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Colorado Democrats Revive Union Bill Vetoed by Polis Last Year
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DENVER7, Approved, State

Colorado Democrats Revive Union Bill Vetoed by Polis Last Year

By: Colette Bordelon | Denver7 House Bill 26-1005 has the same goal as legislation that passed out of the Capitol last year, and then was vetoed by Governor Jared Polis. DENVER — On Thursday, Colorado lawmakers heard passionate testimony that spanned across roughly three hours related to how workers unionize in the state, and whether or not that should be changed. If the debate under the Gold Dome feels familiar, that's because it is. House Bill 26-1005 proposes changes to Colorado's Labor Peace Act, which was enacted in 1943. Advocates claim the modifications would encourage good faith collective bargaining negotiations, but opponents believe they are trying to fix something that is not broken. In Colorado, a simple majority vote is needed for wor...
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Colorado ag department seeks dismissal of whistleblower complaint over DEI as employee calls for HR director removal
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Colorado ag department seeks dismissal of whistleblower complaint over DEI as employee calls for HR director removal

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice More than two months after a single chat comment during a virtual meeting sparked a whistleblower complaint at the Colorado Department of Agriculture, the case has escalated into a legal standoff, with the department moving to dismiss the complaint as the employee seeks the removal of its HR director. At the center of the dispute is the employee’s contention that diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are embedded in state governance and being promoted within a federally funded agency despite a federal executive order restricting DEI activities tied to federal programs. “Complainant cannot establish a Whistleblower Act claim for several reasons,” the CDA response states. “First, Complainant failed to comply with the Act’s man...
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RTD Accountability Panel Calls for Smaller Board and Structural Reforms
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DENVER7, Approved, Local

RTD Accountability Panel Calls for Smaller Board and Structural Reforms

By Colette Bordelon | Denver7 DENVER — Over the course of roughly four months, where 12 meetings totaled to 43 hours, a group designed to hold a major Colorado public transit agency accountable produced 31 recommendations they presented to state lawmakers on Wednesday. The Regional Transportation District (RTD) serves eight counties along the Front Range. Problems like crime and drug use have plagued the public transportation system, which has also suffered from low ridership numbers. "I believe in a robust, reliable, safe, environmentally conscious RTD system," said Maria Garcia Berry, the Chair of the RTD Accountability Committee. "Right now, RTD has one of the lowest riderships of all its peers, and it's not recovered from the pandemic." The&...
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Colorado Confirms 14th Wolf Death Since Voter Mandated Reintroduction
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Colorado Confirms 14th Wolf Death Since Voter Mandated Reintroduction

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The 14th wolf to die in Colorado since their reintroduction about two years ago took place during a “collaring” operation in the northwestern region of the state last week. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the wolf, identified as #2305 — meaning it was one of the original 10 animals that came from Oregon — died on Jan. 28 in Routt County. The wolf was the male of the breeding pair that produced the King Mountain pack last year. Of the original 10 wolves from Oregon, five have now died. Two yearlings from the Copper Creek pack, whose mating pair were from Oregon, also died. Another seven wolves from the original 15 of the British Columbia wolves have also died. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT COLORADO POLITICS
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New Colorado Bill Targets Data Center Growth Energy Use and Water Impact
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DENVER7, Approved, State

New Colorado Bill Targets Data Center Growth Energy Use and Water Impact

By: Allie Jennerjahn | Denver7 DENVER — A bill has been introduced in the Colorado state legislature to propose regulations on data centers continuing to pop up around the state. It's a discussion Denver7 has been listening to with many people struggling with the amount of water and energy needed to make them function. HB26-1030 aims to hold developers accountable to meet climate goals, while also working to boost the economy. Colorado House of Representatives Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Jefferson County, and state Rep. Alex Valdez, D-Denver County, shared the below joint statement about the proposed regulations with Denver7: READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT DENVER7
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Colorado Homeowners Face Property Tax Shock After Temporary Relief Expires
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Colorado Homeowners Face Property Tax Shock After Temporary Relief Expires

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Mike Fitz, 76, who lives in Centennial in a single-family home he has owned since 2001, paid $3,876.98 in property taxes to Arapahoe County two years ago. Fitz just learned after checking the website of the Arapahoe County Assessor’s Office that his 2026 tax bill has shot up to $5,435.47, and that already factors in a discount of $750 for the senior homestead exemption. That translates to an increase of nearly 30% or more than $1,500 over two years for the Colorado resident on a fixed income from a combination of Social Security payments and a pension from Gates Rubber. Indeed, the new year is bringing sticker shock to many Colorado homeowners like Fitz — property taxes are rising and some will see increases ranging from ...
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Medicaid Cuts For Disabled Coloradans Advance Without Board Approval
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The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Medicaid Cuts For Disabled Coloradans Advance Without Board Approval

By Brian Eason | The Colorado Sun State Medicaid officials said they have authority to continue with the plan through an executive order from Gov. Jared Polis and that they will ask again for board approval. When it came time for any of the Colorado Medical Services Board members to make a motion, there was only dead silence.  For two hours, the 11-member board that governs the state Medicaid program heard pleas from parents who provide round-the-clock care of their adult children with severe disabilities. And when the testimony was over, no one on the board would make a motion that would result in cuts to the parents’ monthly pay. The request from Medicaid officials for an emergency rule change that means a 10% pay cut for families of Colorado’s most vul...
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Democrats Revive Gender Identity Language in Colorado Child Custody Law
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Democrats Revive Gender Identity Language in Colorado Child Custody Law

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics Democratic lawmakers eye reviving a provision related to gender identity in child custody cases that was stripped from a bill signed into law last year. Last session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1312, which dealt with legal protections for transgender individuals. The law included new provisions dealing with name changes on marriage certificates, sex designations on driver’s licenses, and school dress codes. Specifically, the bill requires county clerks and recorders to issue name changes on marriage certificates when requested but leave no indication or mark that the certificate has been modified. It allows an individual to change the sex designation on a driver’s license up to three times, instead of just once, before bei...
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When “affordable housing” means government-funded housing in Colorado
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Commentary, State

When “affordable housing” means government-funded housing in Colorado

By Cory Gaines | Commentary, Colorado Accountability Project Volker Housing, Part 1 During one of my public notice crawls for Logan County/Sterling, there was a notice about a developer applying for a grant from the state to turn an empty parcel of land into an affordable housing development. That notice in full can be found in the first link below, but the pertinent bit is quoted here: “Volker Housing Partners, LLC will submit an application to the Colorado Division of Housing (DOH). The purpose of this application is to request up to $2,000,000 in funding to develop 54 rental homes at 777 N 4th Street in Sterling, CO. “ A reader sent me an email and suggested that I look in on this company a little, and I agreed. If they’re pulling down $2 million, wha...
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Colorado GOP Debates Strategy to Win Governor’s Seat After Two Decades of Losses
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Colorado GOP Debates Strategy to Win Governor’s Seat After Two Decades of Losses

By: Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics Colorado has not elected a Republican governor since 2002. On Thursday night, four candidates offered competing visions for how the party can reverse its 20-plus years of failing to secure the seat. The discussion hosted by the Women of Weld County touched on electability, affordability, housing, and how a Republican governor would work with the Trump administration. While 20 candidates are vying to win their party’s primary contest, only four attended the debate: Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, Joshua Griffin, Joe Oltmann and Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell. Colorado’s last Republican governor was Bill Owens. The state is now considered by many to be solidly blue. Gov. Jared Polis, the current governor, won reelection i...
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