
Proposal to give physician assistants more power fails amid bipartisan opposition and pressure from doctors
While proponents said the bill would help ease the rural health care shortage, opponents argued the changes could lead to substandard care.

Can physician assistants answer Colorado’s rural health problems? The question is dividing both parties
State lawmakers are working on a controversial proposal to expand and empower the ranks of physician assistants in rural clinics and elsewhere.

Crime is rising in Colorado – is justice reform to blame?
For more than a decade, Colorado lawmakers have pursued a range of criminal justice reforms.


Republicans and police have put Colorado justice reforms on trial for rising crime. What are the facts?
For years, Colorado has moved away from mass incarceration by trying to keep lower-level offenders out of the system. Now, rising crime and political backlash are testing that reform movement.


Salaries may nearly double to $36,000 for Colorado lawmakers’ aides
Aides have complained that low pay makes it difficult to work in the Capitol — unless you come from a wealthy family.

Anti-‘slow growth’ bill fails at Capitol after Democrats reshuffle committees
The bill was defeated along party lines — but backers promised the idea is not dead.

After a vote on masks, ‘cancel culture’ came for this Colorado health official’s license. Lawmakers are responding
The bill would require the automatic dismissal of anonymous professional complaints that were “based on words said or actions taken” in a person’s role as an elected official or a member of a public board of commission.

Lawmakers’ brewing labor battle
Some legislative leaders want to give all local public worker unions the power to collectively bargain, but they’re up against a lot of powerful opponents.


Commerce City tragedy adds to pressure for fentanyl crackdown in Colorado
Some state lawmakers blame a recent change to the penalties for drug possession, while others say Colorado needs to keep the focus on punishing dealers.

Polis, Democratic lawmakers and local governments are all squaring off over public bargaining rights
Democratic leaders in the legislature want to make it possible for local public workers to bargain with their employers. But they’ll have to overcome strong opposition to do it.

Polis launches re-election campaign in a changed Colorado, and a new political environment
After a first term overshadowed by COVID, Polis said his goal now is to save Coloradans money.

Colorado Democrats plan to spend $113 million to reduce crime. Here’s what their plan includes
The plan’s priorities include hiring and retaining police officers, “hardening” security at schools, supporting victims of crime and funding “co-responders” who specialize in mental health crises.

Important Colorado court rulings could finally be free to access under a new bill
Decisions dating back to Colorado’s founding are important to court cases, but they’re not always easy to access.

Serving in the statehouse while running for Congress
Seven percent of the state legislature is currently running for Congress — that’s the largest number in recent years and it speaks to the many ways in which this is […]


State Sen. Steve Fenberg will be Colorado’s next senate president as Leroy Garcia prepares to step down
Leroy Garcia announced last week that he is taking a job at the Pentagon.

Colorado could ban ‘slow-growth’ policies as GOP and liberals team up at the statehouse
The proposal survived its first committee hearing, but it has a long way to go.