DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado House Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: The House today passed two bills on a preliminary vote to support families and youth. HB24-1223, sponsored by Representatives Jenny Willford and Lorena Garcia would streamline access to the Colorado Child Care Assistance program. SB24-008, sponsored by Representative Mary Young, would provide additional resources to families, kin and relatives of foster youth. "Child care is a necessity to  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado House Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: The House today passed legislation on a preliminary vote that would authorize Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) to reintroduce wolverines and strengthen Colorado's biodiversity. "Aiding in the restoration of wolverines in Colorado is a win-win for our state's biodiversity and this threatened species," said Rep. Barbara Mclachlan, D-Durango. "This reintroduction is backed by biologists alongs  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado House Democrats issued the following news release: The House today advanced legislation on a preliminary vote to advance a study examining racial disparities and the impact of systemic racism on Black Coloradans. "Systemic racism has impacted Black Coloradans in every facet of our lives, leading to negative impacts like poorer health outcomes and less likelihood of accumulating generational wealth," said Rep. Leslie Herod, D-Denver. "While one bill can't  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado House Democrats issued the following news release: The House today advanced legislation sponsored by Representatives Manny Rutinel and Kyle Brown on a preliminary vote to make it easier for eligible confined Coloradans to vote. "The right to vote is guaranteed by the constitution, yet eligible voters in our jails and detention centers have expressed that they often do not have the tools to exercise this right," said Rep. Manny Rutinel, D-Commerce City. "  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 2 -- The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies' Division of Insurance issued the following news release on May 1, 2024: The health insurer Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the health care system CommonSpirit Health have been unable to agree to a new contract that would allow CommonSpirit Health facilities to continue to be part of the Anthem provider network. As of today, May 1, there is no longer a contract between these two entities, and CommonSpirit facilities  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Today the Senate approved legislation to limit law enforcement's use of prone restraint. Prone restraint is a tactic used by law enforcement that involves placing a person face down to restrain them, and often includes law enforcement officers applying pressure to the person's back or neck. Sponsored by Senators Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, HB24-1372 would requi  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: A bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Joann Ginal, D-Fort Collins, that would make early childhood education in Colorado more inclusive and accessible cleared the Senate today. HB24-1009, also sponsored by Senator Janice Rich, R-Grand Junction, would expand bilingual early childhood programs and facilities with a new bilingual licensing unit in the Department of Early Childhood. "Every   more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, that would restructure the refund mechanisms for state revenue collected above the TABOR cap and ensure Colorado is able to meet its commitment to fund critical services and schools cleared the Senate Finance Committee today. SB24-228, also sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, R-Monument, would temporarily   more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Today the Senate passed Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet's, D-Commerce City, bipartisan legislation aimed at improving access to health care. SB24-141, cosponsored by Senator Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, would allow out-of-state health care providers to register and practice telehealth in Colorado. To apply for telehealth registration, applicants would be required to possess an acti  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore James Coleman, D-Denver, that would boost support for K-12 justice-engaged students cleared the Senate Education Committee today. HB24-1216 would establish a Student Bill of Rights, collect graduation data, set standards for credit transfers, and create a hotline for legal and educational resources aimed at helping justice-engaged yout  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Today the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced a pair of bills to reduce the competency waitlist and improve efficiency and effectiveness in the competency system. Last year, Colorado had 448 people who were deemed to be incompetent to proceed by a court and were waiting to receive competency restoration services before proceeding to trial, with an average wait time of 66 days. HB24-1355,   more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Legislation to improve protections for gig workers by increasing wage and task transparency cleared the Senate yesterday. Delivery Network Companies (DNCs) are entities that operate online apps or platforms that allow users to order goods for delivery, such as UberEats, DoorDash, and GrubHub. Sponsored by Senators Nick Hinrichsen, D-Pueblo, and Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, HB24-1129 aims to  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: The Senate Finance Committee today advanced a legislative package aimed at making near-term progress on air quality, ozone, and climate goals while focusing on an economy-wide transition that will support Colorado's future for generations to come. SB24-229, sponsored by Senate Assistant Majority Leader Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Senator Kevin Priola, D-Henderson, would establish more  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Today the Senate approved Senator Janice Marchman's, D-Loveland, bipartisan bill to promote and support mental health care in rural and agricultural communities. SB24-055, cosponsored by Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, would improve access to behavioral health care in rural Colorado by creating a new Agricultural and Rural Community Behavioral Health program that would work to better co  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Legislation to improve protections for victims of domestic violence and child abuse engaged in court proceedings cleared the Senate today. HB24-1350, sponsored by Senators Faith Winter, D-Broomfield, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, would make changes to the regulation of child and family investigators and evaluators. The bill would: * Increase the hours of training required   more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: The Senate Business, Labor & Technology Committee today passed legislation to ramp up financial penalties for businesses that violate child labor laws. Under current law, first-time child labor law violators face little-to-no financial consequences. HB24-1095, sponsored by Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, would update the Colorado Youth Employment Opportunity Act of 1971 and strengthen  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Today, the Senate passed legislation to address the rise in attempts to ban certain books from Colorado libraries. SB24-216, sponsored by Senators Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, and Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, would establish policies for the acquisition, retention, and display of library sources, as well as their removal upon the request of a patron. Libraries would not be  more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 (TNSres) -- The Colorado Senate Democrats issued the following news release on May 2, 2024: Legislation sponsored by Senator Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, that would boost enforcement of a law intended to save Coloradans money on epinephrine auto injectors, commonly known as EpiPens, cleared the Senate today. HB24-1438 builds on Roberts' bill to cap the cost of a two pack of EpiPens at $60 by increasing the fines for noncompliance to $10,000 for each month of noncompliance.   more

FORT COLLINS, Colorado, May 3 -- Colorado State University issued the following news release: The Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System approved budgets for its campuses this week that keep tuition levels low and maintain each institution's strong value proposition and positive trajectory. CSU System leadership thanked state legislators, particularly the Joint Budget Committee, for providing continued support to Colorado's public higher education system. The state general   more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 -- The Colorado State University System issued the following news on May 2, 2024: The Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System approved budgets for its campuses this week that keep tuition levels low and maintain each institution's strong value proposition and positive trajectory. CSU System leadership thanked state legislators, particularly the Joint Budget Committee, for providing continued support to Colorado's public higher education system. The st  more

PUEBLO, Colorado, May 3 -- Colorado State University Pueblo campus issued the following news release: The Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System approved budgets for its campuses this week that keep tuition levels low and maintain each institution's strong value proposition and positive trajectory. CSU System leadership thanked state legislators, particularly the Joint Budget Committee, for providing continued support to Colorado's public higher education system. The state   more

DENVER, Colorado, May 3 (TNSres) -- The University of Colorado issued the following news: By Laurraine Pollard Within the Denver metropolitan area as well as other Colorado communities, the most vulnerable residents face mounting climate-related challenges such as toxic air quality, droughts, increased fire and flood risk, and extreme weather. The Community Collaborative Research Center (CCRC) at the University of Colorado Denver facilitates participatory research, collaborative planning, and   more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following news release: Today, the Democratic National Committee is announcing a new print and digital awareness campaign to mark the upcoming Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day on May 5. The ads will launch today and run through May 9, and will reach Native communities in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wisconsin through a digital campaign and through print ads in local and national Native-  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 3 -- The Lower Colorado River Authority issued the following news release: A $17,920 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority will help the Pontotoc Ranch Fire Association build a helipad on the fire station grounds. The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $4,480 in matching funds from the fire association, will enable the association to build a 40-by-40-foot concrete landing zone for helicopters responding to medical and other emergencies. "The  more

ELDORADO, Texas, May 3 -- The Lower Colorado River Authority issued the following news release: The Schleicher County Public Library will move to a larger and upgraded facility in the Eldorado Service Center with the help of a $50,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority. The LCRA Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with more than $517,000 in matching funds from donations, Schleicher County and several foundations, will allow the library to relocate to a 5,000-squar  more

BRADY, Texas, May 3 -- The Lower Colorado River Authority issued the following news release: A $25,000 grant from the Lower Colorado River Authority and the City of Brady will upgrade emergency care for cardiac patients in the area by providing a new defibrillator and heart monitor for a McCulloch County Hospital District ambulance. The Community Development Partnership Program grant, along with $8,726 in matching funds from the hospital district, will enable the district to replace a broken u  more

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The National Republican Congressional Committee issued the following news: Colorado schools are once again being pushed to the limit because of Yadira Caraveo's open border policies. Colorado children's education is on the line as schools are "stretched thin" and the quality of education is hit "with real, significant costs." Caraveo enabled the border crisis that's hitting Colorado by opposing securing the border, voting against impeaching Mayorkas, and calling on the Bi  more