FW: This Week's Top Stories

[Dianne Tramutola-Lawson]

 

 

From: The Colorado Independent [mailto:ti...@coloradoindependent.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2018 3:55 PM

Subject: This Week's Top Stories

 

This week's top stories  Democrat Cary Kennedy crushed the Colorado caucuses. What comes next? On Tuesday night, the former state treasurer hauled in enough votes in caucuses across the state to beat Jared Polis by a whopping 18 percent, including in Boulder, Polis's hometown.  Political reporter Corey Hutchins explains what that means, and what we can expect to happen next.  Check it out! Our 2018 Governor's Race site went live this week, which means you can learn about each of this year's candidates, their platforms, their answers to our questionnaire and more — all in one place. See it here.  The state oil and gas regulator, and enviro programs, likely to get a legislative lifeline A plan to tackle budget woes at the Department of Natural Resources would keep critical environmental programs afloat, but underlying issues of volatility and uncertainty remain.  Lawmakers again consider subjecting Colorado’s judicial branch to open records laws Lawmakers are discussing the proposed change to the Colorado Open Records Act for the third year in a row. This year's proposal hasn't been killed by committee — at least not yet.  Littwin: Is it bigger news that Kennedy won the Democratic caucus poll or that Polis lost? Read Littwin's columns on Tuesday's caucus results, whether a Trump-Kim partnership would be worse than what we have now, and a short take on sexual politics in the legislature.  New PERA reform proposal includes cuts to benefits, bump in worker contributions Proposed changes to Colorado's pension fund, which currently faces a funding shortage, would cut benefits for retirees and increase contributions from workers and employers.  Interim Manual High principal named as district begins search for permanent leader The unexpected resignation of the school's leader late last week prompted the hiring of Renard Simmons, of Denver Center for 21st Century Learning, as the interim principal.  Weekly Media Roundup: Who’s going to buy southern Colorado's Pueblo Chieftain? After the death of its 92-year-old publisher, the family-owned paper is in the process of being sold to an unnamed buyer. Plus, more of this week's media news from across the state.    Never miss a story!   Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Spread the word.    Support Local News! We offer our smart, in-depth news and news commentary for free, but it's not free to produce.  Please support our nonprofit newsroom with a tax-deductible contribution today.  Know someone who should get this newsletter? Send them here.  Our Contact Information The Colorado Independent P.O. Box 201074 Denver, CO 80220 720-432-2128 Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences

[Dianne Tramutola-Lawson]

 

 

From: The Colorado Independent [mailto:ti...@coloradoindependent.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2018 8:56 AM
Subject: This Week's Top Stories

 

This week's top stories

‘Oh my god,’ ‘heartbreaking news’: Denver Post layoffs hit one-third of newsroom

The tremors rippled out of the newsroom around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon: The Denver Post is cutting 30 positions — a massive cut for a newsroom with only about 100 people on staff as it is.  The paper’s secretive corporate hedge-fund owner, Alden Global Capital, is known for its cash-harvesting — and for its layoffs. Wednesday's announcement came when the paper was already hurting from multiple rounds of cuts. Corey Hutchins' story has the reactions from journalists at the Post and beyond.  And in his column this week, Mike Littwin writes that "Denver Post owners are not just laying off employees — they’re looting the public trust."

Have you visited our 2018 Governor's Race page yet? Check it out to learn more about who's running for Colorado governor, who's funding their campaigns and where they stand on the issues that matter most to our state.

Lawmakers put the kibosh on leasing Huerfano prison, call for sentencing reforms The Department of Corrections wants to reopen a shuttered prison in Walsenburg to house an expected rise in inmates next year. But as John Herrick reports, lawmakers aren’t buying it.

Dems running for AG want gun control and an end to the death penalty, differ elsewhere Three Democratic candidates are hoping to end the 13-year Republican hold on the office of Attorney General. John Herrick reports on what happened when they all got together for a debate.

Colorado’s high court ruling: There’s no such thing as teacher tenure In a strike against Denver teachers, the court ruled Monday that state law provides for "neither ‘tenure’ nor ‘permanent teachers,’" and thus Denver Public Schools didn't violate teachers’ rights.

‘Existing in a world of violence since we were born:’ Denver students walk out in protest Colorado students walked out of school this week to protest gun violence. Here's what they're thinking. Plus, candidate Mike Johnston on how he'd handle the gun issue as governor.

Legislative session midyear review: House takes stand on sexual harassment Statehouse reporter John Herrick has the lowdown on what Colorado's deeply divided legislature has accomplished so far, and what's in the works to be finished before the session ends on May 9.

After a long fight, Mennonite investigator's testimony offers no new evidence in capital case Other outlets lost interest in the case of death row inmate Robert Ray once Gilda Lindecrantz was released from jail, but not The Indy: Editor Susan Greene was there to hear her testimony.

Never miss a story!   Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Spread the word.    Support Local News! We offer our smart, in-depth news and news commentary for free, but it's not free to produce.  Please support our nonprofit newsroom with a tax-deductible contribution today.  Know someone who should get this newsletter? Send them here.  Our Contact Information The Colorado Independent P.O. Box 201074 Denver, CO 80220 720-432-2128 Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences

[Dianne Tramutola-Lawson]

 

 

From: The Colorado Independent [mailto:ti...@coloradoindependent.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 24, 2018 6:15 PM
Subject: This Week's Top Stories

 

This week's top stories

2018 Governor's Race: Democrat Ginsburg is out, Republican Farah is in and Underwood draws attention for secret spending

Democrat Noel Ginsburg dropped out of the running for Colorado governor this week, and Republican Barry Farah — and his connections to the Koch brothers — jumped in the race.  Meanwhile, Democrat Erik Underwood told The Colorado Independent he has spent “north of $100,000” of his own money on his primary campaign so far — but hasn't reported it. Reporter Corey Hutchins wrote about what that means.

Check it out! Our 2018 Governor's Race is live! Read about each of this year's candidates, their platforms, their answers to our questionnaire and more — all in one place. See it here.

Greene: Hancock and team failed to seek accountability in excessive force homicide A disturbing report outlines Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration’s inaction in response to sheriff’s deputies’ killing of a mentally ill homeless man in Denver’s jail.

Judge: Colorado sheriff must stop holding inmates for ICE if they post bond A state judge ruled Monday that the El Paso County Sheriff's agreement with federal immigration authorities to hold individuals in his custody beyond their release dates violates state law.

The Weekly Media Roundup: The Denver Post layoff aftermath— one week later Here's what's happened in the week since The March 14 Massacre at The Denver Post, including a few of the journalists who will be departing. Plus, media news from across the state.

Littwin: CO Senate’s decision to kill bump-stock ban is a campaign gift for Dems Columnist Mike Littwin writes on the "least surprising — and yet, possibly dumbest" news of the week, the GOP's choice to kill the bump stock ban. Plus, how gov candidates would vote.

Senate Dems back bill that lets voters choose how to pay for transportation projects Lawmakers reached an agreement on a top priority transportation funding bill this week, one which will allow voters decide on a number of proposals by outside groups this November.

Lawmakers at odds with Hickenlooper administration over leasing private prison Gov. John Hickenlooper’s administration doubled down on its calls to open a shuttered prison, saying efforts to enact reforms instead of opening more beds could lead to prison overcrowding.

Q&A: Coloradan children are suffering from chronic hunger, and the effects cost everyone Managing editor Tina Griego spoke with the CEO of Hunger Free Colorado about the state of hunger in Colorado, where one in 10 people struggle with not having enough money to buy food.

Keefe: Facebook status update Political cartoonist Mike Keefe's latest, a reaction to this week's news about the major hack of Facebook's users. See more of his work here.

Never miss a story!   Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Spread the word.    Support Local News! We offer our smart, in-depth news and news commentary for free, but it's not free to produce.  Please support our nonprofit newsroom with a tax-deductible contribution today.  Know someone who should get this newsletter? Send them here.  Our Contact Information The Colorado Independent P.O. Box 201074 Denver, CO 80220 720-432-2128 Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences

[Dianne Tramutola-Lawson]

 

 

 

 

From: The Colorado Independent [mailto:ti...@coloradoindependent.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2018 8:56 AM
Subject: This Week's Top Stories

 

This week's top stories

Consensus in Colorado’s Trump Country: Candidate who? Gov race still anyone’s game

If the Republicans who flooded a university campus in heavily conservative Colorado Springs last Saturday are any indication, political reporter Corey Hutchins writes in our most-read story this week, the governor’s race is still very much up for grabs in the lead-up to the April 14 state assembly. "I’m not even sure how many candidates there are," one attendee told him.  At another assembly, this one in Jefferson County, one message came through loud and clear: If Republicans want to keep their hold on the state Senate, they need unaffiliated voters to join their ranks.

Drama between two Republican candidates over allegations of illegal ballot signatures. An official-unofficial ranking of all the top candidates. Where they stand on issues like transportation, immigration and TABOR. It's all there, right now, on our 2018 Governor's Race page. Don't miss it.

Colorado’s grand bargain to create a national model for redistricting Two groups readying for a major battle over how Colorado draws its political lines have now laid down their swords and joined forces in a bargain they say will end partisan gerrymandering.

GRIEGO: Washington policy could worsen Colorado's problem with hunger "Are we being punished for being poor?" Managing editor and columnist Tina Griego this week gives a voice to the Coloradans who would hurt most from proposed cuts to the food stamp program.

Littwin: Stormy Daniels, Sen. Baumgardner and ranking the candidates for governor Our veteran political columnist this week discusses why the Stormy Daniels saga is not about sex, whether a GOP state senator should resign and where the governor's race stands right now.

A federal judge lowered the bar for passing constitutional ballot measures in Colorado The ruling came after a lawsuit filed by groups who opposed 2016's “Raise the Bar” initiative, an effort that sought to curb the number of constitutional amendments put to Colorado voters.

This week at the Statehouse: Prison beds, net neutrality and a same-sex wedding cakes Legislative reporter John Herrick has you covered on a fight to save net neutrality in rural areas, an effort to rollback LGBTQ protections and the House's snub of more private prison beds.

Keefe: The three branches of government under Trump Political cartoonist Mike Keefe's latest. See more of his excellent work here.

Never miss a story!   Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Spread the word.    Support Local News! We offer our smart, in-depth news and news commentary for free, but it's not free to produce.  Please support our nonprofit newsroom with a tax-deductible contribution today.  Know someone who should get this newsletter? Send them here.  Our Contact Information The Colorado Independent P.O. Box 201074 Denver, CO 80220 720-432-2128 Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences