Briefs
Trump’s easing of key environmental law slammed by top Colorado Democrats
Top Democrats and environmental advocates in Colorado had harsh words for President Donald Trump’s decision to weaken a longstanding environmental law that requires extensive federal review processes for large industrial and infrastructure projects. The White House Council on Environmental Quality announced on July 15 that it had finalized work to “modernize” certain provisions of the […]
Trump administration backs down, won’t require in-person classes for international students
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement won’t require international students to take in-person classes for the fall semester, rescinding a plan announced July 6 that met swift backlash from universities and state governments. During a July 14 telephone conference among parties from the federal government, Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — the schools […]
Colorado’s COVID-19 hospitalizations rise 45% in a week
Colorado saw a slight uptick this week in the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment — though hospitalizations remain far below April levels. As of July 14, 252 people across the state were hospitalized for COVID-19 treatment. That’s a 45% increase from one week […]
Gov. Polis signs bill that bans housing discrimination based on source of income
Gov. Jared Polis signed into law on Tuesday afternoon a bill that bans housing discrimination based on a tenant’s source of income. Under the new state law, House Bill 20-1332, landlords are prohibited from refusing to rent or lease an apartment based on a person’s source of income or if the individual uses housing subsidies […]
Colorado joins suit over Trump administration’s new policy for international students
In yet another multi-state lawsuit over the Donald Trump administration’s proposed policies, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser joined forces with 16 other states and the District of Columbia in an effort to stop new requirements for international students from taking effect. A new rule announced July 6 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement requires that international […]
Gov. Polis extends order requiring 30-day eviction warning
Gov. Jared Polis has extended an executive order requiring Colorado landlords to give tenants a 30-day warning before initiating eviction proceedings for nonpayment of rent, as advocates continue to call for stronger action to prevent a looming eviction crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. “To be Safer at Home, Coloradans impacted financially by COVID-19 must […]
How a Dungeons & Dragons gadget helps keep Colorado elections secure
Officials with the Colorado secretary of state’s office began a process on Friday aimed at verifying vote counts in last month’s primary elections. And they did it by rolling dice. Staffers rolled a series of 20 10-sided dice during a public webcast to generate a 20-digit random number that will be used to determine which […]
Still no statewide mask order as Gov. Polis announces new COVID-19 website
With cases of COVID-19 climbing in states that weren’t initially as hard-hit as the northeast U.S., governors from across the political spectrum have issued mask-wearing orders. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, hasn’t crossed the line from strong recommendation to mandate, though he said on July 9 he hasn’t ruled it out. The problem is […]
New Colorado oil and gas commissioners seated ahead of critical rulemakings
More than a year after Colorado lawmakers passed Senate Bill 19-181, a landmark package of oil and gas reforms, large swaths of the new law still haven’t yet been implemented by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission — and now a new set of commissioners will finish the work that their predecessors started. The […]
Colorado communities can apply for next phase of COVID-19 reopening
At a time when COVID-19 cases are increasing in many areas of Colorado, the state opened an application process for local communities that wish to enter the next phase of reopening. As of July 8, counties and regions can apply for “Protect Our Neighbors” status if they show that COVID-19 cases are declining and submit […]
Oil and gas, real estate and law firms top list of Colorado PPP loan recipients
More than 104,000 Colorado businesses received between a total $7.9 billion and $14.9 billion in emergency funds from the Paycheck Protection Program, the Small Business Administration lending initiative authorized by Congress earlier this year to help employers cope with the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic, according to data released by the SBA this week. […]
Bill meant to prevent opioid abuse vetoed
Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday vetoed a bill that contained measures to prevent opioid addiction and abuse of other substances. House Bill 20-1085 was introduced in early January, during the start of the 2020 General Assembly, and the Legislature passed it during its recent pared-down, COVID-abbrevitated session. But Polis objected to the measure’s projected costs. […]