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As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

As commissioners are ‘ignoring their own constituents’ public organizing over Sandstone Ranch primitive camping proposal

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice A battle is brewing over the future of Sandstone Ranch Open Space. Douglas County’s proposal to introduce primitive camping at the site has sparked overwhelming opposition from residents, firefighters and local organizations. With fire dangers looming, a lack of emergency response infrastructure and no prior public input, critics are calling the plan reckless and dangerous. Residents have mobilized, gathering more than 1,000 signatures on a petition to stop the plan, and two local government bodies have already passed resolutions formally opposing the initiative. A public awareness event is planned for Saturday, and concerned citizens are preparing to speak out at the next board of county commissioners meeting. “We’re ...
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There are mixed reviews on state bill that would reset wages in service industry
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

There are mixed reviews on state bill that would reset wages in service industry

By Ashley Portillo | CBS Colorado Legislation was proposed at the Colorado State Capitol on Thursday that could change how the tipped employees like servers and bartenders are paid. Struggling restaurant owners are hopeful the bill will not only close the pay gap between back-of-the-house and front-of-the-house workers, but that it will keep their establishments open. But there are concerns among some in the industry that tipped employees could see immediate wage cuts -- as much as $4 per hour. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Bill alleging landlord collusion in rigging of rental market pricing advances in House
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Bill alleging landlord collusion in rigging of rental market pricing advances in House

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice The average residential property rental in Denver is $2,050, a decrease of $117 in a year from a peak in August 2024, according to Zillow.com. In Colorado Springs the rental market has seen almost no change in a year, while in other cities like Pueblo and Grand Junction rents have increased, Zillow.com says. The rise of rents, or potentially the decline, is all a product of supply of rentals and demand by renters, some industry experts say, but two Colorado Democrat representatives have written a bill to try and prevent landlord price fixing. They say multiple online companies offer algorithms that allow landlords to collude to set rental price points. House Bill 25-1004, by Denver County Reps. Steven Woodrow and Javier Mabrey, aims to cor...
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‘We have to fight with everything that we have’: House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is leading GOP opposition
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘We have to fight with everything that we have’: House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is leading GOP opposition

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Ryan Armagost has a background of serving as a U.S. Marine, deputy sheriff and firefighter, making him no stranger to challenging situations. Yet, none of those roles, he says, compare to being a state legislator. Armagost is a Republican serving in Colorado House District 64, which lies in Larimer and Weld counties. "This is definitely the most challenging job I've had," Armagost said. "The constant level of negotiation, bargaining and compromising — and everything that we have to do is equivalent to a bad marriage." 'Whip'ing the GOP members With the departure of Rep. Richard Holtorf from the Golden Dome, Armagost became the minority party's whip in the 75th Colorado Legislature. He had previously been the unof...
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Colorado’s budget hole is now $1.2 billion, as Medicaid costs continue to climb
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado’s budget hole is now $1.2 billion, as Medicaid costs continue to climb

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun Colorado’s looming budget shortfall just keeps getting worse. In a letter to the Joint Budget Committee this week, state officials said Colorado will need to spend an additional $73 million on Medicaid this budget year, which ends June 30, as demand for health services continues to surge beyond the administration’s expectations. Costs are expected to continue to rise next budget year, when the state now expects to spend $86 million more than previous estimates. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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In response to CBI scandal, lawmakers seek mandatory reporting, investigation of misconduct
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

In response to CBI scandal, lawmakers seek mandatory reporting, investigation of misconduct

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics As calls mounted for policymakers to address the DNA scandal swirling at the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, legislators requested a state audit and introduced two bills, one of which seeks to require mandatory reporting and investigation of misconduct.   In a news conference on Thursday, lawmakers said that's one factor that was was lacking in the case involving a once-revered DNA scientist at the state lab.  House Bill 1275 is about transparency, said Reps. Matt Soper, R-Delta, and Yara Zokaie, D-Fort Collins, and Sen. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Woodland Park City Council advances effort to repeal sales tax for public schools
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Approved, gazette.com, Local

Woodland Park City Council advances effort to repeal sales tax for public schools

By Eric Young | The Gazette A new agreement, a taxpayer vote and corrective reactions weren’t enough to quell the dispute between Woodland Park’s school district and the City Council. Council members advanced an ordinance to repeal the sales tax earmarked for Woodland Park’s public schools after they clashed once again with Woodland Park RE-2. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Rand Paul suggests Denver mayor opposing deportations is ‘a form of insurrection’
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

Rand Paul suggests Denver mayor opposing deportations is ‘a form of insurrection’

By Asher Notheis | The Denver Gazette Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky warned that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston could face legal repercussions over his opposition to President-elect Donald Trump's proposed mass deportations of immigrants unlawfully staying in the U.S. Johnston is one of several mayors who have stated they will not assist the incoming Trump administration with its deportation plan. Johnston said Denver would “continue to be a welcoming, open, big-hearted city.” Paul, who has expressed criticism of Trump’s plan to use the Army to carry out his deportation plan, warned the mayor that his resistance could be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he could potentially be removed from office. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Greeley men planned to launch tobacco, meth over federal prison fence in Louisiana with air cannon
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Approved, CBS Colorado, Local

Greeley men planned to launch tobacco, meth over federal prison fence in Louisiana with air cannon

By Logan Smith | CBS Colorado Two Colorado men were recently apprehended outside a federal penitentiary in Louisiana before they could carry out a plan to deliver packages of tobacco and methamphetamine to inmates inside the prison.  The Greeley men, 18-year-old Jose Francisco Herrera Munox and 19-year-old Angel Gonzales Gutierrez, planned to launch the packages over a security fence with an air cannon.  That type of cannon uses compressed air. The device is more commonly used by sports teams to send T-shirts into the stands at home events.  READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Boulder official facing complaint for allegedly blocking residents on Instagram, from book club
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Approved, Boulder Reporting Lab, Local

Boulder official facing complaint for allegedly blocking residents on Instagram, from book club

By John Herrick | Boulder Reporting Lab Two Boulder residents have filed a code of conduct complaint against Councilmember Taishya Adams, alleging she blocked one of them on Instagram and barred the other from a book club she organized as a public official. The complaint, filed on Feb. 5, alleges Adams discriminated against a Jewish resident after she blocked him from her Instagram account, which she uses to communicate her work on the Boulder City Council. It also alleges she restricted access to a book group that was “publicly sponsored in her capacity as a councilwoman,” misused her personal Instagram account for city business, and then blocked several other Jewish residents not named in the complaint.  READ THE FULL STORY AT THE BOULDER REPORTING LAB
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