Peters Asks Appeals Court for Pardon Recognition; CO Supreme Court Rules No More Harsher Municipal Penalties; Erie Settles Development Plan

Headlines Friday, December 26, 2025

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    Peters Asks Appeals Court for Pardon Recognition; CO Supreme Court Rules No More Harsher Municipal Penalties; Erie Settles Development Plan KGNU News

Tina Peters Asks Colorado Appeals Court For Pardon Recognition

A motion filed Tuesday by Tina Peters’ lawyer is asking a Colorado appeals court to recognize President Trump’s pardon of her state convictions as valid.

The motion says Peters, who led a data breach scheme based on claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, should be released from prison because of the pardon and that the Colorado court should no longer have jurisdiction over her case.

The court filing used President George Washington’s issuing pardons to those convicted of state and federal crimes in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1795 as precedent that Peters may be pardoned for her crimes against the state of Colorado.

The appeals court is set to hear arguments from lawyers in Peters case on Jan. 14.

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Colorado Supreme Court Rules No More Harsher Municipal Penalties 

On Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that municipalities may not subject defendants to sentences that are harsher under their own ordinances than for identical offenses under state law.

According to Colorado Politics, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain is worried about the impact of the decision on the city’s crime rate, while progressive council members see an opening to reverse decisions made by previous city councils. Over the last several years, Aurora’s conservative-majority City Council approved several ordinances that seek to crack down on crime in the city, and Police Chief Todd Chamberlain says the “tough on crime” approach has resulted in a 26% reduction in crime.

In her Dec. 22 opinion, Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez said those extra municipal provisions “create an operational conflict with state law.” Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said he is disappointed in the ruling. The ACLU of Colorado called the ruling “the correct and fair decision.”

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Erie Settles Housing Development Plan 

The Erie Town Council voted four to three on Tuesday to approve a settlement agreement allowing the Redtail Ranch development to move forward, ending litigation between the town and the developer, and granting approval of a modified preliminary plat.

Yellowscene Magazine reports that the developer agreed to plug and abandon six oil and gas wells, which will allow reduced setbacks and additional residential density. The remaining active wells on and near the site are not subject to remediation requirements under the settlement.

Earlier this year, Erie experienced a 9.2% population increase, making it the 15th fastest-growing large community in the US.

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Denver Hits Record-High Temp on Christmas

Denver saw a record-breakingly hot Christmas yesterday – the high temperature for the day measured 70°F at Denver International Airport (DIA). The number beat the previous hottest Denver Christmas, 69°F was previously recorded at DIA 20 years ago, in 2005.

Yesterday’s hot Christmas follows the trend of unseasonably warm days all through December in Denver, with record-breaking high temperatures and warm, dry conditions.

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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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