news
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Can deliberation save democracy? | Vince Bzdek
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By Vince Bzdek In September 2019, 523 Americans traveled to Dallas, Texas, for an experiment called “America in One Room.” The gathering was designed to test a theory: Could representative citizens deliberate productively even in an era of intense polarization? The event took place soon after the presidential primary and it focused on policy proposals…
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Colorado health equity funder’s redirection debated
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A redirection in grantmaking that began two years ago for The Colorado Trust, a 40-year-old Denver-headquartered funder, has led some employees to now voice concerns, which has reportedly put their jobs in jeopardy. The vice president of communications for the private health equity foundation says the course has been set for years, with this being…
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Hopes and fears: Colorado Iranians speak out on widening war
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Group talks about young people protesting against the Islamic Republic, and Reza Pahlavi and the monarchy When Denver area real estate agent Fara Novin dined out for her birthday Friday night, Feb. 27, she blew out a candle on a cake and made a wish. Early next morning, news broke that a joint U.S.-Israeli strike…
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Another TABOR fight: Democrats plan to redirect refunds to Colorado residents
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Colorado voters could decide this fall whether billions of dollars that would otherwise be returned as refunds under the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights should instead go to public schools under a ballot measure unveiled Thursday by Democrats. Supporters say the proposal would address chronic underfunding in K-12 education, while critics argue it amounts to taking…
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Analysis: Colorado legislators introduce 18 energy bills amid debate over emissions goals
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Colorado legislators have introduced 18 energy-related bills so far in the 2026 session, with Democrats sponsoring 14 and Republicans four, highlighting the sharp partisan split over how aggressively the state should pursue its greenhouse gas reduction goals while protecting affordability and grid reliability. State law calls for cutting greenhouse gas emissions — including carbon dioxide…
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Colorado Democrats, Republicans fight over ballot fiscal information
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Republicans and Democrats clashed anew over legislation that would require identifying which programs would see a funding reduction if a ballot measure passed, with the former saying it’s yet another way for the government to control the campaign narrative and the latter insisting it provides transparency to voters. House Bill 1084, sponsored by Denver Democratic…
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Proposed changes to wildfire code would add protections to eastern edge of Colorado Springs
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New construction rules may be coming to the higher-risk wildfire areas around Colorado Springs, including the grassland on the city’s eastern side. Colorado Springs Fire Marshal Kris Cooper presented an early draft of the proposed changes to the city’s wildfire resiliency code to the Colorado Springs City Council during a recent work session. Cooper said…
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U.S. House probes reports of fraud, waste in Colorado’s Medicaid program
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A congressional committee is probing reports of waste, fraud and abuse in Colorado’s Medicaid program, citing recent stories outlining over-billing in transportation spending and alleged improper payments in autism services. The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce has sent a letter to Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and…
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Colorado’s outdoor economy slowing down
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The post-pandemic boom in the outdoor recreation world appears to have slowed, according to new federal data. The industry is still growing nationwide, but it’s been slower than in past years. The trend is evident in Colorado, as well, though a new report shows the state went from outperforming the nation to falling behind. Colorado’s…
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DPS board considers policy designating schools as ‘safe zones’ from immigration enforcement
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The Denver school board discussed a major policy amendment that, if passed, will designate all district properties as “Safe Zones” and “Sensitive Locations.” In practical terms, the proposed policy amendment would restrict federal immigration agents from interacting with students and staff at school without a judicial warrant. District policy already bans U.S. Immigration and Customs…
