Still Affected By Power Outages? Colorado Approves Recycling Package, Investigation Finds Sen. Faith Winters At Fault – Drunk During Fatal Crash

Headlines Monday, December 22, 2025

Power Outages Impacted Thousands of Coloradans

Xcel Energy released a statement over the weekend confirming that most customers should have their power restored by or before today after the most recent power shutoff. The energy company said severe wind damage in some parts of Evergreen means they should be the only ones still waiting for power.

This comes as the Denver Post reports the most recent numbers —more than 40,000 Colorado homes and businesses were still experiencing outages Saturday evening – with the energy company saying that most of them should have power by Saturday at 10 p.m.

If you’re still experiencing an outage, there are several ways to contact Xcel Energy including texting OUT to 98936, or STAT to check the status of the outage, by calling 1-800-895-1999 and following the prompts, or by going online at xcelenergy.com/out.

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Colorado Approves Recycling Finance Package

A statewide expansion of recycling is launching in 2026.  The $200 million plan, run by the Circular Action Alliance trade group, will be paid for by grants created from fees on consumer packaging companies. These companies include Pepsi, Coors, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Amazon, Ikea, Colgate-Palmolive and more. 

Executive director of the nonprofit recycler Eco-Cycle, Suzanne Jones, said Colorado is only the second state to require consumer packaging producers to charge themselves a fee based on volume, and use the money to reimburse communities for free recycling programs.

The plan will come at no extra cost to residents. The Colorado Sun reports that recycling rates for paper and packaging covered by the fees will increase up to 58% by 2035, from the current 25%, reducing the current 410,000 tons a year sent to landfills. Statewide definitions of recyclable products will provide more certainty on recyclable items. 

Colorado communities can attend public hearing sessions to inform local recycling programs, and look towards applying for the alliance’s grants.

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Investigation Finds Sen. Faith Winters At Fault, Drunk During Fatal Crash

Arapahoe county investigators determined Senator Faith Winter was legally intoxicated and at fault when she was killed during a car accident last month. The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s office announced Friday a toxicology report of Winter after the crash showed she had a Blood-alcohol content of .185%, in Colorado the legal limit when operating a vehicle in .08%.

Winter passed last month after her car collided with a pickup truck on Interstate 25. After the investigation of the crash, the sheriff’s office determined the rear tail lights for the pick up truck were not visible, but the driver was operating the vehicle with “due regard.”

The Denver Post says Winter, a democrat who represented Broomfield as a state legislator, has struggled with health and substance use disorder in the past. She was previously reprimanded by legislative leadership after she appeared intoxicated at a community event last year. She entered substance use treatment after that point.

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Colorado Lawmakers Respond to Trump Admin Asking States to Stand-Down to AI Regulation

Colorado Lawmakers say they’re remaining undeterred in their push to regulate AI as a recent Trump administration executive order threatened legal challenges and withholding of finances. The order issued December 11th included language requesting states for a, “minimally burdensome national policy framework.”

In the 2024 legislative session, Colorado passed a first-of-its-kind law that protected Coloradans from risks of discrimination from AI-use in loan approval, apartment application procedures, and job application procedures. 

Trump’s order says to bring states ‘in line with his vision of the AI industry’ the Trump order threatens to withhold Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program funding. According to the Denver Post, Colorado recently announced it expects to receive $420 million from the program, with hopes for another $400 million in the near future.

Colorado is one of several states targeted by the recent executive order, with California, Utah and Texas also passing laws surrounding private sector AI use in recent years. 

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Colorado Treasure Leaves 8th District Race

Colorado Treasurer Dave Young is ending his campaign in the battleground 8th Congressional District. Young said in a statement Friday that a member of his family is facing a serious health situation. He said stepping back from the race to care for his family and continue his responsibilities as state treasurer is the “responsible choice.”

Young’s departure means the 8th District race is effectively between three candidates – state lawmakers Shannon Bird and Manny Rutinel, and first-time candidate and Marine veteran Evan Munsing.

 

You can hear daily headlines on the Morning Magazine, KGNU’s weekday morning show with coverage of local and regional public affairs and news with headlines and commentary. Click here to listen to full episodes of the Morning Magazine.

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