Author: Marianne Goodland
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Gov. Polis convenes new working group to address Colorado’s lingering AI law challenges
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For the second time in as many years, Gov. Jared Polis has appointed a working group to address the issues around the state’s 2024 law on artificial intelligence. The law, which Polis signed despite major misgivings last year, is still not ready for prime time. The implementation date for the new law, as set by lawmakers…
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Democrats retreat in Vail raise intraparty eyebrows
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A group of Democratic state legislators headed to Vail during the Oct. 4 weekend for an “opportunity caucus” retreat that also included lobbyists, raising a host of questions, including who paid for the getaway and whether the policymakers discussed the legislative business away from the public eye. The “opportunity” caucus rejected the latter insinuation, stating…
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Energy battle: Colorado power plant closures ignite debate over jobs, taxes and energy future in Pueblo
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As Colorado darts toward a future powered by “clean” energy, a battle is brewing in Pueblo, where coal closures, union jobs and lost tax revenue collide with a community demanding a solution as its power plants are a primary target for a shutdown. Between 2025 and 2031, six more coal-fired power plants in Colorado are scheduled to…
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Republicans choose Ava Flanell in do-over of district vacancy election
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A vacancy committee on Saturday took a second try at replacing Rep. Rose Pugliese, the Republican leader who resigned last month. The GOP committee picked Ava Flanell to replace Pugliese for the northern Colorado Springs House district. In fact, the vacancy committee also chose Flanell on Sept. 22, but the election was declared invalid by…
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Colorado River near Grand Junction infested with zebra mussels, state officials report
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Colorado now has five bodies of water, including a stretch of the Colorado River from east of Grand Junction to the Utah border, that are showing zebra mussel infestations. The state has battled the invasive species successfully for years. In 2021, the state celebrated three years of negative testing for zebra and quagga mussels and…
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Colorado Springs State Rep. Rebecca Keltie won’t seek re-election in 2026
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Colorado Springs Republican Rep. Rebecca Keltie announced Wednesday she will not run for a second term in 2026. Keltie was first elected to House District 16, which covers northeastern Colorado Springs, in 2024. Keltie cited “deeply personal, professional and medical circumstances” for her decision. To her constituents, Keltie said serving them has been one of…
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Polis administration touts local cities’ ‘compliance’ with housing laws
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The Polis administration is taking a victory lap this week on local government compliance with housing laws passed by the General Assembly in the past two years, although the highest level among the metrics is only 60% compliant. In another metric, there are more localities that are non-compliant than those that are. The majority are…
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Trump administration cancels $500 million in energy grants to Colorado
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Colorado companies, higher education institutions and the state energy office are set to lose more than $500 million following the Trump administration’s decision to cancel hundreds of awards in 16 “blue” states. While the entities awarded the grants are based in Colorado, some of the projects are actually located in other places, including in “red”…
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Colorado allocates $7.5M for food assistance program for women and children amid federal shutdown
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The federal government shutdown prompted the Colorado General Assembly’s budget writers to take action on Tuesday, allocating additional funds to the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) food program. The state portion of the federal program falls under the Department of Public Health and Environment. Last week, the department requested an emergency funding addition of $7.5…
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For now, shutdown’s impact is minimal on Colorado government, though officials say state will see ripple effects if it persists
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Colorado officials do not not expect to see major impacts on Colorado-run programs or its workforce for the first week of the federal shutdown, though the state stands to feel the strain, particularly if the stoppage goes into the second week or longer. Like other states, a big chunk of spending in Colorado is paid…
