Colorado legal marijuana sales spurred new industry, inspired reform

The world’s first legal sale of recreational marijuana happened in Denver on Jan. 1, 2014. In fact, it happened twice. Mason Tvert was managing the onslaught of media that descended on the Mile High City to witness the historic moment, set in motion by the successful legalization campaign he’d led. So many camera crews and … Read more

Colorado Republican sues Polis, House speaker over special session

A Colorado Republican lawmaker is asking a state judge to block a new tax credit increase from taking effect because, he alleges, the state House’s speaker violated constitutional procedure during last month’s special session on property taxes and other relief. Rep. Scott Bottoms, of Colorado Springs, filed the suit in Denver District Court Thursday against … Read more

Colorado presidential primary candidates — is Donald Trump on ballot?

Colorado’s March 5 presidential primaries — the state’s first formal foray into the 2024 election — are firming up, and the competition isn’t as simple as incumbent-versus-challenger. As it stood Friday, voters who mark Democratic ballots will have their pick of eight candidates and a no-preference option. The Republican ballot will have at least six … Read more

Denver’s use of traffic circles at intersections grows fast in 2023

Chris Miller biked to work every day from his home in Denver’s Speer neighborhood for six months, passing through a new traffic circle along the way. It’s one of dozens of tight rotary intersections that Denver has installed across the city this year, forcing vehicle traffic to go around center circles. Miller, 39, said the … Read more

Colorado court’s Donald Trump ruling sets off political firestorm

The Colorado Supreme Court ignited a political firestorm with its ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to hold office again, disqualifying him from appearing on the state’s primary ballot. Just how far those embers reach — and how hot they burn — in coming weeks could shape the country’s political discourse and electoral … Read more

Colorado leaders ask Congress to demand cease-fire between Israel and Hamas

More than 50 current and former elected officials, community leaders, religious leaders and representatives of nonprofit groups called Thursday for Colorado’s congressional delegation to push more forcefully for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas to stop the killing of civilians. “We must demand a cease-fire,” State Rep. Iman Jodeh said on the west steps of … Read more

Denver Homeless Persons’ Memorial marks record number of deaths

Elisabeth Francis keeps a small glass bottle on her desk. Inside is a printout of the heartbeat of a man that she knew for more than 10 years after meeting him in the early days of her career as a homeless outreach worker in Denver. John Hull died in July in a hospital. “I was … Read more

Lakewood apartment project at edge of Belmar Park faces opposition

A raft of ducks perched and waddled on the frozen surface of a pond at Belmar Park on a recent fall morning — foreground bustle for a double-crested cormorant rookery located on a small island just offshore. This 132-acre park in the middle of Lakewood, Colorado’s fifth-largest city, is tagged as a “hotspot” on eBird.com, … Read more

New Colorado laws that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024

Two dozen new Colorado laws — concerning issues including how tractors are repaired, how evictions are handled and how elections are run — go into effect on New Year’s Day, shortly before state legislators return to the Capitol and begin the lawmaking process all over again. The bills that are set to kick in next … Read more

Colorado taxpayers will receive $800 refund on state income taxes

Coloradan taxpayers can each expect an extra $800 back when they file their state income tax returns early next year, state officials said Wednesday. The refund is based on revenue collected above the cap set by the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, the state constitutional amendment passed by voters in 1992 to limit the … Read more