News
Final six members of Colorado’s new congressional redistricting commission selected
The final members of Colorado’s new independent congressional redistricting commission — tasked with redrawing the state’s map of congressional districts using updated population data — were selected on Monday by a panel of retired judges. The newly selected members are: Simon Tafoya (D), Martha Coleman (D), Jason Kelly (R), JulieMarie Shepherd (R), Carly Dawn Hare (U), […]
A pilot program to replace jail with mental health treatment was gaining traction last year. Then funding was cut.
After a young man experiencing homelessness damaged a parked car in 2020 in Durango while in the midst of a mental health crisis, police officers took him to jail before he was quickly released. “He didn’t steal anything, he just started wrecking stuff because he was disoriented,” said Brian Miller, diversion coordinator for the 6th […]
Sprawling $1.9T COVID-19 relief bill passed by the U.S. House
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on a nearly party-line vote passed President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic aid package early Saturday, in a rush to both boost COVID-19 vaccine funding and get legislation to the president’s desk before unemployment benefits expire in mid-March. The package, dubbed the American Rescue Plan, passed 219-212. It includes a […]
Gray wolf reintroduction wasn’t popular with Western Slope voters. Some lawmakers want guardrails.
Proposition 114 requires the state to reintroduce gray wolves on the Western Slope, but most of the Coloradans who contributed to the measure’s narrow victory in November voted from counties east of the Rocky Mountains. In contrast, just five of 22 counties west of the Continental Divide supported the ballot initiative. The voter-backed initiative directs […]
Conservation groups cheer House passage of Colorado public lands package
Colorado conservation advocates are cheering the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of a bill that would establish new or permanent protections for more than 1 million acres of federally-owned land across the state. By a vote of 227-200, the House on Friday passed H.R. 803, the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act, with four […]
One-dose vaccine poised for FDA green light after advisory panel OK
A Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Friday gave its green light to a COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson, signaling that states will soon see a third vaccine option in their weekly shipments.
Colorado tweaks vaccine rollout again, aims to prioritize ‘most vulnerable’
Colorado’s latest effort to fine-tune its vaccine prioritization plan will move people aged 60 and up, people with multiple serious health conditions, and grocery and agricultural employees to the front of the line, while those aged 50 and up and many other categories of “essential workers” will likely have to wait several weeks longer than […]
Transportation battle looms at Colorado Capitol
This year, Colorado lawmakers hope to avoid another dead end on transportation — but the road ahead looks bumpy.
Colorado lawmakers debate public lands legislation on House floor
Democratic and Republican members of Colorado’s congressional delegation on Thursday took sharply differing positions on a major package of public lands legislation as it was debated on the floor of the House of Representatives. Rep. Joe Neguse, a Democrat from Lafayette and the newly elected chair of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and […]
U.S. Senate confirms Michigan’s Granholm as secretary of Energy
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Thursday in a 64-35 vote confirmed former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm to run the Department of Energy. She’ll be the second woman to lead the $35 billion agency. Vice President Kamala Harris swore in Granholm several hours after the Senate confirmation vote. Her husband, daughter and son-in-law attended, according […]
Game-changing one-dose vaccine could be in states’ hands shortly
States struggling to provide enough COVID-19 vaccines are likely just a few days away from a pivotal development in the vaccination race: the availability of a shot that requires only one dose.
Iowa’s Vilsack is sworn in as USDA secretary — virtually
Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday swore in former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a second time around for Vilsack in the post.