Colorado Newsline

News

States gird for new Medicaid ‘medically frail’ rule

States warn new Medicaid work requirement guidance could cause sick and disabled enrollees to lose coverage due to paperwork barriers.

By Colorado Newsline • 4 min read

News

Affordability tax credit likely not available for Colorado families in next two years

Colorado families may not receive the full Family Affordability Credit for the next two tax years after state economists projected revenue growth below the level needed to activate it. The credit helped reduce child poverty in 2025, but budget pressures remain.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

Government

Colorado county clerks to mail out 2026 primary ballots this week

Colorado county clerks are mailing June 30 primary ballots. Registered party members get their party’s ballot, while unaffiliated voters (over 50% of the state's 4M voters) get both major party ballots. Voters can update registration by June 22 to receive a mail-in ballot.

By Colorado Newsline • 2 min read

News

Gov. Polis declares statewide drought emergency

Gov. Jared Polis declared a statewide drought emergency as nearly 93% of Colorado faces moderate to exceptional drought. The declaration moves the state into Phase 3 of its drought response plan, opening emergency coordination and potential funding support.

By Colorado Newsline • 2 min read

News

Farm animal welfare rules might be rolled back by Congress

Congress is considering a farm bill provision that could roll back state animal welfare laws, including rules on gestation crates, veal crates and battery cages. The debate pits farm groups seeking uniform national standards against advocates for state authority and humane livestock practices.

By Colorado Newsline • 6 min read

News

Colorado’s 3 Republican candidates for governor square off in first full debate

Colorado Republicans vying to become the state's next governor clashed in their first full televised debate. Candidates Victor Marx, Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Scott Bottoms traded sharp attacks while outlining their visions ahead of the June 30 primary election.

By Colorado Newsline • 6 min read

News

Rep. Hurd emphasizes need for consistent, predictable energy policies at Denver roundtable

Congressman Jeff Hurd told Colorado energy leaders that stable, predictable policies are critical for long-term planning and affordable energy costs. During a Denver roundtable, he discussed energy incentives, water funding, immigration reform, and bipartisan priorities.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

News

Data center battles started in the states. Now it’s Congress under siege.

The rapid growth of AI-powered data centers is fueling new political fights across the country as communities, lawmakers, and utilities grapple with rising electricity demand, infrastructure strain, water concerns, and the future of energy policy in the United States.

By Colorado Newsline • 7 min read

News

Gov. Polis tells Colorado lawmakers to go easy on tech regulations

Gov. Jared Polis urged Colorado lawmakers to avoid a “heavy hand” on AI and tech regulation, arguing that excessive state-level rules could limit innovation and business growth. The discussion also touched on housing, quantum computing, labor policy, and Colorado’s economic future.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

News

Republican Colorado governor candidates Kirkmeyer, Bottoms face off in debate

Colorado’s first Republican gubernatorial debate revealed a sharp divide between Barb Kirkmeyer’s establishment-focused approach and Scott Bottoms’ far-right rhetoric, underscoring major questions about electability, policy direction, and the GOP’s path in a blue-leaning state.

By Colorado Newsline • 4 min read

News

Colorado lawmakers seek to put ‘guardrails’ on proposed natural gas ballot measure

Colorado lawmakers are proposing new safeguards on a natural gas ballot initiative, aiming to clarify rights and prevent unintended risks. The effort highlights growing tensions over energy policy, public safety, and the future of natural gas in the state.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

News

Colorado bill limits when restaurants can hand out plastic forks, ketchup packets in to-go orders

A proposed Colorado law would stop restaurants from automatically including plastic utensils and condiments in takeout orders unless requested. Supporters say it will reduce waste and save money, while critics argue it adds unnecessary regulation for businesses.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

News

Federal immigration officer charged with assault over confrontation at Durango ICE protest

CBP officer has been charged with assault and criminal mischief following a 2025 protest incident in Durango. Video shows a demonstrator being pushed to the ground as tensions around immigration enforcement continue to draw scrutiny across Colorado.

By Colorado Newsline • 2 min read

News

Colorado Legislature passes bill to raise agricultural worker overtime threshold to 56 hours

Colorado lawmakers advanced a bill raising the agricultural overtime threshold to 56 hours, igniting debate between labor advocates and farm groups. Supporters cite economic strain on farms, while opponents warn it weakens worker protections.

By Colorado Newsline • 4 min read

News

Colorado state budget shortfall expands to $1.5 billion

Colorado lawmakers face a growing $1.5 billion budget shortfall, forcing difficult decisions ahead of the 2026–2027 budget. With revenue projections down and TABOR limits in place, cuts to programs like Medicaid and other essential services are increasingly likely.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

Local Economy

Colorado Residents See Higher Electric Bills as U.S. Energy Costs Climb in 2025

Colorado households saw electricity costs rise 6.6% in 2025 as rates increased nationwide. A new report highlights rising energy prices across most states, adding pressure on families already facing higher fuel and utility costs.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

Lifestyle

Colorado bill would require safety plans to protect workers from extreme temperatures

Colorado lawmakers are weighing a bill that would require employers to develop safety plans for workers exposed to extreme heat and cold. The proposal would begin with state data collection in 2027 and could lead to workplace prevention plans and training standards.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

Lifestyle

Affordability for Colorado families would see boost from Democrats’ tax package

A package of Colorado bills advancing in the state House would roll back certain corporate tax breaks to fund a new tax credit for low- and middle-income families after the Family Affordability Tax Credit is expected to lapse this year.

By Colorado Newsline • 4 min read

Government

Colorado constitutional debates foreshadowed a populist backlash against Gilded Age railroad barons

by Chase Woodruff, Colorado Newsline March 6, 2026 Pueblo’s grand celebration of the arrival of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway began promptly at dawn on March 7, 1876, with a 38-gun salute from an artillery piece loaned from Fort Lyon — “37 for the states admitted, and

By Colorado Newsline • 6 min read

Health and Wellness

Amid 3 confirmed measles cases, Colorado public health officials advise vaccination

by Lindsey Toomer, Colorado Newsline With Colorado’s third confirmed case of measles reported in 2026, state public health officials say getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect against the virus.  The case, announced Monday, involves a second student at Broomfield High School to contract measles, according to

By Colorado Newsline • 2 min read

Health and Wellness

Trump’s cuts to Medicaid threaten services that help disabled people live at home

An Iowa family is fighting proposed Medicaid waiver cuts that would slash in-home caregiver support for their adult son with severe autism. Advocates warn similar reductions could push people with disabilities into costly institutional care nationwide.

By Colorado Newsline • 7 min read

News

Bipartisan majorities in Western states oppose Trump rollback of public lands protections

by Chase Woodruff, Colorado Newsline February 19, 2026 Large, bipartisan majorities of voters across eight Western states remain concerned about the impacts of climate change and opposed to efforts by the Trump administration to weaken environmental rules and public lands protections. Eighty-four percent of Western voters say that “rollbacks

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

Government

Colorado Democrats propose tax tweaks to help working families amid federal policy fallout

Colorado Democrats are proposing tax changes to shield working families from the fallout of recent federal policy shifts. The plan would fund a new family affordability credit by limiting certain corporate tax breaks and modernizing parts of the state tax code.

By Colorado Newsline • 3 min read

Lifestyle

Colorado faces a funding crisis for child care — local communities hope to fill the gaps

Colorado families are grappling with rising child care costs, subsidy enrollment freezes, and funding shortfalls. As the state faces a growing fiscal crisis, counties are turning to local tax measures to stabilize access, support providers, and protect working parents from deeper economic strain.

By Colorado Newsline • 5 min read