Critics Question Push To Expand ‘5-Star’ Program That Exempts Businesses From Certain Coronavirus Restrictions
The 5-star program was pioneered, and is run exclusively for now, in Mesa County.
By Ben Markus
The Coronavirus Vaccine Is Coming. That Means Planning For The Largest Vaccination Effort In Modern Times
We still don’t know for sure who will get vaccinated for COVID-19 first in Colorado.
By Ben Markus
Denver Metro Mayors Ask Polis For Better Communication And More Enforcement Of Coronavirus Rules
The debate over who should be the bearer of bad news for businesses and residents has gone on throughout November as local public health directors implored Polis to get tough on the virus.
By Ben Markus
Colorado Oil And Gas Drilling Falls To Historic Lows As The Pandemic Crashes Demand
Oil production between May and August dropped 13 percent compared to the same period a year before.
By Ben Markus
Coronavirus Pushes Metro Denver Car Thefts To New Heights
The pandemic forced many people to work from home, creating lots of targets for car thieves.
By Ben Markus
Vacancies Leave Colorado Hotels Struggling to Survive The Coronavirus Pandemic
Add hotels to the growing list of business sectors fighting for survival as the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into its eighth month.
By Ben Markus
Lockdown Unlikely As Polis Orders Hospitals To Prepare For Surge Of Coronavirus Patients
Polis’ announcement comes as COVID-19 cases in Colorado have risen exponentially. There were more than 6,400 newly identified cases announced Friday.
By Ben Markus
With Limited State Guidance, Colorado Schools Take Many Different Approaches To Learning In The Pandemic
Colorado’s K-12 schools are a discombobulated hodgepodge of approaches, with different rules, different metrics and very different calendars for the academic year.
By Ben Markus
For Colorado Restaurants Fighting To Stay Alive During The Pandemic, Now ‘Is The Hardest Time’
Colorado restaurants have seen dining out trend down “massively” since October given colder weather, new restrictions and rising cases.
By Ben Markus
Local Health Officials Implore Polis To Issue Lockdowns If Needed As Coronavirus Continues To Spread
Counties worry that the state is doing more harm than good by delaying the imposition of strict public health orders.
By Ben Markus
Polis Extends Statewide Mask Mandate And Cheers Hopeful Coronavirus Vaccine News
More than 1,000 people remain hospitalized in Colorado with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
By Ben Markus
Traffic Is Just Another Sign That Colorado Stopped Taking The Coronavirus Seriously
There are a lot of ways to measure the coronavirus pandemic.
By Ben Markus
Election Day 2020: Colorado Sees Record Voter Turnout
Through Monday afternoon, the latest figures available, 2.76 million Colorado voters had already cast a ballot.
By Ben Markus
Investigating Rejected Ballots In Colorado
CPR News investigative reporter Ben Markus has been looking into how many ballots are rejected in Colorado and why. Plus, concerns about Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s aggressive stance toward President Trump.
By Ben Markus
County Election Officials Say Secretary Of State Jena Griswold Is Politicizing Her Office, Risking Trust
Secretaries of state and county clerks typically work in bi-partisan harmony in Colorado. But during Griswold’s brief tenure, that harmony has been tested.
By Ben Markus
Uncounted Votes In Colorado: Diverse Areas And Younger Voters More Likely To Have Ballots Rejected
A combination of voter errors, a variety of signature examination techniques and equipment, and language barriers have contributed to the discarded valid votes over the years.
By Ben Markus