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Meet the dogs of the Colorado Capitol. Like, literal dogs.
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Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Meet the dogs of the Colorado Capitol. Like, literal dogs.

ByJesse Paul, Andrea Kramar and Carly Rose | The Colorado Sun The state Capitol often feels like a dog-eat-dog pressure cooker. But it can also be a dog-meet-dog paradise. In true Colorado fashion, some lawmakers and even Gov. Jared Polis frequently bring their dogs to work at the seat of power in Denver. While the state Capitol isn’t officially a pet-friendly workplace, there’s an unspoken allowance for the dogs belonging to lawmakers and staff — so long as the four-legged friends don’t disrupt daily proceedings and keep to private offices. The pups provide much-needed relief in times of tension in the legislature. Despite their occasional potty accidents and nipping, they’ve also inspired several bills. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Rep. Gabe Evans says sanctuary cities protect criminal gangs and drug traffickers
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Approved, Just The News, State

Rep. Gabe Evans says sanctuary cities protect criminal gangs and drug traffickers

By Just The News Representative Gabe Evans (R-CO) says Colorado’s sanctuary laws embolden illegal immigrant gangs while endangering the lives of local law enforcement. “These sanctuary policies really provide sanctuary only for criminals and violent gangs and cartels that are committing crimes and dealing poison like fentanyl in our communities,” he says. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
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The Colorado psychedelic mushroom experiment has arrived
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CBS Colorado, Approved, State

The Colorado psychedelic mushroom experiment has arrived

By Kate Ruder | CBS Colorado Colorado regulators are issuing licenses for providing psychedelic mushrooms and are planning to authorize the state's first "healing centers," where the mushrooms can be ingested under supervision, in late spring or early summer. The dawn of state-regulated psychedelic mushrooms has arrived in Colorado, nearly two years since Oregon began offering them. The mushrooms are a Schedule I drug and illegal under federal law except for clinical research. But more than a dozen cities nationwide have deprioritized or decriminalized them in the past five years, and many eyes are turned toward Oregon's and Colorado's state-regulated programs. "In Oregon and Colorado, we're going to learn a lot about administration of psychedelics outside of clinical, religi...
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Democrats target TABOR as budget crisis exposes reckless spending
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Democrats target TABOR as budget crisis exposes reckless spending

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff As Colorado faces a $1.2 billion budget deficit, state lawmakers are once again debating the role of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) in shaping the state’s financial future. With deep cuts expected for education, health care and social services, some Democratic legislators are raising concerns over TABOR’s limits on government spending. Yet Republicans argue that the deficit is a result of overspending rather than shortfalls in revenue. Passed by voters in 1992, TABOR restricts government spending growth to population increases, plus inflation, and requires that any surplus revenue be refunded to taxpayers.  Supporters argue that these restrictions prevent excessive government expansion, while critics say the formula is too rigid, making it...
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Colorado moves toward a nuclear future as energy demands skyrocket
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado moves toward a nuclear future as energy demands skyrocket

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff Colorado is at an energy crossroads, and House Bill 25-1040 is now sitting on Governor Jared Polis' desk, awaiting his decision. The bill, which recognizes nuclear energy as part of the state's clean energy portfolio, has gained rare bipartisan support—but the real question is whether Polis will cave to radical environmentalists or side with the majority of Coloradans who support nuclear energy. With the Craig Station Power Plant set to close and electricity demand expected to double by 2050, leaders across the state are finally acknowledging what conservatives have long championed: nuclear energy is the most efficient, clean and sustainable path forward. But will Polis let that happen? Despite past resistance, HB 1040 passed with support from both si...
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Political insider fills state senate vacancy
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Approved, freestatecolorado.com, State

Political insider fills state senate vacancy

By  Brandon Wark | Free State Colorado Colorado Democrats just appointed a political insider to the State Senate! Sonya Jaquez Lewis resigned in disgrace after allegations and an ethics investigation into her mistreatment of Legislative Aides. To make matters worse, it seems that Lewis penned a fake letter of support to help her case. Vacancy committee appointments have led to some of the most extreme legislators serving in the State Legislature. And by all accounts, it looks like Katie Wallace is going to be another example. WATCH THE FULL VIDEO HERE
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Rep. Gabe Evans defends GOP spending bill as Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Rep. Joe Neguse warn it will slash Medicaid
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Rep. Gabe Evans defends GOP spending bill as Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Rep. Joe Neguse warn it will slash Medicaid

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado The Republican spending bill is helping unite the Democratic Party after days of infighting over a GOP resolution to avert a shutdown. Party leaders called for a Medicaid Day of Action to protest the spending bill that they say will mean drastic cuts to Medicaid. The party turned to two heavy hitters in Colorado -- Gov. Jared Polis and Rep. Joe Neguse, who represents Colorado's 2nd Congressional District -- who held an event at Clinica Family Health in Lafayette to sound an alarm. "$880 billion of cuts to Medicaid would dismantle the Medicaid program as we know it, and it would mean that hundreds of thousands of Coloradans would no longer have access to health care," warned Neguse. The GOP resolution directs the Energy and Commerce Committ...
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Colorado drug bust includes elephant sedative
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CBS Colorado, Approved, State

Colorado drug bust includes elephant sedative

By Logan Smith | CBS Colorado Three people recently arrested for carrying drugs in western Colorado had among their stash an opioid said to be 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl.  A Delta County Sheriff's Office deputy pulled over a vehicle on March 3 that was swerving over the lane stripes on Highway 50 west of Delta.  Another Delta deputy invited his K9 "Teg" to sniff the vehicle. The dog alerted to the presence of narcotics.  The deputies removed the three people from the car and searched it, finding approximately 1500 fentanyl pills, 50 grams of fentanyl powder, 12 grams of ecstacy pills, 454 grams of methamphetamine, and 21 grams of Carfentanil.  READ FULL ARTICLE ON CBS COLORADO
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Colorado veterinary professional associate bill sparks debate among advocates and critics
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado veterinary professional associate bill sparks debate among advocates and critics

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Advocates argue that a bill establishing implementation procedures for the newly created veterinary professional associate position includes provisions that contradict the intent of what Colorado voters approved in Proposition 129 in November. House Bill 1285, sponsored by Reps. Karen McCormick, D-Hygiene, and Sens. Cathy Kipp, D-Fort Collins, and Byron Pelton, R-Sterling, tasks Colorado's Board of Veterinary Medicine with adopting rules regarding the education, accreditation, and scope of practice for veterinary professional associates. This is a first-of-its-kind position established through Proposition 129, which passed with nearly 53% of the vote in last year’s election. The bill passed in an 11-1 vote, with Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora...
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Is Tina Peters’ life at risk in jail? Attorneys sound the alarm on her health decline
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Is Tina Peters’ life at risk in jail? Attorneys sound the alarm on her health decline

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ time in Larimer County Jail is taking a toll, according to her legal team and supporters. They say she’s experiencing memory loss, declining health and mistreatment—claims that have only fueled concerns about her condition. With growing pressure on Governor Jared Polis to grant a pardon, Peters’ case is becoming a test of justice, fairness and political influence in Colorado. Attorney John Case, who has been visiting Peters regularly, described noticeable changes in her health since she was taken into custody. "I visit Tina approximately weekly, the most recent visit was Sunday, March 16. I notice that Tina has difficulty with memory and word finding, compared to her cognitive abil...
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