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Colorado’s primary elections under legal challenge, new data show federal judges’ delays | COURT CRAWL
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Colorado’s primary elections under legal challenge, new data show federal judges’ delays | COURT CRAWL

By Michael Karlik | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Welcome to Court Crawl, Colorado Politics' roundup of news from the third branch of government. The Colorado Republican Party appeared in court last week seeking modifications to the state's system for primary elections, and new data from the federal judiciary show the extent of some judges' backlogs. A clash over unaffiliateds  •  In 2016, Colorado voters approved a ballot initiative to permit registered unaffiliated voters — the largest voting bloc — to participate in either the Democratic or Republican primaries. The GOP has mounted an official challenge to that law, Proposition 108, with a substantial portion of the party believing it is preferable for only Republicans to choose Republican nominees ...
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Former Judge’s Opinion on Trump’s Disqualification Raises Concerns
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Former Judge’s Opinion on Trump’s Disqualification Raises Concerns

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM A former Republican judge, Clark Erickson, appointed to hear arguments on whether to disqualify former President Donald J. Trump from the Illinois primary ballot, made headlines on Sunday with his opinion that Trump engaged in insurrection by attempting to remain in office after the 2020 election. While Erickson's opinion will be considered by the State Board of Elections, he also stated that the board lacks the authority to disqualify Trump on those grounds, suggesting that the matter should be left to the courts. While Trump has been found ineligible for the primaries in Colorado and Maine. The former president is likely to appear on the primary ballots in those states as the U.S. Supreme Court considers an appeal of the Colorado ruling. In Illinoi...
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THIS WEEK AT THE COLORADO CAPITOL | Week of Jan. 29, 2024
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THIS WEEK AT THE COLORADO CAPITOL | Week of Jan. 29, 2024

By Marianne Goodland | SOURCE: COLORADO POLITICS Here are legislative committee hearings and other events of note for the week ahead for the Colorado General Assembly. Committee schedules are subject to change. Schedules for both the House and Senate can change at any time. The website is the best resource for keeping up with daily activities.  Options for public testimony during committee hearings can be found here.  Regulations for remote testimony by the public can be found here. READ MORE ON COLORADOPOLITICS.COM
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Colorado’s Push for Multiple Housemates to Solve ‘Affordable Housing’ Raises Concerns
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Colorado’s Push for Multiple Housemates to Solve ‘Affordable Housing’ Raises Concerns

SOURCE: THELOBBY-CO.COM A controversial bill introduced in the Colorado legislature aims to tackle the state's housing shortage by prohibiting cities from implementing limits on how many people can live together. House Bill 24-1007, one of many bills being considered, has sparked criticism as it disregards the potential negative consequences of overcrowding and undermines property rights. The proposed bill would ban occupancy limits based on factors such as familial status and relationship, only allowing restrictions tied to a dwelling's square footage if necessary for health and safety. Proponents argue that the legislation is necessary to address the rising costs of housing and to provide more affordable options for individuals and families. PRIME SPONSORS Rep. Manny Ruti...
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Colo. lawmakers bring the heat on CPW leadership regarding wolf release
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Colo. lawmakers bring the heat on CPW leadership regarding wolf release

SOURCE: THE FENCE POST Department of Natural Resources Director Dan Gibbs, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis, and CPW Assistant Director Reid DeWalt appeared before the joint agriculture committees this week during the agency’s SMART Act hearing. Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Democrat lawmaker who represents Senate District 8, including Jackson, Summit, and Grand Counties, asked why the wolves released came from packs with recent depredation. Davis pointed out, “sometimes people forget these are carnivores,” a comment that drew criticism from Rep. Richard Holtorf, R- Akron, who called the reminder laughable. He also said there is a difference between depredation and chronic depredation. Roberts asked Davis in a letter earlier in the week to either release a proposed rule def...
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More Colorado Springs-area students are homeschooling than before the COVID-19 pandemic
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More Colorado Springs-area students are homeschooling than before the COVID-19 pandemic

By O'Dell Isaac [email protected] COVID-19 turned living rooms into classrooms and parents into de facto teachers across the U.S. for more than a year. But now that the worst days of the pandemic appear to be well in the rearview mirror, a growing number of parents have decided to continue educating their children at home. According to a study by the Washington Post, homeschooling is the fastest-growing form of education in the U.S., with a 51% increase in the number of homeschooled kids over the past six years. Colorado has seen a 17% jump in homeschooled students during that time span. In Colorado, the number of homeschooled students has decreased since the 2020-2021 academic year. But in the Pikes Peak region’s largest school districts, more kids are being homeschooled th...
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Plotting Blodgett: Breaking down plan for beloved, expanded open space in Colorado Springs
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Plotting Blodgett: Breaking down plan for beloved, expanded open space in Colorado Springs

By Seth Boster [email protected] One recent evening, in an auditorium of almost 100 northwest Colorado Springs neighbors worried or excited about the future of Blodgett Open Space, a presentation ended with a woman rising from her seat. She had a question for the audience. “How many would like Blodgett to stay a nature preserve?” She was met by a mix of cheers and jeers. READ FULL ARTICLE ON GAZETTE.COM
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30th anniversary of school choice in Colorado: Here’s how it works
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30th anniversary of school choice in Colorado: Here’s how it works

By Savannah Eller [email protected] This year is the 30th anniversary of school choice, a state law that gives parents the freedom to send their children to any public school in Colorado free of charge. With an abundance of districts to choose from in the Colorado Springs area, the decision can be difficult to make for some. Enrollment is open for the 2024-2025 school year, with applications due in coming weeks (different based on each district). Here’s a guide to navigating school choice this year. READ FULL ARTICLE ON GAZETTE.COM
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Failed Liberalism: A city of 710,000 struggles to cope with 40,000 indigent migrants
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Failed Liberalism: A city of 710,000 struggles to cope with 40,000 indigent migrants

By the Lobby Denver, a city with a population of just over 710,000, has found itself at the forefront of the migrant crisis, with nearly 40,000 indigent migrants arriving in the past year. This makes Denver the top destination per capita for newly arrived migrants crossing the U.S. southern border and traveling north in buses from Texas. It is all too apparent that Denver’s "sanctuary city" policies have failed its taxpayers, leaving them to bear the burden. The influx of migrants is taking a toll and has stretched city services to the breaking point. Starting February 5th, the city will be implementing measures to limit the number of days migrants can stay in shelters. Those who exceed their stay will be forced out onto the streets, further exacerbating the already dire situation...
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EDITORIAL: Cracking down on Denver’s car theft
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EDITORIAL: Cracking down on Denver’s car theft

By The Gazette editorial board Kudos to Mayor Mike Johnston and Police Chief Ron Thomas for developing what they tout as a new “comprehensive strategy for fighting auto thefts” in the city. The strategy, according to a press statement from the mayor’s office last week, will expand existing efforts and “ensure that Denver’s auto theft response remains coordinated and effective.” Time will tell if the enhanced program proves a success, but it’s already encouraging simply to see the Johnston administration prioritize auto theft. Perhaps that’s no surprise considering the mayor himself has been an auto-theft victim twice in the past several years, most recently last October. “Around 30 cars a day are stolen in our city. This is a huge impact on people’s lives, especially families with...
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