Gov. Jared Polis expects that eviction cases will return to Colorado's courts soon while state lawmakers are working on a law to extend protections for renters and homeowners.

Chief on the list: Slashing the state budget to balance Colorado’s COVID-ravaged finances before the state’s next fiscal year begins on July 1.

“It is a historic thing. It’s likely not to happen again — for at least a year,” state Sen. Bob Rankin said.

Colorado’s unemployment rate doubled to 11.3 percent in April, the highest in 44 years of records. It was the surest and starkest sign yet of COVID-19’s economic devastation.

…But that doesn’t mean candidates won’t try it in this, the most unusual of election seasons. This week on Purplish, hosts Andrew Kenney and Bente Birkeland dive into the weird world of virtual campaigning with CPR’s DC correspondent, Caitlyn Kim.

With the coronavirus pandemic devastating the state budget, lawmakers are considering unprecedented changes to how the state funds K-12 education in order to achieve hundreds of millions of dollars in savings.

Lawmakers say there's little chance that the legislature will approve a temporary tax.

Lawmakers have a lot of decisions to make before they return to work at the end of May. Those are as big as cutting three billion dollars from the budget, and as small as where people will sit to achieve social distancing.

With a $3.3 billion dollar hole looming in the state budget, the lawmakers who oversee Colorado's finances warn that nothing is off the table. And that includes funding for one of Gov. Jared Polis' signature accomplishments.

The state’s discretionary spending may have to shrink by 25 percent in the coming year — the equivalent of eliminating the operating budgets for transportation and corrections.

On Tuesday, state lawmakers learn exactly how big a hole the pandemic has blown in Colorado's budget. But they've already started the difficult task of trying to patch it.

Musician Mark Levy discovered an unknown W-2, and a single penny too much in income, would cost him unemployment benefits. Then he found out he wasn't alone.

Conflicts between workers and their employers are starting to pile up as businesses reopen in Colorado.

"The very nature of our population and businesses make social distancing very easy," Moffat County commissioners argued.

Tenants who can't pay rent will get another month of grace. But the pause may not be enough to prevent a tidal wave of displacement.

"Enough is enough. We can’t afford to wait any longer," said Sen. Faith Winter.