Headlines Monday August 11, 2025
Colorado, Denver Now Sanctuary Jurisdictions
The Department of Justice released a new list of sanctuary cities last week. Colorado is now only one of 12 states with the distinction. Denver is Colorado’s only city on the list.
The list follows a Spring executive order, asking the DOJ to keep a record of all states, cities, and counties that have, “policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws.”
The department said it would keep updating the list if jurisdictions, “remedied their policies, practices, and laws.”
It is unclear what consequences might come for jurisdictions within the list, but the DOJ has already filed lawsuits against Denver and Colorado for laws that limit cooperation with immigration agencies.
Naropa University Campus to be developed into student dorms
Naropa University is planning to redevelop its campus into a student residential area. The university stated in planning documents the 2130 Arapahoe Ave building would contain over 100 units.
The application for the rezoning and redevelopment of Naropa’s campus was submitted in July by Chicago-based company, Core Spaces. Six months after the university announced that it was selling its main campus to invest in the institution’s future. And was set to be discussed on Thursday at the Boulder council meeting.
Despite Boulder’s planning board supporting the rezoning redevelopment, they expressed concerns regarding the building’s style clashing with the Goss Grove neighborhood and Lincoln Hall. Boulder’s city council is asking for feedback from the community, particularly from the Landmarks Board, Historic Preservation staff, and residents. The application is still in concept only.
Judge Dismissed Ruling That Pushed for JeffCo Students Organizing by Assigned Sex on School Field Trips
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a group of parents against the Jefferson County School District for allowing transgender students the right to room according to their gender identity on school overnight trips. Judge Regina M. Rodriguez ruled that the parents’ rights to raise their children don’t extend into a public school classroom.
Jefferson County School District policy states students should be, “assigned to share overnight accommodations with other students that share the student’s gender identity.”
The plaintiffs in the case were concerned the district was not giving accurate and truthful information about where their kids slept on overnight trips. The parents also said they have a right to raise their children as they like and that the district’s policy violated their religious freedom.
The court found that these rights were not infringed upon, saying that a parent’s right to raise their child ends at altering school policies.
Judge Rodriguez also rejected the parents’ concerns over privacy, citing that it would be impossible to have the right to avoiding all potential intimate exposure to a transgender person.
Special Session Update
Governor Polis called on state lawmakers Wednesday to return to the Capitol later this month for a special legislative session. The Colorado Capitol News Alliance’s Lucas Brady Woods reports the main goal is to close a massive budget shortfall caused by the federal spending bill signed by President Trump this summer.
Lawmakers are facing a nearly eight hundred million dollar deficit. To fix it, they’ll likely focus on closing tax loopholes for businesses. They can also slash current spending and dip into the state’s reserves. Polis ordered a hiring freeze for state agencies through the end of the year. He says these efforts can’t wait until the regular legislative session in January.
That will give the state more time to implement cuts before the budget year ends next June. Polis also wants lawmakers to take up other issues during the special session, like Artificial Intelligence regulations that are set to take effect next year. The special session starts on August 21.
(Report courtesy of Lucas Brady Woods reporting for the Colorado Capitol News Alliance)
Wildfire Update
Over a thousand firefighters are working to contain the two of the wildfires near Meeker. The Lee fire grew to be 106,672 acres, but officials said Sunday morning that it is now 6% contained.
Nearby, the Elk fire has grown to 14,635 acres and is considered 9% contained. Officials also said there’s been a decline in fire activity.
However, the Colorado Sun reported that strong winds out of the north continue to push the southern end of the fire. Officials said in a statement that they are, “well-staffed and prepared for more extreme fire behavior moving south.” Low humidity is also expected to continue.
Both fires were started by a lightning strike on Aug. 2. The Lee fire now ranks as the sixth-largest wildfire in Colorado’s history, but no buildings or structures have been lost to the fire. The Elk fire destroyed two houses and one outbuilding.
