislators of the year
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 hour ago
Six state lawmakers have received recognition from the advocacy organization Mental Health Colorado for their mental health policy work during the 2026 legislative session. “Mental Health Colorado’s work to pass laws, change practices, and build a movement depends on courageous...
Geo Group sues Colorado over new immigration detention facility inspection law
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 1 hour ago
Geo Group, the private prison company that owns the ICE detention facility in Aurora, has filed a lawsuit against Colorado to stop the enforcement of a new law requiring additional health and safety inspections of immigration detention facilities. The suit,...
Cigna to pull out of individual health market, affecting thousands in Colorado
Marianne Goodland
marianne.goodland@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 hours ago
Another firm is withdrawing from the individual health insurance market, including for Colorado, effective Jan. 1, 2027. The move by Cigna Healthcare is part of the company’s overall plan to withdraw entirely from the Affordable Care Act market. It will...
Robert Rodriguez spoke softly and carried a big stick | GUEST COLUMN
Greg Fulton
greg-fulton@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 7 hours ago
President Teddy Roosevelt was known to have said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” The phrase was a reference to his leadership style, in which one negotiates in a civil and peaceful manner while also making clear one can...
Sparks fly in debate between Democrats in Colorado’s 8th CD primary
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 hours ago
The two Democrats running for the chance to take on the Republican incumbent in Colorado’s most competitive congressional district traded blows during a feisty televised debate Monday night, sparring over their approaches to reining in the Trump administration’s immigration policies...
Jena Griswold hits airwaves with 1st major ad buy in Colorado’s Democratic attorney general primary
Ernest Luning
ernest.luning@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 22 hours ago
Democratic attorney general candidate Jena Griswold plays the greatest hits from her two terms as Colorado secretary of state in her campaign’s first TV ad, which began airing Monday, the same day county clerks began sending out primary ballots. Set...
Primary ballots hit mailboxes in high-stakes election year in Colorado
Thelma Grimes
thelma.grimes@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 22 hours ago
County clerks began mailing primary ballots to voters on Monday, as Colorado wades deeper into a crowded election year. Voters will face a long list of choices in both the June 30 primary and the November general election. Every major...
CPW has a weighty decision to make on a recent wolf kill | Rachel Gabel
Rachel Gabel
rachel-gabel@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
Gov. Jared Polis made three new appointments to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission and reappointed both Richard Reading, at-large representative, and vice chair Gabriel Otero, sportspersons representative who resides west of the Continental Divide. Appointed as a production agriculture representative residing west of the Continental Divide, John LeCoq of...
Colorado governor nixes bills on swipe fees, suing feds and firefighter benefits
Marissa Ventrelli
marissa.ventrelli@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 2 days ago
Gov. Jared Polis vetoed three bills Wednesday, rejecting measures on credit‑card swipe fees, immigration enforcement lawsuits, and firefighter cancer coverage. In doing so, the governor set a new personal record for vetoes in a single session, having now rejected 12...
Bennet wants to be Colorado’s next governor | Cronin and Loevy
Tom Cronin Bob Loevy
tom-cronin-bob-loevy@coloradopolitics.com
Updated 3 days ago
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet is considered the front-runner in the Colorado Democratic Party primary contest for governor. His major opponent is current Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. The Democratic primary election is June 30. Registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters who choose to can vote in this election. Ballots are being mailed...
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Robert Rodriguez spoke softly and carried a big stick | GUEST COLUMN
President Teddy Roosevelt was known to have said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick.” The phrase was a reference to his leadership style, in which one negotiates in a civil and peaceful manner while also making clear one can exert power when needed. This style of leadership is one that Robert Rodriguez has effectively […]
Cigna to pull out of individual health market, affecting thousands in Colorado
Another firm is withdrawing from the individual health insurance market, including for Colorado, effective Jan. 1, 2027. The move by Cigna Healthcare is part of the company’s overall plan to withdraw entirely from the Affordable Care Act market. It will impact individual health plans for 369,000 members in 11 states, according to a company announcement […]