Colorado News & Current Events | Public News Service

While the USDA recommends a diet of 50% fruits and vegetables, only 4% of farm subsidies support their production. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 6, 2023

Colorado Farmers Headed to Washington in Advance of Farm Bill

Farmers and ranchers from Colorado and across the U.S. are headed to Washington, D.C., this week in hopes of transforming the 2023 Farm Bill…

While mortality rates for pregnant women have decreased globally, they continue to rise in the United States, with Black women three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women. (Inez/Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Women’s Rights a Canary in Coal Mine for Democracy

By Jennifer Weiss-Wolf for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

Nearly half of all Hispanic-Americans live in counties that frequently violate ground-level ozone standards. (Adobe Stock)

Public Health Benefits of Limiting Oil, Gas Methane Pollution

The public has until February 13th to weigh in on new rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce methane pollution at oil and gas…

Stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers for addressing mental health, and telehealth provides a confidential option. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic Telehealth Visits Remain High for Mental Health

The use of telehealth has dropped since its peak during the height of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but more Coloradans continue to opt for …

Green buildings are designed to reduce carbon footprints, and operational and maintenance costs, which boosts bottom lines for building owners and occupants. (Adobe Stock)

Building Construction in Colorado 7th Greenest in U.S.

Colorado ranks seventh nationally when it comes to addressing climate change in its building practices, according to the latest U.S. Green Building …

Under Colorado's clean air law, major polluters including coal mines are required to obtain and comply with air pollution operating permits. (WildEarth Guardians)

Deadline for State to Act on Coal Mine Air Pollution Permit Back in Court

Environmental groups are headed back to court this Friday in hopes of setting a clear deadline for Gov. Jared Polis' administration to start reining …

In fall 2020, among four-year universities and community colleges nationwide, male freshmen enrollment declined 1.3%, while female freshmen enrollment fell 3.2%. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ahead of National Curve on Women Seeking Degrees, Certificates

Nationally, female students have been opting out of college at more than twice the rate of males since 2020, according to a new National Student …

Soaring utility bills have been linked to an increase in natural-gas prices, costs which are passed along directly to consumers. (Adobe Stock)

Rising Utility Bills Unsustainable for Many Colorado Households

Experts are warning Colorado households utility bills currently making their way to mailboxes are likely to be even higher than the supersized bills p…

Shop For Care helps consumers make informed decisions on where to access services such as x-rays, MRIs, CT scans and other major services and procedures such as cataract surgeries, deliveries and knee replacements. (Adobe Stock)

Removing Healthcare Language Barriers for Spanish-Speaking Coloradans

Colorado's Spanish-speaking communities can now access comprehensive pricing information for health-care services through a new Spanish portal in the …

The conservation group Keep it Colorado has awarded $197,000 in grants to protect 8,512 acres of lands, including 2,500 acres adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park, that would otherwise be at imminent risk of being sold, subdivided or converted to other uses. (Adobe Stock)

New Grants to Help Preserve Iconic Mesa Verde Viewshed

A new grant is expected to help close the deal to protect key parcels of historic ranchlands and wildlife habitat adjacent to Mesa Verde National Park…

Advocates for Colorado's new Healthy School Meals for All program say it can help end lunch-line shaming currently experienced by many students from low-income families. (Adobe Stock)

Some Colorado School Districts on Fence about Free Meals

A new law going into effect this year provides money and other support to help Colorado school districts provide free meals to all students regardless…

Colorado's median rent is expected to reach $2,700 a month by 2032, which is only affordable for people with an annual income above $106,000. (Adobe Stock)

CO Lawmakers to Decide How to Invest $300 Million in Affordable Housing

In November, Colorado voters approved the largest source of dedicated funding to address affordable housing and homelessness in the state's history…

Coloradans living in lower-income households are not only at higher risk of harm from climate change, but also suffer from environmental racism and injustice in their day-to-day costs of living, including the expense of purchasing bottled water. (Adobe Stock)

New Report Spotlights Climate Justice Blind Spots

Colorado's low-income workers and communities of color along the Front Range said they face daily environmental threats, including poor air and water …

In the last General Assembly session, AARP Colorado advocates tracked 119 bills, testified for 17 of the measures and sent more than 900 emails to legislators. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic-Related Rules Create Opening for Rural Voices in CO Legislature

With the new General Assembly session just around the corner, AARP Colorado is stepping up recruitment efforts for its legislative advocacy team…

Health experts warn 6.7 million children across the United States could lose coverage when the pandemic is officially declared over by the federal government. (Adobe Stock)

More Than 200,000 Colorado Kids Could Lose Health Coverage, Experts Warn

Colorado saw the number of children without health insurance drop significantly between 2019 and 2021, according to a new report from Georgetown …

The U.S. oil and gas industry emits 16 million metric tons of methane annually, which has the same near-term climate impact as 350 coal-fired power plants. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Methane Waste Rules Welcomed to Improve Public Health

Public-health advocates are welcoming a new proposal to reduce harmful air pollution by limiting methane waste at oil and gas facilities. Sabrina …

Outdoor recreation added $11.6 billion to Colorado's economy in 2021 and supported more than 250,000 jobs. (Adobe Stock)

Conservationists Push Investment in Thompson Divide Protections

Outdoor recreation contributed a whopping $862 billion to the U.S. economy last year, according to the most recent accounting by the Bureau of …

The United States is joining an international effort to blunt the climate crisis by transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable electricity, which will increase stress on power grids. (Adobe Stock)

Cost Concerns Biggest Barrier to Protecting Communities from Wildfire

By Angela K. Evans for Inside Climate News.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

Children living near refineries, highways and other sources of air pollution are disproportionately at risk of developing respiratory illness. (Adobe Stock)

Connecting CO Health Outcomes to Climate Solutions, Lower Utility Bills

A successful program that helps low-income households weatherize homes and lower energy bills is setting its sights on improving the health outcomes o…

Approximately 60% of land in Colorado is privately owned. (Adobe Stock)

New Tools Available to Navigate Conservation Easements

Some three million acres of Colorado lands have been protected through land trusts and their partners, and new online resources launched by the group …

Some online scams launch pop-up windows claiming to have discovered a virus in your computer, tablet or smartphone, in an effort to launch malware that can take over your device's operating system. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Offer Tips for Avoiding Holiday Scams

As holiday shopping kicks into high gear, security experts are offering tips for avoiding efforts by scammers to separate people from their hard-…

At least 32 transgender and gender non-conforming people have been killed in 2022, although actual numbers are likely much higher due to under-reporting. (Adobe Stock)

Communities Mourn Mass Shooting at LGBTQ Club in Colorado Springs

Communities across Colorado continue to mourn the deaths of at least five people, after a 22-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire inside an LGBTQ …

The average premiums for Colorado consumers are predicted to increase 11.3% next year, but all insurers must offer Colorado Option plans with premiums 5% lower than 2021 levels. (Adobe Stock)

DACA, Undocumented People Eligible for Coverage Under Colorado Option

For the first time, Coloradans without documentation will be able to purchase Colorado Option health insurance plans through the state's individual …

Since 1999, the number of opiate-related deaths has increased every year, and overdoses have risen by 44% since the onset of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Moving Opioid Treatment into Primary Care to Expand Access

Each year some 68,000 people in Colorado and across the U.S. die from opiate overdoses, largely due to lack of treatment, and federally qualified …

Proposition FF includes grants school districts can use to purchase locally produced food, which proponents argued will help support local farmers and strengthen regional food systems. (Adobe Stock)

Proponents: Prop FF Key to Reducing Hunger in Colorado Springs

Proposition FF on Colorado's November ballot aims to ensure all students can access healthy, nutritious food at school, at no cost to families…

Some global scientists report that current pledges to cut carbon emissions are

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Coloradans Launch 'Fracking Fuels the Flames' Campaign

As Colorado experiences bigger and more frequent wildfires, prolonged drought and other impacts of a changing climate, a coalition of community …

Colorado's income taxes fund two-thirds of the state's General Fund, the vast majority of which pays for public K-12 and higher education, health care, human services and the state's corrections system. (Adobe Stock)

Tax Cut on Ballot Would Cost Coloradans Earning Less Than $91,000

Proponents of an initiative on the November ballot to lower the state income tax rate by less than 1% say the measure will allow Coloradans to keep mo…

Approximately 74% of people who signed up for health insurance through Connect For Health Colorado qualified for financial help to cover the cost of their plan. (Adobe Stock)

Health Insurance Tax Credits Extended During Open Enrollment

Some 155,000 Coloradans who signed up for health insurance through Connect For Health Colorado were able to save 900 dollars per year on average throu…

Colorado is the first state in the nation to require comprehensive gender-affirming health care as part of minimum, or

Report Finds Colorado a Leader in Access to Gender-Affirming Health Care

The rate of individuals receiving gender-affirming care - care received by a person whose assigned sex at birth doesn't match their gender identity - …

Across the nation, one in five children is living with a mental health disorder, but fewer than half will ever receive treatment. (Adobe Stock)

Moving the Needle on Children’s Mental Health

Children's Hospital Colorado has increased its mental-health inpatient, outpatient and day services by more than 50% to address what it called a …

Coalition Launches Innovative Health and Housing Facility

Doors are now open at a new hybrid health care and housing facility, expected to help some 500 people experiencing homelessness each year recuperate …

New Film Examines Women's Dual Roles of Ethnicity, Athleticism

A new three-part documentary film series examines the intersection of sports and identity within a community. "Outlier" looks at what it means to be …

President Joe Biden's first national monument protects sections of the Continental Divide in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado’s Camp Hale-Continental Divide Now National Monument

President Joe Biden was in Colorado yesterday to designate the Camp Hale-Continental Divide area north of Leadville as a national monument. …

Native American and Black households are twice as likely to experience energy insecurity than white households. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Inflation Reduction Act Good First Step for Low-income Energy Needs

President Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act has been billed as the most significant legislation in U.S. history to tackle the climate crisis…

San Luis Valley Local Foods Coalition is fostering an equitable local food system in part by providing bilingual farm business training and engaging the next generation of farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Conservation Heroes Honored

Nine Colorado groups and individuals have been honored as "Conservation Heroes" for their outstanding contributions to land, water and wildlife …

Americans have had to pay two to three times more for their medications than people in other countries pay for the same drugs. (Adobe Stock)

Lower Drug Prices Expected After Biden Medicare Move

Some 930,000 Colorado Medicare recipients will save money on medications starting next year, thanks to provisions in President Joe Biden's Inflation …

The Suncor Line 1 Rocky Mountain Pipeline Project would replace an existing 10-inch pipeline with a 16-inch pipeline. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Groups Petition Leaders to Halt Suncor Line 1 Pipeline

More than 40 environmental groups are urging federal regulators and Colorado's Congressional delegation to put a pause on a pipeline project under way…

New technology can pinpoint methane sources to within 15 feet, and using a high-resolution imagery, can connect plumes to individual pieces of equipment. (Adobe Stock)

New Maps Expose Methane 'Super-Emitter' Sites

A new study mapping methane pollution across five oil and gas production basins in states including Colorado found a small number of sites account for…

Three in four good-paying jobs in Colorado require a college degree or other post-secondary credentials. (Adobe Stock)

Deep Data Dive Finds Cost Biggest Barrier for Native Students

The biggest obstacle facing Indigenous students completing college degrees is cost, according to a new collaborative study by the National Native …

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment launched its School-based Health Center initiative in 1987. (Adobe Stock)

CO Students Can Access Mental, Medical, Dental Care at School

With school now back in session, many Colorado kids are accessing medical, behavioral and dental care through School-based Health Centers, fully …

A recent designation of Southwest Colorado streams marks the largest community proposal for Outstanding Waters protections to be adopted in Colorado's history. (Adobe Stock)

Southwestern Colorado Waters Win New Protections

As climate change brings longer and more severe drought to the American Southwest, a community-led coalition is celebrating new protections for more …

Pollinator protectors are working to reclaim unused urban spaces, hellstrips, small yards, balconies and alleyways for native flowering plants. (Adobe Stock)

Grassroots Program Puts Hands-in-Ground for Colorado Pollinators

Some 18 recent graduates of an urban pollinator habitat-restoration program in Boulder got grants from the Endangered Species Coalition to put more na…

More than 60,000 kids in Colorado can't afford school meals, but don't qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and two out of every five Colorado families struggle to put food on the table for their children. (Adobe Stock)

Ending School Lunchline Shaming on Colorado’s November Ballot

In November, Colorado voters will have an opportunity to end a practice known as "lunch-line shaming," which drew national attention after a Colorado …

Some 18,000 children on average experience homelessness each year in Colorado, according to most recent Colorado Department of Education data. (Adobe Stock)

Solving Homelessness Key to Success in Multiple National Priorities

"Opportunity Starts at Home," a short documentary film released this week by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, exposes how housing …

To date, more than 550,000 individuals have used the Free Will platform to write a legal will. (Adobe Stock)

Online Tool Helps Create Legally Valid Will in 20 Minutes

August is National Make-a-Will Month, a gentle reminder to some seven in ten Americans who don't currently have a will or estate plan that it's never …

Congress recently passed legislation expected to help households transition away from expensive air conditioning to more efficient and affordable heat-pump technology which also can cool homes. (Adobe Stock)

Biden Urges States to Help More Low-Income Households Stay Cool in Summer

Coloradans struggling economically put their health at risk when they decide not to turn on cooling systems, frequently out of fear of not being able …

In the decade preceding the pandemic, Colorado's child poverty rate fell by nearly 30%, one of the largest declines in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Ranks High in Child Well-Being as Kids Face Mental-Health Crisis

Colorado ranks 16th in the nation for promoting children's overall well-being, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation's latest report on child …

About two-thirds of women age 50 and older say they will not make their decisions until weeks or just days before election day. (Adobe Stock)

Older Women Voters Projected to Decide Balance of Power

Women voters age 50 and older have not decided which candidates to support in November's midterm elections, and the direction they choose could …

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