Douglas County commissioner resigns before end of term, blaming conflict with colleagues

Douglas County commissioner resigns before end of term, blaming conflict with colleagues

Embattled Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas resigned Friday, just weeks before the end of her last term in office, blaming years of friction with fellow commissioners who she says “evicted” her from her office space. In a social media post, Thomas wrote that she’d put up with “4 years of hell” while working alongside commissioners … Read more

Lauren Boebert, Trisha Calvarese run for Congress on Eastern Plains

Lauren Boebert, Trisha Calvarese run for Congress on Eastern Plains

In a typical election year, Colorado’s 4th Congressional District would be all but written off. The Eastern Plains district, on paper, is the most Republican-leaning in the state. In 2022, U.S. Rep. Ken Buck won reelection by nearly 24 percentage points, about in line with the advantage Republicans should expect given the 4th’s partisan makeup. … Read more

Colorado counties sue Gov. Jared Polis over transfer of tax money

Colorado counties sue Gov. Jared Polis over transfer of tax money

Seven Colorado counties filed a lawsuit Thursday accusing the state of illegally taking tax money generated from oil and gas extraction and set aside for local governments. The suit, which names Gov. Jared Polis and state Treasurer Dave Young, was filed in Denver District Court by several mostly rural counties on the Western Slope, plus … Read more

Judge dismisses several claims by Douglas County in property tax fight

Judge dismisses several claims by Douglas County in property tax fight

A Denver judge this week dismissed several claims made by Douglas County against the State Board of Equalization over what the county alleged was an illegal move to block it from providing tax relief to thousands of homeowners this year. Denver District Judge Martin Egelhoff on Tuesday dismissed three of Douglas County’s four claims, saying … Read more

Will Colorado property tax special session end initiative ballot wars?

Will Colorado property tax special session end initiative ballot wars?

After years of sparring over property tax rates, leading Colorado Democrats and conservative activists finally see an offramp from the conflict. To get there, it will only have taken two special sessions, annual short-term bills at the Capitol, multiple threats of ballot measures and a failed attempt to override the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The … Read more

Colorado universal preschool enrollment, qualifying factors in Year 2

Colorado universal preschool enrollment, qualifying factors in Year 2

As Colorado’s universal preschool program moves into its second school year this month, officials are hoping to leave its rocky rollout in the rearview mirror. By the end of July, more than 31,000 4-year-olds matched with state-funded preschool providers for the coming year, according to the most recent data for the core program from the Colorado … Read more

Lauren Boebert warns Colorado GOP chair Dave Williams of ousting

Lauren Boebert warns Colorado GOP chair Dave Williams of ousting

A planned attempt to oust the head of the Colorado Republican Party this weekend was put on hold Friday by a district court judge — but not before calls for Dave Williams’ removal reached new peaks. Williams, whose tenure as the GOP chair has been marked by controversy and months of growing intraparty frustrations, faced … Read more

Aurora says yes, Westminster says no to guns in city buildings

Aurora says yes, Westminster says no to guns in city buildings

On a razor-thin 4-3 vote, the Westminster City Council this week knocked down a proposal that would have opted out of a new state law that prohibits firearms from being brought into local government buildings. But across town, members of the Aurora City Council gave initial unanimous approval to a similar ordinance — exercising a … Read more

Brinkerhoff son in legal battle with Castle Pines Golf Club over hummingbird logo

Brinkerhoff son in legal battle with Castle Pines Golf Club over hummingbird logo

Mark Brinkerhoff got his first job at 13 years old, working in the men’s locker room at the Castle Pines Golf Club. Now 41, he’s found himself embroiled in a legal conflict with the überexclusive club that once employed him over a hummingbird logo. “Unfortunately, it’s not a fight we were looking for,” Brinkerhoff said. … Read more

Lauren Boebert’s future depends on Colorado primary election results

Lauren Boebert’s future depends on Colorado primary election results

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert is competing with five other candidates to win Tuesday’s Republican primary in her newly adopted eastern Colorado district — a contest that could determine the firebrand conservative’s future in Congress. Voting ends at 7 p.m., and initial results will be posted soon after. In recent weeks, signs have pointed to a … Read more