Rocky Mountain Voice

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Colorado’s wolves could have migrated east of Continental Divide, into Fremont County
Approved, kdvr.com, State

Colorado’s wolves could have migrated east of Continental Divide, into Fremont County

By Heather Willard | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News Colorado’s wolf population now has 29 members, according to state officials, and one of the population members is “exploring” a watershed in what Colorado Parks and Wildlife called southeastern Colorado. On Wednesday, the state released its first monthly movement map since the release of 15 Canadian gray wolves and the five surviving members of the Copper Creek pack. The 20 wolves were released into Eagle and Pitkin counties between Jan. 12 and 18 and were released both north and south of Interstate 70. “One female wolf is exploring the southeast region of the state,” CPW said in its Wednesday release. “There is currently just one wolf in the highlighted watershed.” READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
Arapahoe Co. Democrat Jamie Jackson wins House District 41 seat after vacancy election
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Arapahoe Co. Democrat Jamie Jackson wins House District 41 seat after vacancy election

By Marissa Ventrelli  | Colorado Politics A vacancy committee of Arapahoe County Democrats elected Jamie Jackson to serve as the state representative for House District 41, replacing Sen. Iman Jodeh, who left the position to serve in the Senate.  Jackson, the COO of the nonprofit organization The Naloxone Project and vice president of Colorado Black Women for Political Action, received 52% of the vote, enough to garner a simple majority and win the vacancy election.  Community activist Aly DeWillis-Marcano and Aurora School Board president Anne Keke also ran for the seat.   READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Colorado schools may soon be required to have a cellphone policy
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado schools may soon be required to have a cellphone policy

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun All Colorado school districts would be required to adopt a cellphone policy with rules for when and how students can use phones in school under a bipartisan bill set to be introduced in the legislature later this month. The legislation aims both “to promote a conducive learning environment” and protect students’ mental health, said state Rep. Meghan Lukens, a Steamboat Springs Democrat and prime bill sponsor. The hope is to eliminate, or at very least limit, distractions to student learning caused by cellphones and other devices. The bill, which would allow districts to make their own decisions about how to address cellphone use during school hours, shows educators’ shared concerns about the toll devices can take on kids’ academics and well-bei...
State grappling with funding insurance enterprise into the future, and solution could be premium fee hike
Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

State grappling with funding insurance enterprise into the future, and solution could be premium fee hike

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance A Colorado enterprise that offers free health insurance to undocumented immigrants and helps fund the state’s reinsurance program is likely to be short of revenue by 2027, spurring consideration of options that include raising fees on statewide health insurance policies. The Health Insurance Affordability Exchange board will meet at 8 a.m. Friday to discuss how to deal with the situation and how to grapple with the uncertainty around future federal funding. If it elects to pursue a fee increase, such an effort would have to go before the Legislature prior to the May 7 conclusion of its 2025 regular session. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE SUM & SUBSTANCE
A fight over 340B, the fed’s program to cut hospitals’ prescription drug costs, is coming to the Colorado Capitol
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

A fight over 340B, the fed’s program to cut hospitals’ prescription drug costs, is coming to the Colorado Capitol

By John Ingold | The Colorado Sun Colorado is on the verge of a massive fight at the state Capitol over a multibillion-dollar federal health care program you may have never heard of. The program goes by the super-unsexy name of 340B, and it pulls together a battle royale of health care industry heavyweights: hospitals versus pharmaceutical companies versus pharmacies versus insurers. Advocates on various sides of the issue have already started sponsoring panel discussions and buying up ads (one of which appeared this week in The Colorado Sun’s politics newsletter, The Unaffiliated). And that’s before the legislation this fight is all about has even been introduced. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
SB5, the Labor Peace Act overhaul, advances over business complaints
Approved, State, The Sum & Substance

SB5, the Labor Peace Act overhaul, advances over business complaints

By Ed Sealover | The Sum & Substance Senate Democrats used their first bill hearing of the 2025 legislative session Tuesday to advance a proposed major change to the state’s Labor Peace Act, saying that the 82-year-old “compromise” law is not working for Colorado employees anymore. The 4-3, party-line vote from the Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee to send Senate Bill 5 to the Appropriations Committee came despite business warnings that erosion of the law will depress the state’s falling economic competitiveness even more. But one of its supporters said he’d like to see business and labor leaders find a compromise — a plea issued before the sides were set for a major negotiating session on Wednesday. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE SUM & SUBSTANCE
Launch of SAFE Colorado aimed at building safer, stronger Colorado
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Launch of SAFE Colorado aimed at building safer, stronger Colorado

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice John Fabbricatore and Steven Monahan were announced Wednesday as the leaders in the launch of Strong Advocates For Enforcement in Colorado (SAFE Colorado), aimed at enhancing public safety across the state by fostering collaboration among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Fabbricatore previously served as an ICE field director in Colorado and Wyoming, and was the 2024 Republican nominee to the 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. He is a visiting fellow of the Heritage Foundation. Steven Monahan was the 2022 Republican nominee to the 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House. The mission of SAFE Colorado is "to protect communities by prioritizing safety over political agendas and holding leaders accountable for...
If you’re fed up with high egg prices, you’ll like HB25-1074 by Rep. Gonzalez and Sen. Kirkmeyer
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

If you’re fed up with high egg prices, you’ll like HB25-1074 by Rep. Gonzalez and Sen. Kirkmeyer

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice If you have not yet visited your grocer's refrigerated section in 2025, you're in a for a surprise. The only eggs you will find are cage-free, and they are expensive. There's a reason. House Bill 20-1343, passed nearly five years ago, set forth standards for laying hens and the eggs they produce, of which some harmful consequences are just being realized today. The bill by Western Slope Democrat rancher Sen. Kerry Donovan and Western Slope Democrat attorney Dylan Roberts had bipartisan support from a full flock then of about two-thirds of the Colorado General Assembly, and Democratic Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill. Weld County Rep. Ryan Gonzalez, R-Greeley, and Weld County Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, neither of which supported the 2020...
Is it last call in Colorado? The state lost 41 breweries in 2024, beer sales down 1.2% more than national average
Approved, kdvr.com, State

Is it last call in Colorado? The state lost 41 breweries in 2024, beer sales down 1.2% more than national average

By Spencer Kristensen | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News If you live in or have ever been to Colorado, one thing you may notice is that Coloradans love a good brewery. Colorado has boasted the likes of breweries such as Coors, New Belgium Brewing Company, Left Hand Brewing and Odell Brewing Co. While Colorado has breweries in its DNA, beer sales are down and 41 breweries closed or left the state last year, according to a press release from the Colorado Beverage Coalition. The Colorado Beverage Coalition said that 2024 was another challenging year for Colorado brewers. Beer sales are down by 3.2% which is higher than the national average that saw a 2% decrease in 2024, according to the Colorado Liquor Enforcement Division. READ THE FULL STORY AT KDVR-TV FOX 31 NEWS
Bipartisan Senate committee to review ethics complaint against state Sen. Jaquez Lewis
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Bipartisan Senate committee to review ethics complaint against state Sen. Jaquez Lewis

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Senate President James Coleman announced on Tuesday that the ethics complaint against Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis, D-Longmont, is moving to a committee. Jaquez Lewis has been accused of mistreating her aides. According to the Colorado Sun, a workplace misconduct complaint filed on Nov. 15 with the Office of Legislative Workplace Relations alleged she paid an aide to do landscaping work and tend bar, and that she paid him with a campaign check. She did not report those expenditures in her campaign finance reports. She also paid the aide to knock on doors for an Adams County commissioner candidate in the June primary who faced off against the wife of one of Jaquez Lewis' legislative rivals, according to reports.   READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORA...