Government
How Congress will attempt the biggest expansion of U.S. social programs since FDR
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate this week passed a massive bipartisan infrastructure bill and an even larger budget blueprint that would pave the way for historic changes in U.S. health, education, climate and tax policies. The two measures are roped to each other, reflecting Democrats’ strategy to pass what could be bipartisan with Republicans — […]
Colorado redistricting panel votes to end ‘prison gerrymandering’ in new legislative maps
For the first time in the state’s history, Colorado will change how it counts incarcerated people when drawing up new legislative maps, a redistricting panel confirmed in a vote on Friday. Historically, prison inmates have been counted by the U.S. Census Bureau as residing in the county where they are incarcerated, which redistricting and criminal […]
U.S. House moderates won’t back Dem budget without passage of infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON — Nine moderate U.S. House Democrats including Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Carolyn Bourdeaux of Georgia and Jared Golden of Maine are threatening to oppose a budget resolution needed to pass a major social policy package unless a bipartisan infrastructure bill is first signed into law, according to multiple media reports. Opposition from the […]
The real reason the GOP’s gas station event flamed out
The Colorado Republican Party’s rollout of its 2022 election pitch to voters was a flop. That part is not much in dispute. Party leaders thought it would be a good idea to unveil their so-called “Commitment to Colorado” at a Denver gas station. They were determined to punctuate a lower-gas-prices plank — but this was […]
Long-delayed Census data released, setting up Colorado redistricting sprint
Colorado’s population grew more racially diverse and rose nearly 15% between 2010 and 2020 to an estimated 5,773,714 residents, the U.S. Census Bureau said Thursday. The latest population and demographic data released by the agency are the most detailed results to date from the 2020 Census, following a series delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. […]
Aurora police officer fired for failing to intervene in violent July arrest
An Aurora police officer has been fired for failure to intervene after a fellow officer violently detained an unarmed man in July. Officer Francine Martinez was fired on Thursday after an internal investigation found that she failed to intervene when former officer John Haubert beat, choked and pistol-whipped an unarmed civilian on July 23 while […]
Mesa County clerk allegedly allowed unauthorized person to attend election software upgrade
Days after her office began investigating an alleged breach of election security protocols, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said the Mesa County clerk appears to have allowed an unauthorized person to attend a software upgrade for the county’s election system. After that person allegedly leaked system passwords, Mesa County voting equipment is no longer […]
U.S. Senate to try again on voting rights in September
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is planning to bring a comprehensive voting rights package to the Senate floor for a vote when the chamber returns from recess next month. Schumer, a New York Democrat, said Wednesday that the Senate will take up a compromise version of the voting and elections bill, S.1, […]
Secretary of state begins inspecting Mesa County voting equipment
Representatives from the Colorado secretary of state’s office began inspecting election equipment Tuesday in Mesa County as the county clerk, whose office is alleged to have allowed a “serious breach” of election security, left town to participate in an event hosted by Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, in South Dakota. The local district attorney’s […]
Partial reopening of I-70 in Glenwood Canyon set for Saturday afternoon
A 17-mile stretch of Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon that has been closed for nearly two weeks due to mudslide damage could reopen to traffic as soon as Saturday afternoon, state officials announced. Gov. Jared Polis made the announcement while touring the damaged portion of I-70 with Colorado Department of Transportation Director Shoshana Lew on […]
Former Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado confirmed as ambassador to Mexico
Former U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the new ambassador to Mexico. “Colorado is proud that one of our great statesmen will be representing the United States in Mexico,” Gov. Polis said in a press release Wednesday morning. “Ken Salazar was confirmed this morning by the United […]
Poll: 61% of Coloradans support key provisions in Democrats’ budget bill
As the U.S. Senate gave final approval on Tuesday to a bipartisan package of $550 billion in new infrastructure spending, Colorado progressives touted new polling showing strong support for the next item on President Joe Biden and congressional Democrats’ agenda: a $3.5 trillion budget bill that would raise taxes on wealthy earners and corporations while […]