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Rep. Weinberg asks ‘Why do we need a bill?’ during reading of HB 1226
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Rep. Weinberg asks ‘Why do we need a bill?’ during reading of HB 1226

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice As House Democrats were slamming one bill after another through on readings Thursday, Larimer Republican Rep. Ron Weinberg wanted to know why one of them was a bill on the floor at all. "If we want this on the agenda, why don't we put this on the agenda?" he asked. "Why do we need a bill?" His concerns were related to House Bill 25-1226, which would instruct the state's health care review interim committee to study billing practices. The bill, by Morgan County Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson, cleared the House's Health & Human Services Committee on an 8-4 vote, splitting Republican support on the committee. Johnson responded the bill was necessary to have the issue as part of the health care review agenda. "I've heard stories of peopl...
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Crisanta Duran, a former Colorado House speaker, jumps into 2026 race for attorney general
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State, The Colorado Sun

Crisanta Duran, a former Colorado House speaker, jumps into 2026 race for attorney general

By Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun Democrat Crisanta Duran, a former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives, announced Thursday morning that she will run next year to be Colorado’s attorney general.  “I’m running for attorney general because I am committed to ensuring that every Coloradan is safe, healthy and economically secure,” Duran said in a written statement. “Like many Coloradans, I’m deeply concerned about the future of our country and know that a new path forward is required in times like these when it can seem as though nothing is sacred.” If elected, Duran said she would “work to protect consumers, increase affordability, combat corruption and stand up to greed.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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Severance Chief Ken Chavez honored in House for combined 81 years in law enforcement, military
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Severance Chief Ken Chavez honored in House for combined 81 years in law enforcement, military

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice A man who has a combined 81 years experience in law enforcement and the military was honored Thursday on the floor of the Colorado House. Ken Chavez, who serves as the Severance police chief, was noted by Republican Reps. Ryan Armagost and Lori Garcia Sander. "Thank you for your many years of dedication to safety in Colorado," Garcia Sander said, noting he had opened a "debt-free new police department" in Severance. For 45 years, Chavez has worked in law enforcement. "In that time, he also served 36 years and retired as a colonel in the National Guard," Armagost said, noting he had served with special forces in Colorado. Chavez also served with Denver and Severence SWAT units. "He's had a very highly decorated career," Armagost said....
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Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Western Slope officials supporting the nuclear option for energy

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Jump started in the past year by Gov. Jared Polis’ clean energy mandate and the imminent closing of the Craig Station Power Station, local governments have been studying new technologies — such as small modular nuclear generation and technologies that allow spent nuclear fuel to be recycled and repurposed. In consideration of lost jobs and lost revenue to counties that will devastate historical fossil fuel energy counties, and seeing the increase in energy demands in the future related to AI technologies, data centers, semiconductor industries and quantum technology, local governments are working to keep those communities in their jurisdictions employed and electrified. Elected officials that make up the members of the ...
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Black belt, Army career prepared Rep. Hartsook for the fight under the Golden Dome
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Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Black belt, Army career prepared Rep. Hartsook for the fight under the Golden Dome

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice He holds a black belt in judo and has a knack for spotting nonsense. Douglas County Republican Rep. Anthony Hartsook has the background of an Army veteran and the ability to take on "fees" — what Republicans call taxes — with calm precision, and sometimes a grin. You could say he stands out in the capitol's chaos. A sixth-degree black belt since his teens, he’s built for focus. “I’ve been doing judo since I was a teenager,” he says. That’s years of flipping foes and dodging blows. Now he’s sidestepping political traps.  Sometimes he cracks a smile about it.  “I’ve commented that we should put boxing gloves on down in the well [the speaking podium on the floor]. And just go, ‘Last guy standing, bill passes,’”...
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Colorado Bureau of Investigation launches public dashboard to track rape kit backlog
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DENVER7, State

Colorado Bureau of Investigation launches public dashboard to track rape kit backlog

By Óscar Contreras | Denver 7 News The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced Tuesday it would start publicly tracking its progress to address a rape kit backlog exacerbated by an investigation into one its former forensic scientists accused of mishandling DNA evidence. “We acknowledge it is taking us too long to complete DNA cases. We are committed to an aggressive plan to bring this turnaround time down to our goal of 90 days as quickly as possible,” said CBI Director Schaefer in a statement announcing the creating of the public dashboard. “We understand the importance of timely processing of sexual assault kits and the impact this backlog has on survivors.” READ THE FULL STORY AT DENVER 7 NEWS
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Sen. Kirkmeyer uncovers ‘crisis in spending priorities’ in funding of ‘furniture over neglected kids’
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CBS Colorado, State

Sen. Kirkmeyer uncovers ‘crisis in spending priorities’ in funding of ‘furniture over neglected kids’

By Shaun Boyd | CBS Colorado The hole in the Colorado state budget is getting bigger. The latest figures show a shortfall of about $1.2 billion, and the state's chief economist says the reserve -- or rainy-day fund -- will run out of money by 2029 if nothing changes. "The message is we are on an unsustainable path with our budget if we don't change our spending habits," said State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer, who is one of six lawmakers on the Joint Budget Committee. The Republican says lawmakers have simply overspent, pointing out the state has added more than 7,000 full time employees and 17 new state offices in the last six years alone. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
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Changes to know ahead of big-game hunting season in Colorado
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gazette.com, State

Changes to know ahead of big-game hunting season in Colorado

By Seth Boster | The Gazette Colorado Parks and Wildlife's annual big game brochure has been hitting hunters' mailboxes — the annual reminder to start planning for the seasons ahead. The brochure is also available at CPW offices and posted online. And the agency is urging hunters to view it ahead of the primary draw application period, running March 1-April 1. Hunters must purchase a 2025 qualifying license to participate in big-game draws; most qualifying licenses are available starting in March. Fees pertaining to Colorado residents, nonresidents and licenses for various game are outlined in the new brochure, which outlines several changes starting this year. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
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Eric Schmidt, 91, a Republican who served Boulder in the Colorado House and later as CU regent, has died
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Eric Schmidt, 91, a Republican who served Boulder in the Colorado House and later as CU regent, has died

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Former Assistant House Majority Leader Eric Schmidt, who served in the Colorado House for two terms, died at his home in Lakewood on Jan. 26. A memorial service will be held, Saturday, March 15, at 1:30pm at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 East Hampden Ave., Cherry Hills Village. Schmidt was born May 31, 1933 in Newark, NJ. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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Rural Colorado schools already hurting for resources could be choked by proposed funding cuts
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State, The Colorado Sun

Rural Colorado schools already hurting for resources could be choked by proposed funding cuts

By Erica Breunlin | The Colorado Sun Like many of Colorado’s school districts, particularly those in rural areas, Hinsdale County School District RE-1 in Lake City keeps its classrooms humming with a bare-bones, but scrappy, staff.  There’s the English teacher who also instructs AP courses and offers drama and personal finance classes; the social studies teacher who also teaches concurrent enrollment classes so high schoolers can earn college credits; and the school counselor who doubles as a licensed teacher, managing courses in cybersecurity, career and technical education and concurrent enrollment. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE COLORADO SUN
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