As the Colorado legislature returns to work on Tuesday, the No. 1 priority for Gov. Jared Polis and Democratic lawmakers will be passing an economic stimulus package to help lift the state out of the effects of the coronavirus crisis. But the question of how big the package should be and how fast the General […]
Alec Garnett
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s marijuana industry flexed its big muscles and now an effort to limit pot potency is unraveling
State Rep. Yadira Caraveo says her proposal to limit the potency of marijuana sold recreationally in Colorado was just in its beginning stages. But when draft legislation was recently leaked and prominent figures in the state’s cannabis industry created an uproar, the measure started unraveling. Now, Caraveo, a Thornton Democrat and pediatrician, is backing off […]
Posted inClimate, Coloradans, Economy, Environment, News, Outdoors, Water
Colorado’s Water Plan has made progress toward ensuring supply, but the work’s far from done
By Sarah Kuta, Fresh Water News In the five years since Colorado’s Water Plan took effect, the state has awarded nearly $500 million in loans and grants for water projects, cities have enacted strict drought plans, communities have written nearly two dozen locally based stream-restoration plans and crews have been hard at work on improving […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
U.S. Census delays are threatening to upend Colorado’s new redistricting process
Delays by the U.S. Census Bureau in sharing detailed population data are threatening to upend Colorado’s new redistricting process ahead of the 2022 election, injecting uncertainty into a politically fraught undertaking that will affect the state’s political landscape for the next decade. Because of slowdowns related to COVID-19, the Trump administration’s failed efforts to add […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Colorado sports betting is popular enough to quickly benefit state water projects after all
Colorado voters’ gamble may have quickly paid off after all. Sports betting got off to a hot start, meaning enough tax revenue has already been collected to start benefiting Colorado’s Water Plan projects. That’s despite projections from Gov. Jared Polis’ administration warning that the wagering would begin slowly and that money wouldn’t flow to water […]
Posted inHealth, Politics and Government
Here’s what to expect as the Colorado legislature starts its 2021 lawmaking term with a “soft open”
The Colorado General Assembly gavels to a start Wednesday, but leaders are calling it a “soft open.” The state legislature plans to work for three days before adjourning until Feb. 16 — a move designed to limit potential exposure to COVID-19 as case counts rise. The timeout punts the bulk of the lawmaking down the […]
Posted inCOVID, Education, News, Politics and Government
Colorado lawmakers promise enrollment drop won’t hurt school funding
Democratic leaders in Colorado’s legislature promise to hold school funding steady despite enrollment drops that typically would cost school districts millions of dollars. “School districts are doing so much more than we have ever asked them to do before,” said state Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, an Arvada Democrat and incoming chair of the Senate Education Committee. […]
Posted inCOVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado legislature will delay its full 2021 return until at least February because of coronavirus
The Colorado legislature will delay its full return next year for at least a month because of the prevalence of coronavirus in the state. The General Assembly was originally set to reconvene for the 2021 lawmaking term on Jan. 13 and work uninterrupted into May. Instead, lawmakers will “gavel in” on that date and address […]
Posted inCOVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Colorado governor unveils new coronavirus restrictions aimed at preventing lockdowns
Gov. Jared Polis announced new coronavirus restrictions Tuesday aimed — at least temporarily — at preventing about half of Colorado’s counties from being forced into lockdown as COVID-19 sickens more people and fills more hospital beds each day. The new mandates are intended to give counties with a worsening COVID-19 situation another chance to improve […]
Posted inPolitics and Government
Colorado lawmakers will return for special session to address coronavirus relief
The Colorado General Assembly is preparing for a special session that will provide more relief to those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, The Colorado Sun has learned. “We’ve been having conversations with the governor’s office about how to best provide economic support to families right now,” said Senate Majority leader Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat […]