For the first time, a Colorado utility switched off power to prevent wildfires. Xcel Energy says it worked, but customers are frustrated
The company’s president says preemptively powering down parts of the electricity grid likely prevented sparks and arcing during a weekend windstorm that could have ignited a wildfire.
Did questions about assaults on Poudre School buses spark a state push to close government records?
The timing of a proposed bill limiting access to public records lines up neatly with concerns expressed by Poudre school board members after the outcry over the assaults of students.
CPR institutes layoffs in audio production, podcast units
Colorado Public Radio laid off 15 employees this week, the largest cut to the public broadcaster’s payroll in at least a quarter of a century.
How Colorado issues bonds and assesses suspect risk can endanger communities. Is there a better way?
One case shows how Colorado’s multi-faceted approach to pretrial release — cash or surety bond or personal recognizance — can lead to rushed hearings and unwanted outcomes.
Public records in Colorado could become not-so-public under bill
Colorado state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would add substantial new restrictions to who can access public records.
Recalls increase for tainted marijuana, as the industry calls for a study
In 2023, there was a sharp increase in health and safety advisories from the state’s Marijuana Enforcement Division. Growers believe the contamination thresholds are too low. But Colorado’s regulators believe the danger of these contaminants outweigh the inconvenience to growers and stores.
Gambling is on the rise in Colorado. So are efforts to prevent addiction
Colorado, long a top market for Las Vegas, is now better positioned to compete for those gamblers.
Cannabis taxes have not solved Colorado’s budget woes
A typical – and frequent – question to CPR News goes, “how can schools need more tax money when cannabis businesses are making so much money?”
Colorado car sales are on the rise despite strikes and interest rates
New car sales are up 5.5 percent this year, and some dealers are feeling optimistic, as union deals are ratified and supply shortages ease.
Listen: A new era of violent crime in Denver shows few signs of slowing down
Reports of violence have almost doubled in a decade.
Aurora police trial revives past trauma for families who still see progress amid confrontations with authorities
Once rare, jury trials seem to have become increasingly common in Colorado for police officers accused of misconduct on duty.
Former Adams County Sheriff and deputies charged with falsifying training records
Rick Reigenborn and two deputies are charged with felony counts of forgery, attempt to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit forgery, and conspiracy to attempt to influence a public servant.
Cannabis could be rescheduled and put in a category of less dangerous drugs
While the rescheduling is nowhere near officially done, the recommendation was praised in Colorado by researchers, marijuana businesses and some policymakers.
Colorado lawmakers pass bill to improve wildfire investigations
The bill, two years in the making, was prompted by a 2021 CPR News investigation.
