Leading Colorado Democrats and the state’s oil and gas industry announced a preemptive armistice Monday — one that seeks to defuse the latest round of dueling ballot initiatives and legislation aimed at the industry and its environmental impacts. The proposals, described to reporters by Gov. Jared Polis and legislative leadership, include imposing a new per-barrel … Read more
After last week was disrupted by the snowpocalypse, the Colorado Capitol is back on track this week, and it’s kicking off the latter half of March with what will almost certainly be the longest committee hearing of the session. A bill to ban the purchase and transfer of so-called assault weapons (HB24-1292) is set for … Read more
Colorado House advances two name-change bills after contentious debate and anti-transgender rhetoric Two bills allowing transgender and nonbinary Coloradans to more easily use their preferred names cleared the House on Friday after anti-transgender rhetoric from Republican lawmakers spread debate and votes over multiple days. The two Democrat-backed measures — HB24-1071 and HB24-1039 — have led … Read more
Things are moving along in the Colorado legislature with bills making their way through the system. Here’s a look at some of the issues we’re following — and check out our bill tracker, where we update the status of bills as they make their way through the legislative process. ► Bill passes providing liability protection … Read more
Democratic state legislators on Wednesday rolled out a suite of bills aimed at improving the Front Range’s air quality, which is among the worst in the nation. The bills will focus on curbing toxic emissions from oil and gas drilling sites by changing how Colorado issues permits, lengthening the state’s summer ozone season to five … Read more
Eduardo Munoz Alvarez | Getty Images While both renters and homeowners are beginning to take climate hazards into consideration, affordability continues to drive moving trends. Between 2021 and 2022, about 1.2 million more homeowners and renters moved out of than moved into U.S. cities with high risk of poor air quality, according to a new … Read more
Expert discusses EPA crackdown on air quality rules Expert discusses EPA crackdown on air quality rules 03:16 Much of the U.S. Northeast was smothered last summer by dense smoke from Canadian wildfires, leading to New York City’s worst air quality since the 1960s. Such episodes, once mostly isolated incidents, are increasingly common due to the impact … Read more
Front Range residents who drive old cars that cannot pass Colorado’s emissions inspections could receive financial help for repairs if a bill before the state legislature is approved. The bill, SB24-095, would provide an $850 voucher that could be redeemed at qualified mechanics if a resident’s car or pickup truck could not pass the emissions … Read more
Humidifiers can be beneficial for your health, especially when you’re sick or dealing with dryness in your home. But if you don’t regularly maintain them, they can cause more harm than good. “If you don’t properly clean out your humidifier, it essentially turns into a gigantic petri dish, which isn’t great for air quality,” said … Read more
Kylie Mohr | (TNS) KFF Health News Every year, wildfires across the western U.S. and Canada send plumes of smoke into the sky. When that smoke blows into southwestern Idaho’s Treasure Valley, it blankets Boise-area residents in dirty air. They include seniors living in long-term care facilities, many of whom are considered an at-risk population for smoke exposure … Read more
