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With Thanksgiving nearing, carrot E. coli outbreak offers new concerns for Coloradans
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

With Thanksgiving nearing, carrot E. coli outbreak offers new concerns for Coloradans

By Alan Gionet | CBS Colorado Word of yet another E. coli outbreak has shaken shoppers 10 days ahead of Thanksgiving. More than a dozen brands of organic carrots are now recalled with warnings to consumers not to eat them. One person is known to have become ill in Colorado, but the recalled products were all produced by Grimmway Farms and sold under a variety of brand names. They were shipped directly to retail distribution centers nationwide in the United States. There are 39 known cases total across the country in 18 states with one death. "I mean it's part of a larger problem, right? When you de-regulate industries, when you make food safety not a priority," said one shopper Monday night in Denver. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Dickenson: From the Rockies to the Beltway, Colorado’s influence in Washington

By Tiffany Dickenson | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado has long punched above its weight in shaping national policy, and this administration is no different. With the appointment of Chris Wright as Secretary of Energy, our state once again finds itself in a key position of influence in Washington, D.C. Our state has a proud history of representation at the highest levels of government. Through the years, several Coloradans have taken the lead on national issues, leaving a legacy of strong, values-driven leadership: Federico Peña, as Secretary of Transportation (1993–1997), modernized infrastructure, including airport and transportation networks vital to rural areas like Northwest Colorado. Later, as Secretary of Energy (1997–1998), he balanced renewable energy dev...
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Business groups warn against changes to Colorado’s union law
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Business groups warn against changes to Colorado’s union law

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics A major fight is brewing at the state Capitol, where unions plan to push for legislation they said would give workers "more freedom to negotiate for workplace safety and better pay" but which business groups warned would upend a system that is pivotal attracting companies and keeping Colorado economically competitive. At issue is the Labor Peace Act's requirement that two elections be held in order to form a union and establish "union security." The first election must be won by a simple majority, while the second must receive at least 75% approval. Colorado is the only state with a second vote in which a supermajority is required to pass. Several business groups said the proposed changes could unravel what has been a successful pitch to ou...
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Colorado to pay $1.5 million in same-sex wedding websites case
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado to pay $1.5 million in same-sex wedding websites case

By The Denver Gazette | Via Colorado Politics Colorado agreed to pay more than $1.5 million in attorneys’ fees following the conclusion of a case involving a graphic designer who did not want to create wedding websites for same-sex couples. Lorie Smith, who feared she would run afoul of the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act if she refused to create websites for same-sex weddings through her graphic design company, 303 Creative, sued the Colorado Civil Rights Commission and the state's attorney general. The case made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled last year in favor of Smith, concluding that Colorado sought to "force an individual to speak in ways that align with its views but defy her conscience about a matter of major significance" and therefore violated he...
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Colorado’s wind and terrain plays a big role in forecasting snow
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Colorado’s wind and terrain plays a big role in forecasting snow

By Joe Ruch | CBS Colorado Colorado's topography is unique. The lowest point is on the Eastern Plains with an elevation of 3,317 feet where the Arikaree River flows out of Yuma County. The highest point is atop Mount Elbert with an elevation of 14,438 feet (about half the cruising altitude of a commercial jet).   This significant difference in elevation can help play a pivotal role in deciding which place will be the big winner during a snowstorm. Three major features that drive northern Colorado's weather include the Front Range Mountains, the Palmer Divide, and the Cheyenne Ridge.  Keep in mind, as air rises all the moisture is squeezed out like a sponge, leaving the air warmer and dry. With that said, you want to be on the rising side (upslope) of the wind direction f...
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Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Schumann: Are Colorado Democrats justified in fearing a Trump comeback, or is a reality check needed?

By Jen Schumann | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice A second Trump presidency has sparked significant concerns among some Colorado Democrats. They cite fears over federal overreach, social policy rollbacks and economic instability. Left-leaning Colorado news media and Democrat politicians are sparing no time and revving up the fear-mongering engine. Last week, Gov. Polis and his co-chair received national attention for launching “Governors Safeguarding Democracy” to fight against President Trump’s policies.  Polis stated, "We want to make sure that the American people can be certain that the elections are safe, that the separation of the courts and powers is safe, and that governors exert the powers that we have as states to make sure that we can protect freedom...
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Colorado’s unemployment rate ticks up to 4.1%, surging up to the national average
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Approved, denvergazette.com, State

Colorado’s unemployment rate ticks up to 4.1%, surging up to the national average

By Bernadette Berdychowski | Denver Gazette Unemployment in Colorado is growing. The state reported its unemployment rate hit 4.1% in October, up from 4% the month before — matching the national average after being below the U.S. rate all year, according to data from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment's report released Monday. The number of unemployed grew by nearly 4,000 over the month to a total of 134,000. The national unemployment rate of 4.1% was unchanged from September. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE DENVER GAZETTE
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Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, lawmakers spar over proposed budget
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, lawmakers spar over proposed budget

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The Colorado legislature's budget drafting body, stung by criticism from the governor over hiking Medicaid provider rates last spring higher than what he wanted, bit back when Gov. Jared Polis met with the committee last week to discuss his 2025-26 budget proposal. Gov. Jared Polis and members of the Joint Budget Committee sparred over the size of his proposed cuts. Polis effectively argued that his proposal responsibly makes budget reductions, while lawmakers questioned his decision to fund projects or services — such as landscaping for the governor's mansion — when the state is practically in "recession" mode when it comes to budgeting.       A veteran legislator said the governor's budget proposal is no...
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More than 400 Coloradans who work for UPS learn they are losing their jobs
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Approved, CBS Colorado, State

More than 400 Coloradans who work for UPS learn they are losing their jobs

By Jesse Sarles | CBS Colorado Hundreds of UPS workers in the Denver area will be looking for new jobs in the new year. The company made the announcement on Monday and said it's part of an effort to move into a workflow that involves more automation. UPS says it's going to temporarily close half of its facility in Commerce City while it makes changes. As a result, more than 400 people have learned they're losing their jobs. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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In one of most regulated states, Colorado chamber calls for reform as business rankings decline
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Approved, KOAA News, State

In one of most regulated states, Colorado chamber calls for reform as business rankings decline

By Brett Forrest | KOAA-TV NBC 5 The Colorado Chamber of Commerce is calling for regulatory reform as their latest Colorado Scorecard showed the state declining in several key business metrics. Loren Furman, the president and CEO of the Colorado Chamber, said they hired a group of economists from outside the state to examine the data. “The data that they came back with was pretty shocking. What they found is that Colorado is the sixth most regulated state in the nation,” said Furman. “We have over 165,000 regulations implemented through law. And 45% of those regulations are deemed excessive or duplicative.” READ THE FULL STORY AT KOAA-TV NBC 5.
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