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Motorists are paying the price — $11.4B annually, to be exact — for state’s crumbling roads
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Motorists are paying the price — $11.4B annually, to be exact — for state’s crumbling roads

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Colorado’s deteriorating roads are hitting residents — and their vehicles — hard, in Grand Junction costing drivers an average of $1,704 annually in extra repairs, fuel costs, congestion delays and crash-related expenses.  Statewide, the cost is estimated to be $11.4 billion a year, according to a January 2025 report by TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit. Meanwhile, inflation and rising construction costs are chipping away at recent funding increases. Rocky Moretti, TRIP’s director of policy and research, highlighted the challenge: “Colorado, in 2021 — both through legislation in Colorado, but also through the federal bipartisan infrastructure legislation — was able to significantly increase investment in ...
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Colorado universities are now closer to paying athletes. But the public may never know how much
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State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado universities are now closer to paying athletes. But the public may never know how much

By Ben Markus | The Colorado Sun The University of Colorado Boulder would be able to pay football players and keep the individual dollar amounts secret under a bill that passed a key committee vote Thursday in the state House of Representatives. A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the House Education Committee advanced House Bill 1041 even as they continued to express concern about a provision of the measure exempting the contracts between players from public disclosure through the Colorado Open Records Act, known as CORA. “CORA is a really important tool, along with public procurement law, to help the public understand how money is being spent from its public institutions,” Rep. Jennifer Bacon, D-Denver, said before casting a “no” vote on the bill, which passed 9-4 late ...
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Colorado will continue closing coal-fueled electric plants in 2025, all by 2031
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The Center Square, State

Colorado will continue closing coal-fueled electric plants in 2025, all by 2031

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Colorado is slowly phasing out the last of its coal-fueled electrical power plants, even though they still generated a third of the state’s total in-state energy generation in 2023. The Colorado Department of Labor and Energy reports that 10 coal-fired units remain operational throughout the state. One of those 10 is scheduled to close by the end of this year, with the remaining nine units all set to close by the end of 2031. The department reports that the plants are closing for a “variety of reasons.” “The era of coal in Colorado appears to be ending, and that poses serious challenges to the workers and communities that rely on it,” it states. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
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General Assembly recognizes active-duty military, veterans in 10 resolutions
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

General Assembly recognizes active-duty military, veterans in 10 resolutions

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice Active duty military, veterans and those prisoners of war or missing in action who never made it home were all honored Friday with bipartisan measures in the Colorado House and Senate. House Joint Resolution 25-1010, by Republican Rep. Jarvis Caldwell and Sen. Janice Rich and with Democrat Rep. Sean Camacho and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, commemorated Military Appreciation Day. The resolution notes more than 47,000 Coloradans serve in a branch of the armed forces in active or reserved duty, and another 340,000 military veterans call the state home.That is roughly about 8% of the state's population. HJR 25-1011, by Republican Rep. Ryan Armagost and Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer and by Democrat Rep. Matthew Martinez and Sen. Matt Ball, recognized Gold ...
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In a shifting of chairs, Republican parties have new leadership in many Colorado counties
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In a shifting of chairs, Republican parties have new leadership in many Colorado counties

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The only constant in life is said to be change. That certainly is the way it may feel for those in a number of county Republican parties around Colorado. From El Paso to Weld to Washington counties and other places dotting the map, new party leadership has been put in place during biennial reorganization, and more could be. In Adams County, both U.S. Reps. Lauren Boebert and Gabe Evans spoke before Laura Garcia-Pascoe was elected as the new county Republican chairwoman. "Let’s win big together this cycle," wrote Boebert in a Facebook post and photo with Garcia-Pascoe, after her election. On Monday, during his weekly grassroots call, former Sen. Kevin Lundberg noted Sandra Aste had been named the Larimer County chair. "I am really exc...
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HB 1131, lifting cap on CSU veterinary students, among three bills in each chamber getting second readings Tuesday
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

HB 1131, lifting cap on CSU veterinary students, among three bills in each chamber getting second readings Tuesday

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A bipartisan bill aimed at lifting the artificial cap on students who may enroll in Colorado State's veterinary program will get a second reading and potentially a preliminary vote on Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Colorado House. House Bill 25-1131, by Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson and Sen. Byron Pelton and joined by Democrat Rep. Andrew Boesenecker and Sen. Cathy Kipp, lifts the enrollment cap at a time when both small and large animal veterinarians are at a shortage throughout the state, especially in Eastern Colorado where two of the legislators represent. The bill passed the House Education Committee on Feb. 6 with a rare 13-0 vote. The House convenes at 9 a.m. The House will also hear second readings on two Democrat-led bills — HB 25-1010,...
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Whooping cough cases nearly tripled in Colorado during 2024, per CDC data
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kdvr.com, State

Whooping cough cases nearly tripled in Colorado during 2024, per CDC data

By Jacob Factor | KDVR-TV Fox 31 News Whooping cough cases are rising across the country and in Colorado, with a nearly 270% increase in Colorado between 2023 and 2024, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control data. Nationally, cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, increased from just over 7,000 cases in 2023 to nearly 35,500 cases in 2024, according to the CDC’s provisional 2024 report. The 2023 provisional report shows Colorado had 244 cases then, while 2024 saw 655 reported cases. According to the CDC’s website, the U.S. is returning to “pre-pandemic patterns where more than 10,000 cases are typically reported each year.” The CDC says public health authorities focus on protecting people at the highest risk for serious illness. READ THE ...
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Colorado legislators, homebuilders look to new bill to standardize building codes
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CBS Colorado, State

Colorado legislators, homebuilders look to new bill to standardize building codes

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado Despite historic investments in affordable housing in Colorado, home ownership remains out of reach for many people. While the state has increased manufactured home production by 687% over the last three years, Colorado's building codes, which vary from one city to the next, remain a barrier. Now some state lawmakers want to remove that barrier. There are more than 300 different sets of regulations across the state. One city may want all outlets to the left of the studs, while another may want them on the right. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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House bill to allow Colorado’s public universities to compensate student-athletes passes committee
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coloradopolitics.com, State

House bill to allow Colorado’s public universities to compensate student-athletes passes committee

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The bill updating Colorado's laws on public collegiate sports "name, image and likeness" (NIL) passed the House Education Committee Thursday, but not without significant opposition. House Bill 1041 would allow a public institution of higher education or athletic association to compensate a student-athlete for using their name, image, or likeness in branding or marketing for the institution. HB 1041 passed on a 9-4 vote and now heads to the full House. But the bill's second section, carving out a new exception to the state's open records law, has drawn the most scrutiny. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Colorado honors Korean War veterans with resolution on Military Appreciation Day
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado honors Korean War veterans with resolution on Military Appreciation Day

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Military, Veterans, and POW/MIA Appreciation Day is an annual event at the state Capitol in early February. It is a day for lawmakers in both chambers to recognize the sacrifices of Colorado's servicemen and women in combat. Traditionally, that's included joint resolutions on Military Appreciation Day, plus nine more recognizing Gold Star families, the USS Pueblo, the Tenth Mountain Division, the anniversary of World War II, appreciation for veterans of the Vietnam War and Persian Gulf conflict, and resolutions saluting the service of Latino/a, Native American, and African American veterans. What has never been recognized in that annual remembrance: service by those who fought in the Korean War. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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