A bill that would bar Colorado private probation companies from also providing chemical dependency treatment to an individual client has failed for the second year in a row. The question at the center of our cover story, “Blow Back,” was whether providing both services was a conflict of interest. Lawmakers…
At 4 p.m. today, the Senate’s State Affairs committee is scheduled to consider House Bill 13-1303, a measure intended to make it easier to vote in Colorado. The NAACP Colorado Montana Wyoming State Area Conference has endorsed the proposal even as it decries one particular attempt to rally opposition via…
Immigration has become more than a “hot-button” issue in the United States. It is a critical component to how the country functions in the foreseeable future. Undocumented immigrants are not going to stop coming into the country simply because there might be rules or laws against it. Instead, it’s up…
DUI treatment providers are once again pushing a bill that would bar Colorado private probation companies from also providing chemical dependency treatment to an individual client. The question of whether doing both, or having a financial interest in companies that do both, is a conflict of interest was the subject…
State lawmakers have passed a bill that repeals a much-criticized 2006 law requiring local law enforcement to report anyone they suspect of being undocumented to federal immigration authorities. The bill, HB1258, now heads to the governor’s desk. Immigrant advocate Justin Valas credits the bill’s passage partly to “having people come…
As Imelda Valenzuela Gonzalez headed into the Denver Immigration Court just before 8:30 this morning for a hearing on her deportation case, a crowd of supporters that had gathered on the sidewalk in front of the court building chanted in unison, “Si se puede!” When the 43-year-old mother of three…
As recently as Monday, Representative Rhonda Fields didn’t know if she’d be invited to President Barack Obama’s Wednesday gun-control talk at the Denver Police Academy. But Fields was on hand along with many other local political heavyweights, including Governor John Hickenlooper, Senate President John Morse, Senator Rollie Heath and many…
Yesterday, we spoke with Representative Rhonda Fields about the THC driving bill she’s co-sponsoring; the measure received a favorable report from the House Appropriations Committee and should reach the floor this week. But during our conversation, we also touched on several other topics, including moves to boycott Colorado over gun…
Roaring engines announced their arrival and wailing sirens accompanied their departure. Approximately forty motorcyclists from the Colorado Coalition of Independent Riders and the Confederation of Clubs lined their bikes along Lincoln Street in front of the Capitol building before crossing the street en masse and kicking off their third-annual rally…
It’s only fitting that the acme of Governor John Hickenlooper’s recent political responsibilities came in a building called History Colorado. On Thursday, before a crowd of hundreds lining railings three stories up and jostling for a view, Hickenlooper signed the Colorado Civil Unions Act into law. Below, see photos and…
Yesterday, Governor John Hickenlooper signed civil unions into law; for our coverage, click here. In honor of this historic step, we’ve assembled photos and information about famous same-sex couples who’ve legally committed to each other, either through marriage ceremonies in areas where doing so is permitted or through civil partnerships…
To some Coloradans, the name Andrew Romanoff is synonymous with disappointment. After losing to incumbent Senator Micheal Bennet in a primary that attracted an almost unheard-of amount of attention, the ex-speaker of the Colorado House took a lower-profile job with the International Development Enterprises, a non-profit that promotes economic development…
In more than eight hours of emotional testimony that stretched well into the evening, activists and faith groups seeking to abolish the death penalty in Colorado squared off against prosecutors and other backers of the ultimate punishment yesterday — with family members of homicide victims speaking out on both sides,…
During recent months, numerous sheriffs, including Larimer County’s Justin Smith and Weld County’s John Cooke, have ripped proposed gun-control measures before the Colorado legislature. El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa has been critical of such efforts, too. But his office is upset at local media outlets that have interpreted his…
Today, the Colorado State Senate gave its approval to a bill that would do away with Colorado sex laws that date back to the ’50s. To be more specific: the 1850s. Yep, legislation now headed to the desk of Governor John Hickenlooper (who’s expected to sign it) is designed to…
It’s been a long time coming. After a bill to legalize civil unions in Colorado fell short in both 2011 and last year, the measure finally passed the Colorado House today. Next, the legislation heads to the desk of Governor John Hickenlooper, who’s promised to sign it. This breakthrough delights…
Update below: As we’ve reported, the debate over Colorado gun-control legislation has gotten ugly, with the most prominent example being executive Franklin Sain’s arrest for racist and sexist e-mails sent to Rhonda Fields, a rep whose son was shot to death. The negative PR garnered by Sain hasn’t stopped the…
Franklin Sain, the government contractor arrested last week after sending racist and sexist e-mails to Representative Rhonda Fields, a prominent backer of gun-control legislation (see our previous coverage below), has now been formally charged with two counts, including harassment-ethnic intimidation, by the Denver District Attorney’s Office. But Sain’s attorneys argue…
The debate over gun control continues to get ugly. The same week Franklin Sain was arrested for sending Representative Rhonda Fields allegedly harassing, racist e-mails vocal, pro-gun audience members at an Aurora Town Hall meeting antagonized Senator Morgan Carroll, who felt the need for a security escort afterward…
As we reported yesterday, CEO Franklin Sain was arrested over threatening e-mails to state rep and gun-control advocate Rhonda Fields; see examples below. (Warning: They’re explicit.) The firm for which Sain works has now suspended him, but that’s not enough for the region’s NAACP affiliate. The organization is calling for…
The subject of guns can inflame emotions. But Colorado Springs-based Franklin Sain is accused of letting those passions get out of control. He’s been formally accused of harassment and more via e-mails sent to Representative Rhonda Fields, a gun-control advocate whose son was murdered, including one that practically invites her…
During the last presidential campaign, Republicans were put in an awkward position by Missouri senatorial candidate Todd Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape;” remember how Mitt Romney dodged a CBS4 question about it? Now, however, a Colorado Democrat, state rep Joe Salazar, is the person backpedaling from a rape comment (about…
