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Trump’s DOJ suing Colorado over in-state tuition for undocumented students; Boulder County leaders to consider new ballot measure aimed to fund childcare; Lawsuit aims to block Denver-area ICE detention center KGNU News
Headlines Friday, July 24, 2026
Trump’s DOJ suing Colorado over in-state tuition for undocumented students
The Department of Justice is suing Colorado over a law that allows some undocumented students to receive in-state college tuition. The lawsuit was announced yesterday afternoon.
Colorado’s 2013 law allows undocumented students who’ve attended a Colorado high school for one year to receive in-state tuition. The students can also qualify for resident based financial aid and scholarships.
The Trump administration said Colorado’s law violates federal law and encourages illegal behavior.
A press release posted on the DOJ’s website says, “The Department of Justice sued Colorado for placing illegal aliens over American citizens in clear defiance of Congress’s commands, challenging its state laws that provide in-state tuition and financial aid to illegal aliens.”
The administration has challenged similar laws in a number of states and said the benefits should be applied evenly to out of state students. Backers of the state’s bipartisan proposal said it was important to invest in youth in Colorado who want to contribute and build careers.
Boulder County leaders to consider new ballot measure aimed to fund childcare
With a new proposal, Boulder County aims to make it easier to finance child care, as the current situation is strained: High child care costs and a shortage of child care spots are placing a burden on parents, educators, and child care facilities.
The new property tax proposal is intended to help: for an average home with an estimated value of $725,000, the tax would amount to about $115 per year, or just under $10 per month, according to proponents.
County Commissioners will first decide whether to put the proposal on the November ballot or to reject it.
Lawsuit aims to block Denver-area ICE detention center
Yesterday, a group of immigration advocates announced a new lawsuit aimed to prevent the Trump administration from opening a planned immigration detention facility in Hudson, Colorado.
The group, Together Colorado, alongside a nonprofit collection of faith leaders fighting for humane immigration policies and a Weld County resident sued the town of Hudson and its Town Council, arguing the municipality must enforce its land development code as the federal government moves toward reopening a shuttered private prison for use as an ICE detention center.
The complaint states the property is not zoned for use as a detention facility, and for it to be used in that capacity, the property owner must obtain approval through public processes outlined in Hudson’s code.
RockyGrass Festival starts today
Starting today, the 54th RockyGrass Festival is taking place at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch in Lyons. It is one of the most renowned bluegrass festivals in the U.S. and is already completely sold out.
Thousands of visitors will get to hear around 21 bands and solo artists on the main stage—such as the all-female supergroup “I’m With Her”, Del McCoury Band, Willie Watson and Sarah Jarosz.
Every summer, Planet Bluegrass hosts two editions of this high-caliber music camp. The RockyGrass Academy, which began last Sunday, leads into the RockyGrass Festival, which takes place from Friday through Sunday.
Bleak drought forecast: School of Mines study
Extreme snow droughts affecting the West will only become more common, according to a new study led by a Colorado School of Mines professor.
Climate change made low snowfall four times more likely to occur than during the preindustrial period from 1850 to 1900, according to the study.
The lack of snow can be seen in extreme drought this summer, dried up rivers and reservoirs, increased wildfire risk and water use restrictions.
Similarly dry winters will become more common across the West if greenhouse gas emissions are not curbed and climate change continues to intensify.
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