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Colorado panel finalizes budget plan that boosts K-12, higher education and health care. Here’s what’s in it.
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State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado panel finalizes budget plan that boosts K-12, higher education and health care. Here’s what’s in it.

By Brian Eason | Colorado Sun Colorado’s state budget panel early Friday morning approved a spending plan for next fiscal year that would invest heavily in state workers and medical services, eliminate Colorado’s K-12 funding shortfall and limit college tuition increases to 3% for in-state students. But it took a lot of cutting — and some creative accounting maneuvers — to get there. Facing a potential $170 million shortfall at the start of the week, lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee dipped deeply into various state cash funds in order to balance the budget, pulling money out of a number of programs to cover the spending gap. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Nine petitions filed in 4th District to follow Rep. Buck in office, only Boebert’s verified as sufficient so far
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Nine petitions filed in 4th District to follow Rep. Buck in office, only Boebert’s verified as sufficient so far

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Nineteen candidates seeking a place on either a Democratic or Republican ballot in a Congressional District primary made the secretary of state's Tuesday petition deadline, with thus far only four of those petitions verified as sufficient. Once a petition has been filed with the secretary of state, signatures are verified and staff deems whether the signatures are sufficient or insufficient to earn a place on the ballot, pending other conditions of the candidate's political party. Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse submitted the only petition in the 2nd District. Republicans Russ Andrews, Joe Granado, Jeff Hurd, Curtis McCrackin and Lew Webb have all submitted petitions in the 3rd District, an open seat with the absence of Rep. Lauren Boebert. Th...
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Libertarians will gather for party’s convention March 23-24 in Colorado Springs
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Libertarians will gather for party’s convention March 23-24 in Colorado Springs

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice The Colorado Libertarian Party’s Convention is Saturday-Sunday, March 23-24, in Colorado Springs at the Masonic Center, 1150 Panorama Dr. Business meetings of the party will be conducted during daytime hours at the convention. A debate among Libertarian Presidential candidates, featuring many of the potential candidates, will highlight evening activities. In advance of the Libertarian Party’s Convention, Free State Colorado sat down with Erin King, the Colorado Libertarian Party’s fundraising director. More information on the convention is available at LPColorado.org, including ticket information. https://youtu.be/_FrOtZvHgB8?si=2OJcU7pSGJbkY2at
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Legislators push to reintroduce wolverines in Colorado, insisting process unlike wolves
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Legislators push to reintroduce wolverines in Colorado, insisting process unlike wolves

By Marissa Ventrelli | Colorado Politics The North American wolverine — the animal, not the X-Men character — could return to Colorado. Lawmakers are pushing a proposal to authorize the reintroduction of the animal, maintaining it is a completely different set of circumstances than program that brought back wolves to Colorado. The proponents behind Senate Bill 171 also said wolverines would be less destructive. The bill authorizes the reintroduction contingent upon the federal government designating wolverines as a nonessential "experimental population" under what's called the 10(j) rule. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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State Rep. Leslie Herod granted protective order after judge finds ‘sexual assault’ claims are not credible
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coloradopolitics.com, State

State Rep. Leslie Herod granted protective order after judge finds ‘sexual assault’ claims are not credible

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics After a year of social media accusations that she was a "sexual predator," Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver, has been granted a restraining order against the spokesperson for state Treasurer Dave Young with a judge ruling the evidence does not support the claims. The restraining order is against Sheena Kadi, the public information officer and communications director for Young. Kadi is a longtime Democratic political operative and the the vice chair of public relations and marketing for the Colorado Democratic Party. Kadi did not respond to a request for comment. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Study: Colorado ban on oil and gas drilling will take a toll on education, destroy jobs, cut GDP
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Colorado Springs Gazette, State

Study: Colorado ban on oil and gas drilling will take a toll on education, destroy jobs, cut GDP

By Scott Weiser | Colorado Springs Gazette A bill introduced in the state senate to end oil and gas drilling poses a catastrophic threat to Colorado’s economy, according to researchers from the Common Sense Institute. Senate Bill 24-159 would require the state to cease issuing new oil and gas drilling permits by 2030. The bill was set to be heard on Thursday by the Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee but was postponed because of a snowstorm. A hearing has not yet been rescheduled. “It's horrible on every front because it claims to be about CO2 emission reduction, which it's not,” said CSI Energy Fellow Trisha Curtis. “It's beyond detrimental and devastating to the economic state of Colorado and it really doesn't appreciate the economic realities at all." READ THE FULL...
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Open letter to the sponsors of SB24-091, and members of the Joint Technology Committee
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Commentary, State

Open letter to the sponsors of SB24-091, and members of the Joint Technology Committee

By Cory Gaines | Logan County, Co. Hello to all, My name is Cory Gaines and I'm a resident of Logan County, Colo. I am one of a very few lucky people to live in a town where I can get broadband internet, but I know many in locations similar to mine are not so fortunate. Broadband internet to me and those who are geographically situated similarly to me presents economic opportunity and growth. It might be something that people (and lawmakers) along the Front Range take for granted, but I want you to think about what your life would look like with either dial up or perhaps no internet: * Without broadband, your educational/enrichment opportunities are narrowed.* Without broadband, potential access to jobs that are full time with benefits is narrowed.* Without broadband, there is ...
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Douglas County aims to challenge Colorado’s sanctuary laws amid illegal immigration surge in Denver
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Douglas County aims to challenge Colorado’s sanctuary laws amid illegal immigration surge in Denver

By Kyla Pearce | Colorado Politics Douglas County's commissioners are eyeing a legal challenge to Colorado's "sanctuary" laws amid a surge in illegal immigration that has already cost Denver — the epicenter of the crisis — tens of millions of dollars.  They also advanced a proposed ordinance that bars commercial buses from unloading passengers "other than at a planned and scheduled documented destination," a clear attempt to stop immigrants from arriving at the county's doors unannounced.   In a resolution, the commissioners on Tuesday directed the county attorney to "pursue legal action to permit the county to fully cooperate with federal law enforcement." READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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‘Assault weapons’ bill, opposed by hundreds in marathon hearing, advances in House
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Assault weapons’ bill, opposed by hundreds in marathon hearing, advances in House

Public pleads for 12 hours with Colorado House committee to reject bill attorneys called ‘inconsistent, unconstitutional’ and others say ‘infringes’ on 2nd Amendment By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Hundreds of Coloradans provided a master’s course to lawmakers on the Founding Fathers, the Federalist Papers and the U.S. Constitution Tuesday in opposition to  House Bill 1292, but it was to no avail. The presentation of the bill, by Democratic Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernandez, to the House Judiciary Committee drew pro-gun advocates to call it an “all out war” and “infringement” on gun owners, and to instead call for hardening of targets at schools throughout Colorado. A bill they say was written by special interests, ignores personal responsibility, could shu...
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Colorado is at odds with the feds over prescription drug importation, documents show
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State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado is at odds with the feds over prescription drug importation, documents show

By John Ingold | Colorado Sun Colorado’s attempts to import lower-priced prescription drugs from Canada appear to have hit a significant roadblock, according to state documents. Late last month, Colorado submitted an amended application to the federal government for the program, which lawmakers established in 2019. “We are one step closer to launching our Drug Importation Program,” Gov. Jared Polis, who has championed the program as part of his agenda to lower health care costs, said in a statement accompanying the announcement. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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