Briefs
Colorado public health officials propose ‘dial’ system to determine COVID-19 restrictions
Six months into the pandemic, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has drafted a standardized method of determining when a county is allowed to relax COVID-19 restrictions. While the current process through which a county can request a variance from the state’s Safer at Home guidelines — such as those related capacity limits […]
Study projects high ridership for proposed Front Range Passenger Rail
A state board developing a plan for passenger rail service along the Front Range estimates that the proposed line could carry nearly 10,000 passengers on a typical weekday, officials said last week. That adds up to nearly 3 million riders per year, and this “notable demand” — based on extensive modeling using survey and census […]
Colorado Supreme Court declines to hear lawsuit over mask mandate
The Colorado Supreme Court has declined to hear a legal challenge filed this week by two prominent Colorado conservatives against Gov. Jared Polis’s mask-wearing mandate and other state orders aimed at combating the spread of COVID-19. The lawsuit, announced by conservative personality Michelle Malkin and Colorado House Minority Leader Patrick Neville on Aug. 26, named […]
Gov. Polis signs order aimed at advancing equity in state government
An executive order advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in Colorado government — originally scheduled for March but delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic — was issued Aug. 27 by Gov. Jared Polis. The order directs the Department of Personnel and Administration, or DPA, to develop policy promoting equity in state hiring and compensation practices; implement […]
LIVE: Gov. Polis gives COVID-19 briefing at 12:45 p.m. Aug. 26
Gov. Jared Polis is scheduled to give a live update at 12:45 p.m. Aug. 26 on Colorado’s COVID-19 response and economic resiliency. The news briefing will be conducted at the Governor’s Mansion in Denver. Scroll down for a livestream of the briefing, or watch on the governor’s Facebook page. State Sens. Jeff Bridges and Faith […]
Paid family and medical leave qualifies for Colorado ballot
Proponents of a ballot initiative establishing a new paid family and medical leave program in Colorado submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot, the secretary of state’s office announced Aug. 25. Initiative 283 would provide 12 weeks of paid family or medical leave. Businesses with 10 or more employees would pay a premium […]
Bennet, Senate Democrats call for Pendley’s removal at BLM after withdrawn nomination
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet and all 47 of his Democratic colleagues in the U.S. Senate are urging the removal of William Perry Pendley from his leadership post at the Bureau of Land Management, following the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the conservative firebrand’s formal nomination to lead the public-lands agency. A former head of the […]
Colorado lawmakers join calls to Polis administration for faster climate regulation
Two sponsors of the landmark climate-change legislation passed by Colorado Democrats in 2019 have joined a growing chorus of criticism against Gov. Jared Polis’s administration over what environmental advocates say are unacceptable delays in implementing the new law. In a statement issued Aug. 21, state Sen. Faith Winter and state Rep. Dominique Jackson charged the […]
Republican National Convention: Featured speakers and how to watch
The Republican National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, went live 7 a.m. Aug. 24 across multiple streaming platforms. The convention will begin streaming at the same time each day through Aug. 27, but most of the big speeches will happen at night, the New York Times reports. “Monday’s convention proceedings will be attended by six […]
Gov. Polis extends last call for alcohol to 11 p.m.
Gov. Jared Polis will extend a last-call order for restaurants — put in place in an effort to reduce coronavirus transmission among young adults — with an amendment that allows businesses to serve drinks until 11 p.m., slightly later than the previous 10 p.m. cut-off. “It’s very important that all those restaurants and bars observe […]
LIVE: Gov. Polis gives COVID-19 briefing at noon Aug. 21
Gov. Jared Polis is scheduled to give a live update at noon Aug. 21 on Colorado’s COVID-19 response. The news briefing will be conducted at the Governor’s Mansion in Denver. Scroll down for a livestream of the briefing, or watch on the governor’s Facebook page. Through Aug. 19, Colorado had 54,230 cases of COVID-19 and […]
Colorado unemployment claims tick up again, remain far above 2019 levels
Nearly 19,000 Coloradans filed initial claims for some kind of unemployment assistance last week, as workers across the state continue to feel the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. In a press release, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said that 6,942 regular unemployment claims had been filed in Colorado in the week ending Aug. […]