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Mike Johnston testifies on sanctuary city status in DC Gabrielle Mendoza
Mike Johnston DC Sanctuary City Testimony
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston spent six hours speaking in front of the House Committee in Washington D.C. yesterday.
The hearing was centered around sanctuary cities and their immigrant-friendly policies. Republicans continually questioned the legality of Denver’s local rules, and threatened to pursue criminal charges against Johnston.
The Denver mayor was joined by mayors from Boston, Chicago, and New York City. According to The Denver Post, Republican committee members interrupted their responses several times. Democrats in the room posed less accusatory questions.
Johnston argued that his rules do not violate federal law, explaining that while Denver is welcoming to “new-comers,” local police forces will work with federal immigration agents to prosecute violent criminals. He told the committee that “people who are new to this country do good and bad, just like all of us.”
President Donald Trump has threatened to cut federal funding for cities that won’t cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs enforcement. But, that wasn’t a major focus of the hearing. Johnston briefly mentioned that those cuts would be “catastrophic” for public safety, education, and healthcare programs.
Johnston also debated with Rep. Lauren Bobert — who is on the Committee — over the specifics of Denver’s and Colorado’s laws, and when Denver police would actually work with ICE.
For more details on the hearing, head to denverpost.com.
Commission Approves Wolf Compensation
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will pay two ranchers hundreds of thousands of dollars for wolf-related losses.
The wolf damage claims filed by ranchers Conway Farrell and Doug Bruchez back in 2024 come out to over $340,000.
CPW’s northwest regional manager said that wolves killed 15 of Conway Farrell’s livestock and left him with a missing amount of sheep. Farrell told 9News that the compensation does not make up for the losses he experienced, and that he lost so much livestock that he has not yet finished writing his claims.
Colorado law requires the state to pay ranchers for direct losses caused by the wolves that continue to be reintroduced under Proposition 114. Ranchers can also ask for additional compensation for indirect losses — like missing livestock or lower birth rates as a result of wolf interaction.
Protect My Public Media Day
Today is Protect My Public Media Day!
The national day of action is meant to highlight and uplift the importance of public media, which includes over 1,500 local television and radio stations – including KGNU!
Today also acts as a call to action, to urge lawmakers to safeguard public media in the face of federal calls to defund these institutions across the country.
Next Friday, March 14, Congress will be making critical funding decisions that could deeply impact the future of public media.
KGNU is one of many media outlets mobilizing on this day of action to celebrate and defend public media, and advocate for continued funding and federal support.
To take action and support local community radio stations, visit protectmypublicmedia.org and give.kgnu.org.
