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The Center Square

Gun advocates call proposed legislation a ‘massive infringement’
State, The Center Square, Top Stories

Gun advocates call proposed legislation a ‘massive infringement’

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square As the Colorado General Assembly moves forward with multiple bills further restricting firearm access in the state, gun advocates are pushing back. The Colorado State Shooting Association, the official state association of the National Rifle Association, spoke with The Center Square in an exclusive interview, highlighting some of its key concerns with the trends in Colorado. “A lot of this legislation just comes after the very lowest crime segments of the population and the people who handle firearms and ammunition the most responsibly,” said Huey Laugesen, executive director of the Colorado State Shooting Association. “I think that a lot of responsible and law-abiding gun owners in Colorado are really starting to feel like this legislature j...
UK Prime Minister discusses Russia-Ukraine peace deal in White House visit
National, The Center Square

UK Prime Minister discusses Russia-Ukraine peace deal in White House visit

By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited the White House Thursday to further discuss the U.S. and Europe’s role in brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine. Starmer thanked President Donald Trump for the actions he’s taken so far to prepare the way for a peace deal between the two countries, and said the U.K. wants to partner with the U.S. to make it a lasting negotiation. “Thank you for changing the conversation to bring about the possibility that now we can have a peace deal,” Starmer told Trump. “We want to work with you to make sure that peace deal is enduring, that it lasts, but it’s a deal that goes down as a historic deal that nobody breaches, and we’ll work with you to make sure that absolutely happens.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE...
Colorado moves forward with expansion of K-12 Black history education
The Center Square, State

Colorado moves forward with expansion of K-12 Black history education

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Colorado is looking to expand its requirements for teaching Black history in the state's public elementary and secondary schools, including charter schools. Last week, House Bill 25-1149 passed its first hurdle of the Colorado General Assembly by advancing from the House Education Committee to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill, titled “Comprehensive Black History and Culture Education in K-12,” will require the Colorado Board of Education to adopt standards “related to Black historical and cultural studies.” READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
King Soopers calls for union, representing 10,000 striking workers, to return to bargaining table
The Center Square, Local

King Soopers calls for union, representing 10,000 striking workers, to return to bargaining table

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square The workers strike at King Soopers continues as the company calls for the union to negotiate a deal. The Colorado-based grocery store is one of the largest employers in the state. Since the strike began on Feb. 6, union members at more than 70 stores, many of them in the Denver area, have joined. More workers from Colorado Springs could also be poised to join the strike in the coming days, following a contract expiration. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union No. 7 initiated the two-week strike of more than 10,000 unionized workers, alleging unfair labor practices. According to the union, 96% of its members voted to strike. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
HB 1133, prohibiting the sale of ammunition to those under age 21, passes committee
The Center Square, State

HB 1133, prohibiting the sale of ammunition to those under age 21, passes committee

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Legislation further restricting firearm ammunitions sales in Colorado successfully passed committee Thursday. House Bill 25-1133, “Requirements for Sale of Firearms Ammunition,” was referred by the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee to the House for a vote following a lengthy debate by witnesses for both sides. The bill passed only narrowly by a vote of 7-6, with Democratic Rep. Bob Marshall joining Republicans in opposing the legislation. Amended to go into effect July 1, 2026, the bill would prohibit the retail sale of ammunition to a person who is younger than 21. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
FBI agents may be source of leak on immigration operations like Aurora, ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan says
The Center Square, National

FBI agents may be source of leak on immigration operations like Aurora, ‘Border Czar’ Tom Homan says

By Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square Border Czar Tom Homan says information indicates the FBI may have leaked details of an immigration enforcement operation to the media, thereby “putting officers at risk.” He says the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into the matter and may criminally prosecute the responsible individuals. “[The Attorney General’s office] has promised not only will this person lose their job and pension, but they will go to jail,” said Homan in a televised interview Monday on Fox, where he also noted the possibility of an “ambush” due to the leaking of operational details READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
U.S. House passes bill blocking future presidential bans on hydraulic fracking
National, The Center Square

U.S. House passes bill blocking future presidential bans on hydraulic fracking

By Thérèse Boudreaux | The Center Square A bill preventing future presidents from unilaterally banning hydraulic fracking is on its way to the Senate after passing the House 226-188 Friday. Sixteen Democrats joined all Republicans in voting for the Protecting American Energy Production Act, which will block future bans on hydraulic fracking without congressional approval, if enacted. “When President Biden took office, his administration took a 'whole of government' approach to wage war on American energy production, pandering to woke environmental extremists and crippling this thriving industry,” the bill’s sponsor, Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, said on X following the vote. “My legislation that passed today is a necessary first step in reversing Biden’s war on energy.” READ TH...
Leading Democrats pander to unions as they join King Soopers picket lines
The Center Square, Local

Leading Democrats pander to unions as they join King Soopers picket lines

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square King Soopers workers have gone on strike across Colorado, with prominent state leaders appearing on the picket line. The Colorado-based grocery store is one of the largest employers in the state. More than 70 stores, many of them in the Denver area, have joined the strike since it began Thursday. The United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union No. 7 initiated the two-week strike of more than 10,000 unionized workers, alleging unfair labor practices. According to a press release, 96% of union members voted to strike. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE
Colorado will continue closing coal-fueled electric plants in 2025, all by 2031
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
Support grows for HB 1135, establishing cell phone policy in Colorado schools
The Center Square, State

Support grows for HB 1135, establishing cell phone policy in Colorado schools

By Elyse Apel | The Center Square Following initiatives in other states, bipartisan legislation is making its way through the Colorado House requiring schools to regulate cell phone and smartwatch usage during the school day. While House Bill 1135 does require that schools decide on a specific policy on student use of a “communication device,” it does not specify what that policy should be. Five Democrats and two Republicans have signed onto the legislation, which was assigned to the House Education Committee. It will be considered by the committee on Feb. 13. Legislators supporting the bill said it strikes a good middle ground on the issue of phones in schools. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE CENTER SQUARE