Jan. 6 - 10, 2025
Each week, KUNC collects and curates some of the more important stories of the week that have aired on our daily newscast. We know how busy life can be, and that it's not always possible to get your news on our airwaves (or from streaming us right here on our website). Fill in the gaps and catch up right here. No one enjoys the feeling of missing out!
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Gov. Polis lays out his annual vision for Colorado, from cutting regulations to taking on Trump
Governor Jared Polis delivered his annual State of the State address Thursday. KUNC鈥檚 Lucas Brady Woods reports Polis positioned himself as a possible foil to the incoming Trump administration. Polis said he wants the state to counter the Trump administration鈥檚 environmental and energy policies. He also called on Colorado to preserve reproductive freedom, marriage equality, and voting rights. But Polis didn鈥檛 focus on only national politics. He said he wants to make housing more affordable in Colorado by lowering the cost of homeowners鈥� insurance and encouraging more condos. He also wants to incentivize more train and bus stations across the state. And he said he is willing to find common ground with Colorado Republicans, particularly on cutting regulations.
Colorado sues landlords over algorithmic pricing
Colorado is part of a coalition of states along with the Justice Department suing some of the nation鈥檚 largest landlords for algorithmic pricing they argue harms renters. Attorney General Phil Weiser signed on to a lawsuit last summer against the software company RealPage. That lawsuit was amended this week to include several big landlords like Greystar, Cortland, and Cushman. The suit alleges they colluded with RealPage to decrease competition in apartment pricing. RealPage software digests competitive data from landlords through an algorithm and produces daily pricing recommendations. The six landlords in the lawsuit operate over one-point-three million units nationwide.
Tax2GO makes tax services in rural Colorado more accessible
The state Revenue Department is rolling out a new program to make tax services more accessible. is a joint effort with the Division of Motor Vehicles to provide tax services at locations served by the program, such as libraries and community centers. TAX2GO will use the same technology and encrypted network as DMV2GO. Governor Jared Polis praised the program for expanding government services available to rural Coloradans without any additional cost.
LGBTQ-plus rights advocate Tim Gill receives Presidential Medal of Honor
A Colorado entrepreneur known for his work to advance LGBTQ rights and equality was among 19 recipients to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom last week. Tim Gill founded the software company Quark, Inc. in 1981. He sold his stake in the company in 1999 and set aside millions for LGBTQ causes. Gill also started his own foundation to contribute to equality efforts and support STEM education in Colorado. President Biden presented the honor to Gill on Saturday, highlighting his work to fight for marriage equality and anti-discrimination protections. Gill was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 2022.
Colorado Springs zoo welcomes new baby sloth
The new year is off to a slow start with a at a Colorado zoo. A Hoffman鈥檚 two-toed sloth pup was born in December at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. The zoo says the infant sloth seems strong and has been bonding with Mom in quarantine. The baby鈥檚 sex hasn鈥檛 yet been identified, and plans for a name are pending鈥� but Zoo staff say you can follow social media channels for sloth 鈥減up-dates!鈥�
Nederland poised to buy Eldora
The town of Nederland is moving forward with exploratory plans to buy Eldora Mountain Ski Resort in Boulder County. In August, the Utah-based POWDR Corporation announced it was selling the ski area. Nederland says it may be interested in buying the resort to boost the local economy and help keep skiing affordable for locals. The town has been invited to submit a final bid, with an estimated price tag of $100M to $200M. Nederland says it would likely pay for the mountain by issuing enterprise fund bonds tied only to Eldora. The town board of trustees voted this week to hire special legal counsel to study whether the purchase is feasible.
Colorado launches air quality tools online for residents
State air quality regulators have launched two new online tools to keep the public informed about local air pollution. The lets users look up potential polluters who have submitted pre-permit application paperwork by zip code. The makes air quality inspection reports for existing pollution sites easily accessible.
Broncos鈥� Nix honored for offensive performance
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. The rookie tossed for a career-high 321 yards and four touchdowns in leading the Broncos to a 38-0 shutout over Kansas City last Sunday. The Broncos clinched a spot in the postseason for the first time in nine years. They play the Bills in the Wild Card playoff round Saturday night in Buffalo.
