Denver’s Flock contract to end Mar. 31; Hurd voted to rescind Canada tariffs; Medicaid cuts threaten resources for disabled Coloradans

Headlines Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026

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    MorningMagazine_2026-02-17 KGNU News

Denver’s Flock contract to end Mar. 31

The city of Denver and Mayor Mike Johnson’s controversial contract with security company Flock comes to an end Mar. 31. Though the mayor’s office says they are considering ending the city’s relationship with Flock, Mayor Johnson has expressed that he will continue to push for license-plate reading technology across the city, per The Denver Post. 

The mayor’s office says they plan to bring a new contract to the City Council in the coming weeks. Many are concerned about the future of this partnership, as Flock has come under scrutiny regarding their role in mass deportation efforts and wrongful arrests across the nation. There are currently 111 active Flock cameras in Denver, installed at 70 intersections in 2024 as a part of a “pilot program”. 

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Hurd voted to rescind Canada tariffs

U.S. Congressman Jeff Hurd (of Colorado’s Third Congressional District) was one of six Republicans who voted with Democrats on Wednesday of last week to rescind tariffs on Canada.

For Rocky Mountain Community Radio, KSJD’s Gail Binkley reported this story.

 

Medicaid cuts threaten resources for disabled Coloradans

As Colorado deals with a major budget shortage, resources for disabled adults, children, and their families are at stake. A new round of Medicaid cuts voted in on Friday by a governor-appointed board that sets rules for the state Medicaid program limits disabled Coloradans outings with caregivers, and decreases funding for household aides, like cooking and cleaning. According to The Colorado Sun, these outings include learning to ride public transportation, navigating the grocery store, and going places like the public library. 

Bonnie Silva, director of the state health care department’s Office of Community Living, cites misuse of these programs as the reason for these cuts. Silva said, “Requests have included a 3-year-old needing 20 hours per week to improve social skills and a 16-year-old asking for 20 hours per week to deal with a screen addiction.” She says these requests fall under “parental responsibility” and will no longer be funded by Medicaid.

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New Department of Corrections app

The Colorado Department of Corrections is launching an app to help incarcerated people prepare for release. It’s part of a new partnership with the nonprofit tech group Recidiviz. The app, called Opportunities, is available on inmates’ tablets in Colorado prisons and jails. It lists available reentry programs, eligibility requirements and ways people can earn sentence reductions. Corrections officials say the app was developed with input from more than a thousand incarcerated people.

 

Snow in the high country, fire danger across the plains

An incoming storm is predicted to dump nearly two feet of snow on the mountains this week, as the plains are still under fire watch. The Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC) warns travellers of dangerous conditions and possible avalanches. The forecast doesn’t include any precipitation for eastern Colorado, which will continue to face unseasonably warm temperatures and gusty winds, per The Colorado Sun. Elevated fire risk is expected Monday for the southern Front Range foothills, Palmer Divide and adjacent Eastern Plains. Relative humidity values will be as low as 10% with wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour, making it easy for fires to spark in dry fuels and quickly spread. 

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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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