Latest news with #JaredPolis
CBS News
a day ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Gov. Jared Polis announces pardons for Coloradans convicted of psilocybin possession at psychedelics conference
This week Colorado's governor said he's pardoning some people who were convicted in the state for possessing certain psychedelics. Gov. Jared Polis made the announcement on Wednesday at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference in Denver. The conference is going on all week at the Colorado Convention Center. Gov. Jared Polis speaks at the Psychedelic Science 2025 conference on Wednesday. CBS The pardons cover people convicted of possessing the drugs found in so-called "magic" mushrooms: psilocybin and psilocin. "This is a step forward for the individuals -- they'll now have this cleared from their records," he said. "But also truly acknowledge the error in public policy that led to their conviction creating a more just system to break down barriers." In his speech, Polis also showcased the progress Colorado has made in the eventual legal use of psychedelic mushrooms, and the future of the psychedelics industry. In 2022, Colorado residents voted to decriminalize psychedelic mushrooms for people 21 and older in 2022. The measure also green lighted state-regulated "healing centers" where participants can experience the drug under supervision. The governor says he hopes Colorado can take on a leading role for the rest of the country when it comes to the legal framework, and research, around psychedelic mushrooms. "Colorado has been a national leader in breaking through outdated laws around cannabis, and now we are doing the same for natural medicine," Polis said in a prepared statement.
Axios
2 days ago
- Business
- Axios
6 numbers to know about Colorado's wobbly fiscal outlook
Colorado's economy is teetering as tariffs, potential federal budget cuts and the possibility of a recession buffet the state's fiscal picture. State of play: Two independent forecasts presented to lawmakers Wednesday are weighted to the downside and anticipate only minimal economic and job growth in the coming year. What they're saying:"The chaos and uncertainty caused by Washington [loom] large over today's economic forecast," legislative budget committee chair Jeff Bridges (D-Arapahoe County) said in a statement. Zoom in: Here are the key numbers setting the scene. $1 billion: The potential negative impact on the state budget if Congress approves the House version of the reconciliation bill, per the governor's budget office. 50%: The chance for a recession, according to the governor's office, up from previous estimates in March of 40%. Gov. Jared Polis blamed President Trump's tariffs for the economic uncertainty and the rising chances of a recession. 800: The decrease in the federal workforce in Colorado, a 1.4% drop in the first four months of the year, according to nonpartisan legislative economists. 4.8%: The current unemployment rate in Colorado. It exceeds the 4.2% national average. This is the first time in the last 25 years that the state's unemployment rate exceeded the national average for a sustained period, legislative analysts said. Zero: The chance for refund checks under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights in tax years 2025 and 2026, legislative economists report.
Axios
6 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
"No Kings" protest draws thousands to downtown Denver
Thousands flocked to downtown Denver on Saturday for the "No Kings" protest, timed to counter-program President Trump's multimillion-dollar military parade in Washington, D.C. The big picture: The volume of people who participated resembled that of a Denver sport team's title celebration more than a political rally. Protests in cities across the U.S. collectively drew millions of people in what organizers called the largest single-day anti-Trump demonstration since the start of his second term. At one point, organizers in Denver said the march — which started at the Capitol before winding through the city center — stretched a mile long. Why it matters: It's likely the largest anti-Trump demonstration in Denver since his first term drew tens of thousands of people downtown for the 2017 Women's March. Zoom in: Marchers on Saturday were largely unified in their anti-Trump messaging, though at various points there were also anti-Israel, pro-Palestinian and anti-police chants ringing through the massive crowd. The Colorado Palestine Coalition led some of the marchers, organizers on the ground told Axios. State of play: The event took place after a Minnesota state lawmaker was fatally shot and another wounded early Saturday in what authorities called "targeted" attacks against sitting Democratic legislators. The attack prompted the Minnesota State Patrol to urge people not to attend local "No Kings" protests. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, in a statement said the Centennial State stands with Minnesota: "We must continue to reject the divisive politics and rhetoric that have become too prevalent in our country." Between the lines: Saturday's protest was peaceful. There were no clashes between police and marchers observed by Axios. Some demonstrators thanked officers who were blocking roads allowing demonstrators to march. What they're saying: "This is the moment, people, where we have to say, 'No, this is the red line — you are not a king,'" Denver resident Michelle Mottler, who arrived dressed as the Statue of Liberty, told us Saturday.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
Aspen Police Department Warns Kids Having Fun Is a Crime
"When you see this, do you think it's just fun? Or do you think that it's illegal? It is definitely the latter. Whether it's fun or not." This is the beginning of a Facebook post by Colorado's Aspen Police Department (APD). What is this possibly fun but definitely illegal activity? The post includes a photo that shows two children on a bike—one child sitting on the seat and the other on the first rider's lap—riding on a sidewalk. "Colorado law says that two-up riding on a single seat bike is against the law, and of course, bikes are not allowed on sidewalks," the post continues. "These 'Sidewalk Sallys' could potentially hurt themselves or others." (If you had to Google "Sidewalk Sally" you are not alone, as it's not a real term. A daytime talk show seems to have coined and used it once, unrelated to riding a bike on a sidewalk.) The APD post goes on to inform Aspen's citizens that this behavior could result in a "ticket or a trip to the emergency room," both of which seem like rather dramatic consequences for an activity that has been popular since the invention of bikes. The tone-deaf post is signed "The Aspen Police Department—protecting the Wild West on two wheels since the 1880s," which seems to inadvertently imply that APD officers get around exclusively on bikes. The post has garnered over 300 comments—far more than the department's other posts—most of which are not thankful for the Department's caution and concern: "Tell me you don't have real crimes in Aspen without telling me you don't have real crimes." "'Kids never go outside anymore!' Proceeds to police every single thing kids do." "Lol yes. Our children should really be playing IN the traffic. Not away from it. Got it." (That one really resonated. My mom made me ride on the sidewalks, so it's not obvious to all of us that biking on the sidewalk is a crime.) Many of the comments were very libertarian-toned, naturally: "So basically every kid since the bicycle was invented has broken the law!" "Find a crime to deal with or reduce your force." "The more laws you make, the more police you have to hire to enforce new laws, the more police you hire to enforce those new laws, the more criminals you make. This pattern doesn't stop one day. It keeps growing." Several commenters asked if the page was satire, while one dealt a devastating blow: "Colorado used to be cool." Despite this, in 2022, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed the Reasonable Independence for Children law, clarifying that "a child is not neglected when allowed to participate in certain independent activities that a reasonable and prudent parent, guardian, or legal custodian would consider safe given the child's maturity, condition, and abilities." Utah passed the first such law in 2018 and has since been joined by Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, Connecticut, and Montana. This year alone, Georgia and Missouri also passed similar legislation, with Florida expected to follow soon. Let Grow, the nonprofit I run, supported all of these laws and continues to work with broad coalitions to see legislative protections for childhood independence enacted. No child should be treated like a criminal for riding a bike with a friend. And no police department should be proud of doing so. Facebook commenters know this. Hopefully, the APD will catch up soon. The post Aspen Police Department Warns Kids Having Fun Is a Crime appeared first on
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Colorado just raised the bar on paid leave for NICU parents—and every state should be paying attention
When your newborn is in the NICU, the rest of the world fades. Monitors beep. Nurses whisper. You count the minutes between updates. What most parents don't have, though, is the one thing they need most: time. Now, that's starting to change. Colorado just made history as the first state in the U.S. to offer paid NICU leave. As Axios reports, Governor Jared Polis has signed a bill expanding the state's paid family and medical leave program to include an additional 12 weeks of leave for parents whose infants are hospitalized in neonatal intensive care. The new leave goes into effect on January 1, 2026. The law builds on the state's broader paid leave benefit, which voters approved in 2020 and launched in January 2024. offering up to 12 weeks of paid time off for medical or caregiving needs. Colorado's program is part of a growing movement among states to provide paid leave through publicly funded insurance systems—separate from the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which protects some workers' jobs but doesn't guarantee income. Related: When the baby is in the NICU, who's caring for the mom? A new model is changing that The bill acknowledges what science has long confirmed: babies thrive when their parents can be present in the NICU. A study published in JAMA Network Open assessed the outcomes following close collaboration with parents in NICUs. The study found that family-centered care—where parents are directly, daily involved with the hands-on care of their NICU newborns—led to better outcomes for both infants and parents. Babies gained more weight, and parents reported lower stress levels and greater satisfaction with care. But presence comes at a cost. Without paid leave, many parents are forced to make an impossible choice: stay by their critically ill newborn's side—or hold onto their job. One of the bill's sponsors, Colorado State Rep. Yara Zokaie, knows that struggle firsthand, She described her own experience working remotely from the hospital while her baby was in intensive care. As she told Axios, 'Having a child in the NICU is one of the most terrifying moments as a parent, and the last thing they should be worried about is having to choose between spending time with their child in the hospital and keeping their jobs.' To be clear, Colorado's new provision makes it the only state to specifically extend paid leave for NICU hospitalization. Thirteen states and the District of Columbia have broader paid family leave laws, but they vary widely in duration, eligibility, and funding. And federally? The U.S. still offers zero weeks of guaranteed paid family leave. That means NICU outcomes—like so much in parenting—are increasingly shaped by your zip code. In contrast, Colorado's law recognizes that care is not a private inconvenience—it's a public good. And it builds on evidence that paid leave improves both health and economic outcomes for families. As reported by Axios, advocates see this move as proof that Colorado's family leave program is working well enough to expand. Paid NICU leave isn't just smart public health. It's long-overdue recognition that the burden of care work—especially during medical crises—has too often fallen silently on mothers. In most households, caregiving during a medical emergency still defaults to the mother. As we've previously covered, moms are often expected to 'make it work'—balancing crisis caregiving with professional obligations, all without the systemic support their roles demand Colorado's new law doesn't fix all of that. But it sets a precedent. One that says parents in crisis deserve more than platitudes. They deserve policies that meet them where they are: beside a hospital bed, holding the tiniest hand they've ever seen. Related: Moms don't need a baby bonus—they need paid leave, childcare, and real support Sources: SENATE BILL 25-144. Colorado Government. SENATE BILL 25-144. NICU outcomes. JAMA Network Open. Outcomes Following Close Collaboration With Parents Intervention in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. State Paid Family Leave Laws Across the U.S. January 202. Bipartisan Policy Centrer. State Paid Family Leave Laws Across the U.S. Paid family and medical leave. January 2025. American Progress. The State of Paid Family and Medical Leave in the U.S. in 2025. Colorado expands paid leave for NICU parents. June 2025. Axios. Colorado expands paid leave for NICU parents.
