Denver, A City Primed For Protest By A Decade Of Deaths, Prepares For The Next Round
The protests spread across the nation within days after the death of George Floyd, a black man, was captured on video in Minneapolis.
The Legislature Strikes Back
Lawmakers returned to work Tuesday in a changed world. The first order of business was to start laying aside most of their bills from the first half of session. The second order of business was to argue passionately about how they’ll work from here on out. And the third was to set a new, pandemic-driven agenda. We discuss it all on this week’s Purplish.
Hickenlooper Ethics Hearing Appears Set For June 4, Despite His Objections
The former governor and his legal team had requested a delay, and that he be able to submit written comments instead of participating in a live hearing.
In Party-Line Vote, Legislature Agrees To Let Some Members Participate Remotely
Democrats passed the rule change to allow lawmakers with significant health risks to join debates and cast votes from their homes instead of coming to the state Capitol.
Colorado Evictions Could Resume In June As Part Of ‘Slow Return To Normalcy,’ Polis Says
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.
Colorado Lawmakers Are Back At The Capitol With A New Agenda Set By The Coronavirus Pandemic
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.
Where Did Colorado Lawmakers Find $3.5 Billion To Patch The State Budget? Schools, Veterans, Seniors, Medicaid And More
“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 Quadrupled Last Month To Historic High
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.
You Can’t Kiss Babies Over Zoom
…But that doesn’t mean candidates won’t try it in this, the most unusual of election seasons.
Colorado’s Wealthier School Districts Could Be Biggest Target For Budget Cuts
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.
Would An Emergency Tax Work In Colorado? Progressives Want To Try
Lawmakers say there’s little chance that the legislature will approve a temporary tax.
Budget Cuts and Building Rules
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.
Colorado Just Started Paying For Full-Day Kindergarten. The Budget Crisis Could Threaten It
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 Coronavirus Pandemic Is Tearing A $3 Billion Hole In Colorado’s Budget
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.
The Grim Business Of State Budget Cuts Under Coronavirus Has Begun
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.
Colorado Gig Workers Say They’re Shortchanged By New Unemployment System
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.
