Colorado Politics

 Colorado’s Western Slope magistrate judges describe unique role in federal judiciary

Two of Colorado’s federal judges stationed on the Western Slope spoke to lawyers on Wednesday about their unique roles, the ways their workloads differ, and the need for more criminal defense lawyers to take cases outside the Front Range. “Here...

 ‘Ticked off’: Third-party US Senate candidate in Colorado launches $1.3 million TV ad campaign

Bob Chew, the Forward Party nominee for U.S. Senate in Colorado, sends household objects flying in a TV ad set to run statewide through September, backed by $1.3 million across multiple platforms, his campaign told Colorado Politics. Meant to demonstrate...

 Federal judge rules that request for bond hearing not necessary to challenge immigration detention

A federal judge in Colorado ruled last week that it is not mandatory for a person to seek a bond hearing with an immigration judge before they challenge the lawfulness of their detention in federal court. For the past year,...

 Colorado shifts vaccine authority to state as Trump administration revises childhood framework

As the Trump administration rolls out a revised childhood vaccine framework, Colorado’s law allowing the state to set its own immunization schedule has now taken effect. Issued Monday, President Donald Trump’s executive order separates childhood and adolescent vaccines into three...

 Boulder Valley School District introduces new policies following antisemitism lawsuit

The chief of Boulder Valley School unveiled new policies for the 2026-2027 school year following a lawsuit filed on behalf of a student alleging antisemitic harassment. In June, the Anti-Defamation League filed a federal civil rights complaint against the school...

 Golden city manager fired after ‘racist incident’ at fire station

The Golden City Council on Tuesday voted to terminate City Manager Scott Vargo following a reported “racist incident” at a city fire station. The alleged incident happened in March. Reportedly, a “Snoop on a Stoop” doll, which resembles an “Elf...

 Colorado NRA chapter seeks injunction against new gun‑training requirement

The Colorado chapter of the National Rifle Association is seeking an injunction to stop the state from enforcing a new law that took effect earlier this month. The new law requires anyone buying or selling certain firearms to first complete...

 Trump’s approval rating sinks to new low at 33%

President Donald Trump’s approval rating has reached a new low, sitting at 33% approval and 62% disapproval, according to the latest YouGov/Economist poll. The one-third approval standing in early August is the lowest net job approval Trump has seen across...

 Denver moves to dismiss Trump challenge to ‘assault-style’ weapons ban

Denver has filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Trump administration challenging the city’s ban on “assault-style” weapons and magazines exceeding a 15-round capacity. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a suit in federal court in May,...

 Denver City Council committee looks to ease affordable housing metrics

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability is asking the city to rewrite some of the key performance metrics in the city’s agreement with the Denver Housing Authority to deliver affordable housing. HOST is asking the city to amend parts of a...

 Denver City Council committee looks to ease affordable housing metrics

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability is asking the city to rewrite some of the key performance metrics in the city’s agreement with the Denver Housing Authority to deliver affordable housing. HOST is asking the city to amend parts of a...

 Aurora City Council consider socioeconomic impact permits for ‘high-risk’ businesses

The Aurora City Council moved forward with the creation of a socioeconomic impact business permit intended to space out high-risk businesses. Councilmembers unanimously approved sending the permit question to a future regular meeting, where it would go to an official...

 Federal judge dismisses ex-Colorado judicial discipline director’s conspiracy lawsuit

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit from Colorado’s former judicial discipline director on Tuesday, finding that he failed to adequately state claims for conspiracy or constitutional violations. Christopher S.P. Gregory, who served as the executive director of the Colorado Commission on Judicial...

 Signals mixed for Colorado economy halfway through 2026

Colorado’s economy faced a mix of headwinds and tailwinds through the first half of the year. Inflation is up again, job growth is slowing and geopolitical turmoil has added the effects of high oil prices to the state’s economy. Yet,...

 Federal judge allows retaliation claims to proceed against prison officials

A federal judge agreed last week that a man incarcerated at Sterling Correctional Facility had credibly alleged that employees retaliated against him for filing grievances, including by taking away his disability accommodations and turning off his electricity. Louis Peoples Jr.,...

 Treasury releases five-step guidance for employers to make contributions to Trump Accounts

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent published new guidance Tuesday outlining the specific steps employers must take to contribute to employee Trump Accounts. The accounts, one of the most popular provisions included in President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, are...

 Denver schools to refinance bonds to create capacity for future borrowing

Less than two years after voters approved a record $975 million school bond, Denver Public Schools is refinancing older debt — a move district officials say will save taxpayers money while creating capacity for another bond election. The district has...

 Russia frees imprisoned US Marine over health concerns

Russia freed former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman upon the urging of U.S. officials so he could receive medical care in the United States. Gilman, 32, was released after 1,666 days in prison, having been arrested on Jan. 17, 2022. Eric...

 Colorado students push AI task force as schools navigate new tech era

A group of students is urging lawmakers to establish a task force on artificial intelligence in education to advise districts on how to ensure that pupils and educators use the technology effectively without becoming overly reliant on it. The students...

 Parker data center could get $19M tax rebate from Douglas County

At a time when Denver and Front Range governments are restricting or banning data center development, Douglas County commissioners are poised to approve a $19.3 million tax rebate agreement Tuesday for a new data center under construction in Parker. The...

 Denver City Council rejects contract that would have given video maker 8-year deal

Denver’s Office of Human Resources will have to get creative to attract new city employees and place them in “hard-to-fill” jobs after a proposed five-year contract extension, valued at $600,000, failed to gain favor with the Denver City Council. The...

 Denver Mayor Mike Johnston files to run for reelection in 2027

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston officially filed his paperwork Monday to run again for Denver’s mayoral office next year. The filing comes weeks after Johnston confirmed to The Denver Gazette that he would seek reelection as he focuses the final year...

 U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s son arrested, faces charges of sexual exploitation of minor

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s son Tyler Jay Boebert has been arrested and accused of recording and sharing a video depicting himself having intercourse with a minor, according to court records. The case originated in Garfield County in Western Colorado and...

 Clean and Safe program made nearly 3,000 contacts in first year of downtown Colorado Springs outreach

The pilot version of the Clean and Safe program in downtown Colorado Springs has hit the one-year mark, marking thousands of contacts with visitors and some intransigent homeless residents. Leaders from the Downtown Partnership presented a progress report to Colorado...

 Colorado audit finds $175K wasted on unused state-issued cellphones

Colorado spent nearly $175,000 on government issued cellphones for employees of various departments that went unused last year, according to a recent state audit. About 400 of the 6,688 cellphones issued to state employees received no calls or texts and...

 Adams County water district may proceed with cost-recovery lawsuit against Denver for contamination

A federal judge rejected Denver’s arguments last week for pausing or dismissing a lawsuit brought by an Adams County special district seeking to recover its costs for addressing water contamination as a result of Denver firefighting activities. In January, the...

 Hunter shot Colorado wolf after mistaking it for a coyote, wildlife office says

Colorado Parks and Wildlife said Monday that a female wolf from British Columbia that died in January was shot by a hunter who mistook her for a coyote. The wolf, identified as 2504‑BC, was one of 17 wolves relocated since...

 Federal judge declines to dismiss First Amendment retaliation claim against prison official

A federal judge agreed last month that an incarcerated Native American woman may pursue her claim of First Amendment retaliation against a prison official who allegedly interfered with her religious exercise. Yvonne Peterson resided at Buena Vista Correctional Facility for...

 By the students, for the students: Sierra High School represents Colorado in developing national AI framework

To many, the recent, rapid development of generative artificial intelligence and its lack of frameworks and oversight may evoke comparisons to the unrestrained Wild West in the 1800s or the economic potential of the dot-com boom in the early 2000s....

 Cripple Creek gold mine is part of Colorado’s past, present and future

Gold mining has played an integral role in shaping the history of Colorado, going back to before it officially became a state 150 years ago. The Pikes Peak Gold Rush, started in 1858, brought tens of thousands of prospectors to...