Colorado News & Current Events | Public News Service

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

Monday, November 29, 2021

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 …

Nearly 1.5 million low-income children benefited from suppers through after-school nutrition programs in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

More CO Kids Received Supper During Pandemic School Closures

DENVER - Colorado was able to increase student participation in Afterschool Nutrition Programs in 2020, even during school closures, according to new …

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 prohibits discrimination based on disability. (Adobe Stock)

All Eyes on New Douglas County School Board Over Masks

DENVER -- Students with disabilities in Douglas County won some time after a federal judge ruled last week a new county health department order making…

Mount Lamborn is one of 52 sites in the GMUG forests designated as being of "high ecological value." (Northforker/Wikimedia Commons)

Study Identifies Most Important Sites to Protect in Central CO Forests

GUNNISON, Colo. - A new report identifies the areas most valuable for preserving biodiversity and fighting climate change within the Grand Mesa…

When schools were able to offer free meals to all kids regardless of their financial situation at home during the global pandemic, school nutrition departments saw an increase in participation. (Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates Urge Congress to Pass Build Back Better Act

DENVER - This week the U.S. House is expected to finally put the Build Back Better Act up for a vote, and children's advocates in Colorado are …

Hospice teams provide medical care and pain management, and they give family caregivers a break by helping with showering and other daily activities. (Adobe Stock)

November Spotlights Benefits of Hospice and Palliative Care

TABERNASH, Colo. -- November is National Hospice and Palliative Care Month, and advocates hope all Coloradans will consider these under-utilized …

If temperatures are 10% colder than forecast, the cost of heating propane is projected to rise by 94% this winter. (Adobe Stock)

Coloradans Warned to Brace for Higher Winter Heating Bills

DENVER - The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that Coloradans will be paying considerably more to heat their homes this winter…

Thousands of Coloradans turned to Connect for Health Colorado, the state's health insurance marketplace, for the first time to get coverage after losing their employer-based insurance during the COVID health emergency. (Adobe Stock)

Financial Help for Health Coverage Available to More Coloradans

DENVER -- The costs of health insurance in Colorado are finally stabilizing, and Coloradans who do not get health coverage through their work will …

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 …

Colorado students are learning science, reading, history and more as they participate in Farm to School programs. (Adobe Stock)

Farm to School Programs on Rebound After COVID Closures

DENVER -- Farm to School programs are beginning to bounce back after last year's COVID closures, and more than half the state's 178 school districts …

AARP is calling on lawmakers to increase access to less expensive generic drugs, and cap out-of-pocket costs for people living on fixed incomes. (Adobe Stock)

Congress Urged to Act on Rising Drug Prices

DENVER - The average price for specialty prescription drugs - medicines used to treat complex, chronic conditions - rose to more than $84,000 in 2020…

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 …

The U.S. Postal Service has said 70% of its First Class Mail volume would still be received in one to three days, despite service changes initiated to save the agency money. (Adobe Stock)

CO Labor Organizers: USPS Changes Hit Rural Communities Hardest

BOULDER, Colo. -- Ahead of the busiest season of the year for the U.S. Postal Service, some Colorado labor organizers are voicing concerns about the …

In April 2020, half of all eligible visits were performed via telehealth. (Adobe Stock)

Telehealth Going Strong Even After Pandemic Closures

DENVER - The use of telehealth services - a combination of telephone, video and other online tools - peaked during COVID closures, and Coloradans …

Forests can play a big role in alleviating climate-change threats. Forests, harvested wood products and urban trees offset 11% of greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States each year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Hunters, Anglers Have Stake in Climate-Change Solutions

DENVER -- Few people spend as much time in the wilderness and outdoors as hunters and anglers, and a new report aims to be a springboard to bring …

Valley-Wide provides medical, dental, behavioral-health, physical-therapy and pharmacy services at 15 primary health-care centers, nine dental clinics, and four physical therapy clinics, strategically located throughout multiple rural counties in Southern Colorado. (Adobe Stock)

Wheelchair-Accessible Van Connects San Luis Valley Residents to Health Care

ALAMOSA, Colo. -- The Valley-Wide Ride, a transportation service introduced last year to help San Luis Valley residents get to health centers…

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 …

Pronghorn numbers have dropped precipitously but still can be found in Colorado. (RachelKolokoffHopper/Adobe Stock)

Barriers to Migrating Plague Pronghorn in West

DENVER - Millions of pronghorn used to roam the West freely. But impediments like road and fences, as well as a changing climate, threaten the …

Advocates for extending pandemic-related universal free school meals say the program helps remove the stigma of so-called "poor kids meals." (Adobe Stock)

Free School Meal Expansion During Pandemic Spotlights Ongoing Need

AURORA, Colo. -- School districts across Colorado had to get creative to ensure families could access critical meals during pandemic-related closures…

Proposed health insurance premiums for Colorado in 2022 will be an average of 24% lower than expected, thanks in part to the state's new reinsurance program. (Adobe Stock)

As Open Enrollment Nears, Advice for Coloradans Picking Insurance Plans

DENVER - In less than two months, the open enrollment period begins for the state-run health insurance exchange, Connect for Health Colorado…

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…

Advocates are calling on state and federal lawmakers to shift policies, such as replacing the term "playground" with "outdoor learning environment" in regulations to support the creation of more nature-based spaces. (Adobe Stock)

Children's Advocates Urge Lawmakers to Expand Access to Outdoor Learning

DENVER -- As Congress considers making significant investments in the nation's child-care system, children's advocates say now is the time to make …

Working Americans pay a higher tax rate on their wages than people who are wealthy pay for passive income gained through investments in stocks and bonds. (Adobe Stock)

Wealthy Coloradans Urge Congress to Raise Their Taxes

DENVER - Some 200 wealthy taxpayers and business owners, including 14 in Colorado, are asking Congress to raise their taxes. An open letter …

A new report examined 15,221 miles of Colorado's rivers that currently lack any conservation designation, but that also met criteria for protections under state law. (Adobe Stock)

Report Spotlights Key Colorado Rivers for Protections

DURANGO, Colo. - Colorado's rivers and streams supply drinking water and outdoor recreation opportunities, and support biodiversity and wildlife…

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 …

One way to reduce the amount of harmful wildfire pollution entering your home is to use air filters designed to capture harmful PM 2.5 particulates. (Adobe Stock)

Reducing Indoor Air Pollution as Wildfires, Ozone Send Kids, Others Inside

DENVER - During a summer filled with bad-air-quality-alert days across Colorado, children, people with respiratory illnesses and older residents have …

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

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 …

This summer's unprecedented heat waves, droughts, fires and severe storms are occurring now, where global temperatures have only risen 1.2 degrees Celsius. Scientists project that average temperatures will rise by 2 degrees Celsius in the next two decades. (Adobe Stock)

Latest Climate Report a 'Code Red for Humanity'

DENVER - Less than a decade remains to avoid potentially catastrophic impacts of a warming planet, according to the latest report from the world's …

Total spending by health-insurance companies to pharmacies in Colorado increased from $2.9 billion to $3.2 billion between 2017 and 2019, even after accounting for drug manufacturers' rebates to insurance payers. (Adobe Stock)

Drug Rebates Linked to Rising Prescription Drug Costs

DENVER -- The costs of prescription drugs continue to rise in Colorado and across the U.S., according to a new report from the Center for Improving …

Tens of millions of Americans lack reliable and affordable access to high-speed internet access, seen as critical for accessing education, health care, work and business opportunities. (Adobe Stock)

Broadband Infrastructure Plan Expected to Bring Jobs to Colorado

DENVER -- Advocates for closing America's digital divide are urging Congress to pass legislation which would invest $65 billion to build out high-spee…

Together, the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests are home to many diverse ecosystems, with elevations ranging from 5,000 feet to more than 14,000 feet. (P Owens/usda.gov)

Groups Urge More Wilderness in GMUG National Forests' Draft Plan

DELTA, Colo. - The U.S. Forest Service has released its draft management plan for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison national forests. The plan …

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 …

Bighorn sheep can run into fencing while migrating in Colorado. (richardseeley/Adobe Stock)

Mapping Project Identifies Fences Stopping Wildlife Migration

DENVER - Wildlife is being fenced in across the West, and researchers are now mapping these lines to understand how they affect animals. In some …

Community Health Centers pivoted to telehealth, including online paperwork systems for patients to check-in from home or from their car during the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

COVID Innovations Celebrated During National Health Center Week

DENVER - Sunday marked the beginning of National Health Center Week, a chance to spotlight important contributions made by safety-net hospitals and …

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…

The National School Lunch Program is designed to meet nutrition standards and promote healthy eating. (Adobe Stock)

Childrens' Advocates Press Congress to Extend Free School Meal Program

DENVER-During the COVID health emergency, the federal government made school meals available for free to all students, regardless of their financial …

Health-insurance companies are expanding coverage in 2022 to more Colorado counties, leaving just one county with a single on-exchange insurance company available. In 2020, 22 counties had just one provider. (Adobe Stock)

Reinsurance Program Saving Coloradans Money on Health Coverage

DENVER -- The days of exponentially high increases in health-insurance costs may finally be in the rearview mirror. The Colorado Division of …

With federal support, Colorado could increase its solar housing stock by more than 440,000, according to the 30 Million Solar Homes report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: More Solar Investment Could Transform CO Economy

CRAIG, Colo. -- What would it look like if one in four households in the country was solar-powered? A new report from the "30 Million Solar Homes" …

Investments in federal programs that help the bottom 60 to 80 percent of families is projected to narrow a widening racial wealth gap. (Adobe Stock)

Tax Reform Seen as Key for Equitable COVID Recovery

DENVER - As Congress struggles to pass legislation to boost recovery from the pandemic's economic fallout, tax experts are urging lawmakers to invest …

The 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit is set to benefit 89% of Colorado's children younger than 18. (nareekarn/Adobe Stock)

CO Families Already Benefiting from Advance Child Tax Credit Payments

DENVER -- Parents are now receiving fully refundable monthly 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments, and advocates for children and families have …

Nearly 6% of workers telecommuted in 2018, up from 2% in 1980, according to a New York Times report. Researchers project that 20% of work will be done from home post-COVID. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Colorado Companies to Reduce Air Pollution Post-COVID

DENVER -- As offices and businesses begin to open their doors after COVID-19 shutdowns, a new guidebook offers ways for CEOs and other commuters to …

To afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent in much of Colorado, full-time workers need to earn $27.50 per hour or work 89 hours per week at current Colorado minimum wage. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Denver’s Bet on Housing-First Program Pays Off

DENVER -- When people experiencing chronic homelessness in Denver received free housing along with mental and behavioral health services, they were …

Public News Service joins the Trust Project, along with news outlets in the U.S, Europe and Central and South America. (The Trust Project)

Public News Service Joins the Trust Project to Support Transparency, Accuracy in Journalism

BOULDER, Colo. - As people struggle to find trusted news and information, Colorado News Connection and its network Public News Service are …

More than 90% of jobs that pay more than just a living wage are soon expected to require some form of post-secondary degree or credential. (Adobe Stock)

Students Who Left College During COVID Can Still Earn Associate’s Degree

DENVER - A new Colorado law will offer a pathway for thousands of students who have completed significant course work at public colleges and universit…

Xcel customers in Colorado will likely pay higher prices after last winter's natural gas power shortage caused by non-winterized power plants in Texas. (Adobe Stock)

Coloradans Brace for Texas-Fueled Spikes in Energy Prices

DENVER -- When this winter's power outages in Texas' deregulated electric grid caused shockingly high utility bills for customers, Xcel Energy was …

In July 2020, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reported 3.4 million visitors, an increase of almost a million from the same time period in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

CO Water Stewards Brace for Record Crowds on Public Lands

ALAMOSA, Colo. -- Colorado's public lands, which account for 43% of the entire state, are seeing record use after officials relaxed COVID-19 health …

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PNS Daily Newscast - November 30, 2021

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