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1_21_25_Headlines Andraa VonBoeselager
Colorado laws protect residents from some of Trump’s executive orders
President Donald Trump signed dozens of executive orders on Inauguration Day yesterday. But, thanks to Colorado Democrats, the ripple effects of those orders won’t be seen as strongly in the state.
One executive order calls for policy changes in immigration status. This includes building a border wall, putting an end to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) app for scheduling appointments, and stopping what officials call “catch and release.” That practice involves allowing those with immigrant status into the U.S. shortly after being apprehended for violating the law. These changes are somewhat hindered in Colorado by a 2019 bill that limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration agents. According to 9News, the measure prevents law enforcement from assisting federal immigration agents on civil issues or providing information about an individual wanted by immigration.
Another executive order from Trump reinforces the president’s transphobia, insisting that only be two genders will be recognized by the United States government: male and female. Coloradoans that don’t identify within the gender binary won’t be directly impacted in-state: driver’s licenses and state IDs here can include say male, female, or “X” as a gender marker. On top of that, Polis signed a law back in 2019 that made it easier to change one’s gender on their birth certificate.
Trump’s mass pardon includes 30 Coloradans
In other presidential news, President Donald Trump mass pardoned over 1,500 people connected to the January 6 riot at the U.S Capitol. This includes at least 30 Coloradans who will either see their convictions wiped or pending charges dropped.
Trump announced his pardons late Monday after his inauguration in Washington, D.C. Trump wrote that the proclamation begins a process of “national reconciliation.” He described those charged and convicted in the riot as “hostages.” This includes those who were convicted for seditious conspiracy and assault on police officers.
More than half of the Coloradans charged pleaded guilty to lesser charges and were sentenced to prison or probation. Six people still had pending cases.
According to The Denver Post, pardons were expected after Trump’s yearslong campaign to rewrite the history of the January 6 attack that left more than 100 police officers injured.
20 gray wolves released in Pitkin and Eagle counties
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released 20 gray wolves, as part of their second round of work to re-establish a self-sustaining population in Colorado.
15 of the wolves were captured in British Columbia, and five were from the Copper Creek pack that had been captive by officials since September.
The release brought seven males and eight females to Colorado. CPW released five wolves per day on January 12, 14, and 16. Work to bring back the animals began on January 10, after state officials denied a petition from ranchers seeking to halt the reintroduction program on behalf of their livestock.
All 20 animals are fitted with GPS tracking collars, according to The Colorado Sun.
Castle Rock bus driver charged for abandoning kids at wrong stop
A Douglas County school bus driver accused of dropping kids at the wrong stop in Castle Rock last year has been charged with three counts of misdemeanor child abuse. The driver is no longer employed with the school district.
Irving Johnson was charged in Douglas County Court on Wednesday in connection with the November 18 incident. Johnson was substituting for another driver and, according to students, drove around erratically for an hour after leaving the elementary school. He eventually dropped off the 40 kids riding the bus at a random intersection in Castle Rock.
Johnson said that his GPS was faulty and that he “could have done better,” but added that the students on the bus were talking loudly and he couldn’t get them to quiet down. That’s according to Denver7.
King Soopers union seeks out vote
The union representing thousands of King Soopers employees across Colorado could be on their way to striking for fairer wages.
Four days after their contracts expired, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 7 scheduled the first vote to ask members to authorize a strike. That vote will take place January 29 in Westminster. A second vote is set for January 30 in Greenwood Village, with more on the way according to The Colorado Sun.
Local 7’s president told The Sun that King Soopers’ proposed wage increases are inadequate, and would only apply to a select group of people based on zip code. The union is also concerned about health benefits, inadequate staffing, worker safety, and competition from third-party lenders.
If the strike is approved, the walkout will involve more stores and employees than the nine-day strike they held back in 2022. Back then, the union agreed to a contract with a “no-strike clause”; however, that’s no longer in effect since those contracts just expired.
School closures
Many schools will delay their start times today, due to the extreme cold.
Boulder Valley School District will start two hours late today, along with Denver Public Schools, Aurora Public Schools, and Westminster Public Schools. Arapahoe Community College, the Auraria Campus, Community College of Aurora, and Front Range Community College are all staying open despite cold temperatures.