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Colorado Bureau of Investigation launches public dashboard to track rape kit backlog
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Approved, DENVER7, State

Colorado Bureau of Investigation launches public dashboard to track rape kit backlog

By Óscar Contreras | Denver 7 News The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday it would start publicly tracking its progress to address a rape kit backlog exacerbated by an investigation into one its former forensic scientists accused of mishandling DNA evidence. “We acknowledge it is taking us too long to complete DNA cases. We are committed to an aggressive plan to bring this turnaround time down to our goal of 90 days as quickly as possible,” said CBI Director Schaefer in a statement announcing the creating of the public dashboard. “We understand the importance of timely processing of sexual assault kits and the impact this backlog has on survivors.” READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
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Hillman: Free state of Colorado? Not hardly, Gov. Polis
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Approved, Commentary, Mark Hillman

Hillman: Free state of Colorado? Not hardly, Gov. Polis

By Mark Hillman | Commentary, MarkHillman.com Colorado’s ruling progressive Democrats believe in equality under the law only in the sense, as in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, that some of us are “more equal than others.” Nothing illustrates this better than their current contortions related to gun policy and crime. On the one hand, progressives resist passing a law to increase penalties for stealing a firearm because, they say, it might result in too many “black or brown” men going to jail. Likewise, they don’t want to make it easier for law enforcement to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to deport illegal aliens who have committed violent crimes. Level heads might consider it a higher priority to protect law-abiding black and brown people who aspire to live ...
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Sen. Kirkmeyer uncovers ‘crisis in spending priorities’ in funding of ‘furniture over neglected kids’
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Sen. Kirkmeyer uncovers ‘crisis in spending priorities’ in funding of ‘furniture over neglected kids’

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado The hole in the Colorado state budget is getting bigger. The latest figures show a shortfall of about $1.2 billion, and the state's chief economist says the reserve -- or rainy-day fund -- will run out of money by 2029 if nothing changes. "The message is we are on an unsustainable path with our budget if we don't change our spending habits," said State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, who is one of six lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee. The Republican says lawmakers have simply overspent, pointing out the state has added more than 7,000 full time employees and 17 new state offices in the last six years alone. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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New-to-chicken raising Coloradans may find they have roosters and not laying hens, sanctuary says
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

New-to-chicken raising Coloradans may find they have roosters and not laying hens, sanctuary says

By Gabriela Vidal | CBS Colorado As egg prices continue to rise in Colorado and across the country, some people have decided to raise their own chickens and produce their own egg supply. One animal sanctuary is offering a warning to those who take on such a responsibility.  Amid the sounds of roosters crowing at the Rooster Sanctuary at Danzig's Roost in Bennett, is a different kind of noise that's been popping off as of late. "The same call, over and over and over and over again," said Jewel Johnson. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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10th Circuit affirms qualified immunity for officer involved in Lakewood shooting
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Approved, Law Week Colorado, Local

10th Circuit affirms qualified immunity for officer involved in Lakewood shooting

By Law Week Colorado Jason Waterhouse was high on methamphetamine and acting destructively in his sister’s home, according to the opinion. By the time Lakewood Police Department officers arrived, he had barricaded himself in the basement.  Officers tried for more than an hour to get him to come out, but, rather than cooperating, Waterhouse started a fire. Seven officers went down to the basement to try and find the source of the fire and extricate Waterhouse. They saw him shoving a large stick through the wall before slamming the bedroom door shut. It quickly became apparent that the fire and the smoke were more serious than the officers had anticipated, and they were ordered to evacuate.  READ THE FULL STORY AT LAW WEEK COLORADO
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Changes to know ahead of big-game hunting season in Colorado
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Approved, gazette.com, State

Changes to know ahead of big-game hunting season in Colorado

By Seth Boster | The Gazette Colorado Parks and Wildlife's annual big game brochure has been hitting hunters' mailboxes — the annual reminder to start planning for the seasons ahead. The brochure is also available at CPW offices and posted online. And the agency is urging hunters to view it ahead of the primary draw application period, running March 1-April 1. Hunters must purchase a 2025 qualifying license to participate in big-game draws; most qualifying licenses are available starting in March. Fees pertaining to Colorado residents, nonresidents and licenses for various game are outlined in the new brochure, which outlines several changes starting this year. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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State’s airports receive nearly $20 million in state and local grants, with more to come
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Approved, denvergazette.com, Local

State’s airports receive nearly $20 million in state and local grants, with more to come

By Alexander Edwards | The Denver Gazette The Colorado Department of Transportation approved $13.8 million in funding for a statewide aviation grant program. In total, airports in Colorado will receive just over $18 million in grants when state and local money is fully allocated. In the metro Denver area, Centennial, Colorado Air and Space Port, Erie, Denver International Airport and Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport will receive just over $2.8 million in grant awards in 2025. Statewide, the biggest award from CDOT is going to the Walden-Jackson County Airport for runway reconstruction. The $4.1 million grant award is being combined with a $460,000 local grant for a total of $4.6 million. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Eric Schmidt, 91, a Republican who served Boulder in the Colorado House and later as CU regent, has died
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Eric Schmidt, 91, a Republican who served Boulder in the Colorado House and later as CU regent, has died

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Former Assistant House Majority Leader Eric Schmidt, who served in the Colorado House for two terms, died at his home in Lakewood on Jan. 26. A memorial service will be held, Saturday, March 15, at 1:30pm at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 East Hampden Ave., Cherry Hills Village. Schmidt was born May 31, 1933 in Newark, NJ. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Rural Colorado schools already hurting for resources could be choked by proposed funding cuts
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Rural Colorado schools already hurting for resources could be choked by proposed funding cuts

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun Like many of Colorado’s school districts, particularly those in rural areas, Hinsdale County School District RE-1 in Lake City keeps its classrooms humming with a bare-bones, but scrappy, staff.  There’s the English teacher who also instructs AP courses and offers drama and personal finance classes; the social studies teacher who also teaches concurrent enrollment classes so high schoolers can earn college credits; and the school counselor who doubles as a licensed teacher, managing courses in cybersecurity, career and technical education and concurrent enrollment. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Trump budget bill extending first-term tax cuts survives House vote
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Approved, Fox News, National

Trump budget bill extending first-term tax cuts survives House vote

By Elizabeth Elkind  | Fox News The House of Representatives has adopted a resolution that will eventually become a massive multi-trillion-dollar bill full of President Donald Trump's priorities on the border, defense, energy and taxes. In a major victory for House GOP leaders, the resolution passed in a 217 to 215 vote. All Democrats voted against the measure, along with lone Republican rebel Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who was concerned about its effect on the national deficit. READ THE FULL STORY AT FOX NEWS
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