Headlines

Headlines — August 8, 2022

August 8, 2022

Listen:

Headlines — August 8, 2022 kiara

Inflation Reduction Act Has Colorado Implications

The Senate passed the Infrastructure Reduction Act over the weekend by a one-vote margin. The bill is a diluted version of the Build Back Better Act, which sought sweeping social investment in national programs and projects akin to the New Deal.

The lack of support for Build Back Better by Republican lawmakers and West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin forced a compromise in the legislation. Vice President Kamala Harris cast yesterday’s tie-breaking vote.

Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper For Historic Vote For Reduction On Prescription Drug Pricing

The Inflation Reduction Act includes provisions to lower the prices of prescription drugs. It will allow Medicare to negotiate the price of drugs, cap annual out-of-pocket prescription drug costs in Medicare Part D at $2,000, hold drug companies accountable when they increase drug prices faster than the rate of inflation, and cap co-pays for insulin to no more than $35 per month in Part D.

Colorado Climate Spending Included in Infrastructure Reduction Act

The bill may also bring significant benefits to Coloradans in the form of green energy incentives and climate resilience programs.

The Inflation Reduction Act authorizes significant investments in American clean energy production and manufacturing. It will also advance several key provisions for Colorado like clean energy research incentives, wildfire mitigation, and response, and expanded access to healthcare.

The bill invests $300 billion in Deficit Reduction and $369 billion in Energy Security and Climate Change programs over the next ten years.

The Inflation Reduction Act may also provide Coloradans with options to increase their energy efficiency at lower costs. The bill provides tax credits on the purchase of new or used electric cars, and similar tax incentives for the construction of highly energy-efficient homes. 9 billion dollars are allocated for rebates on new, energy-efficient systems in mid and low-income households.

Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse praised the Senate’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act as historic, saying the bill will – quote – “help address rising health care costs, boost American manufacturing, and would be the most significant climate legislation enacted in our country‘s history.”

Front Range Community Colleges Closed Friday Due to Threat

Operations at Denver Metro area community colleges and CU Boulder are back to normal today after a perceived threat caused multiple campuses to shut down on Friday.

An alleged threat targeting colleges in the Denver Metro area Friday prompted emergency actions like lockdowns and evacuations at multiple school locations.

While the threat was reportedly made against students at the Westminster Front Range Community College campus, other schools decided to suspend activities Friday as a precaution. That included all locations of the Front Range Community College system, the Auraria campus of Metropolitan State University, and CU Boulder.

After police and school officials investigated the threat further, they concluded it was a hoax, and no credible threat remained. All schools re-opened and will be on a regular schedule this week.

CU Boulder now guarantees admission for completing the Colorado Community College System degree program

CU Boulder will now allow automatic admission for students who received their associate’s degree through any member institution of the Colorado Community College System. These campuses include all locations of the Front Range Community College system, Arapahoe Community College, and the Community College of Denver, among others.

The automatic admission agreement is known as the Bridge to Bachelor’s Degree Program and several other Colorado universities have been on board for years prior to CU Boulder’s recent decision to join.

The Daily Camera estimates a student transferring to CU Boulder with an associate degree from a recognized community could save nearly 18 thousand dollars in tuition and fees.