vic vela
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Ballot measures impact bill signed into law
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A new law will allow Colorado voters to know the fiscal impact of a ballot measure before petitions are circulated – a heavily debated effort that seemed doomed in the final hours of the recent legislative session. The state had already been required to provide voters with cost-impact estimates of ballot measures, prior to an…
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New law helps fund massive National Western complex project
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A stroke of a pen this week pumped $250 million into renovations for the National Western Stock Show complex, an enormous project that supporters say will create the “Silicon Valley of agriculture” in northeast Denver. But officials admit there is still work left to do to secure the majority of the money needed to fund…
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Governor signs workforce development legislation
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Colorado students will be able to graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree at the same time — and be prepared to work in a technical field — under a bipartisan bill that Gov. John Hickenlooper signed into law on Monday. That measure, along with a separate bill the governor signed at…
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Hickenlooper tees off on Jeffco super at bill signing
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Gov. John Hickenlooper this week accused the Jefferson County schools superintendent of playing politics over a perceived snub by the school district’s chief – a response that included a reference to a pop superstar’s visit to Jeffco a couple of years ago. The Democratic governor recently sought permission from Jeffco schools to hold an education…
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Hickenlooper tees off on Jeffco super at bill signing
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Gov. John Hickenlooper this week accused the Jefferson County schools superintendent of playing politics over a perceived snub by the school district’s chief — a response that included a reference to a pop superstar’s visit to Jeffco a couple of years ago. The Democratic governor recently sought permission from Jeffco schools to hold an education…
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Education activists say testing changes not good enough
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State lawmakers may be patting themselves on the back for their recent bipartisan work to reduce testing in Colorado schools, but education activists aren’t popping any champagne corks in celebration of those efforts. “I don’t see much a change for next year,” said Cheri Kiesecker, a Fort Collins mother and an advocate for the overhaul…
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Governor signs bill to ‘jump-start’ rural areas
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Gov. John Hickenlooper this week signed into law a bill that aims to boost economic development in rural parts of the state. Senate Bill 282 has been dubbed the “Jump-Start Program for Economically Distressed Counties.” The bill seeks to help economies in struggling parts of the state by creating tax-friendly zones in hopes of luring…
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U.S. Education chief talks student testing during Denver visit
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The nation’s education chief said during a Denver visit this week that he continues to support efforts to reduce testing in public schools, while ensuring high standards and accountability. And U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said in an interview with The Colorado Statesman that he hopes this is finally the year that Congress fixes…
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Consumer groups blast last-minute lending bill
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A late legislative session bill aimed at maintaining loan access for customers with bad credit is leaving consumer interest groups concerned that the measure will result in a higher cost of borrowing. Those same groups are calling on Gov. John Hickenlooper to veto the bill, which they see as a harmful piece of legislation that…
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Compromise struck on student testing bill
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In a laborious Capitol battle over student testing between the “good enoughs” and the “not enoughs,” the former prevailed. After digging through the weeds for months on the biggest education issue of this year’s legislative session, lawmakers finally emerged with compromise legislation that will reduce the number of assessments that students are required to take…