Author

William Oster

William Oster

William Oster was a reporting intern for Colorado Newsline. He's currently a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder majoring in journalism with a minor in political science. He's also the Managing Editor for the CU Independent, the university's student-led newspaper.

Historic symbol of Black self-sufficiency in Colorado still inspires

By: - July 26, 2023

Thirty miles east of Greeley lies acres of land scattered with rusted tin roofs, brick structures eroded to their base and two wood houses surrounded by chain-link fencing. At the edge of the land lies a stone plaque. “By 1920, Dearfield had more than 200 residents, two churches, a school and a restaurant,” it says. […]

Proposed parents’ bill of rights constitutional amendment dies in Colorado Legislature

By: - May 4, 2023

A “parent’s bill of rights” that would give parents full oversight of their children’s education and health care needs, died at the Colorado Legislature during a committee hearing late Tuesday night. Testimony during a hearing for House Concurrent Resolution 23-1004 before the House State, Civic, Military and Veteran Affairs Committee began with Rep. Brandi Bradley, […]

Montana Rep. Zephyr’s removal condemned in letter from Rep. Titone and dozens of Colorado elected officials

By: - May 1, 2023

Democratic state Rep. Brianna Titone of Arvada led over 75 bipartisan Colorado elected officials in sending a letter to Montana lawmakers condemning the removal of Rep. Zooey Zephyr and calling for her to be allowed back in the Montana House chamber. In the letter, Titone said the removal was an attempt to erase trans people […]

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs bills to address school safety, mental health

By: - May 1, 2023

Gov. Jared Polis signed two bills into law last week in an effort to address mental health needs and school safety after an academic year marked by shootings and threats on Colorado school campuses. The first of the two bills, Senate Bill 23-70, will require school resource officers to complete ongoing training from the Attorney […]

GOP bill aims to protect ‘God-given role’ of parents in education, children’s healthcare

By: - April 29, 2023

A committee will hold a hearing next Monday over a Republican-sponsored “parent’s bill of rights” resolution seeking to amend the state Constitution through a 2024 ballot measure that advocates warn would harm LGBTQ+ children. House Resolution 23-1004, titled “Fundamental Rights For Parents,” would ask Colorado voters to approve a wide-ranging measure granting parents more explicit […]

Colorado regulators unveil interactive air pollution map

By: - April 20, 2023

The Colorado Air Pollution Control Division recently released a new online mapping tool that will allow members of the public to identify sources of air pollution across the state. The new interactive map builds upon data collected by the division and published in October 2022. The map provides an alternative, visual aspect to access permits, […]

Gov. Polis launches initiative to increase tech innovation across Colorado

By: - April 20, 2023

Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade recently announced a new public-private initiative in an effort to position the state as a leader in technology innovation and job creation. The initiative, coined TechHubNow!, would compete with tech hubs nationwide for federal designation under the CHIPS and Science Act, a […]

Doubts about Boulder’s FBI partnership reemerge, but officials defend task force

By: - April 13, 2023

The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force was established with the intent to better share intelligence across federal, state and local law enforcement. But after reports of attempted entrapment and other abuses of authority by one undercover detective in Colorado Springs, some community members in Boulder have begun to question whether their own partnership with the […]

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters sentenced to four months home detention in obstruction case

By: - April 10, 2023

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to four months home detention with an ankle monitor Monday in a misdemeanor obstruction case. Peters initially faced up to six months in jail after her March conviction for obstructing government operations. Mesa County Court Judge Bruce R. Raaum also gave Peters 120 hours of community service […]

Path to historically Black universities now open to Colorado community college students

By: - April 10, 2023

The Colorado Community College System announced new transfer agreements with two historically Black universities on Thursday, expanding options for transfer students and students of color.  The collaboration will add Saint Augustine University and Texas Southern University to CCCS’s signature Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree Program, a 2020 initiative that guarantees admission for new students to participating […]

Lack of behavioral health resources in Denver identified, thanks to American Rescue Plan funds

By: - March 25, 2023

Two years after President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act into law, Colorado has seen an increase in small business applications, improved internet access to rural areas and expansion of the child tax credit across the state. But the American Rescue Plan has helped to shed light on a gap in Denver residents’ […]

How a red-state exodus from an interstate voter database may impact Colorado voter rolls

By: - March 20, 2023

Just over a decade ago, Colorado’s Republican secretary of state helped pioneer an interstate voter database he claimed would cut down on fraud. Now officials in Republican states across the country are ditching the system at the urging of election deniers, who have instead baselessly claimed that the Electronic Registration Information Center, or ERIC, is […]