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Colorado Moves to Enforce Major Utility Emissions Cuts Despite Cost Concerns
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Moves to Enforce Major Utility Emissions Cuts Despite Cost Concerns

By: Shannon Ogden | Denver7 The PUC will require utilities like Xcel Energy to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 41% by 2035. DENVER — Environmental groups are celebrating a win in Colorado after the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) agreed to tougher standards on greenhouse gas emissions from Colorado utilities like Xcel Energy. At a meeting Wednesday, commissioners decided to require utilities to reduce these pollutants by 41% by 2035. Sierra Club Colorado was one of the groups arguing for these higher reductions. "I think we should feel proud that we pushed them on this. I think we're really happy with the 41% because it keeps us moving," said Sarah Tresseder, energy organizer of Sierra Club Colorado.  In 2021, Colorado passed the first-in-the-nation "Clean Heat Law" r...
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Supreme Court Casts Doubt on GEO Group’s Immunity Claim in ICE Labor Case
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DENVER7, Approved, National

Supreme Court Casts Doubt on GEO Group’s Immunity Claim in ICE Labor Case

By: Jessica Porter | Denver7 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a class action lawsuit by immigrants against the Aurora U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center owned by The GEO Group Inc. The original lawsuit was brought in 2014 by Alejandro Menocal, a former detainee at the GEO ICE Detention Facility in Aurora, alleging forced labor in violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Menocal said he and other detainees were required to do unpaid janitorial work and threatened with solitary confinement if they refused. Detainees were paid just $1 a day for voluntary work, such as cutting hair or cooking. In court Monday, the GEO group argued that it has immunity from litigation as a government contractor....
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Government Shutdown Leaves Colorado Veterans Waiting for Help
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DENVER7, Approved, National

Government Shutdown Leaves Colorado Veterans Waiting for Help

By: Sophia Villalba | Denver7 DENVER — On this Veteran's Day, it's harder for our veterans to get the help they need during the federal government shutdown. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Office (VFW) in Denver said because of furloughs and building closures within the Veteran Affairs, it's harder for veterans to get benefits they've earned. That means any veterans trying to get new disability benefits are facing delays right now. It's particularly challenging for older veterans, and the VFW is trying to help as much as they can. The VFW's legislative director for Colorado said it is not that the VA is shutting people out, but it's taking longer to get things done. “Some of the older veterans are not as savvy with technology as other people, so that’s a major impact and that i...
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Colorado Counties Push Back on Polis Over Costly ‘Unfunded Mandates’
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Counties Push Back on Polis Over Costly ‘Unfunded Mandates’

By: Allie Jennerjahn | Denver7 In Mesa County alone, Commissioner Bobbie Daniel tracked down almost $10 million a year in unfunded mandates. DENVER — More than 40 Colorado counties have voiced concerns to Governor Jared Polis about laws being passed without funding. They claim it's putting a burden on local governments, and in some cases, leave taxpayers to foot the bill. The concern started in Mesa County when Commissioner Bobbie Daniel started to notice "unfunded mandates" getting brought up constantly when discussing budget. "I asked, 'Anyone tracking this? Is this something that we're, collectively as an organization, tracking?' And no, and we weren't at the time," Daniel said. "And so I said, "Let's continue looking at this. Let's track it and see what we come up with.'"...
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Colorado Businesses Warn State Policies Threaten Economic Future
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Businesses Warn State Policies Threaten Economic Future

By Dan Grossman | Denver7 The sentiment comes from the latest Colorado Businesses Roundtable fall outlook survey and points to Colorado's affordability issues and regulatory environment. DENVER — Colorado businesses said they’re almost twice as worried about our state’s economic future as they are about the nation’s. This is from the Colorado Business Roundtable survey that just came out. The survey asked 50 business executives about what’s concerning them. The responses point toward Colorado’s affordability issues and policies supporting workers. “What we've been seeing over time is really the layering on effect of regulation, rules for businesses that really add a cost of doing business to Colorado,” Colorado Business Roundtable President Debbie Brown said. “When the eco...
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Weiser Sues to Keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado, Claims Political Retaliation
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Weiser Sues to Keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado, Claims Political Retaliation

By: Óscar Contreras | Denver7 The lawsuit, which the AG says is in response to an unconstitutional action by the federal government, is the latest in a series of developments Denver7 has been reporting over the past several years DENVER — Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said Wednesday he has filed suit against the Trump administration to prevent it from relocating U.S. Space Command from Colorado Springs to Huntsville, Alabama. At a virtual news conference earlier in the day, Weiser said President Trump’s decision last month to move command headquarters from Colorado was unconstitutional and unlawful as it violates federal law requiring public notices and reports to Congress before moving a major military headquarters location. Weiser the lawsuit was also chal...
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DPS Board Hopefuls Outline Competing Visions for District’s Future
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

DPS Board Hopefuls Outline Competing Visions for District’s Future

By: Colette Bordelon , Shannon Ogden | Denver7 Denver7 invited all 11 candidates to give a final, two-minute pitch to voters before Election Day on Nov. 4. DENVER — With less than a week until election day, Denver7 asked all of the candidates for the Denver Public Schools Board of Education to give a final pitch to voters. We gave each candidate two minutes to say anything they would like voters to hear before filling out their ballots. Here's what they said. At-large Amy Klein Molk “I'm Amy Klein Molk, and I am running for the Denver School Board At-large seat. My opponents are spreading lies about my record, and it is fueled by millions of dollars. Denver voters deserve the truth. The truth is I am the only candidate in this race that is endorsed by the Denver Cla...
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Colorado Sues USDA for Ending Food Assistance to Needy Families
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Sues USDA for Ending Food Assistance to Needy Families

By: Robert Garrison | Denver7 DENVER — Colorado joined 22 other states in filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Secretary Brooke Rollins for suspending during the government shutdown the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser made the announcement in a Tuesday press release. The lawsuit argues the USDA acted illegally by halting food assistance despite having access to contingency funds. On Friday, the Trump administration announced it would not use the more than $5 billion in emergency funding the USDA maintains to cover the program, arguing the funds are “not available to support FY 2026 regular benefits, because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists.” In an interview with S...
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Denver Judge Under Investigation After Paying Defendant’s $1 Bond Himself
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Denver Judge Under Investigation After Paying Defendant’s $1 Bond Himself

By: Tony Kovaleski, Joe Vaccarelli | Denver7 Judge Barry Schwartz is currently reassigned after he allegedly paid the defendant's bond at an Aug. 15 court hearing, Denver7 Investigates has learned. EDITOR'S NOTE: An attorney representing Judge Barry Schwartz contacted Denver7 Investigates on Friday morning and provided a statement on his behalf. We are updating the story to include the following: "Judge Schwartz’s impulsive simple act of kindness and compassion for a fellow human happened before he considered the optics or consequences of doing the same. He knows to exercise his good judgment more carefully. He apologizes to the public for the inconvenience and to his colleagues who have covered his courtroom while he continues to perform an administrative role behind the scenes...
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As Paychecks Stop, Colorado Helps Federal Workers Stay Afloat
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DENVER7, Approved, State

As Paychecks Stop, Colorado Helps Federal Workers Stay Afloat

By: Jessica Porter | Denver7 The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment held its second virtual town hall for federal employees affected by the government shutdown. DENVER — The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) held its second virtual town hall on Wednesday for federal employees affected by the government shutdown. The shutdown is now the second-longest in U.S. history, marking its 22nd day on Wednesday. The CDLE advises workers not to wait until they have exhausted their funds or missed a paycheck to apply for benefits. They should file a claim the day after their last day of work by going to MyUI+. “If you wait to file, you may not be able to get benefits for the weeks you were out of work and didn’t apply,” said Phil Spesshardt with...
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