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Colorado enacts new laws on nursing home staffing, housing eligibility
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Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday signed two bills aimed at easing Colorado’s workforce shortages in nursing homes and expanding access to affordable homeownership, marking the state’s latest efforts to address long‑standing gaps in these two areas. House Bill 1244, sponsored by Reps. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder, and Scott Slaugh, R-Johnstown, and Sens. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock,…
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Assisted-living facility in Colorado faced minimal fine after death of 73-year-old man
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On Jan. 6, just after 8:30 p.m., Robert Dutkevitch rolled his wheelchair onto the smoking patio outside The Argyle assisted-living facility in Denver. Minutes later, the 73-year-old suddenly slumped in his chair, his head lolling to the side. He then fell headfirst into some rocks, not moving. Another resident outside went in to report what…
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Colorado eyes shift in particulate oversight amid EV push
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Colorado’s Air Pollution Control Division proposed shifting oversight of solid particulates as small as one-seventh the width of a human hair from federal to state-only authority on Dec. 19, citing more than 20 years of compliance with national standards. The proposal seeks to repeal EPA-approved particulate controls in seven areas once out of compliance with…
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Audit finds major gaps in Colorado’s oil and gas reporting, enforcement
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The agencies responsible for regulating Colorado’s oil and gas industry are underperforming when it comes to reporting and enforcement and they also failed to collect payments amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue, according to a state audit. The Office of the State Auditor reviewed 2023 data on oil and gas production…
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Federal judge dismisses claim against Colorado health department leaders over gas stove law
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A federal judge last week dismissed the constitutional claim against leaders of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment over a 2025 law requiring health disclosures on new gas-fueled stoves. In June, Gov. Jared Polis signed House Bill 1161 into law, which requires retailers of gas stoves to affix a “yellow adhesive label” that…
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Jury to decide Black employee’s discrimination claim against state
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A jury will decide whether a state employee was subjected to racial discrimination when she was repeatedly passed over for promotions for reasons a federal judge deemed “incredible” and “flat out wrong.” Deanna Butler, who has worked for the government for 30 years, filed suit against the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment based…
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Proposed rule mandating large building electrification violates federal and state laws, says critics
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A proposed statewide energy efficiency regulation that critics say could force large building owners to upgrade their heating and cooling systems could cost them as much as $3.1 billion by 2030, according to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. The proposed rule is being challenged by two apartment associations representing more than 350,000 apartments…
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Suncor released potentially unhealthy levels of benzene into Sand Creek after December fire
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Suncor released potentially unhealthy levels of benzene into Sand Creek after a December refinery fire, according to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. After the two fires that injured two employees at Suncor’s Commerce City refinery, the company shut down the plant for repairs caused by extreme cold weather and for maintenance. Subsequent water…
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Colorado closes COVID-19 community testing sites by mid-January
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The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will close its 20 remaining COVID-19 testing sites on Jan. 15. As more Coloradans have relied on at-home COVID-19 tests in the past several months, the demand for testing at the state’s community sites has dropped to between 3 to 6% of overall capacity, according to a…
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Electric semi-tractor trucks on the menu at Air Quality Control Commission
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Colorado government officials started the process this week to require semi-tractor truck manufacturers and dealers to start pushing low-emission diesel trucks to Colorado customers. The rules would apply to all large trucks, like garbage or delivery vehicles. The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission heard a presentation Tuesday from a Colorado Air Pollution Control Division representative about…