Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and state lawmakers are rethinking a 2019 law that made possession of thousands of lethal doses of fentanyl a misdemeanor as overdoses from the potent opioid continue to rise. The law is getting even more attention after five adults died from a suspected fentanyl overdose Sunday in Commerce City. Last year, […]
laws
Posted inNews, Opinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Colorado employers should watch DaVita antitrust case with trepidation
The Justice Department’s announcement last week that it was bringing antitrust charges against DaVita Inc. and its former CEO Kent Thiry grabbed my attention for a reason different from what most others found compelling. The case was widely reported based on the high-profile local targets, but the case is built on a novel legal theory […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, COVID, Economy, Education, Environment, News, Politics and Government, Transportation
Governor says Colorado is “bruised, battered and shaken,” but will be built back better than before
Gov. Jared Polis delivered his third State of the State address on Wednesday, promising to build back Colorado better than it was before the coronavirus crisis, while also warning that the pandemic isn’t over yet. The Democrat, who is gearing up for reelection next year, promised more work on criminal justice reform and on reducing […]
Posted inBusiness, Crime and Courts, Election 2020, News, Politics and Government
Emails show negotiations involving Colorado governor, cigarette giant that led to tobacco tax hike
Gov. Jared Polis’ office was asked to meet several conditions insisted upon by Altria in exchange for the cigarette giant agreeing not to fight legislation that put a question on the November ballot asking voters to raise tobacco and nicotine taxes in Colorado, emails obtained by The Colorado Sun show. One of those conditions included […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Politics and Government
Colorado governor’s new budget plan includes $1.3 billion stimulus to kick-start state economy
Gov. Jared Polis is proposing a $1.3 billion stimulus package that he says will jump-start the Colorado economy — but it’s not clear the money exists to cover the cost. The stimulus package is a key part of the $31 billion budget proposal the Democrat issued Monday and it includes the previously announced $375 checks […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado’s red flag gun law was used 73 times in its first 7 months. Here’s how the rollout has gone.
In the seven months after Colorado’s red flag gun law went into effect in January, allowing judges to order the temporary seizure of firearms from some people deemed a significant risk to themselves or others, there were 73 cases filed across 19 counties. Proponents say the data, collected by the state’s court system, shows the […]
Posted inCOVID, Growth, News
Colorado’s governor extends order requiring 30-day warning before an eviction
Gov. Jared Polis on Sunday extended his order requiring landlords to give 30 days notice to tenants who are late on their rent before initiating an eviction as fears grow about scores of Coloradans losing their homes because of the economic effects of the coronavirus crisis. The 30-day warning mandate is now in effect through […]
Posted inEducation, News
Colorado wants to ensure teachers know how to teach reading. But some say proposed rules lack teeth and transparency.
Colorado passed a law last year intended to ensure that every teacher who works with early elementary children has training on the best ways to teach reading. But as the State Board of Education considers what types of training qualify, some advocates fear the rules are too vague and don’t spell out how reading courses […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
A Colorado lawmaker brought a short-term rental bill he never intended to pass. It created an uproar.
State Sen. Bob Gardner wanted to start a conversation. He’s incited a statewide uproar instead. The Colorado Springs Republican introduced a bill at the Colorado Capitol that would change the property tax assessment category for short-term rentals to commercial from residential. That would increase the taxation rate more than four-fold from a projected 7.1% in […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Judge denies gun seizure of Colorado officer’s guns under red flag law
A judge on Thursday denied a petition to seize the guns of a police officer involved in the 2017 fatal shooting of a 19-year-old which was sought by the teen’s mother under Colorado’s new red flag law. In her Jan. 9 petition for an extreme risk protection order, Susan Holmes said there was a credible […]