GRAND JUNCTION — Interior Secretary Deb Haaland on Friday paid her first visit to the new Colorado headquarters of her department’s Bureau of Land Management after its relocation from the nation’s capital by the Trump administration sparked criticism that the move was intended to gut the agency that oversees vast tracts of public lands in […]
Biden administration
Posted inEnergy, Environment, News
Approvals for companies to drill for oil and gas on public lands increase despite Biden climate pledge
By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press Approvals for companies to drill for oil and gas on U.S. public lands are on pace this year to reach their highest level since George W. Bush was president, underscoring President Joe Biden’s reluctance to more forcefully curb petroleum production in the face of industry and Republican resistance. The […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, News, Wildfire
As wildfires rage in the West, Biden temporarily raises federal firefighter pay to $15/hr
By Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press The Biden administration said Wednesday it is hiring more federal firefighters — and immediately raising their pay — as officials ramp up response efforts in the face of a severe drought that is setting the stage for another destructive summer of intense wildfires across the West. President Joe Biden […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Mining ban considered to protect greater sage grouse species in western U.S.
By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. — The Biden administration announced Tuesday it will consider a ban on new mining on large expanses of public lands in Western states to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. The Interior Department review comes in response to a federal court order and is expected to […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
How Colorado can — and cannot — spend the $5.7 billion in federal coronavirus stimulus heading its way
Mental health? Yes. Transportation? No. Broadband infrastructure? Sure. Tax cuts? Definitely not. The Biden administration on Monday released its rules for how states, counties and cities can spend billions of dollars in coronavirus-relief money from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan. For Colorado — recipient of $5.7 billion, $3.8 billion of which will go toward […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
First lady Jill Biden to visit Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City next week
SALT LAKE CITY — First lady Jill Biden is planning to visit Salt Lake City next week as part of a tour of several Western states, the White House announced Friday. Biden will travel to Salt Lake City and Las Vegas on Wednesday and then go to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado the following […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News
Biden administration ends oil, gas lease sales from public land through June
By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. — The U.S. Interior Department is cancelling oil and gas lease sales from public lands through June amid an ongoing review of how the program contributes to climate change, officials said Wednesday. The action does not affect existing leases, and the agency has continued to issue new […]
Posted inBusiness, Economy, News
Colorado labor department will take unemployment system offline to prepare for new federal jobless benefits
President Joe Biden’s signature on the American Rescue Plan Act on Thursday spurred the state’s Department of Labor and Employment into action so out-of-work Coloradans see no delay in receiving federal jobless benefits. In anticipation of the bill’s passage, the state labor department planned to take the unemployment system offline Friday night to prepare it […]
Posted inCOVID, News, Politics and Government
Vice President Kamala Harris to tout COVID relief package in Denver
Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Denver on March 16 to highlight the $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill passed by Congress on Wednesday. Details on the visit by Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, were still being worked out, the vice president’s office said. Harris’ visit is part of an ambitious campaign by President Joe Biden’s administration […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Biden administration will deliver report on its suspension of oil and gas sales on federal lands by summer
By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it will deliver an interim report on its suspension of oil and gas sales from federal lands and waters by summer, but officials declined to state how long the moratorium could remain in place. A long-term ban on lease sales […]