Three days before the East Troublesome fire obliterated more than 300 homes, Amanda and Craig Shindledecker left their house in Granby and drove to their other residence in Lakewood to escape the smoke. They made a plan when the fire started: If flames crossed Colorado 125, Craig would drive back to Granby to gather valuables […]
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Posted inWildfire
Survivors share what they’ve learned from their painful experience with Colorado wildfires
Sun staff writers Jason Blevins, Tamara Chuang, Shannon Najmabadi, Olivia Prentzel and Kevin Simpson contributed to this story. Colorado has endured some major catastrophic wildfires over the past decade. But if there’s any silver lining to all that devastation, it’s that the survivors have learned some valuable lessons about how to proceed in their aftermath. […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Sen. Buckner, Reps. Esgar and Ricks: Our legislation aims to bring accountability and transparency to the insurance industry
This was a historic year at the Colorado legislature. We invested in our state’s small businesses and local economies, we worked to save people money on health care and prescription drugs, we revamped our tax code to benefit working families instead of the most profitable corporations, and we invested in mental health care throughout the […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: We’re a teacher, a firefighter and a nurse. Here’s how a Colorado insurance measure would hurt good drivers like us.
There is little question that the sponsors of Senate Bill 169 have good intentions, seeking to protect consumers from unfair discrimination in insurance ratings. But SB 169 is unnecessary, overly broad, and would create far-reaching consequences. In fact, we believe the measure would likely result in arbitrary increases in insurance rates on good drivers and […]
Posted inClimate, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Could a new insurance-premium fee prevent Colorado’s next big natural disaster? Some lawmakers say yes.
When the Camp fire ripped through Paradise, California, in 2018, killing dozens of people and destroying hundreds of structures, Lisa Cutter knew her Colorado community could be next. The Democratic state representative’s district includes Evergreen and Conifer, two towns at risk of experiencing a devastating wildfire. “People in the wildlife urban interface are scared,” Cutter […]
Posted inHealth, News, Politics and Government
Colorado Democrats unveil their public health insurance option proposal. Here’s how it would work.
Democrats in the Colorado legislature on Thursday introduced a bill designed to drive down health care costs and, if consumers’ expenses aren’t reduced, potentially create a state-offered health insurance option. The measure is the result of years of efforts by progressive lawmakers and is a top priority for Gov. Jared Polis. But it faces stiff […]
Posted inHealth, News, Politics and Government
Nonprofit launches $1 million TV ad buy against Colorado Democrats’ public health insurance option proposal
A deep-pocketed nonprofit backed by private insurance companies has launched a barrage of advertising aimed at building public opposition to Colorado Democrats’ attempt to create a public health insurance option. Partnership for America’s Health Care Future launched a TV ad buy at a cost of nearly $1 million on Monday that will run through early […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News
Fraudsters foiled by Colorado’s unemployment office as number of new out-of-work claims decline
A crackdown on fraudulent unemployment claims in Colorado resulted in a 42.1% drop in people seeking the $600 benefit paid weekly out of federal coronavirus relief funds. The state Department of Labor and Employment declined to share how scammers were able to claim millions in benefits, but said new fraud detection measures and limiting backdating […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s unemployment fund could run out of money next month. Here’s what that means for businesses.
By the time Colorado does its annual June checkup of the special fund used to pay unemployed workers, the account will likely be empty, and possibly in the red. Out-of-work Coloradans should be OK, though. They’ll still get unemployment pay because the state, as it’s done in the past, will borrow money from the federal […]
Posted inCOVID, Health, News
Millions of older Americans live in counties with no ICU beds as coronavirus spread intensifies
By Fred Schulte, Elizabeth Lucas, Jordan Rau, Liz Szabo and Jay Hancock, Kaiser Health News More than half the counties in America have no intensive care beds, posing a particular danger for more than 7 million people who are age 60 and up ― older patients who face the highest risk of serious illness or death from the rapid spread of […]