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06_03_26_PM_Headlines KGNU News
Headlines Wed, Jun 3, 2026
CO election bill becomes law
Colorado voters will have more time to vote from home this November under a new bill designed to push back against the Trump administration and signed into law yesterday.
The bill requires Colorado clerks to mail ballots to voters earlier and to open drop boxes earlier for the mid-term elections. It also allows the state to declare an election emergency to provide more flexibility to respond to changes at the federal level.
Democrats said the bill is necessary to prepare just in case of federal election interference. It sets up requirements for chain of custody for federal search warrants for an election office and it bans a presidential candidate seeking a third term in office from appearing on Colorado’s ballot.
This story was reported by the Colorado Capitol News Alliance.
Polis vetoes several bills
Governor Jared Polis has vetoed several bills championed by progressive Democrats.
One of the vetoed bills was part of the Democrats’ signature affordability platform. It would have prevented companies from using surveillance data to set individual prices and wages for their customers and workers.
Polis said the bill was too broad. Polis vetoed another bill that intended to make arbitration fairer and more accessible. This is the legal process mandated in many terms of service agreements that consumers have to sign. Polis said the bill would have made arbitration too complicated.
A third bill would have stopped restaurants from automatically handing out plastic utensils and condiment packets unless customers ask for them, in order to reduce unnecessary waste. Polis said those types of decisions should be left to local governments.
This story was reported by the Colorado Capitol News Alliance.
Denver Councilwoman Sarah Parady will resign due to health concerns
Denver Councilwoman Sarah Parady has announced her resignation from the council due to health concerns. Parady, who was elected in 2023, is one of the council’s at-large members.
Parady is known for her political activism, and critique of Mayor Mike Johnston’s stance on police surveillance, homeless encampment sweeps, and his support of data centers.
She announced her resignation at Monday’s council meeting.
“ It’s been my honor, my privilege to be up here representing the city that I love so much, and I do not wanna stop. This is where I wanna be, but it is not in the cards. Um- I won’t pretend to understand exactly what’s going on medically because I don’t. But what I can tell you is that going up the stairs now is harder and more exhausting than it used to be to go up a fourteener.”
Parady’s resignation won’t go into effect for another two months, but she said she chose to announce it now to give would-be candidates time to think about running for her seat.
“ I think that often the best elected officials are not the people who immediately think of themselves for positions of power. And so if this gives you a thought that you might raise your hand, take that thought seriously.”
Parady’s successor will be chosen on the November ballot, and she will continue to serve on the City Council until August 5TH.
CO counties & conservation districts agree to protect the Crystal River
Colorado counties and conservation districts have signed an agreement to oppose any future reservoirs and diversions on one of the state’s few remaining free-flowing rivers.
Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Caroline Llanes has more.
Pitkin and Gunnison counties, the town of Marble, the Colorado River District, and the West Divide Conservancy District have all committed to fighting future proposed dams and diversions on the Crystal River.
It’s part of a years-long process of locals trying to secure a Congressional “wild and scenic” designation to protect the river.
Michael Gorman with environmental advocacy group Wilderness Workshop says the agreement is the result of local grassroots support for conservation during a critical time.
“With climate change and drought, we’re just seeing more stress on river systems. And something like this that protects the Crystal in the meantime is a really good thing.”
Gorman says local support is even more important now, when federal lands and waters are seeing protections rolled back.
There have been proposals to build reservoirs on the Crystal River in the past, and to divert water for oil shale development.
This story was reported by Rocky Mountain Community Radio.
First case of West Nile Virus in Jefferson County
Health officials confirmed yesterday the first human case of West Nile Virus in Colorado.
The case was reported to have infected a person in Jefferson County.
West Nile Virus is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito and most people who contract the virus do not experience symptoms. Some people may experience symptoms of fever, headache, bodyache, fatigue, and some may become seriously ill.
Mosquitos are most active during the summer season and anyone who feels ill after a mosquito bite should contact a health official.
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