The Denver Focal

Gov. Jared Polis was absent from a six-day statewide campaign tour by Colorado Democrats as tensions persist over his clemency for Tina Peters and other breaks with party priorities. Polis says he is focused on governing, while campaigning against a Democratic-backed tax proposal.

A three-judge panel rejected Jeanette Vizguerra-Ramirez’s challenge to her 2013 deportation reinstatement order, but one judge called for the full 10th Circuit to consider ending judicial review of such orders. The dispute could affect how people facing deportation challenge government decisions acr

Aurora City Council rejected a temporary moratorium on data centers in a 6-5 vote after hours of debate and public comment. Mayor Mike Coffman said he plans to bring the measure back at the next regular meeting, but the already-approved Trident project would not be affected.

CoreSite’s new DE3 facility is drawing scrutiny over its power and water use, noise and pollution as Denver considers stricter limits on data centers. The company says the center will use less water than its maximum capacity allows and is negotiating a neighborhood agreement with local advocates.

A Breckenridge homeowner says two Independence Townhomes buildings intrude into the BreckConnect gondola’s airspace, while the ski area says its review found no clearance or safety problem. Colorado’s tramway safety board is investigating and plans to discuss the dispute Nov. 4, days before the reso

Democrat Manny Rutinel says he would focus in Congress on affordability and limits on corporate influence as he challenges Republican incumbent Gabe Evans. The competitive district’s mix of urban and rural communities, and a federal request to monitor voting in Adams County, are also shaping the cam

Residents across southwest Colorado are drying out and assessing damage after days of heavy rain pushed the San Juan River to its highest level since 1911. A Pagosa Springs community group has raised $30,000 and is distributing supplies, but says more donations are needed.

The EPA says it will fund research and pilot projects to improve treatment of PFAS, chemicals found in water supplies across the country. The announcement comes as utilities face upcoming federal testing and cleanup deadlines—and as the Trump administration considers changes to those rules.

A federal appeals panel has revived Kate Lewis’ malpractice claim, ruling that her case should not have been dismissed based on the timing of her cancer diagnosis. The decision sends the dispute back for further proceedings; it does not decide whether the nurse or the government was negligent.

Health First Colorado covered more medical-service categories than the average individual-market or employer plan in a new comparison. The findings come as Medicaid consumes about a third of the state budget and lawmakers weigh how to manage rising costs without shifting more burden onto patients an

Federal funding will pay for studies, environmental review and preliminary design of a possible highway connection between Interstate 27 in Texas and Interstate 25 near Raton. Construction remains years away, and the proposal would upgrade the existing U.S. 87 route.

Monday, Oct. 26, is the last day Colorado voters should mail their 2026 ballots; postmarks do not count, and ballots must reach county election officials by 7 p.m. Nov. 3. Voters can instead use one of the state’s 452 drop boxes, visit a voting center or cast a ballot in person before the deadline.

Recent gas and electricity rate increases add to pressure on Colorado households, while utilities cite fuel, infrastructure, labor and regulatory costs. A new state law aims to make income-based bill assistance easier to access, but advocates say many families still struggle to keep up.

Just Vote Colorado says it has recruited about 800 volunteers to help voters and defuse tensions ahead of the Nov. 3 election. The effort comes amid heightened anxiety and a reported confrontation in Salida, while state officials say voting is proceeding normally.

Aurora City Council is set to decide whether to halt new data center applications as residents press for stronger protections near homes, schools and care facilities. The proposed pause would not stop the already-approved Trident project.

The former Mesa County clerk appeared on 60 Minutes nine days before the Nov. 3 midterms, declining to say plainly whether she broke the law. Since her June release from prison, Peters has traveled and spoken publicly while serving parole; Colorado corrections officials say she has had no violations

The Republican incumbent says he represents local priorities, not the president, as Democrat Jessica Killin challenges his record. Their contest is unfolding in a district where Republican margins have narrowed alongside changes to its boundaries and electorate.

Overland High School students prepared arguments and questioned Colorado Supreme Court justices and attorneys during a public court session in Aurora. The Oct. 22 visit marked 40 years of the courts’ program bringing appellate arguments to schools and communities outside downtown Denver.

A newly dedicated stretch of Highway 92 in Read honors teachers statewide, including the late Betty Soper, who taught in Delta County for four decades. The memorial was created through a bipartisan legislative resolution sponsored by her son, state Rep. Matt Soper.

Republican nominee Victor Marx is campaigning on curbing state spending and easing living costs as he faces Democrat Phil Weiser and independent Greg Lopez on Nov. 3. His campaign has also drawn scrutiny over contribution-limit violations, which Marx says his campaign has addressed and plans to appe

Colorado’s Court of Appeals overturned Andrew Ritchie’s murder conviction, finding that a juror who said she could not be fair was allowed to remain on the panel. The unanimous ruling orders a new trial in the Boulder County case.

The river surged above 15 feet in Pagosa Springs, its second-highest crest on record, prompting search-and-rescue operations and leaving residents cut off by damaged roads. State officials declared a disaster emergency across 11 southwest Colorado counties.

The Colorado Supreme Court is weighing an appeal that could remove Amendment 87 from the November ballot over claims that paid petition circulators violated state rules. The measure cleared the signature threshold after nearly 131,000 signatures were certified, but challengers say almost 10,000 shou

Grand Junction will keep its senior recreation center open for at least another year after residents protested a proposed closure. City leaders say they will work with the nonprofit that operates the center on a longer-term plan as the city faces a projected $6 million budget gap in 2027.

A proposed $2 billion Colorado Springs Utilities budget includes rate increases ranging from 4% to 9% next year. City Council is scheduled to consider the budget Nov. 10.

State Rep. Naquetta Ricks’ campaign finance filings show no contributions or spending for the 2025–26 election cycle, despite donor committees reporting $21,525 in contributions. Her Republican opponent filed a complaint with the Colorado Secretary of State; the office’s initial-review deadline is N

Federal election monitors are expected in Adams County on Election Day, but the Justice Department said a notice naming Douglas County was sent in error. Colorado officials say they will review the Adams County request under a new state rule governing access to nonpublic election spaces.

With ballots due Nov. 3, Democrat Phil Weiser, Republican Victor Marx and unaffiliated candidate Greg Lopez are offering sharply different visions while all point to housing costs and affordability as urgent concerns. The campaign is also marked by Marx’s absence from traditional debates, a proposed

Proposition NN asks voters to let the state keep TABOR refunds and direct the money to public schools, including for smaller classes, career education and teacher pay. Supporters say schools need the funding; opponents call the measure an unnecessary expansion of state spending.

Flu activity is picking up weeks earlier than the usual late-November increase, with 11 county residents hospitalized so far. Public health officials say it is too soon to know what the early rise means for the rest of the season.

The measure would require state and local ballot questions to meet an eighth-grade reading level, but it does not specify how that standard would be measured. Supporters say simpler language could help voters understand their choices; critics warn the proposal could invite legal disputes and constra

Transit agencies will extend service between Denver and Boulder and add a temporary route to Chautauqua Park during Sundance’s first Colorado festival, Jan. 21-31. Several Boulder bus lines will be free, supported by a $1 million state grant.

The Justice Department says it plans to send monitors to Adams County for the Nov. 3 election, while Colorado officials say the visitors must follow state rules for poll observers. The county is a major population center in a closely contested congressional district.

Residents near four rivers in Archuleta County were ordered to evacuate as floodwaters shut roads across southwestern Colorado. La Plata County issued a pre-evacuation notice, while heavy rain and debris damaged roads and washed out a culvert.

Ken Salazar is opposing a proposed graduated income tax, arguing it would hurt workers, while supporters say it would lower taxes for most Coloradans and raise money for public services. The measure remains on the November ballot after a judge rejected a challenge to its qualification.

The Sundance Film Festival is moving its headquarters from Hotel Boulderado to The Rink, which it says will serve as a year-round base. Hotel workers organizing to form a union are urging Sundance to use its influence in their dispute with management before the January 2027 festival.

The EPA has authorized Colorado to approve and regulate wells that store captured carbon dioxide underground, potentially speeding development of two projects near ethanol plants. Supporters see a climate tool; critics warn about safety risks, resource use and the possibility that carbon capture cou

A new city audit found Denver lacks consistent monitoring and written rules for artificial intelligence, while Denver International Airport has no AI governance framework and workers are using seven unapproved tools on its network. Both entities agreed to the audit committee’s recommendations.

The Justice Department says it will monitor voting in Adams County because the county is covered by federal language-access provisions. The plan comes as the county sits at the center of a closely contested race for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District.

OneFlight International shut down flight operations in September after years of high-profile marketing and rapid growth. Customers now accuse the Colorado company and its CEO of running a Ponzi-like business, while former employees describe mounting bills and financial warning signs.

Colorado recorded 78 deaths in domestic-violence cases in 2025, up from 72 the year before, even as homicides overall declined. A new state law will require police to identify victims at risk of being killed and connect them with resources.

The proposed constitutional amendment would require approval from the state’s independent redistricting commission and Supreme Court before congressional districts could be changed between censuses. Supporters say it would curb partisan mapmaking; opponents warn it could limit Colorado’s ability to

The National Park Service is seeking public ideas for preserving and interpreting Amache, the former World War II incarceration camp on Colorado’s Eastern Plains. Three meetings are scheduled in November, and written comments are due Dec. 3.

Democrat Phil Weiser and Republican Victor Marx disagree on several high-profile ballot questions that could shape Colorado’s tax policy and public priorities. Their positions diverge even as Marx and outgoing Gov. Jared Polis align on some measures.

The EPA removed more than 1,500 cubic yards of asbestos-containing material and fire debris from the former Lamme Hospital property. Huerfano County says the cleanup is an important step toward making the downtown site safer and ready for possible future development.

Denver Water has issued 450 citations since strict watering limits took effect Oct. 1, while the utility says customers collectively cut water use by a third during the restrictions’ first 18 days. Reservoirs are projected to reach only 60% capacity by next spring, below the utility’s 85% target.

Jonathon Cooper returned to Denver Broncos practice Wednesday after a leave following his June arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to domestic-violence and felony-assault charges, and his trial is scheduled for March 2, 2027.

Adams 14 has added 14 electric school buses, bringing its fleet to 100% electric. The district says the switch is saving more than $77,000 a year in fuel and maintenance costs.

A Denver judge rejected an effort to remove Amendment 87 from Colorado’s November ballot, finding the challenger had not shown that petition-circulator registration issues invalidated signatures. The plaintiff plans an expedited appeal, with voting about two weeks away.

Aurora police identified Luis Melendez as the man arrested after a road-rage argument escalated into gunfire at Rangeview High School. No one was injured, and officers recovered a firearm during his arrest, police said.