Colorado

How One City Gets Residents to Actually Participate in the Budget Process

Fort Collins, Colorado uses a "budgeting for outcomes" system that officials say prioritizes initiatives that are likely to help the city achieve its overall goals.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

How One City Gets Residents to Actually Participate in the Budget Process

Fort Collins, Colorado uses a "budgeting for outcomes" system that officials say prioritizes initiatives that are likely to help the city achieve its overall goals.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram
Colorado

How One City Gets Residents to Actually Participate in the Budget Process

Fort Collins, Colorado uses a "budgeting for outcomes" system that officials say prioritizes initiatives that are likely to help the city achieve its overall goals.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Denver Voted to Decriminalize Magic Mushrooms. What Happens Next?

The mayor says he’ll respect Initiative 301. The district attorney says it’s open to interpretation. Drug policy experts say officials could ignore it altogether.

  • By Lindsay Fendt, CityLab

Denver Homeless Camping Ballot Initiative Fails

Voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot initiative that sought to give homeless people the right to camp in public places.

  • By Sophie Quinton

Florida Moves to Allow Teachers to Carry Guns

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Baltimore mayor resigns … New election machines in North Dakota … Marijuana lounges become legal in Las Vegas.

  • By Emma Coleman

The Town That Extended 'Smart Growth' to Its Water

As Western states grapple with drought, Westminster, Colorado, has become a model for its integration of water data into the planning process.

  • By Jason Plautz, CityLab

This City Might Give Homeless People the Right to Camp Anywhere

The Denver initiative is the latest front in a campaign advocates for homeless people have been waging at the state level for years.

  • By Sophie Quinton

Why a County Eliminated Degree Requirements for 82 Types of Jobs

The change will affect the hiring criteria for jobs ranging from budget analysts to parks managers.

  • By Bill Lucia

Colorado Poised to Pass Net-Neutrality Law

The bill, awaiting the governor's signature, would prevent non-neutral service providers from using taxpayer money.

  • By Kate Elizabeth Queram

Death Penalty Repeal Stalls in Colorado

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | Chicago elects a new mayor ... Keeping public comments alive at a Nebraska county board ... Disaster relief disagreements stall bill.

  • By Laura Maggi

Congress Could Could Move Quickly on Drought Contingency Plan for Colorado River

Seven states submitted their agreements on March 19 with water officials asking for action before the end of April.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

As Farmers Retire, Their Families Face Difficult Choices

Colorado over seven years lost nearly 7 percent of its farms and ranches and about 187,000 agricultural acres to other uses, according to federal estimates.

  • By Sophie Quinton

Purdue Pharma Settles With Oklahoma in Major Opioid Crisis Lawsuit

STATE AND LOCAL ROUNDUP | The states that would benefit most from Dreamer protections … What to wear to survey flood damage ... Importing drugs from Canada for prisoners.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

When Does a Winter Storm Become a Bomb Cyclone?

What raises a common winter storm to the level of 'bomb cyclone'? It's all about rapid, sharp changes in atmospheric pressure— and the scientists who coined the term meant to highlight their power.

  • By Russ Schumacher, The Conversation

Fed Up With High Health Care Costs, A Community Asks for A Better Deal

A Colorado county where residents are dealing with hospital and medical costs much higher than in other parts of the state is now turning to a new model to negotiate on behalf of some of the largest employers in the region.

  • By Sophie Quinton

Hike Taxes on the Rich to Pay for Education? Voters in this State Support the Idea, Survey Finds

The poll results come amid discussions about taxing wealthier Americans more at the federal level.

  • By Bill Lucia

Colorado Joins States Seeking to Boost Electric Vehicle Sales

Automakers are slow to sell EVs in places without zero emission vehicle mandates, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

  • By Dave Nyczepir

Sky-High Affordability Gap Strains Ski Town Economies

Mountain communities across the West huddle in Vail to discuss the challenges of high costs of living, low-paying jobs and a scarcity of places to live.

  • By David O. Williams

Places Where Flu Activity Has Been the Highest

Many localities haven’t yet felt the full brunt of influenza season.

  • By Michael Grass

As Wildfire Risk Increases, Home Insurance Is Harder to Find

This is particularly a problem in California, where catastrophic wildfires in 2018 caused more than $9 billion in losses to insured property.

  • By Sophie Quinton

The Little Town That Pot Built

Garden City, Colorado, has fewer than 300 residents, but has spent $3 million on downtown infrastructure upgrades since retail marijuana was legalized.

  • By Sophie Quinton

Striking the Right Balance With State and Local Business Regulations

Colorado's outgoing governor and a beer company co-founder offer some thoughts on what it takes.

  • By Bill Lucia