Public News Service

Restorative justice programs have increased the justice system's capacity to meet the needs of those harmed by adolescent misbehavior. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Report: Diverting youth away from the justice system is working

Efforts to keep young people out of the criminal justice system are working, according to a new Sentencing Project report. Elie Zwiebel, attorney …

Decades of policies like redlining, that forced people of color into neighborhoods surrounded by industrial polluters, have led to a host of negative health outcomes, including cancers and premature death. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers eye ways to reduce pollution in vulnerable communities

In 2021, Colorado lawmakers took a first step toward addressing decades of toxic pollution disproportionately impacting low-income neighborhoods and …

Intimate-partner violence includes violence, abuse and controlling behavior committed by a partner or former partner. It can result in long-lasting adverse mental-health outcomes, and is a leading cause of homelessness and housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Housing First Model Helps Domestic-Violence Survivors

Victims of domestic violence who are able to access housing -- at their own pace, and with support for as long as the survivor needs help -- …

Some crops beneath solar panels only need watering every couple of days, compared with every few hours for those grown in direct sunlight. (Adobe Stock)

Solar-Farming Combos Reducing Water Usage

By Jane Palmer for Ensia.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Ser…

In no state, metropolitan area, or county in the U.S. can a worker earning the federal or prevailing state or local minimum wage afford a modest two-bedroom rental home at fair market rent by working a standard 40-hour work week. (Adobe Stock)

GOP Budget Cuts Could Push a Million People Into Homelessness

Colorado's minimum wage workers would have to work 94 hours per week to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment, according to a new report. Even after …

Recognizing urgent maternal warning signs, providing timely treatment, and delivering respectful, quality care can prevent many pregnancy-related deaths. (Adobe Stock)

Drilling Down Into Social Factors Linked to Unequal Health Outcomes

Black women are three times more likely to die during pregnancy than white women, even though more than eight in 10 pregnancy-related deaths are …

A recent survey found that 65% of parents think their school has done an

New Survey Spotlights Parents’ Mindsets in 2022-2023 School Year

More than half of parents in Colorado and across the nation continue to be concerned about children's mental health, according to the latest survey …

Colorado's SNAP Outreach program helped bring $47 million in federal funding to Colorado's grocery stores, generating more than $71 million in overall economic activity.<br />(InputUX Adobe Stock)

SNAP Benefits Drop as Food Prices Soar

As the cost of groceries continues to soar, SNAP benefits boosted to help families during the pandemic are back to pre-COVID levels. Even with …

Poll: Strong Support for Conservation Among CO Communities of Color

Communities of color in Colorado and across the West strongly support conservation policies, including protecting water supplies and transitioning to …

Encuesta: Fuerte apoyo para la conservación entre comunidades de color de CO

Comunidades de color en Colorado y en todo el oeste apoyan firmemente las políticas de conservación, incluida la protección de los …

In Colorado, outdoor recreation is considered to be a legally beneficial use of Colorado water. (Adobe Stock)

Revised Colorado Water Plan Prioritizes Conservation

A coalition of conservation groups is giving Colorado's revised state water plan a thumbs-up for its increased focus on protecting Colorado's rivers…

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…

Shop For Care ayuda a los consumidores a tomar decisiones informadas sobre d�nde acceder a servicios como radiograf�as, resonancias magn�ticas, tomograf�as computarizadas y otros servicios y procedimientos importantes, como cirug�as de cataratas, partos y reemplazos de rodilla. (Adobe Stock)

Plataforma tiene como objetivo eliminar barreras del idioma en la salud

Las comunidades de habla hispana de Colorado ahora pueden acceder a información completa sobre los precios de los servicios de atención m…

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 …

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 …

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 …

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…

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 …

In 2021, the Pueblo Community Health Center delivered one out of every three babies born in Pueblo County. (Adobe Stock)

New "Green" Health Center Expands Access in East Pueblo

When the Pueblo Community Health Center opened its 14,000 square-foot facility in 2003, Pueblo's east side, home to mostly minority residents…

Access to Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) funds varies greatly by county in Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

Fewer Colorado Families Living in Poverty Receive TANF Cash Assistance

Colorado and other states are hoarding more than $6 billion intended for struggling families, according to new analysis. In 2020, Colorado denied …

MLK "Marade" Spotlights Drive to Protect Voting Rights

As Democrats in Congress struggle to get enough votes to pass new federal voter protections, Denver's annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day "Marade" - a …

Enrollment among first-time Hispanic college students dropped by nearly 20% during the height of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Latinos Continue to Face Barriers to College Degrees

The COVID health pandemic has blunted progress made in the number of Latino students graduating with a college certificate or degree, a development …

La matr�cula entre los estudiantes universitarios hispanos por primera vez se redujo en casi un 20% durante el apogeo de la pandemia. (Adobe Stock)

Latinos de Colorado siguen enfrentando barreras para títulos universitarios

La pandemia de salud de COVID ha reducido el progreso logrado en la cantidad de estudiantes latinos que se gradúan con un certificado o títu…

People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes and have an average life expectancy of 30 years less than the housed population. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado to Invest $400 Million in Affordable Housing

A task force charged with addressing homelessness and affordable housing across Colorado is expected to release recommendations on how to invest some …

The MANO Project's summer fellowships and internships are paid, and many offer transportation stipends, free on-site housing or housing stipends. (Adobe Stock)

Public Lands Agencies Work to Diversify, Strengthen Staff

The Hispanic Access Project is teaming up with the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest and Fish and Wildlife services, and other agencies to …

Colorado state demographers project that by 2050, one in three Colorado residents will be Latino. (Adobe Stock)

Latinos Win Seat at Voter Redistricting Table

DENVER - This year Colorado joined 13 other states trying to take politics out of the once-a-decade voter redistricting process, and Latino …

Colorado health centers are working to bring more diversity into the health-care field, one of the fastest-growing industries in the state. (Adobe Stock)

CO Health Centers Win Grant to Bridge Employment Equity Gap

DENVER - Colorado's safety-net health centers are on a fast track to bring more people of color, and those living in rural areas, into good-paying …

California, Colorado, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia were selected for the REACH Collaborative for their efforts to serve and support adult learners and demonstrated commitment to equitable student success. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado Joins National Effort to Help Older Students

DENVER - On Wednesday, leaders from Colorado's 13 community colleges joined a national effort to help more of the state's adults get credentials and …

California, Colorado, Nueva York, Carolina del Norte, Texas y Virginia fueron seleccionados por Colaborativo REACH debido a sus esfuerzos para servir y apoyar a estudiantes adultos y demostrar su compromiso con el �xito estudiantil equitativo. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado se une al esfuerzo nacional para ayudar a estudiantes mayores

DENVER, Colo. -- El miércoles, los líderes de 13 universidades comunitarias de Colorado se unieron a un esfuerzo nacional para ayudar a m…

Initiated Ordinance 303 calls for city officials to enforce a camping ban within 72 hours of receiving a complaint. The city also would be open to lawsuits if it fails to clear camps. (Adobe Stock)

Ballot Measure Doubles Down on Denver Homeless Camping Ban

DENVER -- A growing number of tents popping up in neighborhoods across Denver have made it harder to ignore a chronic and expanding housing crisis in …

From 2007 to 2018, Colorado state and local governments cut public health spending per resident by more than 45%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: TABOR Blunted State’s COVID Response

DENVER -- Colorado's ability to respond to COVID-19 was blunted by decades of disinvestment in critical public services, according to a new report…

During the Great Recession, 50 million Americans experienced food insecurity, compared with an estimated 38 million during last year's economic fallout from COVID-19. (Adobe Stock)

Food Insecurity Rose for Single Moms, Families of Color in 2020

DENVER - The rate of people experiencing hunger in Colorado and across the U.S. remained statistically steady overall during 2020, according to …

Nearly one in five Americans has an unpaid medical debt currently in collections. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Poll: Expense Tops Coloradans' Health-Care Concerns

DENVER - Coloradans increasingly are concerned about rising health-care costs, according to a new poll. It found many Colorado families are …

Almost half of all Black adults say they do not answer a call from someone they do not know, but two thirds report using the same or similar passwords across different accounts. (Adobe Stock)

Report Reveals Scammer Tactics Targeting Black, Latino Adults

DENVER - Nearly 40% of Black and Latino adults in Colorado and across the U.S. have been targeted by scammers, according to new AARP research…

Nearly 20% of undocumented workers in the U.S. have jobs in retail businesses considered essential, including grocery stores and food service. (Adobe Stock)

Immigration-Reform Vigil at Sen. Hickenlooper's Office

DENVER -- Faith organizations joined a prayer vigil led by a coalition of immigrants' rights supporters on Thursday, outside the office of Sen…

Turnover for direct-care professional positions, many of which pay minimum wage with no benefits, has been as high as 60%. (Adobe Stock)

Disabled Community Urges Congress to Boost Home-Care Infrastructure

DENVER -- As infrastructure legislation makes its way through Congress, advocates for people with disabilities are urging lawmakers to boost …

Based on census data, the 2021 wage gap for Black women compared to non-Hispanic, white men is $0.63 per hour. (Adobe Stock)

Black Women’s Equal Pay Day Spotlights Need for Wage Transparency

DENVER -- Today marks the day Black women in the U.S. will finally earn as much as a white, non-Hispanic man was paid in 2020. Ashley Panelli…

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

DENVER -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both the US …

Since cuts to federal public housing budgets began in the 1980s, the deficit of affordable housing units in the United States has increased to 7 million. (Galatas)

Judge Dismisses Legal Challenge to Denver Homeless Encampment

DENVER -- A Denver District Court judge dismissed a lawsuit yesterday meant to block efforts to create a legal homeless encampment in Denver's Park Hi…

In 2019, Gov. Jared Polis signed legislation committing the state to reduce emissions by 90% from 2005 levels by 2050. (Roy Buri/Pixabay)

Colorado Officials Welcome Feds Back as Climate Partners

BASALT, Colo. -- As President Joe Biden meets with world leaders on Earth Day to reaffirm America's commitment to addressing climate change, Colorado …

People experiencing food insecurity in Colorado increased from 9% before the pandemic to nearly 40% by December 2020. (Partnership for Healthier America)

Lessons During COVID Spotlight Path Toward Greater Food Equity

DENVER -- After the coronavirus pandemic shut down restaurants and emptied grocery shelves, food experts said lessons learned while rebuilding …

A national universal paid-leave program is projected to generate two million jobs and more than $22 billion in economic activity per year. (Vitalik Radko/Deposit Photos)

Advocates Push Paid Family and Medical Leave as "Critical" Infrastructure

DENVER -- As the Biden administration continues to promote its plan to address the nation's crumbling roads and bridges, a coalition of worker …

Research shows students who drop out or pause their college education are less likely to complete their degrees. (Nikolay Georgiev/Pixabay)

CO Educators Work to Bring College Enrollment Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels

DENVER -- Enrollment in Colorado's colleges and universities dropped during the coronavirus pandemic, and educators said the impacts could be felt …

Colorado ranks eighth in the nation as a state with the least affordable and available units, nearing the rate in Texas, Florida and Delaware. (Pixabay)

Need for Affordable Housing in Colorado Dwarfs Available Units

DENVER - The need for affordable housing continues to outgrow supply in Colorado and across the United States, according to a new report. For every 1…

An additional $1,000 in tax credits reduces the incidence of low birthweight births by about three out of every 100 children born to mothers likely to qualify for the credit. (Pixy)

Redirecting Tax Expenditures Could Help CO Achieve Equity Goals

DENVER -- The Colorado state auditor's office has released a series of reports on tax expenditures, including deductions, exemptions, credits and …

Community health centers will travel to farms to offer COVID-19 vaccines, along with primary, dental and mental-health care. (Insurance Journal)

Getting Vaccines to Returning Migrant Farmers

OLATHE, Colo. -- Colorado farms are bringing back seasonal workers to get started on this year's crops, and community health centers are gearing up …

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CO: Human Rights/Racial Justice