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Gilmartin: Attacks on John Adams Academy show what happens when excellence disrupts control
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Colorado Politics, Approved, Commentary, Local

Gilmartin: Attacks on John Adams Academy show what happens when excellence disrupts control

By Kim Gilmartin | Commentary, Colorado Politics In response to a recent CoPo column about John Adams Academy Douglas County (JAADC), columnist Paula Noonan’s opinion piece is heavy on rhetoric and light on facts. As a co-founder of JAADC, I am compelled to correct the misinformation and misleading claims for the sake of the public, not the punditry. First, one of the core accusations, that JAADC’s curriculum is outdated, narrowly ideological and dismissive of modern disciplines like science and technology, could not be further from the truth. JAADC’s curriculum includes a full complement of science and math courses grounded in logic, inquiry and observation, which are foundational elements of the scientific method. Classical schools nationwide are not only producing though...
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House GOP elects Rep. Carlos Barron to serve as Minority Whip
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

House GOP elects Rep. Carlos Barron to serve as Minority Whip

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Freshman state Rep. Carlos Barron, R-Fort Lupton, has been selected as the House Minority Whip, the Republican caucus announced Monday.  “I’m honored to serve as Caucus Whip and thankful for the trust of my colleagues,” said Barron. “Together, we’ll work to protect our rights, strengthen our economy, and stand up for Colorado families.” Barron will replace Rep. Ryan Armagost, R-Berthoud, who announced last month that he would be resigning from the legislature in September.  Barron, who also serves on Fort Lupton's City Council, was elected to the General Assembly in 2024. He has worked in the oil and gas industry for over two decades.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Parents Push Back: Colorado’s Gender Policies Trigger Rights Showdown
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State, Approved, Colorado Politics

Parents Push Back: Colorado’s Gender Policies Trigger Rights Showdown

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Amid the staccato of legislation that Democrats at the Colorado Capitol adopted to expand what sponsors described as transgender "rights," a growing number of parents are pushing back, arguing that the state government has overreached, impeding their ability to raise their children the way they see fit. In the last few years, parents — and their allies in the Colorado General Assembly — have become more vocal in their opposition to proposals championed by progressive groups. "I think everyone is concerned," said Colleen Enos, director of government relations for Christian Home Educators of Colorado. "It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat, Republican or independent, everyone is concerned about what's happening and how the state is trying to...
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Trucking industry: Colorado’s climate lawsuit is unrealistic and wasteful
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Trucking industry: Colorado’s climate lawsuit is unrealistic and wasteful

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics The head of a Colorado trucking industry group is voicing worries about the Attorney General's decision to sue the Environmental Protection Agency over vehicle emissions, stressing that the adopted standards are already "impossible" to meet. Last week, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that he is joining a coalition of states in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's use of the Congressional Review Act to prohibit states from adopting stricter emissions standards for certain motor vehicles. California has received federal permission to adopt more stringent standards, with Colorado and other states following suit in adopting emissions standards. Adopted in 1996, the Congressional Review Act ...
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$2.3B at risk? House Republicans press Polis to end Medicaid funding for illegals
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

$2.3B at risk? House Republicans press Polis to end Medicaid funding for illegals

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Three Republican members of Colorado's delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives are urging Gov. Jared Polis to work with legislators to end state spending on health care coverage for undocumented immigrants — or risk losing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding. "We write to you expressing grave concerns over Colorado’s continued policy of covering illegal immigrants with state Medicaid funds — prioritizing benefits for those unlawfully present in our country over citizens who need it the most: individuals with disabilities, single mothers, children, and seniors," U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans wrote in a letter delivered to the Democratic governor on Thursday. The letter was also signed by U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Jeff Cr...
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Polis ignored GOP lawmakers’ warnings—and now Colorado faces massive federal funding cuts
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Polis ignored GOP lawmakers’ warnings—and now Colorado faces massive federal funding cuts

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado's House Republican leadership is criticizing Democratic Gov. Jared Polis for not heeding their advice against enacting legislation that could lead to the state losing federal funding. Earlier this week, Polis announced that the state created a dashboard to track funds that are either being cut or are at risk from the Trump administration, as well as the state's efforts to protect those funds through legal action. As of June 19, about $76 million in federal funding has been cut, and another $56 million are at risk. Over $282 million has been reinstated across state agencies.  The dashboard currently shows federal funding tied to nine of the state's 20 agencies. It does not yet include the largest source of f...
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Economists Sound Alarm: Colorado Faces Sluggish Growth, Shrinking Revenues
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State, Colorado Politics

Economists Sound Alarm: Colorado Faces Sluggish Growth, Shrinking Revenues

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado's economic outlook is on a downward trend, according to state economists, who estimated that the chances of a recession here have risen to 50%. "Uncertainty is the key aspect impacting the economy now and moving forward," said Legislative Council Chief Economist Elizabeth Ramey, who discussed the June revenue forecast with the Joint Budget Committee on Wednesday. The Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB) is also less than optimistic about the economic outlook, should a federal budget bill pass, predicting it could affect 100,000 people on Medicaid and SNAP, devastate the state's rural and safety net hospitals and nearly wipe out the state's general fund reserve over the next two years. Uncertainty is also the watchword f...
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Wolf claims top $650K, but CPW records don’t add up
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

Wolf claims top $650K, but CPW records don’t add up

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The state wolf compensation fund, set at $350,000 by statute last year, saw claims from 2024 that are approaching double that amount. Data obtained through an open records request to Colorado Parks and Wildlife showed that the agency paid out $425,478.61 in claims. But the information provided by the agency appears to exclude claims that were denied, recent claims paid and claims still awaiting final payments or settlements. Based on information independently verified by Colorado Politics, the total amount of claims stood at at least $649,765.90, with a dozen claims still showing as pending on CPW's wolf depredation website. Two ranchers in Grand County settled for lesser amounts, which are not reflected in the data obtained from...
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Chamber report flags 200K Colorado regulations as “excessive or duplicative”
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

Chamber report flags 200K Colorado regulations as “excessive or duplicative”

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Colorado's regulatory framework took the center stage during this year's legislative session, where lawmakers clashed over proposed measures that — depending on who is asked — either benefit workers or create new burdens on businesses. Behind these two competing frameworks are the Colorado Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Fiscal Institute. On the one hand, the chamber and its allies argue that regulations have increased significantly over the past decade, putting up unnecessary barriers for businesses. On the other hand, the Colorado Fiscal Institute and its supporters maintain that the rules are essential to protect workers and consumers from harmful practices. One of the most frequently cited statistics during the session...
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10-year gun ban for car thieves: Polis signs HB 1174 into law
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Approved, Colorado Politics, State

10-year gun ban for car thieves: Polis signs HB 1174 into law

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Gov. Jared Polis on Monday signed a bill prohibiting anyone convicted of car theft in the first degree from owning a gun during a visit to the Pueblo Chamber of Commerce. In Colorado, motor vehicle theft in the first degree is a Class 3 felony, carrying a prison sentence of up to 12 years and fines ranging from $3,000 to $750,000. Under House Bill 1171, individuals who have maintained a clean record can petition for a court order, allowing them to own a gun 10 years after their case has been resolved. "Today, we are taking important steps to make Colorado one of the top 10 safest states in the nation," Polis said. "From now on, anyone convicted of first-degree motor vehicle theft ineligible to possess a firearm, keeping guns out of the w...
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