Author: Marianne Goodland
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Democrats retreat in Vail raise intraparty eyebrows
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, saying…
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Energy battle: Colorado power plant closures ignite debate over jobs, taxes and energy future in Pueblo
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
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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Energy battle: Colorado power plant closures ignite debate over jobs, taxes and energy future in Pueblo
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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Colorado River near Grand Junction infested with zebra mussels, state officials report
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
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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For now, shutdown’s impact is minimal on Colorado government, though officials say state will see ripple effects if it persists
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…
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Colorado allocates $7.5M for food assistance program for women and children amid federal shutdown
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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The future of Colorado water: How the fight over Shoshone water rights affects the Front Range
A million acre-feet of water in the Colorado River — and the efforts by Western Slope water partners to keep it there — became the subject of a recent two-day hearing that could decide just who gets water and how much. One of the major points of tension is the objection by several water providers…
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Colorado Republicans choose Caldwell to succeed Pugliese as House minority leader
The Colorado House Republican caucus on Saturday chose Rep. Jarvis Caldwell of Monument as its next minority leader. Caldwell succeeds former Rep. Rose Pugliese of Colorado Springs, who resigned on Sept. 15. Caldwell won 12 out of the 20 votes cast. Two other nominees – Reps. Ken DeGraaf of Colorado Springs and Larry Don Suckla…