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Republican Lauren Boebert, Democrat Trisha Calvarese to meet today in lunchtime business-focused debate
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

Republican Lauren Boebert, Democrat Trisha Calvarese to meet today in lunchtime business-focused debate

By Ernest Luning | Denver Gazette Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her Democratic challenger Trisha Calvarese are set to face off in a debate on business and economic issues on Sept. 3 in Roxborough Park. The lunchtime debate is so far the only meet-up scheduled between the two major party candidates running in Colorado's 4th Congressional District, which covers Douglas County, parts of Larimer and Weld Counties, and the Eastern Plains. Boebert and Calvarese both emerged from crowded primaries for the seat formerly represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who resigned in March. Republican Greg Lopez defeated Calvarese in a June special election to serve out the remainder of Buck's term. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Grasshopper infestation in Colorado is among worst in recent history. What are people doing about it?
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Grasshopper infestation in Colorado is among worst in recent history. What are people doing about it?

By Jennifer Brown | The Colorado Sun It was as if Doug Bay’s wish had come true, the day the doves landed. Bay, who grows alfalfa and a bit of corn and sorghum in Otero County, had been eyeing the 3 acres of fresh green shoots for days, worrying they were about to be destroyed by the swarms of crop-munching grasshoppers that were bouncing all over his farm.  He was holding out hope that he wouldn’t have to spray pesticide to save his alfalfa crop from the destructive insects, which are vexing farmers and gardeners from Denver to the plains this summer. Bay almost called the local crop duster, but he put it off. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Hardin: In Colorado, gray wolves is a battle between conservation, hunting and rural livelihoods
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Hardin: In Colorado, gray wolves is a battle between conservation, hunting and rural livelihoods

By Amanda Hardin | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The reintroduction of gray wolves into Colorado has become one of the most contentious environmental debates in recent years, stirring passionate arguments from wildlife advocates, hunters, ranchers and conservationists. The plan, which was solidified by the passage of Prop. 114 in 2020, calls for the restoration of gray wolves to their historic range in the state. While this move has been celebrated by some as a victory for biodiversity and ecological balance, it has also sparked significant controversy, particularly regarding its implications for land conservation, hunting practices and rural livelihoods. The Case for Reintroduction Proponents of gray wolf reintroduction argue that the species plays a crucial role in main...
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570,000 fentanyl pills seized by DEA from Colorado in 1 week
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

570,000 fentanyl pills seized by DEA from Colorado in 1 week

By Kasey Richardson | CBS Colorado The state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing underestimated how sick its members would be. Medicaid covers about 1.26 million people in Colorado. The department that runs Colorado’s Medicaid program overshot its budget for the most recent fiscal year by more than $120 million after underestimating how sick its members would be. Medicaid rolls were in flux over the last year as states started removing people for the first time since early 2020. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states couldn’t kick people off Medicaid, meaning they spent much of the last year determining who still qualifies. For the fiscal year that ended in June, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing had to attempt to project n...
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Outcome of Saturday meeting showed equal support for Williams as Brighton opposition days earlier
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Approved, kdvr.com, State

Outcome of Saturday meeting showed equal support for Williams as Brighton opposition days earlier

By Heather Willard | Fox 31 News  Colorado Republican party infighting continued throughout Labor Day weekend with a contingent of the party’s central committee meeting Saturday in Castle Rock and voting to retain Dave Williams as chairman. The meeting comes exactly a week after another group of Colorado Republicans gathered in Brighton to vote Williams out of his position — 77 party members gathered for the meeting, alongside 104 proxies. Party members moved to oust Williams after he sent an email from the state party stating that “God hates flags,” and then posting to X that Americans should “Burn all the #pride flags this June.” Both sides appear to be boycotting the other’s meetings, and Williams touted in a Colorado GOP email that 191.5 votes wer...
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Sorensen: From barn to ballot, Young Republicans stoke the fire at ‘Teddy Roastavelt’
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sorensen: From barn to ballot, Young Republicans stoke the fire at ‘Teddy Roastavelt’

By Joel Sorenson, commentary | Rocky Mountain Voice On Saturday, August 17th , one of the newest grassroots organizations, the ElPaso County Young Republicans, revived an old GOP tradition called the “TeddyRoastavelt,” as a call back to the more successful days of the party and a promise towrite a new energetic chapter in local Republican politics. Steve and Lisa Brandt generously hosted the Young Republicans at their barn in BlackForest, and the event was attended by many of the group’s over-100 engaged youngconservatives as well as many local elected officials, including CD5 Republicannominee Jeff Crank. The event was designed to officially launch the campaign efforts of the organization,which had been building momentum throughout the summer at a slate of socialsincluding a trek...
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Colorado voters to decide on ranked-choice voting system, all-candidate primaries
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado voters to decide on ranked-choice voting system, all-candidate primaries

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Secretary of State also approves Peace Officer Training and Support Fund for November ballot. Colorado voters will be asked to consider a ranked-choice voting system this November, which would change both the primary and general election for both state and federal races. The Secretary of State's Office announced this week that Proposition 310 does qualify for the November ballot. If approved, the ballot measure would create what is known as all-candidate primaries and switch the general election process to a ranked-choice system.  If approved, the measure is aimed to go into effect in 2026 when primary elections would likely do away with partisan races, and would instead push the top four candidates who get the highest number of votes to...
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Colorado Medicaid Department Overspent by $123.8M Last Year
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Approved, Governing, State

Colorado Medicaid Department Overspent by $123.8M Last Year

By Meg Wingerter | Governing The state Department of Health Care Policy and Financing underestimated how sick its members would be. Medicaid covers about 1.26 million people in Colorado. The department that runs Colorado’s Medicaid program overshot its budget for the most recent fiscal year by more than $120 million after underestimating how sick its members would be. Medicaid rolls were in flux over the last year as states started removing people for the first time since early 2020. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states couldn’t kick people off Medicaid, meaning they spent much of the last year determining who still qualifies. For the fiscal year that ended in June, the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing had to attempt to project not only how...
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Lawmakers also extended agricultural equipment property tax exemption in special session
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Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

Lawmakers also extended agricultural equipment property tax exemption in special session

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Colorado legislators who focused heavily on cutting property taxes for homeowners during this week’s special session also approved one other tax break — one specifically focused on an emerging technology in the agricultural sector. House Bill 1003, which passed both chambers by wide margins, expands and extends a 2022 law that defined produce-focused greenhouses and the equipment therein as agricultural equipment and thus exempted them from the business personal property tax. While such a focus for a bill may seem to have been far afield from the main concerns of the four-day session — and was a major reason some legislators opposed it — sponsors argued it fit under Gov. Jared Polis’ call to pass bills lowering property tax for 2025....
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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis dismisses migrant gang takeover of apartments as ‘imagination’ — despite video, mayor confirming truth
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Approved, New York Post, State

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis dismisses migrant gang takeover of apartments as ‘imagination’ — despite video, mayor confirming truth

By Jennie Taer | New York Post Colorado Gov. Jared Polis dismissed anger over Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua taking over apartment buildings in the Denver suburb of Aurora, calling it “imagination” — despite video footage, police reports and the city’s mayor confirming it’s happening. Polis’ press office offered the snarky statement Wednesday night in response to Aurora City Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky — who told The Post the gang’s takeovers are tied to his policies. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE NEW YORK POST
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