top stories
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National conservation area growing by 4,000-plus acres in western Colorado
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A formerly private, sweeping swath of western Colorado is growing a public, red rock wonderland. Spanning 4,000-plus acres, Escalante Ranch has been transferred to the Bureau of Land Management and incorporated into Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, The Conservation Fund recently announced. The announcement described the land south of Grand Junction as “encompass(ing) some of Colorado’s…
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Judge rules that Colorado law makes it too hard for parties to bar unaffiliated voters from primaries
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A federal judge ruled in favor of the Colorado Republican Party late Tuesday, saying that a portion of the state law that allows unaffiliated voters to cast ballots in party primaries is unconstitutional because it imposes an unrealistic burden on political parties seeking to restrict the nominating process to their own members. U.S. District Court…
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‘Larger than life’ and ‘logistically challenging:’ Getting to know wolverines and Colorado’s restoration plan
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Last month inside a Denver conference room, as the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission moved to the next agenda item, a whisper could be heard. “I’m excited for this one.” Bob Inman stepped to a microphone. “Colorado has many remarkable species of wildlife,” he said, “but it’s been missing one of its most mysterious and…
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Therapy dog task force grows to meet hardship and disaster in Colorado and beyond
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On an upper level of the Colorado Springs Police Department, the calls never stop. The people here stand before screens displaying maps of the city and other urgent information, and they respond through headsets. “Are you safe? Are you out of danger?” “Do you see flames or smoke?” It’s another day in the communications center,…
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National redistricting fight reaches Colorado with ballot measures targeting GOP-held congressional districts
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A Democratic-aligned group backed by the House Majority PAC filed four versions of a 2026 ballot measure Tuesday that would temporarily suspend Colorado’s independent congressional redistricting commission and redraw the state’s map in an effort to flip three Republican-held U.S. House seats in 2028. The group Coloradans for a Level Playing Field is pushing for…
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Here’s what to know about the Homeland Security shutdown starting this weekend
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Another shutdown for parts of the federal government is expected this weekend, following an impasse over funding for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security amid a push by Democrats for changes in immigration enforcement. Funding for the federal agency is set to expire Saturday. As the partial shutdown looms, local airport authorities said they won’t speculate about…
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Out-of-state visitors could pay more at Colorado state parks
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People living outside of Colorado could pay more to visit state parks under a new proposal. The proposal was presented at the latest Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting: a daily pass charge of $15-$17 for vehicles with out-of-state license plates. Coloradans would continue to pay $10-$12 for a pass. (The $2 extra applies to…
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We tested vapes in Colorado for signs of hemp. This is what we found.
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This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with The Denver Gazette. Sign up for Dispatches to get our stories in your inbox every week. Leaders in the Colorado marijuana industry have complained in recent years that intoxicating products derived from hemp are endangering consumers and creating unfair competition, threatening to upend…
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Front Range’s highly anticipated Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space set to expand
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An open space of historic proportions between Colorado Springs and Denver is set to get even bigger. That’s after Castle Rock’s Town Council approved the Parks and Recreation Department pursuing a $1.1 million purchase of 35 acres along the southeast edge of Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space. “We’ve already bought the Ferrari, let’s put some…
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Colorado’s charitable gaming board to study Denver Gazette’s findings
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Colorado’s freshman board overseeing the state’s $110 million charitable gaming industry on Friday created a committee to tackle issues raised in a Denver Gazette investigation that exposed, among other issues, poor supervision and illegal operators. The Colorado Charitable Gaming Board, in only its second meeting since the Denver Gazette series ran in October, unanimously formed…
