|
| | | Are CO’s Elected Officials Profiting Off Their Positions? | In recent weeks, political opponents and watchdog groups have intensified their scrutiny of stock investments made by U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, who is currently campaigning for his second term. The controversy has thrust Hickenlooper into the broader national debate over whether lawmakers should be allowed to own and trade individual stocks while in office. [CO Newsline] | - What’s the TLDR? Sen. Hickenlooper has purchased stocks in companies, including Eaton Corporation and Uber, that are regulated, in part, by decisions made in his assigned Senate subcommittees. Even though that is technically legal, it raises conflict-of-interest concerns. And it’s not just him — dozens of members of Congress from both parties have been found in similar situations. [NYT]
- Why it matters: Lawmakers who own stocks in industries they help regulate can financially benefit from decisions they make, pitting personal interest against public duty. There is broad bipartisan agreement that such conflicts pose a problem — the question is how to fix it.
- One option: The Restore Trust in Congress Act suggests fully banning members of Congress from owning or trading stocks, period. Supporters say it's a simple, easy-to-enforce solution. Critics argue a blanket ban is too restrictive.
- President Trump’s preferred route: The Stop Insider Trading Act would prohibit lawmakers from buying new stocks, but still allow them to keep stocks they already own. Supporters call it a middle-ground compromise. Critics argue it “would serve to hide insider trading, not stop it.”
- Local reactions: Colorado politicians from both sides of the aisle, including Reps. Jason Crow (Democrat) and Lauren Boebert (Republican) support an outright ban. Others, like Reps. Diana DeGette and Brittany Petterson, as well as U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, support restrictions. [CO Newsline]
|
|
|
|
| | | Skip the stress and keep the magic. Simply Eloped offers curated elopement and vow renewal packages in stunning destinations nationwide, so you can celebrate your love story, your way. |
|
|
|
| What Denver's Talking About |
| | 🪧 JBS Strike Moves Into Week 3 | Employees at the JBS meatpacking plant in Greeley are entering their third week at the picket line today. Union representatives said the strike was only planned to last two weeks, but that the company “has made no efforts” to meet their requests and has instead “doubled down” on unfair labor practices and declined to negotiate further. “The union stands ready to meet with JBS at any time,” union officials said in a news release. [Denver Post 🔒] | - The other side: For its part, JBS has said, “The union’s own proposals largely do not address or, in some instances, even relate to the alleged issues it complains of in the media. This strike is not about workplace conditions or legal violations.”
| | 📉 Should We Be Worried About Denver’s Population Decline? | According to data from the latest U.S. Census, Denver’s population shrank by about 1,000 people (or roughly 0.1%) from 2024 to 2025. (Though it’s worth noting that data includes international immigrants who were only in the city temporarily.) How much does it matter? In an interview with Denverite, state demographer Kate Watkins called the decline “really, really small potatoes.” Meanwhile, Arapahoe County saw the biggest population decrease in the state, and Weld County saw the biggest increase. [Denverite] | - Hear more from the state demographer: We spoke with Watkins on the podcast earlier this year about population trends statewide, and she shared her population predictions for the Mile High over the next 40 years. [City Cast Denver 🎧]
| | | | 🛶 Barbecue and Kayaking to Replace Raíces Brewing | Following the sudden and contentious closure of the popular Latin American brewery last fall, a development group is planning to reopen the space as a barbecue restaurant before the end of the year. The new owners are also purchasing some empty lots that are part of the STEAM on the Platte property next door. There, they plan to build two multifamily housing developments, plus a kayaking club that will operate on the South Platte River that runs alongside the property. [Denver Business Journal 🔒] | | 🗳️ Will Lakewood Voters Say No to Housing Density? | Last year, Lakewood City Council made bold moves to increase housing density with a massive revamping of the city’s zoning code — including eliminating some parking minimums and making it easier to build more types of multifamily housing. But some residents pushed back on the changes, gathering enough signatures to trigger a special election in the hopes of repealing the new ordinance. Ahead of the April 7 vote, we talked to both sides of this Lakewood housing debate. [City Cast Denver 🎧] | | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
