Colorado Department of Human Services under investigation amid turnover, complaints and nearly $3 million in payouts The Denver Post’s review of internal complaints and interviews with seven current and former agency leaders and workers paint a picture of a toxic work environment.

An outside firm is investigating workplace conditions within the Colorado Department of Human Services amid high leadership turnover, a cascade of formal complaints and nearly $3 million in settlements with departing staff since Gov. Jared Polis took office, @samtabachnik.bsky.social reports

Free beginner-friendly dance classes in Denver’s Five Points bring movement back to its roots Inside a free dance class at the Moyo Nguvu Cultural Arts Center in Denver’s Five Points, there is no pressure to get a classical dancer’s body and no pressure to perform.

As a dancer, I look for multiple outlets where I can move in different spaces and develop a bond with my fellow classmates. At the Moyo Center in Denver, I found ways to approach it without the Western gaze. And the classes are free! For @denverpost.com (gift) www.denverpost.com/2026/04/20/d...

Supreme Court to consider whether Colorado’s free preschool program can exclude religious schools The court agreed Monday to take up the appeal from St. Mary Catholic Parish, which is supported by the Republican Trump administration.

The Supreme Court will hear from Catholic preschools that say Colorado violated their religious rights by excluding them from a state-funded free-preschool program over their admission policies. The state says religious schools are welcome to participate, but must follow nondiscrimination laws

Critics question feds’ plans for future of Colorado River: In years of severe drought, ‘the system is failing’

Critics question feds’ plans for future of Colorado River: In years of severe drought, ‘the system is failing’

Keeler: Shohei Ohtani, Nikola Jokic rocked Denver on Saturday — but Lionel Messi outdrew them both With Lionel Messi making his Colorado debut, there were more No. 10 jerseys at Empower Field Saturday than half of the Broncos home games last fall.

Messi, Jokic and Ohtani. Or, as @seankeeler.bsky.social put it: “Do you realize that for one Saturday in the Front Range, Denver hosted the best soccer player in the world, the best basketball player in the world, and the best baseball player on the planet?”
www.denverpost.com/2026/04/18/m...

Routed my long run early Saturday evening through Highland, past Empower Field and then up through LoDo. Hell of a jubilant sports town vibe, with Messi jerseys everywhere as fans walked north, and then Nuggets fans celebrating a win and Dodgers fans streaming toward Coors Field.

State budget passes Colorado Senate and nears final decision point, with committee weighing changes

State budget passes Colorado Senate and nears final decision point, with committee weighing changes

U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans builds big war chest as Democrats duke it out in suburban swing district

U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans builds big war chest as Democrats duke it out in suburban swing district

Tracking the Historic Rise of Habeas Cases Filed by Detained Immigrants ProPublica is tracking the historic rise in challenges filed by immigrants claiming their detention is illegal.

The Trump administration’s push for mass deportations has resulted in more than 18,000 challenges in federal court from immigrants claiming their detention is illegal.

We are tracking the increase in these cases:

Related: U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette is up with a new ad today, reintroducing herself to Denver voters. www.youtube.com/watch?v=xioW...

Colorado has paid more than $1.3 million to ranchers for wolf damages. Is its funding program sustainable?

“The current wolf compensation program is so broad that it now covers claims beyond its intended purpose of reimbursing livestock owners for actual, verified wolf-caused losses,” a petition says.

In the ~five days since we wrote this story, there have been ~30 more habeas petitions filed in federal court by immigrant detainees. That’s more than double the total filed in the *entirety of 2024.*

Bored? Restless? Seek out metro Denver’s out-of-the-ordinary sports courts and venues

Want to try something new? Think horseshoes, bocce ball, futsal, axe throwing … and yes, curling.

Tech companies fleeing Colorado have business leaders ringing alarm bells More than 230 business, technology, and civic leaders sign a letter urging nine steps to reverse the slide and improve the state’s reputation.

“Now those same decision makers are saying Colorado is not even on our short list, and if you’re in Colorado, you should be investing your money elsewhere.” www.denverpost.com/2026/04/13/c...

A closer look at Colorado’s proposed budget cuts, from a dental fund to financial aid to health provider fees

A closer look at Colorado’s proposed budget cuts, from a dental fund to financial aid to health provider fees

Lost sleep for Colorado lawmakers as they reckon with budget cuts for disabled people, immigrant children

Lost sleep for Colorado lawmakers as they reckon with budget cuts for disabled people, immigrant children

Conservative pastor Rep. Scott Bottoms wins top billing for governor on Colorado Republican primary ballot

Conservative pastor Rep. Scott Bottoms wins top billing for governor on Colorado Republican primary ballot

Christy Peterson is the Republican candidate for Congress in solid-blue Denver denverite.com/2026/04/09/d... #copolitics

A nice warm and fuzzy politics story: Colorado Springs’ mayor has a new chief of staff. It's the guy he trounced in the election -- Wayne Williams, Colorado's Republican former secretary of state.
coloradosun.com/2026/04/09/y...

A young Democrat stunned Rep. Diana DeGette in a party vote. Against the odds, Melat Kiros is gunning for a primary win. “This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that Denver Democrats want a fighter — somebody who is actually committed to transformative change,” Melat Kiros said.

New: A young Democrat stunned Rep. Diana DeGette in a party vote. Does Melat Kiros have a real shot in the primary?

“This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with the fact that Denver Democrats want a fighter,” she tells @elliottwenzler.bsky.social.

www.denverpost.com/2026/04/09/m...

Colorado advocacy group says Sen. Michael Bennet backed out of governor forum to avoid Gaza questions U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet backed out of a forum hosted by Colorado Muslims because he didn’t want to address questions about Gaza, organizers said. His campaign disputed that characterization.

Sen. Michael Bennet backed out of a gubernatorial forum hosted by Colorado Muslims because he didn’t want questions about the war in the Gaza Strip, organizers said. Bennet’s campaign disputed the characterization on Tuesday. @sethklamann.bsky.social reports: www.denverpost.com/2026/04/08/m...

Colorado House bill aims to make sure parolee risk assessment records are open to the public - Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition A bipartisan bill in the Colorado legislature is aimed at making sure the public regains access to records used by 9NEWS to show errors in the way the state screens the risk levels of parolees.

“Because this error was discovered by a reporter and it was confirmed by legislators, all using the criminal justice open records act, it would seem mind-boggling to now close off that ability."

A Colorado newspaper fired a journalist for making up quotes. She changed her name, got back in the game — and now she’s facing prison. At various points in her career, journalist April Morganroth reinvented herself to start fresh in a new state, leaving behind a wake of professional and personal misconduct.

Buckle up for a wild one.

April Morganroth was fired from a Colorado newspaper for making up quotes.

Then she changed her name, moved states, and got back in the journalism game.

Now she's facing decades in prison.

www.denverpost.com/2026/04/08/a...

A star scientist showed that better genetics lessons could reduce racism. It was the death knell for his career Brian Donovan had persuaded high school teachers and education researchers that prejudice might be ended by changing how genetics is taught.

Devastating look at the high cost of NSF cuts to science education research.

www.statnews.com/2026/04/07/b...

RTD chief Debra Johnson won’t renew contract Regional Transportation District chief executive and general manager Debra Johnson announced to agency staff and employees on Wednesday that she has declined an offer to extend her contract after May ...

Breaking: @rtd-denver.com's CEO and general manager Debra Johnson tells employees she won't renew her contract when it expires in a year. The agency will search for a new leader after about 5.5 years. www.denverpost.com/2026/04/08/r...

Aurora, Arvada are latest cities to declare Stage 1 drought restrictions on outdoor watering

Aurora, Arvada are latest cities to declare Stage 1 drought restrictions on outdoor watering

How Trump Took the U.S. to War With Iran

Belatedly got around to reading this reporting tour de force from the NYT. Remarkable level of detail and insight, down to where people sat in the meetings (which, among other things, maybe provides some insight into the sourcing). www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/u...

Lakewood voters reverse city’s rezoning effort in special election on housing density The special election vote strikes a blow against those who have been pushing for more density in Lakewood in the hopes of increasing housing supply, lowering home prices.

Voters in Lakewood overwhelmingly approved four measures that restore the zoning code the city had before elected leaders changed it to prod more home building, according to special election results Tuesday night. www.denverpost.com/2026/04/07/l... via @denverpost.com

JBS workers in Greeley end strike after company agrees to negotiate, union says Thousands of striking employees will return to work at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley on Tuesday after the company agreed to return to the negotiating table, union officials said.

The 3-week strike by members of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 marked the first walkout at a U.S. meatpacking plant in four decades and the first-ever walkout at JBS's Greeley plant. Workers will return to their jobs starting Tuesday.

What do you want to ask Michael Bennet and Phil Weiser in the Colorado governor’s race? Colorado’s first open race for governor in eight years is fast approaching, and The Denver Post wants your questions for the candidates.

Help us out: Let us know what you'd like the D gov candidates to talk about. We're hosting 2 debates, and this is for the first one with the Ds. (Waiting to schedule the R debate until after GOP's state assembly.)

*Please let us know through the form at the link!
www.denverpost.com/2026/04/03/c...