policy
Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government

Did this Colorado transparency law make it easier to understand how schools teach reading?

by Ann Schimke, Chalkbeat Colorado

Colorado has unveiled an online database showing what reading programs schools use in kindergarten through third grade, part of a broader state effort to improve how schools teach reading. At a time when lawmakers in many states want teaching materials publicly posted in order to limit what schools teach about race, gender, and history, the […]

Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government, Transportation

Gov. Jared Polis vetoes pair of bills dealing with license plates, regulating private investigators

by Jesse Paul

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Saturday vetoed a pair of bills passed during the recent legislation session dealing with the issuance of license plates and regulations around private investigators. The Democrat rejected Senate Bill 51, the license plate measure, because of what he said was a problem with the legislation’s finances that allowed the Division […]

Posted inSun Investigation

Colorado’s 2015 law changing how officer-involved shootings are reviewed still lets police agencies investigate themselves

by Jesse Paul

Five years ago, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill that banned police departments and sheriff’s officers from investigating themselves without any outside assistance after one of their officers or deputies shoots someone.  But here’s the hitch: the legislation, Senate Bill 219, specifically states “shooting,” meaning it doesn’t apply if someone dies at the hands of law […]

Posted inEducation, News, Politics and Government

The big tax change in Colorado’s school finance act, explained

by Erica Meltzer, Chalkbeat

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering public education. Sign up for their newsletters here: ckbe.at/newsletters To head off a deepening crisis and address longstanding problems in school funding, Colorado lawmakers are trying to find a way to reset school district property taxes around the state. This year’s Public School Finance […]

Posted inUncategorized

Colorado legislature delays its return date until late May to allow more time to balance budget

by Jesse Paul

The Colorado legislature has pushed back the date it will resume lawmaking until late May.  The General Assembly was set to resume the 2020 legislative session on May 18 after taking a months-long pause because of the new coronavirus. But on Saturday, Democratic leadership in the House and Senate announced that the reopening will now […]

Posted inBusiness, Energy, Environment, News

Trump administration’s effort to roll back NEPA environmental law draws ire at Denver hearing

Associated Press logo by The Associated Press

By Jim Anderson, The Associated Press The Trump administration on Tuesday hosted the first of two hearings on its proposal to speed energy and other projects by rolling back a landmark environmental law. Opponents from Western states argued the long-term benefits of keeping the environmental reviews. Among other changes, President Donald Trump wants to limit […]

Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government

Even if you make more than minimum wage, this updated Colorado rule could affect you

by Tamara Chuang

Ever since the state’s Labor Department decided to modernize how most Colorado workers should be paid, the public debate was voluminous and lengthy. After countless hours of community meetings and public hearings plus more than 1,300 public comments collected since March, the rules are now final. The state Department of Labor and Employment adopted the […]