Colorado News & Current Events | Public News Service

U.S. counties with state minimum wages between $7.26 and $9 saw a reduction in obesity by 0.6 percentage points, while counties with minimum wages of more than $9 experienced an obesity reduction of 2.8 percentage points, according to a new study from Johns Hopkins University. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Colorado obesity rate linked to economic inequality, low minimum wages

More than one in five Coloradans are considered obese, a chronic medical condition leading to serious health risks and a new study links obesity to …

In August, the Colorado Department of Education updated guidelines reflecting evidence-based best practices on how returning to school and exercise can improve recovery. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Tips for helping kids recover from concussions

By Kate Ruder for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service…

Colorado's Hospital Discounted Care law requires all hospitals to take steps to make hospital bills more affordable for low- to moderate-income residents. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 25, 2024

CO hospitals fail on informing consumers about rights and discounts

Colorado hospitals got failing grades for compliance with the Colorado Hospital Discounted Care law, according to a new report. The law passed in 20…

The middle 20% of Americans, families making between $55,000 and $94,000, would face an average tax increase of $1,530 in 2026 under Trump tax proposals. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado working families would pay more under Trump tax proposals

President-elect Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have promised to pass a new tax bill, and a new report breaks down the expected winners and …

Some Dual Special Needs plans can be used to pay for a variety of different things, including fruits and vegetables, meats, seafood. (Adobe Stock)

Dec 7 deadline for CO Medicare-Medicaid enrollees to get additional benefits

Over 150,000 Coloradans with both Medicare and Medicaid coverage who need additional help - whether due to disabilities, age, income or health …

Companies tolerating abusive bosses are vulnerable to costly lawsuits. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Financially stressed managers abusing workers

Researchers at Colorado State University have been able to link the economic stress experienced by 78% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck…

In 17% of Colorado households with children, the children are not eating enough because the family did not earn enough to purchase enough food, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger Free Colorado celebrates 15th birthday

Colorado's leading advocate for people experiencing hunger turns 15 this year and a new report outlined key advances and persistent challenges facing …

Economists suggest for a more budget-friendly holiday feast, consider hosting a potluck. Sharing dishes not only brings variety to the table but helps spread the costs among guests. (Adobe Stock)

What Coloradans can expect on holiday groceries, and tips for saving money

With Thanksgiving now two weeks away, will Coloradans face sticker shock at the grocery store while planning their holiday meals? There is a mix of …

Virtual power plants, a microgrid connecting renewable energy with smart appliances, costs ratepayers 40% to 60% less than building and maintaining conventional coal or gas-powered plants. (Adobe Stock)

Creating virtual power plants for resiliency during extreme weather, wildfires

An electric cooperative supplying power to Western Colorado is pioneering energy independence for homes, businesses and farms. They are creating a …

Colorado has been working to remove cost as a barrier for students, and many certificate and degree programs are zero-tuition. (Adobe Stock)

7 CO colleges cited for students' workforce-readiness success

Gov. Jared Polis has designated seven Colorado colleges and universities as Career Connected Campuses for their work getting more students from all …

A bill making its way through the U.S. House of Representatives would create a truth and healing commission to address ongoing harms to Native American families linked to the federal children's boarding-school program. (Adobe Stock)

Biden boarding school apology a first step toward healing

President Joe Biden's recent apology on behalf of the federal government for harms done to generations of Native American children and their families …

City governments are strengthening financial security for families through reimagined debt-collection practices, equitable ability-to-pay processes and increased access to financial empowerment services. (Adobe Stock)

Program helps youth in Pueblo clear steep hurdles of fines and fees

Young people in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or fees. Chanell Hasty, program …

There are 16 million vacant homes across the U.S., or 28 vacant homes for every unhoused person. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Colorado’s housing crisis linked to billionaire investors

Denver's homeless population hit an all-time high in 2024 but there is actually no shortage of available housing units, according to a new report…

Animal-rights advocates are testing whether asking for people's votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas) Animal rights advocates are testing whether asking for people�s votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas)

Denver could become first city to ban slaughterhouses

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

Election experts say voters in Colorado and across the U.S. can be confident that they will be able to cast their ballot safely, and that it will be counted. (Adobe Stock)

What Colorado voters can expect on Election Day

A majority of adults in Colorado and across the U.S. say they are anxious about this year's presidential election, according to a recent poll…

Comedians lobbing political jabs from a right perspective are gaining ground through popular podcasts such as the Joe Rogan Experience. (Adobe Stock)

Right-wing comedians gain ground in conventionally liberal spaces

Uproar over racist jokes at a Madison Square Garden rally for former President Donald Trump has put a spotlight on the increasing influence of right-l…

The State of Colorado supported Solid Power's early growth with an Advanced Industries Accelerator grant in 2014, which supports the development of early-stage technologies. (Adobe Stock)

$50 million Biden IRA funding goes to Thornton-based EV battery maker

The Biden Administration is investing $50 million from the Inflation Reduction Act in Colorado to produce more batteries to power electric vehicles…

Before Madeleine Ahlborn bought an empty church, the most expensive thing she owned was a 2002 Toyota 4Runner with 340,000 miles on it. (Madeleine Ahlborn)

Old House of Prayer becomes community art space

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabora…

Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park saw more than 4 million visitors in 2023, according to National Park Service data. (Adobe Stock)

National Parks advocates: You can't tell the 'players' without a scorecard

For Colorado voters who want to consider national parks and public lands when they head to the polls, a 2024 Congressional Scorecard shows lawmakers' …

Experts warn that mass deportation would lead to steep price hikes in supermarkets across the nation, given the large share of farmworkers who are undocumented. (Adobe Stock)

Majority of voters oppose mass deportation of immigrants

A strong majority of voters across party lines want lawmakers to create a path to citizenship for America's 11 million undocumented immigrants…

How greener schoolyards benefit Colorado kids, communities

By Claire Elise Thompson for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Publi…

Even as families are forced to pay high prices for childcare, those dollars are not reaching early childhood educators who do not earn a living wage in any U.S. state. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Colorado child care workers earn poverty wages

Workers responsible for nurturing and educating young children during their most critical years of development struggle with poverty-level wages…

Three sinks show wastewater after it goes through each purification step at a water treatment plant in Orange County, Calif. (Matt Vasilogambros/Stateline)

Colorado water districts explore methods to recycle sewage water

Colorado is one of a handful of states to allow water utilities to purify sewage for use as tap water and cities like Castle Rock are preparing to mak…

Over 161,000 Coloradans are living with severe mental illness, but 60% are not receiving care. (Adobe Stock)

80 Colorado candidates commit to improving mental health policies

Mental health is a top issue for voters, and candidates running for office across Colorado are pledging to make it a priority if elected. Kathleen …

Cost remains the primary barrier for Coloradans to seek health care, with 83% percent of reporting they worry about being able to afford it. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers urged to address 'hidden' hospital fees

"Facility fees" originally meant to help struggling hospitals keep emergency room doors open 24 hours a day are now being applied to outpatient servic…

Nearly eight in ten likely rural voters are against banning abortion. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Rural voters want candidates to put workers first

Rural voters in Colorado and across the U.S. tend to be swing voters, and may decide the outcome of this year's presidential election. Their …

Nearly 90% of nonbinary adults in the workforce are younger than age 35 and half are people of color. (Adobe Stock)

Research; Adding trans workers can boost company bottom lines

Experts say a diverse workforce is crucial for creativity and social justice, and equally good for a company's bottom line. But reluctance to hire …

More than a half-million immigrants reside in Colorado, working as nursing assistants, cooks and software developers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Immigrants boost Colorado and U.S. economy, create jobs

Immigration boosts the economy - in Colorado and across the U.S. But new policies are needed to maximize gains and make it harder for employers to …

New federal legislation would allow land managers to prioritize the needs of wildlife during critical times, including calving season. (Adobe Stock)

GORP Act would conserve 730,000+ acres of public lands in Colorado

New legislation making its way through the U.S. Senate would conserve more than 730,000 acres of federal public lands in and around Colorado's …

Every registered Colorado voter will automatically receive a ballot by mail. Unless you opt out, eligible Coloradans are automatically registered to vote when applying for or renewing your driver's license. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado one of 23 states to allow in-person registration on Election Day

Colorado residents who want to receive a November 5 general election ballot by mail must be registered, by mail or online, no later than October 28…

According to the International Energy Agency, methane emissions from fossil fuels must drop by 75% by 2030 to meet climate goals set in Paris. (Adobe Stock)

High-tech tools can bust careless oil and gas drillers

By Jennifer Oldham for Sierra.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public New…

Colorado State University researchers found snowpack in areas burned by the Cameron Peak Fire disappeared 7 to 11 days earlier than unburned areas. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Wildfire burn areas see faster snowpack melts, disrupt water resources

As a warming climate brings bigger and more frequent wildfires, burn scars left behind at high mountain altitudes are seeing snowpack melt much …

Wildfire seasons are projected to get longer in coming years in Colorado and across the Mountain West. (Adobe Stock)

Spikes in emergency visits during CO bad air days cost $1.14 billion in 2019

Colorado lawmakers are digging into the health and economic impacts of the state's poor air quality from wildfire smoke and ozone pollution created by…

For decades, the fossil fuel industry has been able to slow or prevent policies to reduce climate pollution by laundering false claims and junk science through allied think tanks and media outlets. (Adobe Stock)

Report names donors bankrolling climate change disinformation

As Coloradans deal with record-breaking heat, wildfires, and prolonged drought - linked to a changing climate - a new report shows how American …

A blood test for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) costs between $10 and $250 depending on which health care facility you choose. A comprehensive metabolic panel ranges from $10 to $700. (Adobe Stock)

New tool helps consumers compare costs, quality of hospital care

Shopping for health-care procedures has historically been more challenging than getting the best deal on groceries or even car repairs. But Cari …

Just one-third of Latinos live within walking distance of a park, compared to half of all white Americans who can easily access green spaces. (Adobe Stock)

Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates, preserves Colorado's great outdoors

Communities in Colorado and across the U.S. are making time to connect with nature during Hispanic Heritage Month. Hilda Berganza, climate manager …

Denver's current minimum wage, at $18.29 per hour, is set to rise with inflation to $18.81 next year. (Adobe Stock) Denver�s current minimum wage, at $18.29 per hour, is set to rise with inflation to $18.81 next year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Minimum wage hikes don't lead to job losses

As the city of Boulder considers raising its minimum wage on Oct. 10, a new report suggested the move would have little or no impact on job loss…

Analysts project the public health and climate benefits of new EPA clean air rules will exceed compliance costs by trillions of dollars through 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Report: EPA clean air benefits include 200,000 lives saved

New air pollution standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency over the past four years should bring $250 billion in economic benefits each…

Black pregnant and postpartum people in Colorado were 1.9 times more likely to die during pregnancy or within one year of the end of pregnancy compared to the state's overall pregnant population, according to analysis of data between 2016 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Pregnant, Black Coloradans twice as likely to die than overall population

September is Health Literacy Month, and a Denver-based group is working to help health professionals break a persistent pattern of discrimination …

Critics of Colorado Amendment 80 warn the move would siphon taxpayer dollars away from already underfunded public schools into private religious schools. (Adobe Stock)

CO Amendment 80 could prompt private school voucher foothold

Colorado voters will decide whether to change the state's constitution to ensure families have school choice as a fundamental right. Kallie Leyba…

Inflation Reduction Act funding is helping leading electric cooperatives, which serve one in five rural Americans, to accelerate the adoption of affordable and reliable clean energy, lowering costs for their members. (Adobe Stock)

Tri-State to lower customer energy costs by $400 million over 20 years

Colorado's second-largest electricity provider, the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, projects new federal clean energy funding will …

One cow can produce up to 264 pounds of methane every year, and it's estimated that livestock production is responsible for 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions. (Adobe Stock)

How livestock farming fuels climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

So far, 34 farmers markets, food hubs and retail locations across the state offer Colorado SNAP Produce Bonus. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot program makes fresh Colorado produce accessible to more families

As Colorado's fall harvest kicks into high gear, people participating in SNAP, the program formerly known as food stamps, can now get up to $60 per …

If the Kroger-Alberstons merger is approved, Gunnison's 6,000 residents would have to travel 65 miles to find a grocery store not owned by Kroger, which owns King Soopers in Colorado, according to the American Economic Liberties Project. (Galatas)

Corporate consolidation, lack of competition linked to rising grocery prices

As a federal judge considers a lawsuit aiming to block a proposed $25 billion merger between Kroger and Albertsons, a new report detailed how …

Renewal Village's strong partnerships, including with the the Colorado Division of Housing and Adams County, helped tap four million federal dollars to create a new home for families experiencing homelessness. (Galatas)

Renewal Village adds 215 housing units for Denver's unhoused residents

Renewal Village, a converted Clarion Inn featuring 215 units of permanent supportive and transitional housing for people experiencing homelessness…

Colorado residents and out-of-state visitors spent an estimated $10.8 billion on outdoor recreation within Colorado's river basins in 2019. About a quarter of this came from participants in water sports such as rafting. (Adobe Stock)

Polis taps nation’s strongest water-quality protections for 15 CO rivers

Nearly a year after the U.S. Supreme Court left key watersheds unprotected by the Clean Water Act, the Polis administration has designated new …

Nearly three of four Colorado voters surveyed want lawmakers to ensure full funding for Healthy School Meals for All. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado parents face September 30 deadline to help fund school meals

Colorado students will not go hungry this school year, thanks to the Healthy School Meals for All initiative approved by voters in 2022. Their …

Despite pledges from semiconductor companies in the 1990s to phase out dangerous chemicals, miscarriage and cancer rates remain high among the global workforce. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CHIPS Act opportunity to set standard for good Colorado jobs

As the Biden-Harris Administration prepares to invest up to $175 billion in tax money into semiconductor manufacturing under the CHIPS Act, a new …

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