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ICE Labels Democrat Lawmakers’ Oversight Claims “Completely Absurd”
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National, Approved, DENVER7

ICE Labels Democrat Lawmakers’ Oversight Claims “Completely Absurd”

By Brandon Richard | Denver7 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has responded to criticism the agency received from members of Colorado’s Democratic delegation following a tour of an Aurora detention facility Monday, accusing the lawmakers of demanding special treatment and “making up lies.” Representatives Jason Crow (CO-6), Brittany Pettersen (CO-7), Joe Neguse (CO-2) and Diana DeGette (CO-1) paid a visit to the ICE facility Monday, claiming they faced obstacles in conducting routine oversight. Crow claimed an “unacceptable” lack of transparency during the tour, which was granted three weeks after the congressman said he was denied access for an unannounced visit. ICE on Tuesday pushed back on those claims in a statement to Denver7 political reporter Brandon Richard. ...
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Federal Government Threatens Colorado Over Sanctuary Laws
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Approved, DENVER7, National

Federal Government Threatens Colorado Over Sanctuary Laws

By Óscar Contreras | Denver7 Attorney General Pam Bondi says in letter Colorado “engages in sanctuary policies that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States”. DENVER — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi on Thursday threatened Gov. Jared Polis with legal action and the pulling of federal funds if he fails to eliminate state laws the Trump administration believes impede with the president’s plans for mass deportations. The demand letter, which was also addressed to Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, identified Colorado as a jurisdiction that “engages in sanctuary policies and practices that thwart federal immigration enforcement to the detriment of the interests of the United States.” It requests that Gov. Polis submit a ...
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Colorado seniors face uphill battle to access state resources
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

Colorado seniors face uphill battle to access state resources

by Colin Riley | Denver 7 News DENVER — As the demographics of Colorado shift, the state faces a pressing challenge: an increasing number of older adults who are finding it difficult to access essential resources. The 2020 U.S. Census revealed that nationwide, approximately one in six individuals is now 65 or older, a dramatic rise from one in 20 in 2010. By 2030, almost 20% of Colorado's population is projected to be 60 or older, intensifying the demand for state assistance. Denver7 sat down with residents, advocates, and nonprofits to listen to the obstacles many older adults face in securing state resources. The stories that emerged depict a pattern of frustration and a feeling of being invisible to lawmakers. One participant, Jane Black, an 86-year-old Thornton resident, s...
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Polis threatens to withhold $280M from cities defying housing laws in new executive order
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Polis threatens to withhold $280M from cities defying housing laws in new executive order

By Brandon Richard | Denver7 In a new executive order, Gov. Jared Polis identified more than 30 funding sources the state could withhold from cities. DENVER — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis is turning up the heat on cities that aren’t following new state housing laws. He issued a new executive order on Wednesday that identifies $280 million in funding that could be withheld from them. It’s the latest development in a dispute between the governor and leaders of several cities over state housing laws, including laws to increase housing density near transit and another to ban certain cities from enacting or enforcing minimum parking requirements. “I hope that communities across the state do more on housing, but there's got to be some state minimum that you can't actively be part of ...
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New Colorado laws raise stakes in domestic abuse response
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DENVER7, Approved, State

New Colorado laws raise stakes in domestic abuse response

BY BRANDON RICHARD | DENVER 7 DENVER — More than 200 new state laws will take effect on Wednesday, including laws that provide additional protections for survivors of domestic abuse. Denver7 dug into one of the new laws and spoke with community members to find out how it will address a problem they say is long overdue for a solution. Eunice Brownlee is a survivor of domestic abuse. While she was never physically abused, she told Denver7 she endured constant emotional and financial abuse and was afraid of losing custody of her daughter. “There were all kinds of stuff that happened, and our life became very challenging,” Brownlee said. “One of the things that most people don't understand is that coercive control is the thing that keeps people trapped in relationships b...
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Colorado Kicks Off Regulatory Surge with 200+ New Laws
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State, Approved, DENVER7

Colorado Kicks Off Regulatory Surge with 200+ New Laws

By Stephanie Butzer | Denver7 More than 200 new laws go into effect in Colorado on Wednesday, and they touch on subjects ranging from domestic violence to wildfires, and tax incentives to education. Denver7 has compiled a list of all of these laws below. A few more laws passed in 2025 will go into effect this September and October, followed by more in January and February 2026. Click on any of the links below to explore more details about each bill, including who sponsored it, when it was passed and what the vote was, and the fiscal impacts. You can explore the "2025 Digest of Bills," prepared by the Office of Legislative Legal Services, here. Below is a list of all of the Colorado laws that go into effect on Aug. 6, 2025: H.B. 25-1005 Tax Incentive for Film Festivals ...
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Progressive Spending Comes Due as Colorado Faces Billion Dollar Shortfall
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State, Approved, DENVER7

Progressive Spending Comes Due as Colorado Faces Billion Dollar Shortfall

By Brandon Richard | Denver7 News State lawmakers will likely return to the Colorado Capitol for a special session to address the budget shortfall. DENVER — For the second time this year, Colorado is facing a massive budget shortfall, and the legislature’s top Democratic leaders blame President Donald Trump’s "big, beautiful bill." State budget officials released new projections on Wednesday, showing the current budget is suddenly $1.2 billion in the red. “Right now, we don’t have the cash to pay our bills,” Colorado budget director Mark Ferrandino told lawmakers. "We are talking about a budget and a revenue shortfall equivalent or greater than what we saw during the Great Recession." Some lawmakers were left shell-shocked and worried for Coloradans struggling to make it. ...
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Federal Probe Launched After Man Wakes Up as Doctors Prepare to Harvest His Organs
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National, Approved, DENVER7

Federal Probe Launched After Man Wakes Up as Doctors Prepare to Harvest His Organs

By Scripps News Group | Denver7 The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investigating organ donation practices after a Kentucky organization allegedly began harvesting organs from people who may not have been dead. A House subcommittee held a hearing Tuesday on organ donation safety lapses, some concerning Kentucky-based nonprofit Network for Hope, which merged with Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates (KODA). TJ Hoover was declared brain dead after suffering an overdose in October 2021, but his sister Donna Rhorer says doctors attempted to harvest his organs while he was still showing signs of life. Rhorer says TJ's eyes were open and tracking movement during his honor walk, when family members gather to say goodbye before organ donation surgery. "Almost immediately ...
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Coloradans rally after school abduction case tossed under new ‘incompetence’ law—demanding legislative change
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Coloradans rally after school abduction case tossed under new ‘incompetence’ law—demanding legislative change

By Natalie Chuck , Joe Vaccarelli | Denver7 Legislation passed last year states that a judge must dismiss charges if a suspect is found incompetent to stand trial and not restorable ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — A state lawmaker, elected officials and community members called for legislative action on Wednesday, stating that a state law requiring courts to drop charges against individuals found to be incompetent needs to be revised. This comes after news that a suspect accused of attempting to kidnap children at an Aurora elementary school last year will have the case dropped sparked outrage and received national attention. "When we're looking at this law, it needs to be reconsidered,” said Susan Payne, founder and former executive director of Safe2Tell. Solomon Galliga...
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