Posted inBusiness, Economy, News, Politics and Government

Colorado lawmakers plan to overhaul unemployment system, extend benefits to immigrants as they also backfill depleted fund

Colorado lawmakers are planning to introduce a bill as soon as this week that would overhaul the state’s unemployment system and also send roughly $600 million to the depleted unemployment insurance trust fund to lower a $1 billion federal debt hanging over employers.  The $600 million replenishment was expected — Gov. Jared Polis made the […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government

Colorado governor signs wave of criminal justice bills into law, including ketamine measure spurred by Elijah McClain’s death

Gov. Jared Polis indefinitely prohibited the use of ketamine outside of hospital settings for people experiencing “excited delirium” as he signed into law a bill limiting when the powerful sedative can be used in situations involving law enforcement.  House Bill 1251 was inspired by the death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man who died […]

Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government

Colorado courts could soon be forced to hold bond hearings within 48 hours of someone’s arrest

Arrested on a Friday? For some Coloradans, that may mean waiting in jail until Monday or a Tuesday for a bond hearing when courts are back open. Now, Democratic state lawmakers want to make it easier for people in jail to have their bail set and avoid getting stuck in lock-up longer than necessary.   House […]

Posted inPolitics and Government, Transportation

Amid budget crunch, Colorado nets much-needed windfall for road projects with strong debt sale

For once, some good budget news. Colorado received a $111 million premium on a debt issuance of $500 million, thanks to strong investor demand for state-issued debt. As a result, budget writers say that $100 million in planned cuts to the Colorado Department of Transportation over the next two years — and some additional cuts […]