staging.rockymountainvoice.com

coloradopolitics.com

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, lawmakers spar over proposed budget
No Comments
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...
Read More
Former Jeffco Clerk and Recorder George Stern mulling run for Colorado secretary of state
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

Former Jeffco Clerk and Recorder George Stern mulling run for Colorado secretary of state

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Former Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder George Stern is considering a run for Colorado secretary of state in two years, the Democrat told Colorado Politics. Stern, 37, said his experience turning around one of the largest county clerk's offices in the state could help bolster trust in Colorado's elections at a time when the state's voting system has been under heightened scrutiny. "I think it's more important than ever that we have people with election administration experience serving as secretaries of state throughout the country, as we work to continue to defend the integrity of our elections and also to rebuild trust in our elections," Stern said in an interview. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
Groups accuse Colorado Bureau of Investigation of skirting oversight in forensic lab investigation
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

Groups accuse Colorado Bureau of Investigation of skirting oversight in forensic lab investigation

By Jenny Deam | The Gazette, via Colorado Politics Two groups accused the Colorado Bureau of Investigation of skirting a federally required oversight process to investigate misconduct in its forensics lab, adding to mounting allegations of wrongdoing at the embattled agency. In a five-page letter dated Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado and the Korey Wise Innocence Project demanded more accountability and transparency in the CBI’s ongoing investigation of its former star forensic scientist, Yvonne Woods, known as Missy, who was found to have mishandled, falsified or deleted DNA findings for years at the lab. Those problems have thrown into question the fate of an unknown but potentially vast number of past criminal convictions in Colorado that reli...
Read More
Colorado Springs retail marijuana ban still failing, according to final unofficial election results
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, Local

Colorado Springs retail marijuana ban still failing, according to final unofficial election results

By Breeanna Jent | The Gazette, via Colorado Politics Colorado Springs residents appear to have rejected a ballot question that sought to more permanently ban recreational marijuana sales in the city, according to updated election results from the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder Thursday night. Final unofficial results updated at 8:23 p.m. showed the City Council-backed Question 2D, which proposes amending the city charter to prohibit recreational marijuana establishments in Colorado Springs, was failing 49.4% to 50.6%. In total, 387,297 ballots have been counted for just under 78% voter turnout, according to clerk's data. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
Meet the new (and not so new) faces of the 2025 legislative session
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

Meet the new (and not so new) faces of the 2025 legislative session

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics The upcoming legislative session will see a mix of new and familiar faces, including a number of House members who will be moving to the Senate. With nearly two dozen brand-new legislators set to begin their terms in January, here's a look at the newly-elected officials who will be shaping the state's policies in 2025.  READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
Wyatts Towing has new owners after agreeing to $1 million settlement with Colorado
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

Wyatts Towing has new owners after agreeing to $1 million settlement with Colorado

By Melissa Reeves | via Colorado Politics A towing company that agreed to pay $1 million as part of a settlement with Colorado's attorney general's office for predatory towing practices is under new management. Last week, the Colorado attorney general's office announced thousands of victims of illegal towing will receive restitution checks in the mail, following a $1 million settlement with Wyatts Towing. The office announced the settlement last year, which resolved a state investigation into "illegally collected fees, unlicensed towing, and other unfair and deceptive business practices," the office said. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
Colorado wildlife officials meet with Western Slope commissioners over wolf reintroduction
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado wildlife officials meet with Western Slope commissioners over wolf reintroduction

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which faces sharp criticism over its plans to release more wolves on the Western Slope in the coming months, met with county commissioners last week from the counties where the next reintroductions are slated to take place. Those counties are Pitkin (Aspen), Rio Blanco, Eagle and Garfield, according to the agency. The idea of more wolves on the Western Slope didn't sit well with county commissioners — except for Pitkin County. And Pitkin County doesn't have state lands, so dropping wolves into that county would require a private landowner to grant Colorado Parks and Wildlife permission to do so. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s $1.76B budget is a 0.6% increase from prior year
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, Local

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s $1.76B budget is a 0.6% increase from prior year

By Alexander Edwards | The Gazette, via Colorado Politics The Denver City Council on Tuesday gave Mayor Mike Johnston’s proposed $1.76 billion spending plan for next year the final nod. The council approved the budget unanimously. The approval is more a formality, as the city’s charter says if a vote is not taken by a certain date, the budget, as amended, is approved. The 800-page  plus document did not change much despite several councilmembers' attempts to amend it last week. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More
RTD proposes $1.2B budget to improve service, and for maintenance, recruitment and retention
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, Local

RTD proposes $1.2B budget to improve service, and for maintenance, recruitment and retention

By The Denver Gazette | via Colorado Politics The Regional Transportation District is proposing a $1.2 billion budget for next year, arguing this level of spending will increase its levels of service, continue hiring for key frontline positions and sustain preventative maintenance projects. "Over the last year, RTD has redoubled its efforts to maintain its assets in a state of good repair, enhanced employee recruitment and retention initiatives, and made significant progress in creating a welcoming transit environment,” Debra A. Johnson, the regional transit system's general manager and CEO, said in a news release. “This proposed budget allows the agency to build on that momentum in the year ahead and respond to the ever-changing transit needs of customers in the Denver metro area.” ...
Read More
Democrat Colorado House Speaker McCluskie likely to remain in place following caucus leadership election
No Comments
coloradopolitics.com, State

Democrat Colorado House Speaker McCluskie likely to remain in place following caucus leadership election

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics State House Democrats elected its slate of leaders for the 2025 session on Monday. House Speaker Julie McCluskie of Dillon, who is entering her fourth and final term, will serve as the nominee for another term as Speaker. McCluskie was elected by acclimation. McCluskie was nominated by Rep. Emily Sirota of Denver, with a second from Rep. Matthew Martinez of Monte Vista. The full House must ratify that decision when it convenes on Jan. 8. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
Read More