The Denver Public School Board just navigated a difficult set of decisions regarding the renewal of 16 of Denver’s 58 charter schools. The DPS charter renewal process and outcome was an exemplar for how to do school authorizing with a focus on student learning, whether charter- or district-managed. These Denver charter school renewal decisions will […]
demographics
Opinion: No question: Colorado’s population growth is unsustainable
As we head into 2022, you cannot help but witness massive construction cranes towering over the Denver skyline. Each one equates to another 40-story apartment building or skyscraper pushing into the Brown Cloud over the city. When you drive along Sheridan, Wadsworth or many other streets, you see endless construction of condos crammed into every […]
Opinion: As Colorado’s Hispanic population grows, so does its political voice
Colorado’s demographics are changing, and that will have important ramifications for the policy decisions made in the state capitol and in Congress, which affect so much of our everyday lives. Until now, it’s been common for politicians to pay lip service to the concerns of Hispanic voters, while offering little in the way of concrete […]
After shooting, unrest, Wyoming gets its first Black sheriff
By Mead Gruver, The Associated Press LARAMIE — As a student at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, Aaron Appelhans used to look at the photos of past graduating classes hanging on the wall. “I got to see, for the most part, ain’t a whole lot of people that looked like me around here,” he recalled […]
As 2020 Census approaches finish line, Colorado looks to close the gap of who’s undercounted
The last day for Coloradans to respond to the 2020 census, the decennial poll of everyone living in the U.S. that determines how billions of dollars are spent across the country, is fast approaching. As of Thursday, more than 96% of the state’s households have been counted, with almost 70% responding on their own. That’s […]
As Coloradans grow older, there’s a push for policies that benefit all ages
Janine Vanderburg led 42 workshops across the state in 2018 to learn about the concerns older adults had about aging or ageism. One issue became clear. Adults were working longer — and wanted to — but they often felt discrimination in the workplace or during the hiring process. “People said, ‘That workplace discrimination issue that […]
2020 forecast: Colorado is getting older and narrowing the housing gap, but really needs middle-wage jobs
If you’re feeling kind of crowded on Colorado’s roads or hiking trails, or it seems that housing costs have crept up to unheard of levels, or you find it’s hard to get good service at businesses short on staff, there’s data to back up the sentiment. But you have to look further than the decade […]
Here’s the top political story of 2019 and the decade in Colorado. And what to watch in 2020.
Colorado’s political landscape shifted significantly in the past year — and decade — as Democrats moved more firmly into power, backed by a transformed electorate. The new political reality led to major changes in policies and birthed a new generation of leaders on both sides of the political spectrum. To capture this scene, The Colorado […]
Three graphics that explain the 2018 election and Colorado’s political future
The historic Democratic wins in the 2018 election are no fluke — but rather a sign of Colorado’s political future. A new analysis by The Colorado Sun found that all but one of the state’s seven congressional districts is shifting to favor Democrats, including once rock-solid Republican turf. And a handful of one-time swing counties […]